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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
A Fairbanks welcome Whether you’ve flown, cruised or driven the notorious Alaska Highway here, welcome to the Golden Heart City of Fairbanks, the hub of Interior Alaska. The Summer Visitors Guide is a labor of love for the staff of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, and we have put forth our best efforts to offer you an introduction to life in the far north. Inside, you will find the best bets on what to see, do and experience during your visit. Most of us Alaskans are full of opinions on what you Alaska Railroad .................. 19 Anderson ........................... 14 Aurora borealis .................. 44 Botanical gardens .............. 57 Chena Hot Springs ............. 61 Chicken .............................. 78 Community Museum ........... 29 Creamer’s Field .................. 15 Dalton Highway .................. 72 Delta Junction .................... 64 Denali Highway.................... 11 Denali National Park .. 8, 9, 10 Downtown shopping ............ 32 Downtown walking tour ....... 33 Eagle ................................ 76 Eating in Fairbanks ............ 42
should take in during your visit, and we’ll be quick to share those opinions with you — just ask any sourdough you meet. Welcome, and enjoy your stay and our city. — Gary Black, 2010 Summer Visitors Guide editor gblack@newsminer.com Cover photo of wild Alaska roses, which are prevalent in Interior Alaska, by Eric Engman, News-Miner photographer.
El Dorado Gold Mine .......... 39 Elliott Highway ................... 71 Ester .................................. 13 Fairbanks’ history ................. 3 Farmers market .................. 31 Fishing ................................. 5 Fox ..................................... 62 Golden Days ....................... 70 Gold panning ...................... 63 Golf .................................... 37 Large Animal Research ...... 58 Midnight Sun Festival ......... 26 Midnight Sun Game ............ 36 Midnight Sun Run ............... 27 Museum of the North ......... 56 Nenana .............................. 12
North Pole .......................... 67 Outdoor activities ................. 4 Pioneer Park ...................... 24 Riverboat Discovery ........... 40 Shakespeare Theatre ......... 51 Steese Highway ................. 66 Summer Arts Festival .. ...... 59 Summer mushing tours ...... 35 Tanana Chief ...................... 38 Tok ..................................... 75 Trans-Alaska pipeline ......... 46 WEIO .................................. 23 Wrangell-St. Elias ............... 77 Valdez ................................ 79 Visitors center ................... 53 Yukon Quest ....................... 22
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Land of the Midnight Sun power lines, mining camps and an industrial complex The founding of Fairbanks that became the economic was, well, an accident. backbone of Fairbanks until Trader E.T. Barnette World War II. By then, the was trying to get a load of advance of aviation had goods to the gold fields up again revolutionized transthe Tanana River when the portation in Alaska. steamer Lavelle Young got Fairbanks not only became hung up in the shallows an important center for upstream from the Chena flights within Alaska, but River. a key stop on round-theBarnette, his wife and his world flights for pilots such stock of goods were left on as Wiley Post and Howard the banks of the Chena in Hughes. August 1901 until he could find a way to continue his journey. The following July, Military planners recoghowever, Italian immigrant nized that Fairbanks was Felix Pedro struck gold in the centrally located between hills just a few miles away. Tokyo and New York. Years Barnette stayed and the of prodding led to the decifledgling town he founded sion in 1937 to set aside 6 was named after Charles W. square miles near Fairbanks Fairbanks, an Indiana senafor a cold weather test stator and future vice president. tion to train pilots and Because the gold was bur- mechanics. ied deep underground, the The events of Dec. 7, rush was slow to materialize 1941, gave new urgency to and the city wasn’t founded the work at what became until 1903. By 1906, $6 milknown as Ladd Field. Fairlion in gold was produced in banks emerged as a military the region. By 1910, nearly $30 million had been produced from Cleary, Ester and Fairbanks creeks, almost two-thirds of the gold mined in the region. Staff Report
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outpost, and cold-weather training took a back seat to a more strategic goal. The United States agreed to help the Russians fight Hitler by supplying airplanes and other equipment. Fairbanks became the transfer point for nearly 8,000 aircraft picked up by Russian pilots. The military has remained a vital part of the local economy, supplemented by the expansion of the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the oil boom on Alaska’s North Slope. The building of the transAlaska pipeline brought thousands of construction workers to the town along the Chena and new residents looking for opportunities. Today, nearly 32,000 people live within Fairbanks city limits and 97,000 people are estimated to live in the Fairbanks North Star Borough, which covers 7,361 square miles — or is about the size of New Jersey (which has a population of 8.8 million.)
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Get outside and play hard Top 10 outdoor things to do in Interior Alaska You may not have the time or gumption to climb Mount McKinley or float the Yukon River during your trip to the Last Frontier, but there are plenty of other outdoor adventures you can tackle during your visit to Fairbanks and Interior Alaska. News-Miner outdoors editor Tim Mowry mapped out a checklist of 10 things visitors should do during their trek to the Interior. You may not be able to accomplish all of them, but try to check one or two off the list before you leave. Happy trails.
organized tour of a dog lot or just track down a musher to check out his or her operation, a trip to a genuine Alaska dog mushing kennel is an eye-opening experience. 4) Ride the bus into Denali National Park and Preserve. It means a long day on a bus but the sights that you may see are worth it. In addition to 20,320-foot Mount McKinley, bus riders have a good chance to see grizzly bears, wolves, Dall sheep, moose and caribou. There are tourists who see more wildlife on one bus ride into the park than some Alas1) Take a hike. kans do in their lifetime. The best way to get a feel 5) Drive across the Denafor the country is to walk li Highway. across it. That’s not always You might not want to meneasy to do in Alaska, but fortion this if you’re renting a car tunately there are several hik- — most car rental companies ing trails in the Interior that don’t allow driving across the lead the way to spectacular, Denali Highway — but the panoramic views of Alaska’s 135-mile trip across the Denali heartland. Highway may be the prettiest, 2) Catch an arctic graywildest drive in Alaska. ling. 6) Go whitewater rafting They’re not as big and tasty in Denali Park. as the salmon and halibut You’ll spend almost as much Alaska is famous for but arctic time learning how to get into grayling are the bread and but- your dry suit as you will on ter of fishing in the Interior. the water, but once you hit the They’re one of the prettiest chilly gray glacial water of the fish you will ever see and are Nenana River you’ll be glad known for their cooperative you have it. The trip down the nature. The Chena River, Nenana River, which features which flows through downtown Class IV rapids, is a wet and Fairbanks, is one of the best wild ride. grayling fisheries in the state. 7) Drive to the end of a Anglers beware, however, it is road. restricted to catch and release. Isn’t that what Alaska is 3) Visit a dog musher. famous for? Well, the Interior Dog mushing is the official offers the best chance of anystate sport so you might as well where to do it. Take your pick get a sniff of it while you’re of a half dozen roads that come here. Whether you take an to an end. Drive up the 130-
mile Steese Highway to the Yukon River in Circle. Head up the 160-mile Elliott Highway, which ends in the town of Manley. You can always take a drive out the 55-mile Chena Hot Springs Road and take a soak in the springs. There’s also the 160-mile Taylor Highway to Eagle, which offers another chance to see the mighty Yukon. For the really adventurous, take a drive up the 414-mile Dalton Highway to Deadhorse on the North Slope. 8) Climb — or drive — to the top of a dome. For Interior flatlanders, domes are the equivalent of mountains elsewhere in the state and there are any number to choose from. Both Ester Dome (2,323 feet) and Murphy Dome (2,930 feet) are located just outside Fairbanks and have roads leading to the top. There is also Wickersham Dome Summit (3,806 feet), about 30 miles north of Fairbanks in the White Mountains National Recreation Area, and Donnelly Dome (3,910 feet), located off the Richardson Highway about 120 miles south of Fairbanks. 9) Kill a mosquito. Actually, kill as many as you can. There is no bag limit on mosquitoes in Alaska and, unlike moose, caribou and salmon, local residents have no qualms about Outsiders coming in and killing them. Swat away until your heart’s content, or you run out of blood, whichever comes first. 10) Find a moose. Moose are one of the true symbols of Alaska and they’re not all that hard to find if you keep your eyes open as you drive down the road, which is a good idea so you don’t hit one. Remember, though, don’t feed them and don’t approach them. — Tim Mowry
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Gone fishin’ Arctic grayling rise to the top for Interior anglers By TIM MOWRY tmowry@newsminer.com
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• Description: With its sail-like dorsal fin dotted with large iridescent red or purple spots, the grayling is one of the most unusual and beautiful fish of Alaska. Colored slate gray, they have varying numbers of black spots scattered along both sides. • Size: Usually 8 to 18 inches. • Diet: Grayling aren’t picky eaters, and they feed on all kinds of insects. They are known for their voracious appetites and willingness to take a dry fly or chase a spinner. • Tackle: A lightweight (4- or 5-weight) fly or spinning rod. • Flies/lures: Any number of dry flies — Adams, elk hair caddis, Griffith’s gnat, mosquitoes, black ants, stimulators — or small spinners will attract the attention of grayling. • Where to go: Chatanika River, Chena River, Delta Clearwater River, Salcha River, Tangle Lakes.
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You won’t hook into the bright, shiny salmon in the Interior that anglers brag about in Southcentral or Southeast Alaska. Neither will you find yourself posing next to a barndoor-sized halibut that are famous in the fishing ports of Homer and Valdez. What you will find in the Interior is arctic grayling. Lots of arctic grayling. “That’s what I tell people to focus on when they call me,” Audra Brase, area management sport fish biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in Fairbanks, said. “We’ve got a lot of grayling, they’re a great fish to catch, they’re easy to catch and we’ve got road accessible rivers with grayling in them.” And they are uniquely Alaskan. “You don’t catch grayling in the Lower 48,” Brase said. As the name implies, Arctic grayling survived in unglaciated areas of Alaska in the Yukon River valley and the North Slope. From there, they have spread throughout Alaska but are most common in the Interior. Their tolerance of low dissolved oxygen levels allows grayling to survive long winters in areas where many other salmonids would die. An elegant cousin of the trout, arctic grayling are distinquished by their iridescent, sail-like dorsal fin, which is dotted with green and purple spots. The slate gray fish are famous for their voracious appetites and willingness to attack dry flies, making
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FISH Continued from Page 5
IF YOU GO FISHING • Who needs a fishing licence? To fish in all Alaska fresh and salt waters, an Alaska sport fishing license is required for all nonresident anglers 16 and older, and most residents from 16 to 59. A resident is a person who has lived in Alaska for at least one year. Alaska residents 60 and older are not required to purchase a sport fishing license but must apply for a Permanent Identification Card, which is a lifetime hunting, fishing and trapping license. Anglers under 16 do not need a license. • How much do they cost? A resident sport fishing license costs $24 for a season. Nonresident licenses come in many forms and prices, ranging from a 1-day license for $20 to a season license for $145. There are also 3-, 7- and 14-day licenses that cost $35, $55 and $80, respectively. • What about king salmon stamps? Residents and nonresidents must purchase a king salmon stamp to fish for king salmon. Like licenses, nonresident king salmon stamps come in many forms and prices, ranging from a 1-day stamp for $10 to an annual stamp for $100. A resident king salmon stamp is $10. • Where do I buy a license and king salmon stamp? Licenses are available at Alaska Department of Fish and Game offices, vendors around the state (i.e. sporting goods stores, hardware stores, gas stations, etc.), by mail from the ADF&G Licensing Section, 1255W. 8th Street, P.O. Box 115525, Juneau, AK 99811 or online at www.admin.adfg.state. ak.us/license.
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them a favorite of fly fishermen using lightweight tackle. “They’re beautiful fish, and they’re aggressive feeders,” Fairbanks fly fishing instructor Shann Jones said. “Grayling don’t ever miss an opportunity to take a dry fly.” Grayling range in size from 8 to 18 inches and can be found in most freshwater streams along the road system in the Interior. The Chena River, which flows through downtown Fairbanks, is a blue-ribbon grayling fishery. The upper Chena River east of Fairbanks parallels Chena Hot Springs Road for several miles in the Chena River State Recreation Area and offers multiple access points to the river, as well as campgrounds to pitch a tent or park an RV. “You can spend the whole day on the upper Chena and not see anybody,” Brase said. “You can have your bonfire on the beach, a picnic and enjoy the day.” The Delta Clearwater River, located about 100 miles south of Fairbanks and accessible from the Richardson Highway, is another popular place to find big grayling. Fish up to 20 inches are common in the Delta Clearwater, which serves as a summer feeding ground for grayling before they migrate to other rivers in for the winter. Fly and spin fishing for arctic grayling is similar to fishing for trout. A four- or five weight fly rod or light spinning rod is all you need. Favorite flies include elk hair caddis, Adams, mosquitoes and black ants. For spin fishermen, any number of small Mepps or Blue Fox spinners will attract the attention of grayling. If bait is allowed where you’re fishing, grayling will readily take salmon eggs. As for taste, grayling have flaky white meat that is best if cooked and eaten as soon as possible. They do not keep well frozen. The best thing you can do is bring a frying pan with you and cook any fish you catch on the riverbank next to you.
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Denali National Park By KRIS CAPPS For the News-Miner
Pick up the Daily News-Miner for information on local community activities.
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When an Alaskan says “the mountain is out,” there is no doubt which mountain is filling the horizon. It is Mount McKinley, or “Denali” as most Alaskans call it. The 20,320-foot massif is the tallest mountain in North America. It is often covered by clouds, but when visible, it is a magnificent sight. The mountain is not the reason Denali National Park and Preserve was created, however. In 1917, the park formed to protect the wildlife. Eventually expanded to 6-million acres, the park is home to moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves and grizzly bears. More than 650 species of flowering plants eke out a living here, along with a variety of mosses and lichens. Only plants adapted to long, cold winters and short growing seasons can survive in Denali’s subarctic climate. In addition, Denali is home to 39 species of mammals, 167 species of birds, 10 species of fish, and one amphibian, the wood frog. There are no reptiles at Denali National Park. But there are dinosaur tracks, discovered in 2005, showing for the first time that prehistoric creatures lived here. Get to the park by train, by car, by bus, or by chartering a small airplane. A single, winding, primarily gravel road, winds through the mountains and across rivers for about 92 miles to the old mining community of Kantishna, now a visitors haven. The only way to get there is by taking a park bus. Anyone can drive the first 15
R.A. Dillon/News-Miner
Mount McKinely stands partially visible inside Denali National Park and Preserve. miles of road to Savage River. After that, traffic is limited. This is deliberate. This park is managed for the wildlife, not for people. Enjoying and appreciating the pristine wilderness of Denali National Park is easy. Visit the Denali Visitor Center or the Wilderness Access Center to pick up a trail map and check schedules of guided walks and other programs. There are a number of trails in the entrance area that are free for hiking anytime. They range in difficulty from easy to challenging. The park also offers hiking, bicycling and backcountry camping. Experienced park rangers lead special hikes as well. Photography is encouraged at the park, but be careful when photographing wildlife. There are guideline on how close you should approach bears, eagles, caribou and others. There are also guidelines for hiking, to help preserve the fragile tundra plans that cling to life during the short season on sunny slopes. Take special measures to enjoy wildlife from afar and to avoid chance encounters with bears. For a close-up view of how the park operates, visit the Denali kennels, where a team of sled dogs lives year round. During the summer, these working dogs welcome visitors and their handlers provide an informative program on life with these hard-working dogs, who patrol
Denali during winter months.
