This is the first part of our Alaskan adventure, documenting our recent trip to Alaska. The intention is to help us remember the experience and to provide some details for those who might be interested in traveling there themselves.
August 10
A very long day began at 2:30 a.m. in St. Louis as we awoke
and prepared for the shuttle to the airport for our 6:00 a.m. flight. The
journey, including a change of planes in Seattle, was uneventful.
Upon arriving in Fairbanks, we met with the GohaganTravel directors for a briefing and were on our own for the rest of the day.
The highlight of the day was the beautiful flowers
everywhere, especially in The Chef’s Garden at the Princes Hotel where we also enjoyed a lovely dinner.
August 11
After breakfast at the hotel, we cruised the Chena River on a stern-wheeler steamboat.
It was a stellar experience as we learned about the history of the area, saw Iditarod sled dogs in training,
watched a Piper Cub float plane take off and land on the water, and toured a historic settlement, as well as viewing caribou hanging around the river bank.
Dinner was at the Turtle Club, which dates back to
1950, making it one of the longest-running continuous dining establishments in
the Fairbanks area. Its history blends a mining-town boom, World War II
fighter-pilot culture, and a tight-knit family legacy.
August 12
Leaving Fairbanks, we departed for Denali National Park by motor coach. Along the way, we stopped for a break in
the small town of Nenana, population 358.
We couldn’t resist participating in the popular Nenana Ice Classic jackpot, where we could potentially win more than $100,000 by guessing the correct date and time the ice will break on the Nenana River. Keep in mind that -50 degrees is not unusual during the winter, and the ice on the river averages about 49 inches thick!
We popped into the historic Coghill’s General Store, the only grocery store for 55 miles.
Arriving at Denali National Park, we gathered in the Denali
Discovery Center for a very interesting presentation before being dropped off
at the Grande Denali Lodge, where we would spend two nights. The lodge
was very nice, and we enjoyed the included breakfast.
August 13
Boarding the national park bus,
Apparently, spring was very late to arrive, so the berries
were just ripening and the bears were still in the forest.
Fortunately, we had a very good bus driver/tour guide—a
retired high school science teacher who left us with plenty of
thought-provoking ideas.
After a short afternoon nap and a simple lunch, we walked
into “town”
and enjoyed a drink at Fannie O’s Saloon.
As we have often said, the best part of our travels is the
people we meet. We have especially enjoyed meeting university students from
Bulgaria who are doing seasonal work in Alaska. From what we understand, they
have a four-month work visa and can stay an additional month to travel. The
ones we have encountered have been extremely engaging and curious about our
country.
August 14
Taking the motor coach south, we stopped in the quaint (and somewhat touristy) village of Talkeetna, where we had stunning views of Denali.
After lunch, we boarded the Deluxe Dome Rail and continued our trip toward Anchorage. The train ride was pretty much uneventful, but we did enjoy dining with a couple, Barb and Fred, from Virginia.
The Denali excursion was a bit disappointing, as we saw minimal wildlife, which was the fault of no one but Mother Nature. We did not take the helicopter excursion, but those who did had amazing views of Denali.
Arriving in Anchorage, we spent the night at a Marriott hotel before boarding a plane to Juneau.
Coming soon:
an account of our river cruise, along with details about the Windstar Star Seeker and the Gohagan Touring Company.
More Alaska adventures to come!
