DENALI, Alaska (KTUU) – Among our team of four, just one person had previous experience with a Roadtrippin’ assignment before we arrived in Denali.
For such an important journey, we had to locate something special to commemorate it.
Denali Village boasts a row of eateries, gift stores, and local enterprises. Nestled at the top end of this area, just adjacent to Prospector’s Pizzeria, you’ll find Denali Northern Lights Gifts.
Launched by her parents in 1993, April Reeves along with her spouse Evan Coffey now helm the family enterprise. Reeves had to cut short the conversation as she needed to take their daughter to see some Border Collie pups belonging to a friend.
Coffey, who remained at the store and didn’t get to see the puppies, mentioned that they are striving to uphold the legacy left by his in-laws while also adding their personal touch and incorporating ideas from himself and Reeve.
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It’s simply enjoyable to be part of this place,” Coffey stated. “It’s such an exhilarating location. Having grown up on the East Coast, in a bustling city, I somewhat grasp the appeal to some extent, or the sense of awe that visitors experience.
As you look around the store, you’ll see an abundance of typical souvenirs: T-shirts and hoodies featuring Denali, stickers, ulu knives, and plush moose toys. In addition to these standard items, there are also striking pieces of jewelry along with intricately engraved knives displayed near the cash registers.
We have over 70 suppliers from whom we purchase products, and sometimes not all of them supply us each year,” Coffey explained. “We aim to stock as many locally made Alaskan items as possible. Additionally, we strive to offer as much Native art as we can.
Our team of four went in with the aim of finding particular things, and once we made our buys, we paused for a quick round of showing off what we got.
The Late Edition host Adelmi Ruiz anticipated receiving a stuffed moose but instead ended up with a pillow that came with a small stuffed moose attached to it.
Photographer Emmanuel Igwe looked forward to getting a new hat and didn’t leave disappointed. Just so you know, he exchanged hats shortly after the picture was snapped.
Sports journalist Tyler Lane initially went in looking for Christmas ornaments, yet being a sports journalist, he found himself unable to pass up grabbing a baseball.
“This is definitely heading for the mantelpiece in the office,” he informed us.
Initially, my intention was to discover a special type of food that I could take back for my friends as gifts. In the store, I came across blueberry syrup along with a whole aisle dedicated to various sweets.
However, after circling the shop once, I found myself unable to look away from the jewelry.
I exited the store with a handcrafted necklace featuring Alaska’s official flower, the Forget-Me-Not, placed atop a section of antler. A keepsake to recall Denali by.
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