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    • TravelerAlaska
      Day 30

      Alaska Day 30 Fairbanks

      August 5, 2019 in the United States ⋅ 🌧 59 °F

      Out this AM to get the tire air valves replaced and hub cap put back on. Done relatively easily before noon. And less than $50 ! Then to Starbucks for some planning time for the remainder of our trip. We have changed our minds several times and now again. We have heard many people talk about Valdez so have decided to go there next. But first we are going to do one more day in this area, going to some highly touted hot springs about 60 miles NE of Fairbanks. Should be fun. We splurged for a hotel room as well!! First night out of the RV. Then to Valdez about 700 miles south on the coast. After that Haines, maybe Skagway, and then wander home. Currently thinking we might go "the log way" down thru Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. Will see how the timing goes. Nice to be able to make changes as we go.
      Our tourism choice for today was the Creamers Field - A Migratory waterfowl refuge. On first appearance it is a very large open space with some big birds in the fields. However lots more going on here. We stopped in the visitor center to check out what was going on. We were lucky enough to run into one of the fellows who leads the guided tours in the mornings - Bud. Bud wanted to go back out to check on the sandhill cranes, (the big birds), and invited us to go along. So we had our own personal tour of the entire place. Essentially there are open fields and forest that are a refuge for all types of waterfowl. Bud took us on a mile and a half walk through the fields and forest with a running commentary for an hour and a half! Very interesting! Lots about the types of waterfowl and wildlife but even more about the forest and the land, how the permafrost affects the ground, etc. We learned a lot and enjoyed it. We saw several dozen sandhill cranes, all at a distance. They just started to arrive last week. By the end of the month they will have about 4,000 cranes there for about a month. They plant fields just to feed them and have a festival as well. Who knew?
      A much needed grocery run and back to the RV for dinner in.      Read more

    • TravelerAlaska
      11
      Day 31

      Alaska Day 31 Chena Hot Springs

      August 6, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 63 °F

      Taking a day off from tourism and spending a relaxing day at Chena Hot Springs Resort, about 60 miles NE of Fairbanks. A beautiful drive through the Chena Stata Recreational Area. Trees, rivers, streams and a highway with tons of gravel roads taking off to the right and left to fishing spots, campgrounds and hiking trails. Arrived at the resort around 1PM, checked into our room, had lunch and off to the hot springs. Spent the afternoon soaking up the water and sun. We were laughing and saying we felt like we had a "day off". Back for a shower and a bathroom we only had to share with each other and not all the campground neighbors 😂.
      We signed up for the 5PM tour of the Aurora Ice Museum, on the grounds of the resort. A fun diversion, an entire building with ice sculptures, a bar for 10, an ice hotel and an ice chapel for weddings. The 2 people who have done all the sculptures were in their workshop at the entrance to the museum. They also maintain the building and the ice structure. Amazing place, temperature at 25 degrees. They provide super warm parkas. The best part was the “ appletini” (vodka and an apple liquore) served in an ice martini glass! What fun!
      A great dinner of Alaskan scallops and a early bedtime.
      One final note, we met 2 interesting groups of young people today. At the hot springs, 3 young male geologists from Denver that had been working in Denali the previous 3 weeks. Had a long conversation with them about their work, traveling in Alaska - they were genuinely interested in our trip and lots of fun commentary. At the ice bar, while drinking appletinis, we met 2 30 something couples from NYC who were taking a year out of their lives to travel the US via RV. Three of them had quit their jobs, one could work on the road. They were full of fun stories and so personable. A real bonus of travel.      Read more

    • Alaska 2
      Day 4

      On to Fairbanks

      June 3, 2014 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

      We split an omelet at the Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge. Because the clouds obscuring them had finally cleared, I photographed Drum, Stanford, and Wrangell Mounts. Our bus to Fairbanks, again driven by Daniel, paused for lunch at the Rika Roadhouse not far from Delta, Alaska. We passed Fort Wainwright, and saw F-15's, and F-16's flying. There were also A-10's and KC135's on the ground. Near the Eilson Air Force Base we glimpsed a huge bull moose, then saw two other moose a little farther up the road. Daniel drove us on a short tour of Fairbanks before taking us to the Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge. After about an hour of rest we boarded another bus to go to the Salmon Bake. When we walked into the complex a recording of the theme for "Welcome Back, Kotter" was being played. Where we sat to enjoy our meal a Black musician was singling an extended version of "Blue Moon." They offer an excellent buffet featuring grilled salmon, fried beer-batter cod, and prime rib. It was an excellent meal, and I tried hard not to overeat. We came back to the lodge, where Glenda did our first batch of laundry on this trip. I read the textbook on wine before retiring about 10 PM.Read more

    • Alaska via Canada
      11
      Day 27

      Rivers Edge Rv Park, Fairbanks

      July 12, 2019 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

      Hallelujah! We had rain! From late night and intermittently all through the day! Wow, it barely made a dent in the smoke! But hopeful it will begin to make a difference.

      We actually did nothing all morning thinking we're had most of the day to clean up the RV and get laundry done prior to picking up Cindy at the airport! Well we actually needed all day! The dust from the "top of the world" wad every where, even in drawers! And I ended up with 4 loads of laundry, at $3 for wash and $3 for dryer.....using math that means each load cost $6! And I am providing the labor! Have you ever put $24 worth of quarters in your coin purse? Guess what they don't make coin purses that big....I had to use a baggie!

      We managed to finish with just enough time for showers and then headed to the airport to get Cindy. Her plane was on time and we found her and her luggage without incident!

      Pack to our riverside slot, welcome cocktail hour and dinner at the Chena Grill. Crab cakes, calamari, and salmon salad!      Read more

    • Panamericana North to Alaska
      1
      1112
      Day 79

      Around Fairbanks

      July 24, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

      The most northern larger city in Alaska surprised us....suddenly summer , we pulled out the shorts and paddled down the Chena river that runs through the town . It's easy to get connected here , after attending the local music festival in an old brewery and camping at the community garden we already meet familiar faces at the farmers market. The beauty of the area surrounding Fairbanks really wins us over . Chena Hot springs , the Steese hwy with remote mountain passes and the many free river and lake campsites are just wonderful. This is as far north as we go and on our way south east we see our first sunset in Alaska just outside Fairbanks ,more then a month after the solstice and the all light nights. Today it's more like 11 pm now and we are still up to witness it.Read more

    • TravelerAlaska
      Day 1

      Fairbanks Alaska

      June 20, 2023 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 63 °F

      Well, off on another trip. This time to Alaska with Sue Pariana. We met at the airport at about 3;30. Most of plane was filled with Cruise goers. It was a full flight. Had dinner before the flight at chick-fil-e. Uneventful flight. Landed in Fairbanks at. 8:45 pm. 11:45 msp time. While waiting for our hotel shuttle we were talking to a man who was a shuttle driver to a different hotel that looked like a rugged Alaska native. He was telling us that everyone in Alaska is packing because you don’t want to come across a moose without it. He said moose are everywhere. Made it to the hotel. Checked into the Best western. Chena river. Tomorrow we start our adventure going to Arctic Circle.Read more

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