Wasilla, Alaska is in the Mat-su valley outside Anchorage. In Alaska, this area is sometimes referred to just as "the Valley." Visiting Sarah Palin's Hometown of Wasilla, Alaska is a great experience. Its 1 hour outside of Anchorage and about a third of its residents commute to work every day in the city. It is a small but rapidly growing town. Talking to a number of its residents about Governor Palin, everyone seems to love her. She's a hometown hero. One gets the sense that while they are happy for their hometown girl, residents are also put off by the media for going after her in vicious ways.
Going around the city, there's a large Carrs, a large Wal-Mart and an up-and-coming Target store. There are lots of little stores as well, several McDonalds' and Blockbusters. I did not stop by the Wal-Mart this time around but I believe it is the largest one in Alaska. The High School is Wasilla High School and you can see in the pictures their mascot, the Wasilla Warriors. In Anchorage and several other cities like Wasilla, the Alaska Club is the main fitness center. In the past, I've seen Palin in the Alaska Club in Wasilla before she was governor of the state as she is known to work out regularly. Wasilla, like Anchorage, is a growing city in the state of Alaska and has benefitted significantly through Palin's time as Mayor and now through the publicity generated by her VP nomination. |