I find Unusual Places interesting. Not, exotic places...but, unusual places. (Although, exotic places intrigue me on a different level.) Whittier, Alaska is one of these unusual non-exotic places that hold my interest.

Whittier is known for being the Alaskan town where almost everyone lives in the same building. A condominium tower built in World War II, that also houses; the local government offices, a clinic, the post office, a church, a laundromat and a grocery store. The town is accessible by boat in the summer, but in the winter the only way into Whittier is the tunnel.

This tunnel is about a two mile stretch that is one way for both trains and cars. It shifts direction every half hour and closes at night for security reasons. Most residence don't even bother leaving through the tunnel to make the trip to Anchorage, which is about an hour and a half away.

This self contained small-town-in-a-box is a place where people can wander in the halls in their PJs, grab some bread from the store, and socialize without having to leave.

I find the idea refreshing and have contemplated a move to Whittier more than a handful of times.