Murie Science and Learning Center
Be sure to visit the Murie Science and Learning Center, an educational center used year round by students of all ages, researchers, and visitors. During winter months, the MSLC serves as the winter visitor center. The Murie Science and Learning Center supports research in Alaska’s eight northern national parks by providing funding, logistical support, housing, and access to data and Park resources. It is made possible through the partnership of the National Park Service, Alaska Geographic and many others. The main exhibit here is a wolf skeleton, painstakingly reconstructed by students from Cantwell School. The students butchered a dead wolf and cleaned the bones. Then, under the auspices of a National Park Service expert, they reconstructed the skeleton. Along the way, they learned about wolves. They made a movie about the project too, which is available for viewing at the exhibit. Other exhibits describe the recent exciting discovery of dinosaur tracks at Denali. In the summer of 2005, a dinosaur footprint turned out to be that of a three-toed Cretaceous Therapod, estimated to be more than 70 million years old. Since Please see THE PARK, Page 10
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Denali National Park Outdoor opportunities await Denali’s visitors calling (800) 622-7275 or www. reservedenali.com. You can also make a reservation in person at The 92-mile road into Denali the Wilderness Access Center National Park runs from the reservation desk, up to two George Parks Highway to the days in advance. former mining community of The third option is the Kantishna. The first 15 miles Kantishna Experience, a oneare paved and open to the pub- day, 12-hour roundtrip to lic. Past that point, however, Kantishna that includes a full vehicle travel is restricted on lunch. Cost is $155 plus the the narrow, winding gravel entrance fee. This is the only surface. program providing expertise by Buses shuttle tourists in and a National Park Service ranger out of the park and drop off on the trip. hikers and campers. Bus trips Permits are required to hike range from two to 12 hours and into the backcountry and are visitors can take either a tour available at the Backcountry bus or a shuttle bus. Information Center, adjacent to Shuttle buses are less expen- the Wilderness Access Center. sive and have fewer amenities, Established campgrounds but travel farther into the park welcome visitors in the and visitors can get off and entrance area and at the end of then back on, if seats are avail- the park road at Wonder Lake. able, whenever they want to go To make camping reservations hike for awhile. in advance, call (800) 622-7275. Visitors planning to hike, bike, camp, backpack or picnic in the park should take a shutWeather at Denali can tle bus. The shuttle is available change in an instant. Summer for folks who just want to enjoy temperatures range from 33 to the scenery. But be sure and 75 degrees, and it is not uncombring along food and water. mon for snow to fall in July. There are no convenience Park rangers suggest visitors stores along the way. dress in layers and bring a rainThose who prefer a more coat that can serve as a winddeluxe trip can opt for one of breaker. Mittens and a warm the tours. A variety of lengths, hat are a good precaution. prices and options are available. Don’t forget mosquito repelFees vary in addition to the park entrance fee. Visitors on the Tundra Wilderness Tour can purchase a • Denali Nat'l Park 18 mi. south DVD of their own tour. Record•Large & Small Cabins • Private baths ed footage of the animals and •Fridge, Microwave & Coffee Pot experience from their very own Toll Free: (866) 680-2448 tour will be offered beginning Web: alaskaone.com/ridgetop May 15. Reservations for shuttles and tour buses can be made by By KRIS CAPPS For the News-Miner
What to wear
lant. Alaska mosquitoes are notorious, especially in certain areas of the park, like Wonder Lake.
Getting into the park
All access to the park is restricted past Mile 15 at Savage River to the park’s shuttle buses and tours run by concessionaire Doyon/ARAMARK. Check the website at www. nps.gov/dena/planyourvisit for schedules and details. Visitors have five options to make a reservation for a bus. 1. Visit the park website, www.reservedenali.com. 2. Fax the reservation form, available at www.reservedenali. com to 907-264-4684. 3. Mail the form to Doyon/ ARAMARK Joint Venture, 241 W. Ship Creek Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501. 4. Call 800-722-7275 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Alaska time. 5. Make a reservation in person at the Wilderness Access Center Reservations Desk, up to two days in advance. Fees depend on length of the trip. Campers can take the bus to their site for a fee. Tour buses are designed to be more comfortable with a more structured program. All fees are in addition to the park entrance fee of $10 per person or $20 per vehicle.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Exploring outside Denali By KRIS CAPPS For the News-Miner Riding a bus into Denali National Park is not the only way to enjoy the wilderness and its surrounding area. Check out opportunities outside the park boundaries. About a mile from the park entrance is a strip of hotels, restaurants and gift stores that offer every comfort imaginable. Other restaurants and campground are located a few miles south of the park entrance, where
most of the area’s year-round residents live. There are many easy to moderate hiking trails near the park entrance and the park offers ranger-guided hikes. Check for details at the Denali Visitor Center and the Wilderness Access Center. Seven miles south of the park entrance, the Denali Education Center offers community programs throughout the summer that are worth investigating. See the schedule on post office bulletin
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The park
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boards or at www.denali.org. All programs take place at the Charles Sheldon Center. Before you get to Healy, you’ll reach Otto Lake Road. Turn left. Just a mile or so west is Denali Outdoor Center headquarters. This company offers scenic camping, raft and kayak trips down the Nenana River, bicycle rentals and kayak lessons. See www.denalioutdoorcenter.com or call (888) 303-1925 or (907) 683-1925.
Alaska Resident Special
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then, many more tracks have been found. Research at Denali includes projects involving student scientists. For many years, elementary students from Denali Borough School District participate in ALISON — Arctic Lake Ice and Snow Observatory Network — by tromping down to Horseshoe Lake all winter to collect scientific data.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
The Denali Highway by tour bus or a special permit.) In 1971, after the paved Parks Highway offered more Take a leisurely drive on the convenient access to the park, Denali Highway through one the Denali Highway became a of the most scenic, unspoiled tourist byway into the backareas in Interior Alaska. country. The 135-mile mostly gravel Glaciers have left their road passes through alpine mark on the region and the tundra and taiga for much of road travels along eskers and its route, with breathtaking moraines and around shallow views of snow-covered peaks kettle ponds. and glaciers. It links two of Be sure to have a full tank Alaska’s major byways, the of gas, as there are no gas staRichardson Highway and the tions along the route. Several Parks Highway at Paxson and lodges offer food and minor Cantwell. It is closed between repairs. Campgrounds and October and mid-May. information areas are availCompleted in 1957, the able along the way and include Denali Highway provided Tangle Lakes Campground, the motorists with access to Denali Delta National Wild & Scenic National Park and Preserve River Wayside, the Clearwater (the road through the park is Wayside and Outhouse, and called the Denali Park Road the Brushkana Creek Campand is usually only accessible ground. By ASHLEY BRIGGS For the News-Miner
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Leaving Paxson, the first 21 miles of the highway are paved. The route then becomes gravel and extends to the foothills of the Alaska Range. Drive slowly, as the road is narrow and can be bumpy. Travelers can see peaks such as Mount Hayes (13,832 feet), Mount Hess (11,940 feet) and Mount Deborah (12,339 feet). Also along this stretch is the Tangle Lakes Region. The land this first section of road crosses separates two scenic rivers, the Delta and the Gulkana. At the Tangle Lakes campground, boaters and paddlers can make their way to the Tangle Lake by way of the Round, Lower and Long lakes. Tangle Lakes is famous for its history and is popular today with birders.
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Rail Tours
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Nenana, gateway to the Interior Fun and history collide in Alaska Railroad town By GARY BLACK gblack@newsminer.com Nenana’s strategic location at the confluence of two rivers fortifies the small town’s big role in Alaska. Just 65 miles south of Fairbanks, it sits on the Parks Highway along the Tanana River near the mouth of the Nenana River. Toghotthele Hill, an Athabascan word meaning “mountain that parallels the river,” is a local landmark, and the site has a long history as a Native gathering place. The construction of the Alaska Railroad around 1915 doubled the area’s population. The railroad crosses the Tanana River on the Mears Memorial Bridge, the second-longest single span bridge in the country at 706 feet long. President Warren J. Harding drove the golden spike to commemorate the railroad’s completion on July 15, 1923. In August 2008, Gov. Sarah Palin dedicated the Shirley Demientieff Memorial Bridge on the Parks Highway in honor of the community and Native activist from Nenana. Today, the town’s population
Photo courtesy Joanne Hawkins
The Tripod Gift Shop, 404 N. Parks Highway, (907-8325556) has spots for RVs and tent camping behind the store. Tripod also has a working fish wheel on display and picnic tables if you want to enjoy a leisurely lunch. Tour groups that make reservations with Tripod owner Joanne Hawkins, seen here with a Nenana visitor, will get a free city tour. “I’ll just hop on the bus with them and take them through town,” she said. And if you’re lucky, you might get some of Joanne’s entertaining music. is approximately 450 in winter but grows by about 150 to 200 in summer when the river swims to life with boats and barges. While visitors cannot tour the barges, they can watch the loading and unloading of food and supplies as the vessels prepare for voyages to Interior villages.
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ALFRED STARR CULTURAL CENTER Preserving Local Athabascan History & Art
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On National Register of Historic Places Above The Nenana Depot Museum
• Alaska Claims Settlement Act • Historic Displays • Artist Workshops • Talk with Local People & Artists (907) 832-5527 • www.nenana.org Open 7 Days a Week
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Ulu Shop, Art Lovers Gallery & Hand Crafts Sweets & Treats Shop King & Queen Sizes Bargain Corner (907) 832-5272
“All those barge lines are what Nenana has depended on for income because we are the gateway to the Interior,” Joanne Hawkins, owner of Tripod Gift Shop, said. Hawkins has lived in Nenana since 1972. The River Daze festival in
13
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Quirky Ester invites you Fairbanks neighbor contains vibrant arts community eking out a colorful, quirky existence. The burg is home to a colEster could be considered lection of artists, recreational a Fairbanks suburb, but locals mushers and snowmachiners prefer to keep it strictly indewho are more than eager to pendent. chat it up with visitors. Its Just a jaunt down the Parks small, dirt streets are dotted Highway, the laid-back comwith log homes ranging from munity (the “People’s Republic simple to grand, adorned with of Ester” as they like to call it) what seems to be acres of flowwas once a thriving gold rush ers and packs dogs — lots of town in the early 1900s found- dogs, most of which are weled on Ester Creek. come at the local hangouts, like Miners discovered gold there the Golden Eagle. in 1903. By 1907, Ester City The Eagle is one of the had a population of about 200. favorite watering holes in Ester, In 1929, the Fairbanks Explora- where you can grill your own tion Company began mining on burger and peruse the vast Ester Creek, and in 1933 they photos on the walls which span built a mess hall for their camp. decades of history. Note: don’t That camp later became the drop your burger or it’s likely Ester Gold Camp. In 1958, Fair- to become dinner for someone’s banks Exploration, then known pet before it even hits the floor. as the F. E. Mining Company, The Ester Gold Camp and sold the property to local entre- Malemute Saloon, both closed preneur Don Pearson. this season for renovations, Flash-forward to 2010 and usually offer glimpses of mining the community is still around, life from the early 1900s.
The community boasts its own newspaper, the Ester Republic, published by Deirdre Helfferich. Deirdre and her husband, Hans Mölders, also own Ester Designworks, and Hans is noted for his woodworking. The Ester Republic Press is located at studio No. 2 in the Annex, 2922 Parks Highway. The Annex also hosts art displays and gallery openings for Alaska artists. Call 907-457-6668 for a list of artists, openings, schedules and events. The community also hosts the John Trigg Ester Library and has hosted several fundraisers for a new building. One of the most interesting publications to come out of Ester is the Women of Ester calendar, featuring spreads of the locals. Ask around for a copy, which can provide an interesting perspective of life in Ester.
NENANA
was unloaded from a train at the Nenana depot and sled dog teams took it overland to Nome. Today, mushers and snowmachiners in the Serum Run ’25 follow the original trail to continue the message of the importance of inoculations and other health issues and to keep the history of the Iditarod alive. Several Iditarod and Yukon Quest mushers live in the area. Main street and the vicinity includes some new and established businesses.
By GARY BLACK gblack@newsminer.com
July fest also includes a number of children’s events. Nenana’s greatest claim in Alaska lore stems from the Continued from Page 12 Nenana Ice Classic, the annual June celebrates river life and lottery created by railroad the return of salmon runs and workers in 1917 to guess when fish camps. This year’s day-long the ice covering the Tanana event sponsored by the Lion’s River would break up in the Club of Nenana includes boat spring. Nenana is only place sprint races, a precursor to the in Alaska where you can buy Yukon 800 boat race, and arts tickets year-round for the Ice and crafts vendors. River Daze Classic, even in summer. is the first weekend in June. Its second-greatest claim The town hosts a large is the storied trek to stop a Fourth of July festival in which diphtheria outbreak in Nome motorcycle riders from across in 1925 — the basis for the Alaska converge and ride en Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. masse into town. The Fourth of It began when the serum
Please see ESTER, Page 14
NENANA VISITOR CENTER
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14
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Anderson grooves three days of music, camping and other festivities, creating the atmosphere one of the largAbout 55 miles southwest of est family gatherings in the Fairbanks is a small town with Interior. This year’s festival is slated a big taste for bluegrass music. The quaint and quirky town for July 30 through Aug. 1 at Riverside Park. of Anderson sees its 600-plus The park offers complete population nearly double each facilities with host campsummer during the Anderson grounds, restrooms, showBluegrass and Country Music ers, RV dumping, electrical festival, which draws crowds that would put a Grateful Dead hookups, telephones, barbecue pits and covered pavilions and concert to shame. A diverse range of bluegrass, shooting ranges. Anderson was created in Celtic, jazz and country music bands come out for a fun-filled 1962 with the construction
of the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System at Clear Air Force Station. The town is off the six-mile access road running west of the Parks Highway at Mile 283.5. Bring your harmonica, washboard, jugs and kazoos (and don’t forget bug spray) for a live concert along the riverside. Wear whatever you wish: tie-dye, Birkenstocks or your favorite garb — so long as you wear your dancing feet because you’re bound to have a good time.
ESTER
other volunteers. The park has an ice rink that doubles as a basketball court in the summer, a children’s playground, a picnic pavilion and a soccer field. The park, situated next to the Ester Volunteer Fire Department, is the site of numerous soccer games, Ester Football League games, a Fourth of July picnic, musical gatherings and other events throughout the year.
By REBECCA GEORGE rgeorge@newsminer.com
907-456-8090, www.alaskanvillagearts.com) is owned and operated by Rod and Ivet Hall. The store’s focus is on wellContinued from Page 13 made and unique arts and Ester resident Judie Gumm crafts from Alaska. In addition and her staff of four create the shop has some carving and stellar jewelry at her shop, knife making materials for Judie Gumm Designs (907sale. 479-4568 or judiegumm.com), Ester has a well-used com3600 Main St. munity park maintained by The Alaska Village Arts the Ester Community AssociGift Store (490 Jeannette Way, ation’s Park Committee and
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15
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Sandhill cranes, Canada geese and numerous waterfowl are common sites at Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge.
Creamer’s Field Staff Report
IF YOU GO • What: Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge • Where: 1300 College Road, located by the Department of Fish and Game • Contact: Call 450-7307 for more information.
check out the day’s feathered guests. Each day, visitors can see some of the hundreds of birds that stop by Creamer’s during their annual migration, as well as those who stay yearround like owls and ravens. Sandhill cranes, mallards, and geese can all be seen in the refuge fields during the summer. Creamer’s Field began as a dairy in the early 20th cenFarmhouse Visitor Center & Giftshop Summer Hours: M - F 10am - 5pm Sat & Sun 10am - 6pm Guided Nature Walks leave from the Farmhouse Mon - Fri, 10am & Wed. evenings - 7pm
Additional walks can be arranged for groups of six or more with a minimum of one week advance notice.
Full schedule and events listing at www.creamersfield.org
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Each summer, visitors and Fairbanksans alike flock to Creamer’s Field Migratory Refuge to take in the sights and sounds of this 1,800-acre beauty. The refuge, located at 1300 College Road, is a few minutes’ drive from downtown Fairbanks and includes a host of activities for all ages. Creamer’s Field offers miles of trails for visitors to explore. The Boreal Forest Trail takes explorers through an Interior Alaska forest. Other trails include the Wetland Forest Trail and the Farm Road Trail. Guided nature walks are offered throughout the summer. Call 459-7307 for dates and times. Visitors also can stop by the bird viewing stations by the parking lot to
tury, and remnants of its past remain, such as the Farmhouse Visitors Center. The farmhouse, staffed by the nonprofit Friends of Creamer’s Field, now houses nature and historic exhibits and resources for visitors.
16
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Worshipping in Fairbanks a snow-drifted trail, and the 200-mile journey took 12 days. Four days after their March Christian missionaries fol25 arrival, Rice was purported lowed closely on the heels of to have hosted the first service gold seekers heading into the on March 29, 1903, at the Fairnew Fairbanks gold camp at banks Saloon, located at First the beginning of the 20th cenAvenue and Cushman Street. tury. It is said that the saloon proEvangelists, preachers and prietor respectfully covered the priests joined the stream of glasses and decanters with a miners, prospectors and tradwhite sheet. ers stampeding into Fairbanks James Wickersham’s in early 1903 after rumors of a account of the first service in rich gold strike spread through- his book “Old Yukon: Talesout Alaska and the Yukon. Trails and Trials,” said the Among the first to arrive entire population of the new was an Episcopal priest, the town turned out and that the Rev. Charles E. Rice, who service was conducted by Rice was accompanied by a young along with a Presbyterian minAthabascan, Esias Joseph, who ister, the Rev. C.F. Ensign. guided Rice from Circle to the Under the direction of Fairbanks camp. Archdeacon Hudson Stuck, the According to Episcopal Episcopalians built the first church records, Rice and church in town and opened it Joseph left Circle City on the for worship on Sunday, Oct. 16, Yukon River on March 13, well- 1904. prepared for the journey. The Presbyterians and Roman pair encountered a blizzard and Catholic missionaries followed, and by the close of the year, services were held by all three denominations. By MARY BETH SMETZER msmetzer@newsminer.com
Come & Join Us!
