Are you out there, Sarah?
When I hear the word “Alaska,” a few things immediately come to mind: Mountains. Glaciers. Grizzly bears. And, of course, Sarah Palin.
Yes, it’s hard to not be aware of Alaska’s former governor, best known for her down-home attitude and bumbled remarks that gained her perhaps the wrong kind of fame when she was cast as John McCain’s running-mate in the 2008 presidential election.
I’m not trying to turn this into a political post, because I really hate the topic as a whole. But it’s hard to ignore the fact that Sarah turned a lot of American voters off the McCain campaign with her remarks about being a mavericky maverick and her comments about how she could see Russia from her house. (Though she turned plenty of them back on with her pearly white smile and monochromatic skirt suits.)
No, I don’t really like Sarah Palin. But I can’t deny the fact that she sure makes for some good comedic fodder.
——
In June 2010, I went on an Alaskan cruise with my family. I was cracking Palin jokes in Seattle before we even boarded the cruise ship, and, once we were at sea, I mused at least once a day over whether that land mass off in the distance might actually be Russia.
Our first port stop was Juneau, the Alaskan capital that Sarah refused to live in when she was running the state. But even though she preferred her home in Wasilla to the governor’s mansion in Juneau, I still assumed I’d see some sign of her in the state capital — even if just in a souvenir shop.
But a packed afternoon in the secluded Alaskan city prevented us from even so much as walking past any souvenir shops. The closest I got to Sarah was driving past the capital building (and, for the record — no sign of Russia).
When we arrived in Skagway the next day, I figured my chance to buy any Sarah-related kitsch was probably lost.
And then there it was.
My mom, sister and I were walking along a Skagway side street when I happened to glance over at a sign advertising the Skagway Bazaar. I noticed three words crammed onto the sign that made me stop in my tracks: “Sarah Palin Store.”
I gaped for a moment, and then insisted we go inside. My mom asked “WHY?” and I simply responded with a, “How can we NOT?”
We had to walk down a little alley filled with totem poles and native artwork, which soon lead to a nearly-deserted courtyard.
Across the little picnic area from the Chowder House, there it was. Part of me was surprised. I had half expected the sign to be a joke. But, no. There, before my very eyes, was the Sarah Palin Store.
I had to try very hard to contain my laughter.
The sign she's holding says "My childhood hometown in the 60's. You betcha."
The store was actually a bit confusing. On the one hand, it had the sort of terrible merchandise I was hoping to find — like “UBETCHA” and “ICRUSSIA” license plates, and Sarah quote mints (which are pictured at the beginning of this post). But the store also seemed to cater to Sarah lovers, too, with girl power T-shirts, Palin 2012 bumper stickers, and copies of her best-selling books.
The more I think about it, though, it’s actually kind of genius to cater to both sides of the Sarah fence. Because I’m sure that, like me, many people stop into the store out of sheer curiosity.
After about 10 minutes of browsing with my sister and trying not to laugh too loudly at some of the items for sale, I did one last thing before leaving — I got my photo with the “bulldog in lipstick” herself.
And then we headed over to tour a brothel.
Gotta love Alaska.
——
What’s the strangest shop you’ve stumbled upon in your travels? Anything as good as this?
What – it’s not cold and snowy in Alaska?! I know you were there in June, but still! It boggles the mind..
Haha, I know! It was actually about 70 degrees in Juneau! It was crazy. Though, at sea and when we were inside the Inside Passage with all the glaciers, it was much cooler.
Ha! Very entertaining post!! And you did exactly what I probably would have done there. I’m waiting fir the day when they actually have a lipstick color called “bulldog”!
Uuuuuuuuubetchaaaa!
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Haha! Oh my gosh, why haven’t they made a “bulldog” lipstick yet? I’m sure there’s a market for more Sarah kitsch!
OMG, if I lived in Alaska I would really want an “ICRUSSIA” license plate. I actually just want one, period, but it wouldn’t make as much sense if I wasn’t in Alaska.
And wait…. Alaska has brothels?
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I kinda of really really wanted to buy an “ICRUSSIA” license plate. But I went with the (much cheaper) Sarah mints instead.
And no, Alaska doesn’t have brothels anymore. But back when Skagway was a big gold rush town, it had A LOT. One of the current bars in town used to be a brothel, and they give short tours for $5. Everyone who works there dresses like call girls, and it was actually really cool!
Oh, I want a UBETCHA license plate! I hope they have t-shirts, too… what a ridiculous and awesomely bad store. Very entertaining read
Thanks, Emily! I wasn’t sure how people would respond to my attempt at humor, but I’m glad you found it entertaining! And oh yes, of course they had T-shirts, too!
