Only in Alaska--Wal-Mike's

I've lived in Alaska all my adult life, and every year I, too, find something new. This past September while driving along the Parks Highway between Anchorage and Fairbanks, my wife and I stumbled upon Wal-Mike's, without a doubt the most eclectic store you're likely to find anywhere.

This one-room store with an overflowing porch and a smattering of outbuildings truly has something, new or used, for everybody. The most expensive thing we found in the store last September, and the thing which my wife immediately zeroed in on, was a beautiful, though slightly used, red fox fur coat. Thankfully for my wallet, it was still in the store when we left. Besides the coat were all manner of souvenirs, some things best classified as antiques, Alaska joke books, duct tape (new, not used), fishing tackle, mannequins and about anything else you could think of.

This is a great place to take a break between Anchorage and Denali Park. Its about 100 miles north of Anchorage on the Parks Highway in a wide spot on the road known as Trapper Creek.