Journey Christian Church
ptist Chur st Ba ch r i F
Schedule Sunday School......................9:45 a.m. Worship.............................11:00 a.m. Wednesday Bible Study/Prayer...6:30 p.m. "Where we want to be your family."
Regal Cinemas on Airport Way
(907) 456-4923
College Rd.
UCPC X
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University Ave.
Summer Worship 9:30 a.m. Childcare Provided Rev. Sandy Faison
Fairbanks, AK 99709 907-479-6728
www.ucpcfairbanks.org
ucpc@acsalaska.net
www.fairhillchurch.com
Worship Services Saturday at 7 p.m. • Sunday at 9 & 11 a.m.
907-457-5522 • 907-457-2167 101 City Lights Blvd., Fairbanks, AK 99712
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805 6th Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701 www.firstbaptistfairbanks.com Pastor Mark Howdeshell
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Both the Episcopalians and Catholics built hospitals in tandem with their churches. S. Hall Young arrived in Fairbanks in July 1904, finding it a town of approximately 500 inhabitants living in tents and cabins, and quickly put up a Presbyterian church at Seventh Avenue and Cushman Street. The original church was moved to Pioneer Park in 1966, and it can be rented for weddings and interdenominational services. The Rev. Francis Monroe, a Jesuit priest, arrived in Fairbanks the same year, and built Immaculate Conception Church on the corner of First Avenue and Dunkel Street. In 1911, the priest decided to move the church across the river, next to St. Joseph’s Hospital. After the Chena River froze, a crew of men and horses skidded the building to the opposite bank where it stands today and is known as “the little white church.” Also in 1903, a Christian Science Reading Room was opened near Seventh Avenue and Barnette Street. The active community opened its first public church on Thanksgiving Day in 1906, and the church history states that two congregation members walked 12 miles in 50 below zero temperatures to attend. Today, the First Church of Christ, Scientist is located at 811 First Ave., on the vacated homesite of Fairbanks’ founder, E.T. Barnette. World War II and the building of the Alaska Highway dramatically opened up Interior Alaska, and with the new pioneers came a new influx of religious denominations. Today, Fairbanks is home to followers of a wide variety of religions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam and more.
17
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Worship Directory – Visitors are always welcome!
Each Friday, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner publishes additional local faith news.
FAIRBANKS AREA Bethel Church
www.bethelchurchak.org (Conservative Baptist) 479-4380 67 1310 Farmers Loop Rd. (2 mi east of Golf Course) Worship: Sat. 6 p.m.,Sunday 9:30 a.m. & 11 a.m. Sunday School: 11:00 a.m.
Bible Baptist Church
452-1407 32 Adak Ave. 328-1423 Off the Steese Highway at College Road E.
Sun 8:30 a.m., 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 6 p.m. & Wed 7 p.m.
Bible believing — Old fashioned singing Plenty of parking for RV’s Free transportation from motels & campgrounds www.BibleBaptistFairbanks.com Doug Duffett, Pastor (907) 388-9815
Immaculate Conception Church
115 N. Cushman Street 452-3533 Mass: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 7:30, 9:15, 11:00 a.m. Weekday Masses (Mon. through Fri.) 12:10 p.m. Church is open weekdays 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Journey Christian Church
Regal Cinemas Movie Theater Services 10:00 a.m.
460-9290
Sacred Heart Cathedral
2501 Airport Way Ph: 474-9032 Fx: 479-3327 Weekend Masses: May 30 - September 5 Sat. 5:00 p.m., Sun. 10:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Weekday Masses: Tue. – Fri. 5:30 p.m. email: shc@mosquitonet.com
St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
Christ Lutheran Church
1029 First Avenue 456-5235 Eucharists: Sunday 8 a.m., 9:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. Wed. 9:30 am & 7 pm, Compline at 12 am Sun. - Fri. www.stmatthewschurch.org
Christian Science Church
Independent Traditional Methodist Worship Sunday School 9:45 a.m. Worship 11 a.m. 907 Union Dr., by Dog Mushers 479-7998 The Friendly Little Country Church
Farmers Loop & Iniakuk Avenue (ELCA) 479-4947 Sunday Worship: 9:30 a.m. www.clcfairbanks.org / clc@mosquitonet.com
811 First Avenue 456-2319 Sunday Service & School 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Evening Testimony Meeting 7:00 p.m. christiansciencefairbanks.org
Church of Christ
645 11th Avenue 456-4921 Sunday 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 6:30 p.m.
St. Paul Church
St. Raphael Catholic Church
1125 Old Steese Hwy. North 457-6603 Mass: Saturday 5:30 p.m. & Sunday 9:30 a.m.
University Community Presbyterian Church
3510 College Road • 9:30 a.m. worship (907) 479-6728 • www.ucpcfairbanks.org
The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter Day Saints
Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS)
For meeting times and locations in Interior and Northern Alaska, please call 1-888-744-4748
2982 Davis Road 456-7660 Worship with us Saturday 5:00 p.m. or Sunday 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. www.zionfairbanks.org
Denali Bible Chapel
DELTA JUNCTION AREA
1201 Lathrop Street 456-5157 Service: 10:30 a.m. www.DenaliBibleChapel.org
Fairbanks Lutheran Church
1012 Cowles Street (ELCA) 452-3425 Sunday Worship: 8:30 a.m. Heritage 10:00 a.m. Celebration II www.fairbankslutheranchurch.org / fairluth@gci.net
Fairbanks Seventh-day Adventist Church
Delta Presbyterian & Faith Lutheran Mile 266.5 Richardson Hwy. 895-4322 Sunday Worship Service (all year) 11:00 a.m.
HEALY AREA Holy Mary of Guadalupe Catholic Church
Sunday 7:00 p.m. Healy Church 683-2535 Saturday Night Mass 6:00 p.m. at the 1811 Farmer’s Loop Road 479-6070 9:30 a.m. Saturday, www.fairbanksadventistchurch.org Wilderness Access Center Theatre (1mi. on Park Rd)
Farewell Avenue Christian Church
100 Farewell Ave. farewellave@gmail.com 456-6123 Sunday: Worship / Communion & Sunday School
Valley Chapel - Assembly of God
Mile 249, Parks Hwy. Healy 683-2303 Sun. Sch. 9:45 am,Church 11 am & 6 pm, Wed. 7 pm
www.farewellave.com
17365582 5-1-10VG
First Baptist Church of Fairbanks
805 Sixth Avenue - Downtown 456-4923 Sunday Morning: 11:00 a.m. www.firstbaptistfairbanks.com
Hamilton Acres Baptist Church 138 Farewell Avenue Independent Sunday 9:45 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Pastor Bruce Hamilton
NORTH POLE AREA Northern Lights Free Will Baptist
2365 Richardson Hwy. (11 Mile) 490-0022 Services: 10:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.
St. Nicholas Catholic Church
707 St. Nicholas Drive, North Pole 488-2595 Masses: Daily 9 a.m., Sat. 5 p.m., Sun. 9 a.m. & Noon Reconciliation: Saturday 4 p.m. or by appointment
18
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
ACTIVITIES Continued from Page 10
Across the lake, the Black Diamond Resort Co. offers a fine restaurant, a nine hole golf course where you can tee off at midnight, a mini-golf course, all-terrain vehicle tours and horse-drawn carriage tours. See www.blackdiamondgolf.com or call 907 683-4653. Other activities • Artistic director Todd R. Norris wrangles a troupe of actors recreating Gold Rushera life in the park at the Alaska Cabin Nite Dinner Theatre at McKinley Chalets, 238.9 Mile Parks Highway. “Fannie’s Roadhouse” is based on the life of Fannie Quigley, who ran a roadhouse in the park. The theater hosts two shows nightly at 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., seven days per week, from May 13 to Sept. 16 and shows include dinner. Call 907-683-8200, or visit www.denaliparkresorts.com, then click on activities and events. Tickets are $60 per person. • Denali ATV Adventures offers excursions into the Bush with single, two-person or side-by-side ATVs for those with kids or for a spouse who doesn’t want to drive. Each helmet has an intercom so the guide can provide live, narrated tours. Call 907-683-4288 or e-mail info@DenaliATV.com. • Horseback tours at Denali Saddle Safaris, (907) 683-1200 at Mile 3.9 Stampede Road, just north of Healy. Rides last from one hour to half-days. See www. denalisaddlesafaris.com. • Earth-Song Lodge and Denali Dog Sled Expeditions also on Stampede Trail,
See Alaska like the locals see it!
Al Grillo/The Associated Press
The Denali Salmon Bake, or just the Bake as locals call it, is one of the most popular spots in the area to grab a bite to eat, drink, play darts or take in live music. offers tours on the tundra of the Alaska Range and tours of its dog sled kennel. The proprietors provide slide shows of sled dog expeditions and offer a coffee house as well. See www.earthsonglodge.com or call 907 6832863. • Husky Homestead Tours. Another activity worth doing is visiting the champion dog sled kennel of four-time Iditarod Sled Dog Champion Jeff King on Goose Lake, just south of the entrance to Denali National Park. The 1 1/2 hour narrated tour and shares stories from the Iditarod race. See www.huskyhomestead.com or call 907 683-2904. The Nenana River runs through the valley and several operators offer trips ranging from calm and scenic Class II with just a few ripples to exciting Class IV hold-on-to-your-hat waves. All companies provide drysuits to put on over your clothes. Options include: • Nenana Raft Adventures — whitewater rafting trips through the Nenana River gorge, excursions on the calmer upper section of river, INTERIOR TOPPER ARCTIC RV &Certified RV Technicians
and multi-day backcountry options. Call (888) 789-7238 or (907) 683-7238 or see www.alaskaraft.com. • Denali Raft Adventures — two-hour, four-hour and all-day excursions on the Nenana River. Call (888)6832234 or (907) 683-2234 or see www.denaliraft.com. • ERA Helicopters offers flightseeing tours, some of which include glacier landings. See www.flightseeingtours.com or call 907 6832574 or (800) 843-1947. Denali Air takes passengers up in fixed-wing airplanes that take off from a private airstrip, 8 miles south of the park entrance. See www.denaliair.com or call 907 683-2261.
What to wear
Weather at Denali can change in an instant. Summer temperatures range from 33 to 75 degrees, and it is not uncommon for snow to fall in July. Park rangers suggest visitors dress in layers and bring a raincoat that can also serve as a windbreaker. Mittens and a warm hat are a good precaution. Don’t forget mosquito repellent. Alaska mosquitoes are notorious, especially in certain areas of the park, like Wonder Lake.
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19
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
The Alaska Railroad By TIM MOWRY tmowry@newsminer.com
BY THE NUMBERS
If you really want to sit back and enjoy Alaska, consider hopping on the Alaska Railroad for a day or even a week. With more than 500 miles of track running from Seward at the south end to Fairbanks on the north end, the railroad cuts through three different mountain ranges — the Kenai Mountains, the Chugach Mountains and the Alaska Range — and offers unforgettable views that can’t be seen from an RV or tour bus but can from one of the railroad’s luxury domed cars. “Most people enjoy the relaxed nature of railway travel, to be able to sit and view the scenery,” Alaska Railroad Corp. sales marketing manager Ruth Rosewwarne said. “It’s a whole authentic experience.” The railroad features tours and stops in several different locations along the line, including Seward, Whittier, Girdwood, Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna and Fairbanks. From catching halibut and salmon in Seward to landing on glaciers in the shadow of Mount McKinley to seeing grizzly bears in Denali National Park and Preserve to panning for gold in Fairbanks, the Alaska Railroad cannot only take you there but also book whatever tours you want. It’s estimated that between 80,000 and 100,000 people travel on the Alaska Railroad each year, though it’s hard to pinpoint a specific number because some travelers take multiple trips on the train, Rosewarne said. The railroad can put together an entire rail vacation rang-
• Call 800-544-0552 or go to www.alaskarailroad.com.
ing from five to 12 nights with prices ranging from $1,799 to $5,489 or you can pick and choose between a full lineup of shorter trips and day tours. “The independent traveler is one of our strongest markets,” Rosewarne said. “Most of the services and most of what people want to see and do is on the Railbelt.
I $5,00V0EERRYY EV E TTOO GGOO NN! IO SSEESSSSIO
N
“We try to sell a little bit of everything,” she said. “A lot of people will fly into Anchorage, do a rail tour north and then come back to Anchorage and spend the night and then do a rail tour to the south.” Traveling by train isn’t low budget or low class when it Please see RAILROAD, Page 20
G
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• 614 — Miles of total track, including spurs, on the Alaska Railroad. • 2,363 — Elevation in feet of Broad Pass, the highest point on the railroad. • 916 — Length in feet of the longest bridge on the railroad across Hurricane Gulch. • 296 — Height in feet the Hurricane Gulch bridge sits above Hurricane Creek. • 1914 — Year the Alaska Railroad was established. • 6.1 million — Pounds of freight hauled by the Alaska Railroad in 2008. • 80,000 to 100,000 — Number of people estimated to travel the Alaska Railroad each year.
20
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
RAILROAD
The Anchorage to Seward route is considered the most scenic section of track. The route travels along Turnagain Arm before heading into the Kenai Mountains and climbing up Turnagain Pass and descending into the Resurrection Bay town of Seward. The Anchorage to Denali route is probably the most-traveled section of track because of the popularity of Denali National Park and Preserve, Rosewarne said.
cars have upper-level outdoor platforms, an open air viewing deck and full bar to enjoy as you wind your way through the Continued from Page 19 Alaska Range or around Turcomes to the Alaska Railroad. nagain Arm. The domed cars The addition of several 89-foot, have proved so popular that the double-decker luxury dome cars railroad added two more domed during the past two years has cars for the route from Anchorgreatly enhanced the railroad age to Seward last year. experience for travelers who “That’s really enhanced that are willing to pay the extra cost route,” Rosewarne said. “It’s so for what the railroad terms its lush when you go through the GoldStar Service. Kenai Mountains and get off The new, state-of-the-art the road system.”
PIONEER PARK Alaska’s Only Historical Theme Park
Airport Way & Peger Rd. • Fairbanks, Alaska • 459-1095 Visitor Information www.fnsb.us/PioneerPark • email: pioneerpark@co.fairbanks.ak.us Park Office: (907)459-1087 • 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99701
• Gold Rush Town (Shops) • Pioneer Aviation Museum • Mini Golf & Carousel • Native Culture Exhibits • Kayak & Bicycle Rentals • Crooked Creek & Whiskey Island Railroad • Square & Round Dance Hall
• Palace Theater Show • Alaska Salmon Bake • Pioneer Museum & Big Stampede Show • Railroad Museum • National Historic Landmarks • Picnic Shelters & Playground • Free WiFi parkwide
June 1 – August 31 • GAZEBO NIGHTS - Live entertainment nightly at 7p.m. - FREE • FINE ARTS GALLERY & GIFT SHOP open Noon. - 8p.m. daily - FREE
• MONTHLY LITERARY READINGS 1st Saturdays at 7p.m. - FREE • TIPS – Totally Impromptu Performance Series
Relive the past and explore the treasures of the Golden Heart.
17365597-5-1-10VG
All Activities are in the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts-Bear Gallery, Theater or outside at the Gazebo. For info call Fairbanks Arts Association 456-6485
21
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, May 1, 2010
P I ON E E R PARK Visit Real Alaskans
Native American Folk Art Inc. Presents
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Interior & Arctic Alaska’s Aeronautical History. 16 Aircraft, 31 Engines, Memorabilia, Artifacts, Photos, Stories & More.
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Featuring: Chilkoot Pass, Shooting the Rapids, Dawson Artifacts, photos, and other displays of Fairbanks’ golden past. and on to Fairbanks...Gold paintings by C. Rusty OPEN DAILY 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Rush Heurlin. Narrated by poet laureate, Ruben Gaines.
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Get a taste of real Fairbanks history. This is a must see!
22
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Sam Harrel/News-Miner
David Dalton of Healy crosses American Summit during the 2010 Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race.
