Talkeetna's call of the wild: quaint town offers lots of character and things to do.

• Author: Ellis-Knapp, Jody
• Position: EXECUTIVE GETAWAY

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The drive to Denali National Park is a popular one during Alaska's summer months, with tourists and locals enjoying the scenic drive, stopping en route to camp, fish and hike. One of the main gateways to the park, Talkeetna, located roughly 120 miles north of Anchorage, draws in tourists by the thousands, with a variety of gift shops, restaurants, historic buildings and a host of tour activities. But as the summer season wanes and the tourists depart, Talkeetna's numbers diminish to the 700 or so year-round residents. The town takes on a quiet, homey feel and a completely different vibe. Rather than an overwhelming mass of excited visitors, it becomes the perfect place to take a winter weekend escape.

Talkeetna Bed and Breakfast, Mile 99 of the Parks Highway, is a few miles off the Talkeetna Spur Road and about 15 miles outside downtown Talkeetna. This makes it a perfect stopover for those heading toward Denali or just wanting to visit Talkeetna. Alice Bish has been running the B&B for eight years, coming to Alaska after living and working in Northern California as an interior designer. When her two sons ended up in Alaska, she decided to follow them and took up residence with her son, David, who actually owns the house. She started the B&B in 2002 and has enjoyed every minute of it. "We've met some really exciting people from all over the world," she says.

The house sits on Jubilee Lake, sometimes called No Name Lake by the locals. There are three rooms to choose from, two upstairs and one downstairs. The upstairs rooms sleep up to three guests and the downstairs room accommodates two. All rooms have private baths, with the master offering a large Jacuzzi tub. Each room is decorated in an eclectic yet appealing style, with comfortable bedding, floor-to-ceiling stuffed bookcases and fun knickknacks. The upstairs rooms have satellite television and wireless Internet is available throughout the house. There is also a basement downstairs that can be booked by large families, with a television, several beds and a small bar/kitchen area.

Bish's personal style is evident throughout, with everything from Victorian-looking...