This post made me giggle, especially the ICRUSSIA license plate. I wonder if any other politicians have their own stores and cheesy merchandise out there.
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Oh, I’m sure lots of them do. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a George W. Bush store lurking around somewhere. That man also had some ridiculous quotes that would be great on T-shirts and license plates! Haha.
lol — great stuff. I haven’t been to Alaska yet, and not sure the Sarah Palin thing makes me more want to go, but when I do, I shall have to look this place up
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Alaska was great – what I saw of it, at least. I’d definitely recommend going there someday! And yes, check this store out if you ever find yourself in Skagway. There’s not much else to do there anyway, so you’ll definitely have time!
Wow – a Sarah Palin store…I like the “ICRUSSIA” license plate.
Jason
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That one was my favorite, too.
Wow – That is awesome. Def. a must see in Alaska for sure!
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Haha, so glad that so many of you share my sense of humor about this!
Hi,
I love the architecure, looks amazing ! The environment is great, but isn’t it supposd to be snowing in Alaska, at least that’s what I thought. I would love eating at ‘The Chowder House’, I’m very curious about the taste of Alaskas’ food.
And to answer the question:
What’s the strangest shop you’ve stumbled upon in your travels? Anything as good as this?
- I’ve stumbled to a few strange shops during the time when I was in my travels but nothing as good as this yet.
Keep up the good work!
Best regards,
Maria
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It doesn’t snow in Alaska ALL the time! Haha. We were in southern Alaska, where the summer temperatures are actually really nice!
Oh, my bad then, hehe. I was misinformed, lol. Hmm, summer temperatures actually really nice, that means you enjoyed Alaska, I’m glad to hear that. How about the food? Was it good?
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Yes, the summer temperatures in Alaska seem to be lovely. I actually went to Alaska on a cruise, so I mostly ate cruise ship food. Which means I can’t really say much about Alaskan cuisine. I know they serve a lot of seafood, though! Which I’m sure is delicious.
I just threw up in my mouth a little…
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Hahaha. Yeah, that was my initial reaction, too.
This is pretty hilarious! Thank God the US is at least smart enough to not put someone in office purely based on their celebrity appeal. Make money off them anyway, just please don’t let them run our country!
Some of the things you saw are pretty funny and I’m glad you found your little gem in Alaska!
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Well, I don’t know about the U.S. being very “smart” sometimes… haha. And you have to remember that Alaska put Palin into office as governor! But hopefully that’s as far as she’ll get…
Thanks for reading! I’m glad you were entertained.
Most. Amazing. Thing. Ever.
I would have been searching for the same thing.
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Hahaha, thanks! I thought it was pretty amazing, too.
Haha, why am I not suprised that there is a special Sarah Palin store in Alaska
Love the ICRUSSIA plate! Did you see the Possum pie restaurant on the westcoast in New Zealand while you where there? That has to be the most strangest shop I have seen so far, didn’t try the pies though 
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Possum pie restaurant?? No, sadly I missed this! Pity, really. It sounds well worth a visit!
Ha! I have been there too! Crazy, right? Only in Alaska (we hope).
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You’ve been there, too? Awesome!! And yes, I really hope it’s only in Alaska…
Just a note for accuracy, Sarah Palin never said she could see Russia from her house.
She said that Russia could be seen from parts of Alaska, which is true.
It was Tina Fey who coined the phrase about seeing Russian from her house, as she
mimicked Palin on SNL.
That is a proven fact.
Another statement in your blog that is incorrect is the claim that Palin turned many voters off of McCain
with her folksy….etc. The opposite is true. Palin added oomph to McCain’s faltering campaign, as can be proven somewhere…but that is not something I have in my back pocket.
Just be sure, when making factual, seemingly academic statements that you get the facts correct.
It helps.
Most of this was written in jest, and I never claimed that everything was fact (let alone academic fact; does that even exist anymore on the Internet?). Sarah DID say the Russia comment at least a few times, even if it was after Tina Fey came up with it (mostly making fun of herself; in fact, she seems to have a good sense of humor!). And, among many people that I personally know, yes, Sarah Palin DID turn them off of the McCain campaign. Those are the facts that I know. But I’m not here to have a political debate with anyone, because, like I also stated in the post, I hate the subject.
Palin most certainly did turn off a lot of voters with her foolishness. That some people found her folksiness charming is also true. in the end, the former mattered more than the latter.
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