What is your Quest? Thousand-mile sled dog race is billed as the toughest in the world home to one of the longest and most grueling sled dog races in the world. While the Iditarod Sled Dog The Yukon Quest 1,000 Mile race gets most of the attention International Sled Dog Race in the Lower 48, Fairbanks is — more commonly known as By CHRIS FREIBERG cfreiberg@newsminer.com
VISITORS GUIDE ADVERTISING Act now for 2011 If your business is interested in placing an ad in the 2011 Visitors Guide, fill out and return this coupon. Name ______________________________________________________________________________________ Business Name______________________________________________________________________________ Address____________________________________________________________________________________
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• Gold Nuggets & Jewelry • We Buy • Sell • Gold & Silver Bullion • Alaska Medallions • Coin Jewelry
the Yukon Quest or simply, the Quest — began with a conversation between four mushers in a bar. Roger Williams, Leroy Shank, Ron Rosser and Willie Libb were sitting at the nowclosed Bull’s Eye Saloon in Fairbanks in April 1983 when they came up with the idea of a 1,000 mile race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon, as a celebration of the Klondike Gold Rush era and the transportation route between the two cities. The men wanted the race to be a true Alaska Bush experience with fewer checkpoints and stages than the Iditaord. The first race began Feb. 25, 1984, and was indeed as rugged as the organizers had planned with many trail mark-
23
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
WEIO wows with athleticism From jaw-dropping to grimace-inducing to just plain silly, it’s hard to take your eyes off the action at the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics. WEIO — pronounced “wee-oh” for short — is a four-day festival of competition, arts and crafts and tribal ceremonies by Alaska Natives and American Indians. It runs from July 24-27 at the Carlson Center. There are 23 competitions that were developed as ways to train for the rigors of life in remote Alaska. The scissor broad jump, for example, is designed to teach agility when hopping along ice floes. The challenges range from tests of balance to competitive
• Santa Claus House •
ance can be rather spectatorfriendly. The most infamous IF YOU GO is the ear pull, in which two competitors each loop a string • What: World Eskimoaround an ear, face one anothIndian Olympics er and lean backward. Most of • When: July 24-27 the event’s participants need • Where: Carlson Center bags of ice to dull the pain • Tickets: daytime sesafter matches — and the occasion, free; nighttime sessional cloth to wipe sion, $10 for adults, $8 for away blood. elders and students An arts and crafts bazaar and dance presentations whale-blubber eating. also are a prominent part of One of the most popular WEIO. events is the high kick, in A complete schedule of which competitors must leap events is available at to kick a ball dangling from a www.weio.org. string. The record is 9 feet, 6 There are two sessions per inches. day. The daytime session is Another spectator favorite free. Watching the nighttime is the greased pole walk, origi- events, including the finals nally created to teach agility for the most popular events when crossing rivers on logs. the blanket toss, costs $10 for For those that can stomach adults and $8 for elders and it, tests of pain and endurstudents.
• Farmer’s Loop • North Pole
RIDE THE BUS! MACS – Metropolitan Area Commuter System
Arrives & Departs from the Transit Center • 501 Cushman St. Info Hotline: 459-1011 VanTran Scheduling: 459-1010
Check out our maps & schedules online: www.fnsb.us/transportation
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Employment • Airport • Hotels • RV Parks • Recreation • Pioneer Park
See Fairbanks –
• Medical Centers • Education • Riverboat Landing • Entertainment •
By JOSHUA ARMSTRONG jarmstrong@newsminer.com
• University of Alaska • Shopping Malls • Library • Fairgrounds
24
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Old-fashioned Fun Pioneer Park holds Fairbanks’ historic heart By GLENN BURNSILVER gburnsilver@newsminer.com Fun and history meet at Pioneer Park, a 44-acre entertainment zone located at Airport Way and Peger Road. Originally called Alaskaland, the park offers a variety of activities relating to the history of the Interior. The park is home to the area’s largest
Fourth of July celebration. The park is open daily from noon to 8 p.m. from May 24 through Labor Day. Entry to the park is free, though some attractions charge admission. For more information, call 459-1087 or visit www.fnsb. us/pioneerpark.
Family activities
• Crooked Creek and Whisky Island Railroad — Trips around the park are available several times a day. $2 adults, $1 children. Multi-ride discounted punch cards also are available.
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• Gold Rush Town — A dramatized gold rush town consisting of 35 pioneer cabins relocated to Pioneer Park from their original locations. Now renovated, some offer a variety of items including souvenirs, sweets and snacks. • Miniature golf — Play 18 or 36 holes at the outdoor mini golf course. Call 452-7888 for more information. • Red and Reola’s Carousel — An old-time carousel with painted horses and carnival music. Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Museums
• Bear Gallery — Located on the third floor of the Pioneer Park Centennial Center for the Arts. The museum includes exhibits from local artists and a gift shop. Free. • Native Village — An outdoor museum representing Alaska Native architecture and artifacts. Free. • Pioneer Air Museum — A collection of aircraft memorabilia managed by the Interior and Arctic Alaska Aeronautical Foundation. $2 adults, free for children under 12 accompanied by an adult, $5 family. • Pioneer Museum — A collection of pioneer artifacts. Free, but donations are welcome. • S.S. Nenana Riverboat Please see PIONEER, Page 25
25
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
News-Miner file
PIONEER
The Tanana Valley Engine No. 1 at Pioneer Park is the oldest operating steam locomotive in Alaska.
Continued from Page 24
— Active for 21 years, the boat now hosts a historical diorama of the Tanana and Yukon rivers. The boat is listed as a national landmark. • Tanana Valley Railroad Museum — Features the Tanana Valley Engine No. 1, the oldest operating steam locomotive in Alaska and the Yukon Territory, initially put into service in 1899. The train runs a half-dozen times during the year. Visit www.fairnet. org/agencies/tvrr/tvrr.html for more information. Free. • Wickersham House — Dedicated to Judge James Wickersham, the first territorial representative for Alaska, the house is furnished the way it would have looked in the early 1900s. Free.
wild Alaska caught. The restaurant is open from 5-9 p.m. daily from May 9 to Sept. 11 in Pioneer Park. Started in Alaska Salmon Bake sets itself apart from other buffets 1979, the Salmon Bake has beautiful gardens with Alaska by offering all-you-can-eat Alaska halibut, salmon, Bering Native carvings for diners who Sea cod or slow-roasted prime wish to eat al fresco. Be sure to visit the Pick ‘N Poke Gift rib. Shop located next door. The In addition to the main course, the Salmon Bake expe- gift shop offers souvenirs and Native crafts. rience includes a salad bar, • Gazebo Nights — An The all-you-can-eat dinner hour of live music at the white side dishes and deserts. But is $31 for adults and $15 for the Salmon Bake isn’t quangazebo near the park entrance. children and includes unlimStarts at 7 p.m. every evening, tity over quality. The salmon ited nonalcoholic beverages. sauce, beer batter and prime June through August. Free. For more information, call rib are perfected homemade • Golden Heart Revue — 452-7274. recipes, and all the fish is A musical comedy about pioneer life in early Fairbanks. Shows are offered at 6:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. from May 18 to Sept. 11 at the Treatment of Acute Minor Illness & Injury Palace Theatre in Gold Rush Town. $18 adults, $9 children. No appointment necessary Reservations required by callMon. • Fri. 7a.m. - 9p.m. ing 452-7274. Sat. Sun • 10a.m. - 7p.m. • The Big Stampede Show — A 45-minute presentation 1867 Airport Way, Suite 130B located at the Pioneer MuseFairbanks, AK 99701 um. Presented several times (next to Super 8 Motel) a day. $4 adults; $2 children, F airbanks • (907) 452-2178 under 4 free. Call 456-8579 for more information.
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26
2010 Summer Visitors Guide Eric Engman/ News-Miner
Break dancers stay loose between rounds by entertaining the crowd at the annual Midnight Sun Festival downtown on June 21, 2008.
Party up in the Midnight Sun downtown, including music and dancing or 173 booths, including Alaskan craft venUp north, where the sun dors and a petting zoo. Fun stays up all night, people find in the waters of the Chena cause for celebration, too. The River, a barbecue competition, Midnight Sun Festival occurs a basketball tournament and on the summer solstice, which break dancing are among the is June 20 this year. expected activities for visitors The longest day of the year and residents alike. is host to a Fairbanks party The festival has changed of about 40,000 people with since last year, but most activities for all kinds all mainstays will stick around. day long. “As long as it’s bright, From noon to midnight, cheerful and sunny, we’re people can entertain themOK,” said Kara Nash, the selves with the 33 happening Downtown Association of performances all through Fairbanks events and marketing coordinator. Nash said that people can expect gold panning, sidewalk chalk art and the annual “Break Fest” break dancing competition. The Midnight Sun Baseball By REBA LEAN For the News-Miner
C H E N A C H E N A
C H E N A
ena Bingo h C
7 Days a Week Great Door Prizes!
en
7 d a ys a
essions
2S
hur., Wed., TSat. & Fri.
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Classic also celebrates day. For $10, spectators can check out Fairbanks’ local Goldpanners baseball team. The Midnight Sun game dates back to 1906, and is widely recognized for its 10:30 p.m. start on June 21 this year. Coinciding with the longest day of the year is the Yukon 800 riverboat race. The Fairbanks Outboard Association runs the 800-mile race winding down the Tanana and Yukon Rivers from Fairbanks to the village of Galena and back. Before days start getting shorter and darker, Alaskans and visitors can find plenty to be happy about. With only a few hours of daylight in the winter, taking advantage of the long days during the Midnight Sun Festival is a must.
109 Clay Street • Fairbanks, AK 99701 • 451-0663
B I N G O
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Ready, Set, Go! Fairbanks runs amok under the midnight sun By REBA LEAN For the News-Miner For those who believe that running or walking 10 kilometers in the middle of one of the longest days of the year would be hot, unpleasant and too long for enjoyment — they might be wrong. The Midnight Sun Run is one race that gets wacky, wild and a little wet. Starting at 10 p.m. June 19, the route runs from the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Patty Center to Pioneer Park. The third most popular race in Alaska takes 3,000 participants elbow-to-elbow through Fairbanks’ residential areas and on bike paths. The course is mild and easy, but a fun time for all ages. Before starting, racers must decide whether to take their times seriously or not. Although not required, run-
Discounts abound for those who can find them By RENA DELBRIDGE rdelbridge@newsminer.com A struggling global economy has people tightening their purse strings, but it also could net some stellar deals for travelers to Alaska this summer. Some visitor services operaPlease see DISCOUNT, Page 28
John Wagner/News-Miner
Participants in the 26th Annual Midnight Sun Run parade down Tanana Loop in 2008. ners often dress up in outrageous costumes for prizes at the end of the race. Costumewearing individuals have a harder time winning than those who wear the standard shorts and T-shirt. Along the way, runners often encounter hose- or water-gun-wielding bystanders. A Couch Potato Award is usually given to the loudest supporters along the course. It is safe to say that this fun run is a little out of the ordinary. Since 1983, Fairbanks has been host to the “farthest north 10K run.” The first year reported to have costumes was 1984. The fastest men’s time of 29 minutes and 14 seconds was set in 1984, and in 1987, the women’s record time was made at 33
IF YOU GO • What: 28th annual Midnight Sun Run • When: 10 p.m. June 19 • Where: Begins at UAF Patty Center, ends at Pioneer Park • Registration: $30 on race day; $15 by preregistering at active.com, $20 after June 11 • More information at www.midnightsunrun.us
minutes and 57 seconds. In 1995, the course became what it is today. The money raised at the event goes toward the Tanana Valley United Way and scholarships for local student athletes.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
QUICK HITS
Sun spots
It might seem hard to believe, but Fairbanks experiences sunrise and sunset during the summer months. While it doesn’t get completely dark, the sun dips below the horizon but not more than 6 degrees during the weeks surrounding the June 21 solstice. During that time, sunset is about 12:45 a.m. with sunrise about 3 a.m. You can still read a book at midnight without artificial light. The main problem with more hours of daylight is we don’t know when to go home.
Mosquito bites
Don’t believe all the horror stories you have heard about Alaska’s mosquitoes. They are not the state bird and are not as bad people say. They are worse. Scientists will tell you there are good and bad mosquito years depending on spring weather. They are
wrong; mosquitoes are bad every year in Alaska. Entomologists like to be scientific and talk about mosquito life cycles using words such as larvae and pupae. We don’t understand how you can have an “a” before an “e” at the end of a word so for our purposes we will refer to them as “wrigglers” and “tumblers,” respectively. Basically what happens is mosquito eggs are deposited in standing water or moist areas — which is pretty much all of Alaska — we presume by female mosquitoes but have no interest in checking. They do this in late summer. Somehow these eggs survive the cold winters through a chemical process that includes the words “glycerol” and “supercooling.” We thought supercooling involves nuclear power plants and it scares us the term is bandied about when talking mosquitoes. When spring rolls around, the wrigglers become tum-
49th Annual
World Eskimo Indian Olympics The WEIO Board of Governors invites you to attend WEIO 2010 in Fairbanks! TRADITIONAL GAMES, DANCING, ARTS AND CRAFTS! The World Eskimo Indian Olympics is proud to host a drug & alcohol free event!
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WEDNESDAY–SATURDAY • JULY 21–24, 2010 Carlson Center • 2010 2nd Avenue • Fairbanks For more information, contact: WEIO Office: 907.452.6646 • Fax: 907.456.2422 • www.weio.org Cell: Luke at 907.978.8084 • Email: weio@weio.org
DON'T MISS THE 9TH ANNUAL
July 9–11
Carlson Center • 2010 Second Avenue
ALL ARE WELCOME
Children, Seniors & Dancers in Regalia ADMITTED FREE
(907) 456-2245 • Visit our page on Facebook
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Location: Open field behind the Carlson Center Gates Open: 5:00 p.m. Friday • 11:00 a.m. Saturday & Sunday Grand Entry: 6:00 p.m. Friday • Noon Saturday & Sunday Ceremonial Eagle Release: 2:00 p.m. Sunday Thanks to Bird Treatment & Learning Center Guest Drum: Silver Cloud
blers, which become large, biting grown-up mosquitoes. The best mosquito repellent is called DEET. Bathe in it.
Moose sights
We hear the story often. You been all across Alaska and haven’t seen a moose. You’re starting to doubt the very existence of the ambling ungulates. Your best chance to see moose in the Fairbanks area is along Chena Hot Springs Road just north of town. The road runs 55 miles east to Chena Hot Springs. Past about Mile 15 there are swampy areas and many creeks and sloughs. Moose love to feed in swamps and sloughs. At Mile 26 is the Chena River State Recreation Area. It’s also a good place to keep an eye peeled. To increase your chances, go early in the morning or later in the evening as moose are somewhat nocturnal. But remember, they are wild animals and can move fast when they want to.
DISCOUNT Continued from Page 27
tors — from hotels to river rafting guides, from flight-seeing businesses to tundra tours — could be offering some sweet deals. Visitors looking for the most bang for the buck should surf the Web, suggested Deb Hickok, executive director of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau. From the bureau’s comprehensive site, www.explorefairbanks.com, click on “Value Vacations” on the left for super deals. “The best way to get information is from these types of websites and to go online and check their favorite places to see if they’re offering something right now,” she said. The Alaska Travel Industry Association has so many members with great deals that it has developed a special website to showcase those bargains. Look for two-for-one specials, price breaks and other offers at www.alaskashottestdeals.com
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Museum shows Fairbanks, past and present Staff Report The Fairbanks Community Museum at 410 Cushman St. in historic City Hall, offers visitors a glimpse of Fairbanks past and present from the founding of the Golden Heart City in the Gold Rush era to modernday exhibits on winter in the Interior. The museum has exhibits on winter in Fairbanks from the first Winter Carnival in 1934 to the current Ice Festival and offers folks a glimpse at 101 things Fairbanksans do in winter. There’s an exhibit on the Flood of 1967 when the Chena
• When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays • Where: 410 Cushman St. in old City Hall • Admission: Free
River rose more than 6 feet above flood stage and the downtown area was buried in water, causing millions of dollars in damage and attracting nationwide attention to the community. Another exhibit features the Klondike Gold Rush and early Fairbanks. See how gold-seekers swooped into the Dawson City area of the Yukon and
finally filtered into the Interior. The Community Museum also is the home of Alaska’s official Dog Mushing Museum, which features the history of the sport from its beginnings, when dog teams were used to haul freight and carry mail, to modern-day racing. Museum organizers are constructing a new exhibit area that should open this summer. Museum hours are from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. It also may be open on some Saturday’s and from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesday. There is no admission charge, but donations are accepted.
