We got up and checked out of the Princess and went back to Talkeetna to explore some. There really isn’t much to see. We went to a place that bills itself as a chocolate store, but all it appeared to us is a place that orders chocolate from other places and marks it up. We ate at a place called the Dancing Bear, which was essentially a little building for someone to cook in, then a dining area that was really not much more than an outdoor tent. They had a VERY limited menu. Walter got an elk burger and I got a buffalo bratwurst, both of which were good but didn’t taste different than beef versions to me. The brat was $4.75 and the burger was $8, but the cans of soda were crazy – $1.25. I can get those for $0.50 from vending machines at home!!!
We left Talkeetna, then headed to go get our marriage license in Anchorage. We BARELY made it before they closed – I am talking like two minutes. I was panicking. We just underestimated how long it would take to get there. On the way we stopped at this insane place called Wal Mike’s. From the outside it looks like this huge garage sale and the inside is all junk too, although arguably some of it was antiques. They also have a reindeer outside (which I found out is really a domesticated caribou) that we could pet.
The full set of Wal-Mike’s pictures is at http://flickr.com/photos/48311514@N00/sets/72157601865719959/
After we got our wedding license we checked into the Dimond Center Hotel. It is situated in a parking lot between a mall and Walmart. The rooms would have been $249 a night, but we had a free night (up to $199) from the Tour Saver Coupon. It was decorated nicely – the furniture all matched (bed, dresser/bureau, and armoire), there was a decent-sized desk with internet, and it had a king-sized bed they bill as the dream bed which was comfortable but nothing particularly noteworthy, and a 72” bathtub. There was also a refrigerator and microwave. Nice, but not worth the full price!!
We ate dinner at one of the places we had gotten those www.Restaurant.com gift certificates from, Birchtree Dining. http://restaurant.com/microsite.asp?rid=316448&mcn=00012052 It was good for $25 and we’d paid like $4 for it. We got an appetizer sampler (HUGE plate of onion rings, wings, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers) and dinner, which included either soup/salad and garlic bread. The menu was HUGE and we had trouble deciding, but Walter got chicken parmesan and I got shrimp alfredo. That was SO GOOD. It was obvious it was not from-a-jar alfredo sauce – I could taste the butter. Walter said his was really good too. The portions were rather generous and we took home essentially an entire meal for each of us (which sadly did not get eaten). I think mine was $11.95 and Walter’s was $9.95. Walter got cheesecake and ice cream for dessert, also very good. The menu choices are abundant, the portions are large, and the price is good – I wish this place was near home!
After dinner we went back to the Dimond and I promptly crashed out. See the pattern here? LOL Pregnancy does that to you!