A month already?

Two more weeks have passed by in interior Alaska.  Hard to believe we’ve been up here for a month.  Work is in full swing in the campground and I’m getting a few side jobs with the business.  Everything is in bloom and the allergies are next level.  We are hoping it stops after the Cottonwood trees stop snowing.  The allergies haven’t stopped us from getting out and exploring a bit.  

Working in the hospitality industry, we’ve been able to experience some of the local attractions at a reduced rate.  One weekend we packed in as much as we could.  Tourist season is officially about to begin here.

One day we did Gold Dredge 8 and the Riverboat Tour.  The dredge was fun and informative.  The tour started out at a point on the Alaska Pipeline and the guide provided a bunch of information about it.  Did you know it runs about 800 miles, is 4’ in diameter and was completed in 1977?  That’s a lot of oil.  There was a great explanation about dredging for gold, a gold panning demonstration and a self guided tour of the dredge.  Did I mention we each received a bag of pay dirt and panned for gold?  We didn’t strike it rich, but between the two of us we panned $27 worth of gold.  I think the best haul was $35 for one guy.  They also have all the coffee, hot chocolate, cookies and water you can eat and drink.  

The Riverboat was a good time with a lot of information about the history of river travel in Alaska.  There was a stop at a local Iditarod dog kennel and training center, a float plane demonstration and a stop at a replica Native Village and Fish Camp.  The tour at the village was really interesting and talks were held by native Athabaskan Tribal members.  Some of the furs and fur garments were spectacular.  One coat took 800 hours to complete sewing all the different types of fur and bead work.  The boat also has food, soft drinks, coffee, water, beer and the donuts are free.

The dredge and boat can be done in one day and we feel it would be worth your time in Fairbanks.  

Chena Hot Springs was next on the list.  Ironically I was supposed to come up here and work 24 years ago and the trip never happened…long story.  The ride up was beautiful and included a lot of frost heaves the first 15 miles or so.  We are glad we didn’t have the trailer.  The property is big and nice to take a walk around.  The hot springs themselves are really warm and have a pea gravel bottom.  If you are into hot springs, it’s worth getting into.  This was only my second time in a hot spring.  

The Ice Museum is a must do experience.  It stays roughly 20*, year round and the tour is 45 minutes.  You can be let out early by the tour guide, but there is strict door control to keep the temps low.  Pay the extra for the ice glass apple martini unless you don’t drink.  It’s a unique experience to be in the museum, sitting on an ice bar stool with Caribou hide to prevent it from melting and keeping your pants dry.  After the tour you make a wish in the parking lot and smash the glass.  The sculptures inside are amazing and the details are impressive.  For a cool $600 you can Air BnB a night in the museum.  They provide the sleeping pads, caribou blankets and sleeping bags.  Sounds like really expensive winter camping if you have disposable income.  

We also visited the museum of the north at UAF.  They have some amazing exhibits from the north, the native people and we watched a documentary about the northern lights.  Did you know the aurora mirrors itself at the north and south poles?  Neither did I.  If you are into history, we feel this is another great stop.  Definitely go to the room, “The place where you go to listen”.   

The sun is now setting at 12:15am and rising at 3:21am.  Midnight sun is in effect.