QUEST Continued from Page 22
Marketplace FIND Fairbanks online business directory
• Business Location • Directions with Google Maps • Phone Numbers • Business Hours
It’s Easy! Just click on the marketplace tab. visit:
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ers lost or misplaced. Some of the trail wasn’t even prepared in time because the trailbreakers’ snowmachine broke down. Sonny Lindner, who won the first Quest in a little more than 12 days, was once quoted as calling the race “90 percent camping trip and maybe a little bit of racing.” Quest organizers learned a lot from that race. When the first group of mushers left Whitehorse and headed to Fairbanks in 1985, the trail was marked much more clearly. The race continues to alternate its ending and beginning each year between the cities. This year, the race started in Fairbanks, and in 2011, it will end here. By 1989, more than 40 racers entered the Yukon Quest. Only two dozen mushers participated in the 2010 race. The purse has also gone down a bit because of the sagging economy, from a high of $200,000 in 2007, to $150,000 this year. The higher cost of mushing supplies has also kept some mushers on the sidelines. However, those that still enter, continue to set a high standard in the support. The 2010 winner of the race, Hans Gatt, reached Whitehorse in 9 days, 1 hour and 35 minutes, blowing away the previous record by nearly 23 hours.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, Saturday, May 1, 2010
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No one knows Alaska like Alaska knows Alaska. In fact, we’ve been part of this great land for over 75 years. We’re proud to offer more jet service to, from and within the Last Frontier, including easy access to Fairbanks from Seattle and Anchorage. Not to mention, convenient connections to other destinations throughout the Lower 48. To learn more, visit alaskaair.com.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Go to the farmers market By ERICA FRANICH For the News-Miner The popular Alaska Grown merchandise — T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats and more — worn proudly by many Fairbanksans is more than a fashion statement. It is a testament to their support of a vital and prominent business venture: The sale of locally grown and produced food and products. The Tanana Valley Farmers Market, like other community farmers markets, is much more than a place to buy food. Time at the market is a time to appreciate handcrafted art, smell handmade baked goods and socialize with Alaskans and Alaska visitors who believe in the importance of the market’s mission: to develop and promote Alaska’s agricultural, horticultural and cottage industries, providing quality produce and products to the public. Any Wednesday or Saturday during the summer season, 20 or more vendors are on hand selling Alaska Grown produce and plants and Made in Alaska and Silver Hand arts and crafts. These designators are sym-
st u g Au 4 6–1 10 20
Eric Engman/News-Miner
Ted Sponsel picks out kohlrabi from the Rosie Creek Farm stand at the Tanana Valley Farmers Market at 2600 College Road. bols of excellence given only to the highest quality products and produce. The excellence of those products is evidenced by the masses of shoppers always on hand. The loyalty of such patrons has helped the Tanana Valley Farmers Market become the oldest established farmers market in Alaska and the only one located in its own permanent building. Whether it’s fresh vegetables, freshly made bread or handcrafted jewelry you’re looking for, the market is
the place to find it. Favorites such as Basically Basil’s organic vinegars, Far Above Rubie’s goat milk or the ever-popular Pitasite falafels always draw crowds. A full list of vendors is available on the market’s website, www. tvf.market.com. The market is open Wednesdays 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. from May 8 through September. Beginning May 30, the market will open on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
T ANANA VALLEY S TATE F AIR ATTENTION,
HAPPY CAMPERS!
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• Summer 907-456-7956 • Winter 907-452-3750 Fax: 907-456-7971
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Tanana Valley Fairgrounds 1800 College Rd. Fairbanks, AK 99709 http://www.tananavalleyfair.org
32
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Downtown shopping Finding what you want at Fairbanks hot spots While you’re downtown, don’t forget to check out the Co-Op Plaza, which holds a variety of stores, including Raven Mad gift shop, Ebony and Ivory Gift Shop, Cynde’s Boutique and the Inner Knit, a store that sells yarn. Nearby, you can find The Fur Factory, which offers luxurious and warm hats, scarves, coats, mittens, slippers and mukluks. Jewelry and clothing is the specialty at The Cat’s Meow on Lacey Street. Across from the Chena River on First Avenue near the Bridgewater Hotel is a new vintage store, Chartreuse. This eclectic store specializes in vintage apparel, shoes and accessories. A variety of fine jewelry stores, which carry handmade pieces fashioned from gold nuggets, can also be found downtown.
Pick up the Daily News-Miner for information on local community activities.
21365804-5-1-10VG
can be found. While you’re there, say hello to Martha, Fairbanks’ folk art The downtown Fairbanks ambassador, a wooden figure shopping district offers plenty on the sidewalk by the front of opportunities for spenders door. Martha greets visitors and browsers alike. every day during store hours in All manner of trinkets, bau- good weather and in bad and bles and gifts, from postcards she likes to pose for pictures. to a fine furs, are available The Alaska House Art Galdowntown along with jewlery, several blocks to the south elry, vintage clothing, art and on Cushman Street, specializes antiques. in fine art and crafts, including Whether you’re looking or Alaska Native art from every buying, a stop at the Arctic part of the state. Travelers Gift Shop at the The gallery, located in a hiscorner of Cushman Street and toric handmade log structure, Second Avenue is a must. It’s is dedicated to preserving and one of the oldest gift shops promoting the art of Alaska. downtown and offers a wide In another historic building selection of merchandise is The Craft Market on Fifth appealing to a variety of tastes. Avenue, specializing in native How about a baseball cap baskets, ulu knives, soapstone with an Alaska emblem or a carvings, beadwork and ivory handmade basket? The store carvings. also offers dolls, jewelry and For those who like to take knives. their time poking around, Next door to Arctic Travelthere’s Elegant Memories, an ers is If Only—A Fine Store. antique store on Second AvePopular with locals, this nue next to Big Ray’s Store. store goes out of its way to Owner Clay Davis takes stand out from the crowd. You pride in his selection of sterling won’t find much in the way silver spoons dating from the of tourist kitsch in here. The early to mid 1900s. owners seek out unique, high“They’re all from when the quality goods, often handmade. steam ships were coming up “We have a really good folhere,” Davis said. lowing,” saleswoman T’sha The store offers a variety of Gutierrez said. antique items, including glassThe store’s offerings rouware, books and tchotchkes. tinely change but usually Davis’ selection of Alaskana pens, stationary, books, and includes items made of ivory decorative household items and jade. By AMANDA BOHMAN abohman@newsminer.com
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
A walking tour of Fairbanks church of Fairbanks, founded in 1904 by the Rev. Francis Monroe. The church previIf the streets and sidewalks ously sat directly across the of Fairbanks could talk, they’d Chena River but was moved share tales more than 100 twice with the help of volunyears old. teers who raised the church With the help of a good from its foundation and rolled pair of shoes, visitors can walk it across the frozen river on a those same streets to catch a horse-drawn sledge. glimpse of Fairbanks’ past. • The Masonic Temple, In a stretch of about 3 built in 1906, was once a host miles, the historic downtown to President Warren G. HardFairbanks walking tour offers ing, who spoke from the build41 points of interest in and ing’s front steps in 1923. around the downtown area. • A plaque at the corner of The tour includes historic First Avenue and Noble Street cemeteries, churches, monuto commemorates the site of ments and homes, with stories the home of James Wickerand explanations available at sham, Interior Alaska’s first the Fairbanks Visitors Inforjudge. mation Center located in the • The Lacey Street Theater Morris Thompson Cultural showed movies for 40 years and Visitors Center. The visstarting in 1936. It now housitor’s center also has maps of es the Alaska Ice Museum. the walking tour. • A poor miner built a During the course of about home for his wife, Mary Lee two hours, the walking tour Davis, to keep her from movtakes visitors to 41 locations, ing to Seattle in 1916. The including: home now is a historic land• Immaculate Conception mark. Church, the first Catholic • Fairbanks’ oldest frame By REBECCA GEORGE For the News-Miner
house, built in 1905 by the founder of the Tanana Valley Railroad, is known as the Falcon Joslin Home. The house still sits in its original location at the corner of Cowles Street and Fifth Avenue. • Courthouse Square is the site of the first courthouse and federal jail, built in 1904. The current building, built in 1932, served as the town’s central gathering area by housing a post office and a federal court. • Clay Street Cemetery hosts more than 2,000 Fairbanks residents buried between 1903 and 1978. Mary Pedro, wife of Italian immigrant prospector and Fairbanks founder Felix Pedro, is buried here. Pedro was the first to discover gold in Fairbanks. Voice-guided tours in German, Japanese and English are available at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors center for free. More information is available at the visitors center.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
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35
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Summer mushing By CHRIS FREIBERG cfreiberg@newsminer.com
Johnny Wagner/News-Miner
Musher Marvin Kokrine’s appropriately named dog Blue waits to run in the 19-mile mid-distance heat of the Alaska Dog Mushing Association Challenge Series Race.
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By now the snow is long gone, making it far too warm to enjoy Alaska’s unofficial state sport, dog mushing in its purest form. However, there are still several options in and around Fairbanks this summer to give you an idea of all that the sport entails. • Mary Shields, the first woman to finish the world-renowned Iditarod sled dog race, shares her stories from the trail on a two hour summer tour. The tour begins daily at 7:30 p.m. and is designed for adults and children older than 8. The cost is $28 for adults and $20 for children under 12. Reservations are required and group size is limited. Shields also offers customized tours during the day for groups of 10 or more. Round trip transportation is available for $17 per person. For more information visit www.maryshields.com or call (907) 455-6469. • The “Winningest Musher in the World,” Jeff King also offers a daily tour of his Husky Homestead and dog kennel, just outside the Denali National Park entrance. King, who has won the Iditarod four times, and said that this year’s race was his last, has about 75 dogs at the kennel. The tour is $49 for adults and $29 for kids 12 and under. The tour is not recommended for children under 3. For more information, visit huskyhomestead.com. • Chena Hot Springs Resort is a ways out of Fairbanks, but it’s worth the drive to enjoy the wide range of activities, including a dog kennel tour and a dog cart rid around the resort. The dog kennel tour is $20 for adults and $10 for kids 6-12. Children five and under are free. The dog cart tour lasts about 20 minutes and costs $60 per person. For more information check out www.chenahotsprings.com. • The sled dogs at Denali National Park are instrumental in helping rangers get around. In fact, they’re the only sled dogs in the country that help protect a national park. Sled dog demonstrations are given everyday at 10 a.m., 2 p.m.
and 4 p.m. For more information, and to meet the park’s sled dogs, check out http://www.nps.gov/dena/ planyourvisit/kennels.htm. • The Miller family are lifelong Alaskans who have been running sled dogs for more than two decades. The family, which has even been featured on the BBC, offers demonstrations May through October, seven days a week. Reservations are required to see the Sun Dog Express crew in action for this 1-1 1/2 hour tour. The price is $75 for up to three people, with additional guests costing $25 each. Group demonstrations for eight or more people are also available for $175. For more information visit http://www.mosquitonet.com/ ~sleddog/ or call (907) 4796983.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Midnight Sun Game By JOSHUA ARMSTRONG jarmstrong@newsminer.com
John Wagner/News-Miner
You’ve never seen baseball like this. Fairbanks celebrates the national pastime in a way as unique as the city itself — playing at midnight without any artificial lights. The Midnight Sun Game begins at 10:30 p.m. June 21, the longest day of the year, at Growden Memorial Park. Playing baseball into the morning hours without artificial light has been a Fairbanks tradition since 1904. The summer-solstice spectacle began 105 years ago from — what else? — a bar bet. The game was played with local teams until the Alaska
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The annual Midnight Sun Baseball Classic at Growden Memorial Park starts at 10:30 p.m. on summer solstice and is played entirely without artificial lighting. Goldpanners were formed in 1960 and took the hosting duties. The Goldpanners are a summer-league team of college players that has seen more than 200 young men go on to play professionally. Barry Bonds, Tom Seaver and Dave Winfield are some of the most famous former Goldpanners. Visiting teams come from across the country and occasionally from across the globe. This year, it’s the Military All-Stars, a squad comprised of men from the U.S. armed forces. Growden has field lights, but they’ve never been used for the Midnight Sun Game. Rumor has it they’re not even plugged in. Sometimes the game can last as late as 2 a.m. It has been called off for rain, but
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never for darkness. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.goldpanners.com. More information on the Military AllStars can be found at www. heroesofthediamond.com. Early entry passes are available, and seats are firstcome, first-serve. Not in town for the summer solstice? The Goldpanners’ home schedule begins June 18 and ends July 27. The Athletes In Action Fire also play games at Growden from June 23 to July 31. Most games are at 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.alaskabaseballlegue. com.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Golfing all night By JAMES BROOKS jbrooks@newsminer.com The golf season in Fairbanks might be short, but it makes up in intensity what it lacks in length. There are plenty of options if you’re in town and itching to play a round. This winter, a lack of heavy snow means local courses likely will be opening the first week of May. But because conditions dictate when the first golfer tees off, be sure to call the clubhouse or pro shop of the course on which you want to play. All courses offer punch cards that allow for multiple rounds of golf, and some sell seasonal memberships as well. Various discounts are available.
North Star Golf Club
The North Star Golf Club, 330 Golf Club Drive, is the northernmost United States Golf Association-rated course. The clubhouse can be reached at 457-4653 or online at www.northstargolf. com. Its hours of operation expand as the amount of daylight increases, peaking at the summer solstice, when the course is open from 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Greens fees are $20 for
nine holes and $30 for 18. Carts are $25 for 18 holes. Club rental is $20 per round, but there is a visitors special that includes 18 holes, a towel, logo ball, cart and club rental for $69.
Fairbanks Golf Club
Fairbanks Golf Club can be found at 1735 Farmers Loop, and it is typically open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., but as with North Star, the hours lengthen with summer daylight. The driving range is open, and the course likely will open for play the first week of May. Fairbanks Golf Club charges $20 for nine holes and $30 for 18. Cart fees are $10 per person for nine holes and $15 per person for 18. The pro shop can be reached at 479-6555.
Chena Bend Golf Course
This golf course is located on the grounds of Fort Wainwright and has been called one of the best in Alaska. To obtain a gate pass, stop by the post visitors’ center at the front gate, where Airport Way meets the Steese Highway. You’ll need a driver’s license, proof of insurance, and your vehicle’s registra-
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tion to obtain a day pass to drive onto the military post. The course is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. It opens on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at 6:30 p.m., and a coin-operated driving range is open 24 hours per day. For civilians, nine holes are $34 and a round of 18 is $42. If you have a military ID, the cost is cheaper and varies according to rank. Call the clubhouse at 3536223 for more information.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Tanana Chief Riverboat cruise Relaxing evening tours along the Chena River
News-Miner
The Tanana Chief stern wheeler operates from May 22 to Sept. 111. It features one cruise per night, starting at 6:45 p.m. and returning to dock between 8:30 and 9 p.m.
By DANNY MARTIN dmartin@newsminer.com Sometimes, a customer gets to take the wheel on the Tanana Chief. It’s not that you’ll guide the stern wheeler for its entire two-hour round-trip on the Chena River to the confluence of the Tanana River. Rather, customers are allowed to visit the wheelhouse, and captain Rusty Nigl might let one or a few take the wheel. However, a customer’s turn at the wheel usually lasts for no more than five minutes, said Susan Kramer, sales manager of Greatland River Tours, which operates the Tanana Chief. “He’ll tell them to go right or go left, and he’ll also let them know if there’s a rock or branch coming up,’’ Kramer said. “He’ll explain, too, that it can’t go super fast because it’s a stern wheeler.’’ Kramer said half the visitors on the Tanana Chief
visit the wheelhouse. The replica of stern wheelers that moved through Interior Alaska waterways between 1865 and 1955 has a capacity for 150 people, including 96 in its downstairs area. The Tanana Chief, which has operated since 2000, is docked on the Chena River and can be seen off the Parks Highway if you’re heading southeast, when the highway becomes the Mitchell Expressway. One way of getting to the Tanana Chief is to take Airport Way west to Sportsman Way. Turn right on Sportsman and then left on Boat Road, and take Boat to Rosebud Lane and turn right. The stern wheeler operates from May 22 to Sept. 111. It features one cruise
per night, starting at 6:30 p.m. and returning to dock between 8:30 and 9 p.m., depending on how the current in the Chena is moving, Kramer said. There is one run on Sundays, starting at noon and scheduled to be back at the dock by 2 p.m. The brunch cruise is $36.95. The dinner cost $49.95 for adults and $37.50 for kids 412. It includes each a prime rib and salmon buffet dinner. There is no narration during the cruise. “Most people, when they’re eating dinner, don’t want to be disrupted,’’ Kramer said. “What they want is to see the homes and the wildlife along the river.’’ For more information, call 452-8687.
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39
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
El Dorado Gold Mine freight and passengers from the Tanana and Chena rivers to Finding gold in the 19th cen- more than a dozen gold camps tury was hard work. Back then in the Interior. The tour begins with the locomotive. Passengers prospectors chipped away at hop on and travel through a the ground with pick axes and permafrost tunnel and past the slowly washed the dirt away steam winch that once carried from the gold — if any — in their pans. Gold miners can still the buckets of paydirt from do that, but the El Dorado Gold the ground to be processed. Mine has made it a little easier The conductor is fiddler Earl Hughes, who entertains ridfor the rookies. ers by playing such songs as El Dorado is located in Fox, the “Wabash Cannonball” and about a 20-minute drive north other favorites. While in the from Fairbanks on the Steese tunnel, visitors get a quick lesHighway. A tour of the mine son on underground mining. gives visitors the chance to see The passengers then arrive how early miners practiced at the gold camp and are their trade, see a permafrost tunnel and take a train ride on greeted by Yukon Yonda and her husband, Dexter Clark. The a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad. The route is near the duo gives a demonstration on gold rush train route that took mining techniques and swaps Staff Report
THE T SHIR
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old mining stories. The mine also educates visitors about modern gold mining and its importance to Alaska’s economy. After the two-hour tour ends, everyone gets a shot at panning for gold. It is suggested visitors dress in layers and wear comfortable shoes and a jacket. Dates are May 11 through Sept. 17. Tickets are $34.95 for adults, $22.95 for children, and free for those under 3. Transportation options: A shuttle ride is available from the Riverboat Discovery, River’s Edge RV Park, River’s Edge Cottages, Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, and the SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotel, downtown near the visitor’s center. www.eldoradogoldmine.com. (866) 479-6673 or (907) 479-6673.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
The Riverboat Discovery Staff Report Learn about Interior Alaska, from the past to the present on the Riverboat Discovery. The sternwheeler riverboat travels
the Chena and Tanana rivers The Riverboat Discovery twice daily and gives passengers is owned and operated by the a glimpse of what life was like Binkley family, who have been along the rivers from the preoffering riverboat tours since gold rush days to today’s fastPlease see DISCOVERY, Page 41 paced society.
41
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Sam Harrel/News-Miner
The Riverboat Discovery I, left, leads the Riverboat Discovery II, right, and Riverboat Discovery III down the Chena River during a summer cruise.
IF YOU GO • May 11 to Sept. 17 • 8:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. • Adults $54.95; Children $37.95; under 3, free
DISCOVERY 1950. The 3 1/2-hour cruise takes passengers back 100 years when rivers were the main mode of transportation for people and supplies in Interior Alaska. Many Interior communities still rely on summer barges plying the Tanana and Yukon rivers to deliver fuel and other supplies to sustain them through the long winters. The adventure begins at Steamboat Landing, a replica gold rush town complete with a gift shop, museum and ice cream parlor. As the cruise winds downriver passengers will see a Bush pilot take off and land a small airplane on the river. These hardy, pioneering airmen transformed travel in rural Alaska, delivering medical supplies, food and mail among other items to the most remote areas. Passengers will see historic cabins along the riverbank and hear a short talk on dog mushing, including a demonstration, with a stop at the late Susan Butcher’s Trail Breaker Kennels. The sternwheeler also stops for a one-hour land tour of a replica Athabascan village. Native Alaskan hosts regale visitors with stories of Alaska life and their culture and history. Passengers experience an Athabascan fish camp complete with a fishwheel and techniques of catching and drying salmon. At the confluence of the Chena and Tanana rivers, passengers will see the demarcation line where the clear waters of the spring-fed Chena River meet the silt-laden waters of the glacier-fed Tanana River.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Go grab some grub Eating local is the house specialty By GARY BLACK gblack@newsminer.com
The Associated Press
Try the fish
Alaska seafood, though, is what you should really sink your teeth into. In Fairbanks, almost every restaurant serves Alaska-caught seafood, which includes salmon, cod, halibut and crab. That dinner choice has been commercially caught and prepared, and is a big boost to the state’s economy and the “eating local” concept. Almost every restaurant in town proudly serves Alaska-caught fish, so you can’t go wrong with ordering the king salmon or beer-battered Alaska halibut. If you’re unsure if your salmon steak is local, just ask your server.
Last Frontier. Our daylight-filled summers are a gardener’s dream, and many restaurants in Fairbanks take advantage of locally grown or Alaskagrown produce. “At our restaurants, we buy a lot of lettuce, tomatoes, herbs and vegetables. We also buy a lot of Alaska fish,” said Darryl Allan, who writes a monthly food column for the Fairbanks Daily
Buy it local
Don’t fret because bear sausage is not on the menu. There are still plenty of ways to taste the bounty of the
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You’ve made it all this way to Alaska, and you’re hungry. Next stop: Food. Sure, we’ve got the usual brands of fast food and chain restaurants, but you want something that tastes like Alaska. You’re on the hunt for moose burger or bear roast or a nice caribou steak. Good luck with that. State regulations prohibit businesses from selling wildcaught game, so you can’t saunter into the nearest restaurant and order a moose burger rare, hold the mayo. The reason is the safety factor. “You can’t harvest wild animals for sale,” said Ron Klein, a food safety and sanitation program manager with the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation. “A restaurant can’t serve it unless it’s from an approved source. For meat, that’s a USDA or stateinspected slaughterhouse.” And while you’re perusing the dinner menu, don’t let the Alaska reindeer and bison or occasional yak take you by surprise. Those come from state-sanctioned farms that have been given the OK, both health wise and commercial-producing wise.
Copper River king salmon is a staple on the plates of many restaurants in Fairbanks and homes in Alaska.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
FOOD
FRESH AND LOCAL
Continued from Page 42
News-Miner and is food and beverage director for Fountainhead hotels. “We try to buy fresh year-round.” Like many foodies in Fairbanks, Allan’s staff at Fountainhead takes advantage of the Tanana Valley Farmers Market, 2600 College Road. The farmers market is open on Wednesdays and weekends and offers only Alaskagrown food. “We try to make it out there every week, sometimes twice,” he said. The advantage of restaurants buying local is the fresh factor — produce picked in Southern California or Mexico can spend weeks on a barge getting to Alaska. “Locally grown or Alaska grown is really fresh,” Allan said. “And it is also nice to get to know the farmers personally.” Most restaurants proudly serve Alaska-grown produce and usually sport that information on their menus. Again, if you’re unsure if your salad came from a local source, ask before you order.
Jeff Johnson’s Homegrown Market sells only Alaska-grown items, including: • Snow Clover Farm – Two Rivers: grass fed beef • Misty Mountain Farms – Delta Junction: grain finished angus • Elsberry Farm– North Pole; Dream Acres – North Pole: pork • Copper River Seafood — Cordova: salmon, crab, halibut • Matanuska Creamery — Palmer: milk, cheese and ice cream • Circle H Ranch – Fairbanks; Papa’s Eggs – North Pole: cage free • Various local farmers: carrots, potatoes, seasonal produce •3568 Geraghty Ave., Fairbanks. 907-452-6238 • Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Sundays noon to 6 p.m.
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If you truly want to taste Alaska for yourself, go catch it or pick it. Berry-picking is an art for some folks, and Alaska is rich in blueberries and cranberries. Ask any local for his or her favorite berry-picking spot, but don’t be surprised if you don’t get an answer. Berry-pickers are notorious for keeping their prized picking grounds to themselves. Fishing it out of our rivers is another great way to taste Alaska, but be sure to know the laws and regulations about fishing. Many rivers are catchand-release only, and the state is strict on visitors having the proper licenses.
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raised meat the public can purchase. Jeff Johnson opened Homegrown Market in Fairbanks about two months ago with the idea of providing only Alaska-grown products. So far it’s been a success. “Eating local is better for you,” Johnson said. “It’s For those of you taking an sustainable, it’s local and it extended stay in Fairbanks, helps the local economy.” you might want to fire up Plus, Johnson said, locally the grill outside your RV and raised meats and produce cook it yourself. taste better than something Several meat processors that’s been shipped up from in Fairbanks and the Intethe Lower 48, spending rior offer Alaska-caught or weeks to get to Fairbanks.
His shop, located at 3568 Geraghty Ave., offers only local products, such as grassfed beef from Snow Clover Farm in Two Rivers, pork from farms in North Pole, Copper River seafood from Cordova and dairy products from Matanuska Creamery in Palmer. The shop also offers a huge selection of Alaskamade jams, jellies, sauces, mustards and locally grown grains.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Who turned on the Lights? The skinny on the aurora borealis
By ERICA FRANICH For the News-Miner The brilliant, vibrant and lively colors that dance across the northern skies inspire wonder in the hearts and minds of even the most hardened longtime Alaskans. The aurora borealis, or the Northern Lights as they are also commonly called, are a sight to behold, and one of the many wonders of the land of the Arctic. A reliable local source of information regarding the phenomenon is the University of Alaska Geophysical Institute, which provides a wealth of information, an aurora forecast and a place to sign up for aurora alerts. Visit www.gedds.alaska. edu/auroraforecast. The Geophysical Institute provided answers to some common aurora questions: Q: What is the aurora? A: The luminous glow in the sky, called aurora, is the result of energetic particles entering the upper atmosphere. This specific glow is different than other forms of brightness in the sky, such as scattered sunlight or lightning. Magnetism within the Earth’s atmosphere guide the energetic particles, most often electrons, along field lines to the high-latitude atmosphere. As they pen-
SUMMER AURORA Photosymphony Productions, a audio and visual aurora slideshow is shown nightly at Lacey Street Theatre, 504 Second Ave. More information: www. photosymphony.com
etrate the upper atmosphere, the chance of colliding with an atom or molecule increases the deeper they go. When a collision occurs, the atom or molecule takes some of the energy of the energetic particle and stores it as internal energy while the electron continues on its path at a reduced speed. The release of that stored energy by an atom or molecule, achieved by sending off a photon, produces light. Q: What makes the color in the aurora? A: The composition and density of the atmosphere and the altitude of the aurora determine the possible light emissions. The atmosphere is made up of varying levels of oxygen and nitrogen. Sometimes the photos emitted by the energetic electrons, creating aurora energy, are strong enough to split the molecules
of the air around them into oxygen and nitrogen molecules and atoms. This process gives them the signature colors of nitrogen and oxygen atoms. Oxygen atoms typically emit green and red colors. The colors we often see are a mixture of all auroral emissions. Just as the white sunlight is a mixture of the colors of the rainbow, the aurora is a mixture of colors. The overall impression is a greenish-whitish glow. Very intense aurora can get a purple edge at the bottom, which is a mixture of blue and red emissions from nitrogen molecules. Q: What is the altitude of the aurora? The bottom edge is typically at 60 miles altitude, but it extends over a large altitude range. Very intense aurora from high energy electrons can be as low as 50 miles. The top of the visible aurora peters out around 120-200 miles but sometimes high-altitude aurora can be seen as high as 350 miles. Q: How often is there aurora? A: There is always some aurora at some place on Earth. You just can’t always see it. When the solar wind is calm, the aurora might be too high and faint to see. In order to see aurora, the sky must be dark and clear, Please see AURORA, Page 45
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner John Hagen/ News-Miner
With Dog Musher’s Hall in the foreground, the aurora borealis lights up the sky over Fairbanks in a winter display.
AURORA Continued from Page 44
every day at 8 p.m. in the Lacey Street Theatre. Information is available at www. photosymphony.com.
college
town
which means in the land of the midnight sun, the phenomenon is invisible during the bright summer months. Summer visits should not despair: Local photographer LeRoy Zimmerman spent much of his career documenting the aurora at its best from desirable locations throughout the state. He created a visual slideshow, set it to symphony music, and has offered the auroral experience to audiences since 1983. “It’s the longest running aurora photography show in the state,” Zimmerman said of the spectacle, called
Photosymphony. He displayed his show at the Ester Gold Camp for more than 20 years, took a one-year hiatus when the camp closed, and restarted the show, in digital form, at the Lacey Street Theatre in 2009. Zimmerman said Photosymphony does more than offer the visual beauty of the aurora in the pictoral slideshow; the classical symphony music helps create an emotional response, Zimmerman said. “You can see the aurora (in may pictures) but what I am trying to do is to help you feel it. That is what you can’t put into words or capture with a picture alone,” he said. Photosymphony runs
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46
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
All Grillo/The Associated Press
The trans-Alaska oil pipeline snakes across the Alaska tundra through the Brooks Range about 150 miles from Prudhoe Bay carrying North Slope crude oil about 800 miles to Valdez, from where it will be shipped to west coast refineries.
Eight hundred miles of black gold Staff Report The trans-Alaska oil pipeline snakes across 800 miles of Alaska wilderness, crossing forests, tundra, three mountains ranges and hundreds of rivers and streams. Since it was built in the 1970s at a cost of $8 billion — reportedly the largest privately funded construction project of its time — more than 16 billion barrels of oil has gushed through the
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48-inch pipe to the Port of Valdez, where it is loaded into tankers bound for refineries on the west coast. Oil is the lifeblood of Alaska’s economy and some have compared the building of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline to the Klondike gold rush. Every state resident benefits from oil. Royalties paid by oil producers provide money to operate state government and contributions to a collective savings account known as the Alaska Permanent Fund. In 2009, every qualifying man, woman and child in Alaska received $1,305 from Permanent Fund investment earnings, and they have the trans-Alaska oil pipeline to thank. The pipeline is operated by the Alyeska Pipeline Service Co., which borrows its name from an Aleut word for “mainland.” The pipeline ser-
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Oil pipeline fuels state’s economy, and you can touch it
vice company is owned by a consortium of oil companies. Pump stations throughout the pipeline help carry the oil through the line, which is built in a zigzag configuration to allow for expansion and contraction from temperature changes and pipeline movement during earthquakes. Pipeline inspection gauges, known as pigs, are routinely launched into the pipeline to clean it and inspect it for corrosion. About half the pipeline is buried underground but the rest is elevated above ground because of permafrost, which is permanently frozen soil. Vertical supports hold the pipeline above ground to keep it from melting the permafrost. The pipeline can be seen from various areas in Fairbanks and along the Dalton and Richardson highways. An official pipeline viewing area is located along the Steese Highway near Fox. Visitors can touch the pipeline there and read about it on visual displays. A gift store is also located at the viewing area.
47
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Get a taste for gold in Dawson
News-Miner file photo
Dawson City, Yukon, is a goldrush boom town that hasn’t lost its charm, even though it’s well past its prime.
By JEFF RICHARDSON jrichardson@newsminer.com The lure of gold brought nearly 100,000 would-be prospectors to Dawson City more than a century ago, and the small Canadian city on the banks of the Yukon River continues to relive the Klondike Gold Rush today.
FYI You need a passport to cross the Canadian-American border. And no sneaking around. They’ll catch you.
Noel Wien Library 459-1020 1215 Cowles Street - Fairbanks
Although mining claims have dwindled and the population has shrunk to about 2,000 residents, Dawson City still offers visitors a glimpse of the town that became the focus of a gold-fueled stampede in 1896. That’s the year when the colorfully named trio of Dawson Charlie, George Carmack and Skookum Jim discovered gold in a nearby creek, triggering a flood of strike-it-rich visitors to an Please see DAWSON, Page 49
Tamarac Inn Motel 252 Minnie St.
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Within walking distance to city center
Monday-Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday (Sept - May)
11 AM – 9 PM Tuesday & Wednesday 11 AM – 6 PM Thursday & Friday 11 AM – 5 PM Saturday
! Bright, cheerful air conditioned areas to sit, read, listen, converse, and compute - while sipping your favorite covered beverage
! Children’s Story Garden, glorious flower beds, and neighboring park with wildflower garden at Noel Wien
Free Internet!
• Computers with high-speed access • USB support for most cameras and thumb drives • Wireless and hardwired access for personal laptops
Plus:
• Temporary Library Cards – $20 non-refundable fee • Local newspapers from the early 1900’s +, old phone books • Local history & travel information • Newspapers – local, regional & international • Photocopiers & printers • Free paperback exchange & used books for sale • Special summer children’s activities and events • Artwork by well-known Alaskan artists throughout Noel Wien • Phone books for all of Alaska & northwest Canada and pay phone
Visit us on the web: www.fnsblibrary.org
18365837 5-1-10VG
479-8080
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10 AM – 9 PM 10 AM – 6 PM 10 AM – 5 PM 1 PM – 5 PM
North Pole Branch Library 488-6101 601 Snowman Lane – North Pole
48
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
The Yukon’s biggest little city
News-Miner file photo
The S.S. Klondike is dry-docked in Whitehorse, Yukon. The former sternwheeler is now an attraction open during the summer.
Once overlooked, Whitehorse has come into its own By JEFF RICHARDSON jrichardson@newsminer.com Whitehorse wasn’t much more than a particularly high hurdle during the frantic days of the Klondike Gold Rush. The biggest city in the Yukon Territory, located about 550 miles from Fairbanks on the Alaska Highway, has come a long way since then. Named the capital of the province in 1953, Whitehorse has blossomed into a city of more than 25,000 people. The area first gained notoriety — and its eventual name — for the treacherous whitecaps in the area on the Yukon River. The rough water, said to resemble raging white horses,
GULLIVER’S BOOKS
destroyed the boats of many prospectors headed north to Dawson City. Those whitecaps are gone today because of a dam built in 1958. In their place, the city has blossomed around an economic base that includes mining, transportation, government services and tourism.
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• The Heritage Walking Tour can give an overview of Old Whitehorse, and leaves regularly from Donnenworth House, 3126 Third Ave. The guided tours feature humorous storytelling and historic details, and are held during the summer months. The hour-long tours are available at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. • A variety of local museums and exhibits are in and around Whitehorse, including the Beringia Centre, which details the ice age in the Yukon; the Old Log Church Museum, with exhibits on early Yukon mission activities; the MacBride Museum, with information on the Gold Rush, natural history, Mounties in the north, and First Nations cultures; the Transportation Museum, showing Gold Rush and Alaska Highway history; the Copperbelt Railway and Mining Museum; and the gallery at the Yukon Arts Centre. The Whitehorse Visitor Information Centre, located on Second Avenue, includes tourist services that include interactive programs, films, and directions to local attractions. • The S.S. Klondike is a dry docked sternwheeler in downtown Whitehorse, serving as a reminder of the city’s past as a river transportation hub. The old riverboat, which Please see YUKON, Page 50
49
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
DAWSON: Got the guts to try a Sourtoe? Continued from Page 47
Visit One of Our
Additional Services • Flight Physicals • ICC Physicals • Immigration Physicals
tural Centre offers a look at First Nation history in the area, including gallery tours, special performances, exhibitions and films. The Front Street center is open from June to September. • The Palace Grand Theatre offers nightly shows during the tourist season, featuring characters of the Yukon in amusing song-anddance skits. The reconstructed theater was originally built by Arizona Charlie Meadows in 1899. • Particularly brave visitors can sample an infamous Sourtoe Cocktail at the Sourdough Saloon. An authentic mummified human toe is placed in a beverage. To become a member of the Sourtoe Cocktail Club, a customer must drink it and let the toe touch their lips.
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area that was once a sleepy summer fish camp for local Natives. Almost none of them found much gold, but the ensuing boom caused the city to explode to a population of 40,000 people. Much of Dawson City still retains the turn-of-the-century flair from the era, and the town has been named a national historic area by Parks Canada. Dozens of old buildings have been renovated or stabilized. A visit to the historic town can still offer plenty of interest, especially during the summer months. Some of the highlights include: • Daily tours of the city core are available starting at the visitor information center in the summer time, highlighting the history of a town that was the Yukon’s capital until 1953. The tour includes several homes of literary interest, including dwellings that once housed Jack London, Pierre Berton and Robert Service. London, who came to the Klondike at age 21 for an unsuccessful attempt at mining, was later inspired by the North in his many short stories and books. Service, who gained fame as a poet, lived in a tworoom log cabin in Dawson from 1909-12. • Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall features
an old-fashioned gambling environment and shows by can-can girls. From May to September, the live entertainment is accompanied by slot machines, blackjack tables, roulette wheels and poker tournaments. • Dredge No. 4, which was built in 1912 to mine a Bonanza Creek claim, is the largest wooden-hull bucket-line dredge in North America. The dredge, located about 8 miles outside of Dawson City, offers hour-long tours through Parks Canada several times a day during summer months. • The Dawson City Museum in the Old Territorial Administration Building on Fifth Avenue, offers a look at old Dawson City with galleries and a weekly lecture series. The Danoja Zho Cul-
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50
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
YUKON: World’s longest wooden fish ladder Continued from Page 48
was renovated in 1937, is open daily for tours. • Whitehorse boasts the longest wooden fish ladder in the world, where salmon pass on their way to spawning grounds. The Whitehorse Fish Ladder and Dam,
upstream of the Robert Campbell Bridge, offers a glass observation center, allows visitors to see salmon, grayling and trout. • About 18 miles outside Whitehorse, Takhini Hot Springs offers a rustic retreat with trails, soaking pools and a campground.
• The Frantic Follies Vaudeville Revue offers Gold Rush variety entertainment, with nightly shows from mid-May to mid-September at the Westmark Whitehorse. For information, go online to www. franticfollies.com, e-mail reservations@franticfollies.com or phone 867-633-4363.
Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau
For information on Fairbanks and Interior Alaska call (907) 456-5774, visit www.explorefairbanks.com or stop by the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center located at 101 Dunkel Street in Fairbanks, open 8 a.m.–9 p.m. daily during the summer.
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51
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre brings drama to the Interior By REBA LEAN For the News-Miner During the summer, drama can always be found at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’
Jack Townsend Point, where the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre performs outdoors. After last summer’s performances focused on the tragedy “Othello,” the FST decided to
Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau
For information on Fairbanks and Interior Alaska call (907) 456-5774, visit www.explorefairbanks.com or stop by the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center located at 101 Dunkel Street in Fairbanks, open 8 a.m.–9 p.m. daily during the summer.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
THEATRE Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau
Continued from Page 51
For information on Fairbanks and Interior Alaska call (907) 456-5774, visit www.explorefairbanks.com or stop by the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center located at 101 Dunkel Street in Fairbanks, open 8 a.m.–9 p.m. daily during the summer.
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take a lighter route and switch it up with a repertory of two comedies. This year, Artistic Director Bruce Rogers chose to do two Shakespeare classics — “Measure for Measure” and a Shakespeare rock and roll twist to “The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Musical),” written by John Guare and music by Galt MacDermot. “Measure for Measure” is considered either a comedy or one of the Bard’s “problem plays,” because it is sort of in between a comedy and tragedy. The two shows will be performed on alternative nights, and a crowd of 100-200 usually attends. They start on July 15 and run until Aug. 1, playing at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays. Graham Watts of the United Kingdom will direct “Measure for Measure.” He has worked with the FST many times throughout the years and across the world, including in New York City’s Washington Square Park. Brandon Michael, who directed this year’s Fairbanks Light Opera Theatre’s production of “Sweeney Todd,” will be directing “The Two Gentlemen of Verona.” Michael also is FST’s business manager. In the winter months, the FST doesn’t hibernate. Some of its busiest times are with the annual “Bard-a-thon,” where round-the-clock Shakespeare works are read aloud. The free public readings last a whole week, and all ages are invited. FST productions go all year — this year already featured “The Tempest” and “Antigone, or I really wish you hadn’t done that” by Sophocles and
This year, the Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre will be putting on “Measure for Measure” and “The Two Gentlemen of Verona (Musical).” The two shows will be performed on alternative nights, starting July 15 until Aug. 1, playing at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays and at 2 p.m. on Sundays.
53
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Eric Engman/News-Miner
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center is located at 101 Dunkel St. on the banks of the Chena River.
Morris Thompson center provides a helping hand to visitors The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center is a new addition to downtown Fairbanks. The center is located at 101 Dunkel St. on the banks of the Chena River adjacent to Griffin Park and bike and walking paths. MTCVC offers ample parking, wireless Internet, restrooms, a 100-seat theater with free films daily on Alaska history and culture, a historic pioneer cabin restored to its original 1905 period and a 9,000-square-foot exhibit hall featuring the people and land of Interior Alaska. The visitors center is a partnership of four entities. Inside you will find:
Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau
There is much to do and see in Interior Alaska, and the folks at the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau will help you plan an itinerary of local attractions that fits your schedule.
The staff is all locals and can answer questions and share personal stories of year-round life in Fairbanks. Staff fluent in German and Japanese are available to assist international travelers. The FCVB offers more than 400 brochures for attractions, dining, shopping, camping and outdoor adventures in the Interior and across Alaska. Also available from FCVB are: • Free courtesy phones for local and credit card calls • Public computers for visitors to make travel arrangements and check e-mail • Maps of Alaska and the Fairbanks area
• Daily listings of available accommodations • Open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily in winter, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily in summer • For more information, call 456-5774 or visit explorefairbanks.com.
Alaska Public Lands Information Center
For more adventuresome visitors, the Public Lands Information Center is dedicated to promoting knowledge and use of “natural, cultural and historic resources on Alaska’s public lands.”
Please see CENTER, Page 55
Dinner Alaskan Style
Two Rivers Lodge Fine Dining Restaurant & Solarium Casual Dining in the Trapline Lounge & Tuscan Garden
Call for reservations - 488-6815 www.tworiverslodge.com
Open at 5 p.m. for Dinner • Sat., Sun. Lounge Opens at 3 p.m.
16 scenic miles on Chena Hot Springs Road
11365493 5-1-10VG
By MATT HAYES mhayes@newsminer.com
54
2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Your family deserves the best. Treat them to smokefree air. Enjoy smokefree dining at these local restaurants. The Bakery
The Edgewater
Pad Thai
69 College Road
477 Pike’s Landing Rd.
3400 College Rd.
Asiana Restaurant
Farmers Loop Market Food Court
Pagoda Restaurant
2001 Airport Way
Aviator’s Steak House
245 Farmers Loop
731 2nd Ave.
Fire Wok Express
Bamboo Panda
249 N. Santa Claus Ln.
1235 Airport Way
The Food Factory
Benny’s Grill
44 College Road
101 Santa Claus Ln., NP
The Fudge Pot
Brewster’s
515 1st Avenue
431 N. Santa Claus Ln., NP
Panda Garden 29 College Rd., Suite 12
Pizza 4 Less 246 Illinois St.
Pizza Hut
Subway
514 Old Steese Hwy. 3574 Airport Way 1800 Airport Way Mc Peaks, Badger Rd. Town & Country Mall, NP Wal-Mart 2301 South Cushman
Sweet Basil Thai Restaurant 1448 South Cushman
Taco Bell
3578 Airport Way 354 Old Steese
Geraldo’s Restaurant
Bruegger’s Bagels
107 College Rd.
1991 Airport Way 89 College Rd. 4005 Geist Rd. 257 Santa Claus Ln., NP
Ichiban Noodle
Quizno’s Classic Subs
Thai Cuisine Restaurant
Red Lantern Steak & Spirits
Thai House Restaurant
36 College Road
Chena Hot Springs 56.5 Mile Chena Hot Springs Rd.
Chena’s Alaskan Grill 4200 Boat Street
The Chowder House 206 Eagle Avenue
College Town Pizzeria 3549 College Rd
Co-Op Diner
400 College Rd.
Koreana Restaurant 1528 Cushman St.
L’assiette De Pomegranate 414 2nd Ave.
Lavelle’s Bistro
Second Story Café
Lin’s Asian Bistro
Denny’s Restaurant 1929 Airport Way
The Diner 244 Illinois St.
95 10th Ave.
Lemon Grass Thai Cuisine
Cookie Jar Restaurant 235 Santa Clause Ln., NP
Regency Cove Round Up Steakhouse
535 2nd Ave.
Country Cafe
813 Noble
In Springhill Suites
388 Old Chena Pump, Suite K
1006 Cadillac Ct.
3598 Airport Way 607 Old Steese Hwy.
1900 Airport Way
Model Café
(Fairbanks Memorial Hospital) 1650 Cowels St.
Mom’s Kitchen 617 27th Ave.
2710 Cushman St. 3525 College Rd.
Seoul Gate Restaurant 958 Cowles St.
Siam Dishes 338 Old Steese Hwy.
Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co.
2195 Old Steese Highway, Fox
87 College Rd. 1450 University Ave. 235 Santa Claus Ln., NP
537 St. Nicolas Dr.
412 5th Ave
Tracker’s Lounge 477 Pikes Landing Rd.
Two Street Station 535 2nd Ave.
Wendy’s Restaurant
1859 Airport Way 33 Saint Nicholas Dr., NP
Wok’ N’ Roll 3535 College Road
Wolf Run Restaurant 3360 Wolf Run
Zach’s Restaurant at Sophie Station 1717 University Ave.
If you would like more information on quitting, call the Alaska Tobacco Quitline at 888-842-QUIT (7840). 11365494-5-1-10VG
Funded by the Alaska Division of Public Health in partnership with Tanana Chiefs Conference and Interior Alaska Coalition of Tobacco Free Advocates.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
CENTER Continued from Page 53
The information center has resources for hiking, camping and fishing, and can help with backcountry trip planning The information center’s services include resource education programs, interpretive services and fee collection. The center also has a reference library and sponsors daily films in the theater. The center is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information call 459-3730 or visit alaskacenters.gov. The Fairbanks Alaska Public Lands Information Center is affiliated with:
Alaska Geographic bookstore
Alaska Geographic is a nonprofit bookstore dedicated to “connecting people to Alaska’s parks, forests and refuges.” Browse Alaska reading material from children’s books to wilderness adventure, Alaska history to collections from some of the state’s finest photographers. You’ll also find detailed maps of Alaska’s wild areas, DVDs covering a wide range of Alaska history and culture and Native arts and crafts. The bookstore will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during the summer months. For more information, call 459-3710 or visit alaskageographic.org.
Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs
The Tanana Chiefs Conference, a consortium of 42 villages of Interior Alaska, promotes Native unity and self-determination. TCC Cultural Programs hosts cultural pro-
News-Miner file
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center offers plenty of resources to help visitors enjoy the beauty of Alaska. grams and events Monday through Friday during the summer at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. For more information, call 459-3741, visit tananachiefs.org or stop by the visitors center.
Denakkanaaga
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center also houses the offices of Denakkanaaga Native Elders organization.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Sam Harrel/News-Miner
The University of Alaska Museum of the North sits on the west ridge of the UAF campus.
UA Museum of the North displays the essence of the Last Frontier By ERICA FRANICH For the News-Miner Staring down a standing 8-foot, 9-inch Alaska brown bear; swimming in the emotions of painters who expressed the beauty and power of Denali, the polar bear and other Alaska treasures; and gazing upon the most unique and truly Alaska outhouse you might ever see, you will experience the essence of the state at the University of Alaska Museum of the North. Boasting a collection of
1.4 million artifacts and specimens representing millions of years of biological diversity and thousands of years of cultural traditions, the UA Museum of the North is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state. Collections are divided into 10 disciplines — archaeology, birds, documentary film, earth sciences, ethnology/history, fine arts, fishes/marine invertebrates, insects, mammals and plants — and are displayed in longterm and special exhibits.
The Gallery of Alaska
ROLFING®
Greeted by the standing brown bear, visitors can make their way around five regional galleries representing the major ecological regions of Alaska. Learn of Alaska’s geological history; salmon harvests of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people; and see the beauty of tradi-
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PLAN YOUR VISIT • Summer hours run May 15-Sept. 15: Daily 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. • Admission: $10 general, $9 seniors, $5 youth. Free for museum members, UA students with ID and children under 7. • Information: call (907)474-7507 or visit www.uaf.edu/museum
tional clothing of Southeast Natives in the Southeast Gallery. The trans-Alaska oil pipeline, various waterfowl and artifacts representing the Russian-American influence in Alaska’s history are featured in the Southcentral Gallery. While gold rush history and the aurora borealis appear in the Interior Gallery, a 36,000-year-old mummified Alaska steppe bison is a treasured highlight. The Gallery of Alaska leaves no historic or cultural stone unturned. Please see MUSEUM, Page 57
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Georgeson Botanical Garden shows off Alaska’s horticultural wonders By ERICA FRANICH For the News-Miner
HOURS AND TOURS
You can’t visit Fairbanks without seeing its world famous giant cabbages. While you’re at it, you might as well enjoy the beauty of Alaska’s most majestic fauna, observe wildlife in beautiful Interior habitats and tour some of the hardiest greenhouses and gardens around. The Georgeson Botanical Garden is a nationally recognized botanical garden. Part of the University of Alaska’s renowned agricultural research and education programming, the GBG is dedicated to plant culture and conservation. It is open to the public, offering information about and views of some of the Interior’s most productive agricultural endeavors.
• The Georgeson Botanical Garden is open daily 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 1 to Aug. 31 • Gift shop open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday through summer season • Located at 117 West Tanana Drive on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus
Tours
• Self-guided: Cost of admission, $2 • Guided: $5 per person, minimum $75 • Information: (907)474-6921 or www.uaf.edu/snras/gbg
Please see GARDEN, Page 58
MUSEUM
SPECIAL EXHIBIT
Continued from Page 56
Rose Berry Art Gallery
Handmade clothing from Native cultures, ancient ivory carvings, ceremonial masks and tools are part of the Rose Berry Art Gallery, covering 2,000 years of Alaska art.
The Place Where You Go To Listen
Anyone can see the aurora borealis, but only visitors to The Place Where You Go To Listen can hear and feel it. Created by local composer John Luther Adams, this wonder of light and sound is an ever-changing musical eco-system that converts realtime environmental elements
ADAMAS JEWELRY C
• What: 2010 Special Exhibit: “Then & Now: The Changing Arctic Landscape” • When: May 15 to Jan. 8, 2011 • Witness the compelling, visual evidence of climate change in the North.
such as seismic vibrations, sunlight changes and the aurora borealis into musical rhythms and vibrations.
Alaska Classics
See a survey of Alaska’s historical paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, featuring works by Syndey Laurence, James Steward and others.
There also are various multimedia elements incorporated into exhibits throughout the museum.
2010 special exhibit: ‘Then & Now: The Changing Arctic Landscape’
Alaska, along with the rest of the Arctic, has become a major player in the debate about global warming. In this special exhibition, experience the compelling, visual evidence of climate change. The display includes a comparison of early 20th century photographs and contemporary views from the same vantage points. Personal narratives complement the visual effects to help visitors truly witness the extent of changes others have noted in this remote landscape.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
View musk oxen and reindeer at Large Animal Research Station and domestic reindeer. Thousands of tourists visit every year to see the animals, The Arctic is a difficult place which are used for research in to live, but several species of nutrition, metabolic, physiologanimals have made it their ical and behavioral studies. home for thousands of years. Scientists estimate there are Today, researchers are studying about 4,000 musk oxen in Alasthose animals to see how they ka, descendants of the 33 musk not only survived, but thrived oxen reintroduced to Alaska in in the far north. 1930. They like extremely cold Located on the University temperatures and usually are of Alaska Fairbanks, the Robfound as far north as possible. ert G. White Large Animal The animals are protected Research Station is home to by thick coats and a thick woolherds of musk oxen, caribou ly underfur called qiviut.
There are nearly 500,000 caribou in Alaska. Tours are given by presenters who have a background in natural sciences and are trained in the biology of the animals. They offer descriptions of the natural history and ecology of the animals, specialized adaptations and an overview of research. The tour is a 45-minute outdoor walk of about onequarter mile and is conducted regardless of weather.
GARDEN
For information, call (907)4746921. The GBG regularly hosts events and weddings. Visit the website for details, www.uaf. edu/snras/gbg.
By ASHLEY BRIGGS News-Miner Intern
Continued from Page 57
GBG history
According to the GBG website, the garden was born in part from a petition made in 1905 by Fairbanksans to the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an experiment station in the Tanana Valley. In August of that year, Charles Georgeson, director of Alaska Agriculture Experiment Stations, explored Tanana Valley for possible station sites, eventually selecting 1,393.97 acres located nearly midway between Chena and Fairbanks. Georgeson chose the spot because of its size and proximity to the transportation corridor and the availability of good soil for farming. In 1991, that UAF Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station became the Georgeson Botanical Garden. Early on, the station focused on grains, grasses and potatoes, with various vegetables, flowers, fruits and landscape ornamentals available. In the 1970s, horticulturist Dr. Donald Dinkel was in charge of the gardens, and he exuded great effort experimenting in everything from artichokes to zucchini. He also boosted the focus on annual flowers, which became popular with Fairbanks visitors.
Throughout time, the garden continually increased in popularity, and today more than 30,000 visitors enjoy the garden each summer, according to the GBG website. The transition from demonstration garden to botanical garden was made not only to accommodate increased public use but also to continue the 98-year-old tradition of experimenting with horticultural crops, developing new cultivation techniques and sharing that information with Alaskans and Alaska visitors.
Tours
Tour season is open AprilMay 31, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and June 1 to Aug. 31, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. Entrance fee is $2 per person. Visitors can take a selfguided tour, following signs and brochures. Guided tours are available to groups, $5 per person with a minimum of $75.
Please see LARS, Page 60
More than fauna
Sculptures enhance the beauty of the gardens. The GBG received its first sculpture, “Inflorescence,” in 1992. It was designed by Dr. Wendy Ernst and student artists Carol Desnoyers, Rachelle Dowdy and Heather Wells. The 4 1/2-foot bronze sculpture was funded as part of the University of Alaska’s 75th Anniversary Celebration. “Inukshuk” was created by Darleen Masiak. Located at the Kenton Hanscom Memorial Picnic shelter, it is a pile of rocks used by northern native Americans as a marker to help find the way. “The Crab” was moved from the UA Museum of the North to the gardens in 2002.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Check out Fairbanks’ arts scene at the Summer Arts Festival By BETSY HESS bmathis@newsminer.com As a visitor, one of the best ways to get the lay of the land is to immerse yourself in local arts and culture. In Fairbanks, there’s no easier way to do so than by visiting the annual Summer Arts Festival. The Summer Arts Festival, which includes two weeks of live performances and classes, began in 1980 as a one-week jazz celebration. Throughout the years, organizers added different art mediums. Now the event includes everything from visual arts and dance, to ice skating and literary arts. This year’s festival runs from July 18 to Aug. 1 and offers live performances almost every night at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. These performances showcase Celtic and Motown music, cabaret and more. New this year, a professional-level chamber music orchestra also will perform. For those who prefer a hands-on experience, the festival offers a variety of classes that run for one day, one week or two weeks. New to the festival are mini workshops. Before this year, most courses were a couple weeks long and required a “serious time commitment” to those taking them, said festival Executive Director Terese Kaptur. The mini classes are a way for someone to try something once and see if they like it, she said. Each mini workshop is 1 day long and lasts 1-3 hours, making them ideal for visitors or anyone who wants to stop by on their lunch hour. Some of the offerings include creative writing, steel drums, harp, glass blowing, ice skating and salsa dancing. Another option for those who can’t commit to the traditional two-week courses
IF YOU GO • What: Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival • When: July 18 through Aug. 1 • Tickets: Packages include singles, 12-packs, 25-packs and season passes. Prices and a schedule of events can be found on the festival’s website, www. fsaf.org.
are one-week classes in bead work, scrapbooking, digital photography, jazz/latin ensemble, harp for kids and accordian. New courses this year include Alaska Native dance, Alaska Native storytelling and film, Brazilian jazz, Kelzmer ensemble and women’s chamber choral. Most classes are held at UAF campus, except for a few that take place at local studios, such as glass blowing and dance. This year, everything is available online. Attendees
Sam Harrel/News-Miner
Bassist Paul Sharpe joins cellist Lars Hoefs for a duet during the 2008 Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. can register, buy tickets and make donations online at www.fsaf.org. “It’s much more user friendly,” Kaptur said. A list of performances and times is availble online. Times and prices vary.
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LARS Continued from Page 58
No reservations are needed unless you are part of a group larger than 20. A gift shop also is located at research center that sells qiviut, (musk ox wool), hand-knit scarves and hats, T-shirts, coffee mugs, jewelry and books. For more information, call (907) 474-5724 or e-mail
2010 Summer Visitors Guide News-Miner file
A musk ox takes it easy at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Large Animal Research Station.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Chena Hot Springs Resort rejuvenates weary travelers for visitors. Today the 440-acre fullservice resort offers overIf relaxing in an outdoor night stays in the Moose hot spring sounds good after Lodge, signature rooms, a long day of touring Fairfamily suites or a cabin by banks, the closest place to go the creek, a full-service resis Chena Hot Springs Resort. taurant open every day, the Just 60 miles northeast of Aurora Café and the Trails Fairbanks, the hot springs End Lounge. have been popular for more RV and camping facilities than 100 years. They first also are available. became famous in the 1890s The resort includes the for curing the aches and natural mineral hot spring pains of prospectors. In adult rock lake and hot tub, 1911, the resort had a bathopen for those 18 and older, house and 12 small cabins and an indoor family pool By ASHLEY BRIGGS For the News-Miner
and hot tubs. Both are open daily from 7 a.m. to midnight. Please see RESORT, Page 62
All trails lead to…
Pleasant Valley Store
(907) 488-9501
23.5 Mile
IF YOU GO • • • • • •
Natural Mineral Hot Springs open daily 7 a.m. to midnight Adult swim pass (ages 18 and up) $10 Seniors (ages 62 and up) $8 Youth swim pass (ages 6-17) $7 Children 5 and under free with paying adult. Family swim pass (10 swims) $60
Gas • Groceries Sporting Goods • Ice Alaskan Gifts Information Alaska Hunting/ Fishing License Post Office
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
For good times and good food, head out to Fox
RESORT Continued from Page 61
“Chena Hot Springs is nature at its best,” said Bernie Karl, who owns the resort with his wife, Connie Parks-Karl. The resort offers other activities such as ATV tours, canoeing, fishing, flight-seeing tours, guided horseback rides and therapeutic massages. Chena Hot Springs Resort also offers several packages from which visitors may choose. The Evening at Chena is a six-hour tour that includes a Holland America Tours motor coach to and from Fairbanks, buffet dinner, Aurora Ice Museum tour and the natural hot springs swim and soak pass. The Day at Chena is a seven-hour tour including the natural hot springs swim and soak pass, Aurora Ice Museum tour, lunch at the resort restaurant, a Geothermal Renewable Energy tour and a Chena shuttle to and from the resort. The Best of Chena is a two-day, one-night stay with an unlimited hot springs swim and soak pass, overnight stay in Moose Lodge, Ice Museum tour and Geothermal Renewable Energy tour.
By JEFF RICHARDSON jrichardson@newsminer.com It might seem like an unlikely spot to find fine dining and good times, but a trip off the beaten path to the community of Fox offers some of the best food and fun in the Fairbanks area. The hamlet, located about 10 miles north of Fairbanks on the Steese Highway, was established as a mining camp in 1905. Today, it boasts a handful of popular restaurants, drinking establishments and tourist destinations. Fox is home to the area’s only local brewpub, Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Company. Silver Gulch makes a dozen locally crafted beers inside a converted roadhouse, which boasts the distinction of being the northernmost brewery in North America. For the past few years, the brewery also has been home to a well-regarded restaurant, offering upscale pub-style food — steaks, burgers, fish and chips, and pizza baked in a wood-fired oven. Brunch is available on weekends starting at 11 a.m. If you want to take home a souvenir or a six-pack, Silver Gulch has a gift shop that sells beer, clothing and other merchandise. Many Fairbanksans make the trip to Fox for a feast at The Turtle Club, which con-
News-Miner file
Fox is home to the area’s only local brewpub, Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Company. sistently ranks among the best restaurants in the area in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Readers’ Choice Awards. The Turtle Club boasts seafood selections and an impressive salad bar, but it is best known for its heaping servings of prime rib. For the truly ravenous, a Miner’s Cut of 20 ounces or more is available. The decor at the original log building carries a special quirk — a variety of turtles are scattered throughout the restaurant. Fox also boasts the Howling Dog Saloon, which delivers drinks and dancing packaged in an old-time roadhouse bar. Please see FOX, Page 63
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Try your luck at gold panning By ASHLEY BRIGGS For the News-Miner Though the thought of striking it rich is not what brings flocks of people to Fairbanks anymore, visitors still can share in the fun of panning for gold. Fairbanks remains one of the few places in Alaska where visitors can try their luck with a gold pan. Visitors who want to scour backcountry areas for gold should get the right equipment and a good map before heading out. Jim Madonna of Alaskan Prospectors said the four main things every panner needs are a sizing screen, a pan, a vile and a sniffer bottle. “The sizing screen is used to separate out the big rocks so you are only panning the fine material. This will speed up the panning process by 50 percent,” Madonna said.
FOX Continued from Page 62
The Howling Dog shuts down during the winter but boasts an eclectic mix of customers and live music from May through October. Live bands play “The Dog” on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, along with bonus performances on other days. Thursdays are blues nights, with everything from reggae to rock ’n’ roll bands taking the stage on other nights. The quirky ambience at The Dog also is an attraction,
After panning the fine material, gold flecks can be removed from the pan with the sniffer bottle, which is used like an oversized eye dropper. Some of the other suggested equipment for gold panning are a magnifying lens, a small magnet for separating out magnetic black sands, and rubber gloves and boots to keep your hands and feet dry and warm. There are several areas open to the general public for both gold panning and sluicing. Recreational gold panners should keep in mind that they can only pan in these areas and where they have permission from the property’s owner. Bachelor Creek, located 80 miles north of Fairbanks on the Steese Highway, is a remote mining area. A fourmile hike off the main road,
the mining area offers no camping facilities. Nome Creek is located north of the Steese Highway in the White Mountains National Recreation Area. Gold was first discovered here in the 1990s and has since had a rich history of gold finds. There are three camping areas at Nome Creek including facilities such as outhouses and drinking water. Visitors are charged a small recreation fee. Pedro Dome, located 25 miles north of Fairbanks, is a relatively small, 1-acre mining area. Felix Pedro first discovered gold here in 1902. No restrooms are available, and you will need to bring your own food and drinking water. “Gold panning is truly an adventure to remember,” Madonna said. “It is one of the most rewarding adventures in Alaska, being able to pan for gold like our pioneers.”
including items of donated clothing that hang from the ceiling. A horseshoe pit and beach volleyball area are in the back, along with 10 rental cabins for people who want an overnight stay. A menu of bar food, including burgers and pizza, and an espresso bar also are available. The Dog always has an intriguing mix of customers — college students, businesspeople and bikers among them. For those continuing down the Steese, the Fox General
Store offers an opportunity to gas up, along with a small grocery store and liquor store. There also are a few attractions that display Fox’s importance in Alaska’s resource economy. Its mining past can be seen from the piles of tailings that remain from the dredges that once worked the area. And a pullout at 8 Mile Steese Highway offers an upclose look at the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, with displays that explain the history and economic vitality of the pipeline.
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Delta Junction: a farming town with a beautiful backdrop By BROOKELYN BELLINGER For the News-Miner
D E L T A
Delta Junction
R I V E R
At the end of the 1,422mile Alaska Highway sits the quaint farming town of Rapids St Delta Junction. This small town of about 800 people welcomes visitors with stunning views of the Alaska Range and the GranDeborah St ite Mountains on clear days. This provides the agriculturally minded community a Kimball St stunning backdrop for crops of straw, oats, grass seed, potatoes, livestock, dairy and exotic animals — a Nistler Rd standout in Alaska’s frigid Interior. A drive out of town in any direction will give testament to the beauty of more than 4 2 130,000 acres of agricultural Al as land surrounded by Alaska’s ka mountainous terrain. Hi gh Sullivan’s Roadhouse, wa rescued from Alaska’s old y trail system nearly 20 miles from Delta, provides a peek 2 into life as it was back in the days when travels through Alaska demanded steely nerves and firm resolve. Situated next to the 4 Visitors Center in Delta, Sullivan’s Roadhouse is the oldest original roadhouse in DeeDee Hammond/News-Miner Interior Alaska and is home to an impressive roadhouse beautiful gardens outside Right next to the roadmuseum staffed by knowlare a showstopper. house, enjoy viewing the edgeable volunteers. The ancient machinery that was used to build the Alaska Highway. The Delta Junction Visitors Center is the place to get your official certificate
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Rich
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Please see DELTA, Page 65
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
DELTA
A restaurant and gift shop is on site, along with geese, ducks, goats, a beautiful garden and a fantastic Continued from Page 64 view of the Tanana River. Camping also is available. for surviving the long jourRecreation in the area is ney up the Alaska Highway. plentiful, from blue-ribbon Don’t forget a picture with the giant mosquito out- arctic grayling fishing in the Delta Clearwater River side and browse the myriad to hiking Donnelly Dome or displays and information hunting big game animals. inside. Camping is available at Nine miles northwest of Quartz Lake, Lost Lake, town, visitors should not Fielding Lake and the Clearmiss historic Rika’s Roadwater River. house in Big Delta. The IGA also is a local The roadhouse used to be an important stop for travel- favorite, especially their deli items. And prepare yourself ers and is now a beautifully for their tasty bakery. restored site with many Check in with friends and original buildings filled with relatives before you get back artifacts from the era.
R
IKA’S OADHOUSE
& LANDING
Milepost 275 Richardson Hwy Delta Junction AK, 99737 One-quarter mile from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Tanana River Crossing
1909–2010
Recreation in the Delta area is plentiful, from blue-ribbon arctic grayling fishing in the Delta Clearwater River to hiking Donnelly Dome or hunting big game animals. Camping is available at Quartz Lake, Lost Lake, Fielding Lake and the Clearwater River.
on the road at the Delta Junction Library with free Internet access, open daily.
RV PARKING
Roadhouse Gift Shop
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RECREATION OPTIONS
Park & Dump Station Open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
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Alaska’s Friendly Frontier
DELTA JUNCTION Services & Attractions • Visitor Information Center Mile 1422 Alaska Highway Delta Junction 99737
2010 Events Friendly Frontier Days May 29
Deltana Fair July 30–August 1
Halloween Bash October 23 For further information:
Delta Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 987 FDNM Delta Junction, Alaska 99737 (907) 895-5068 TOLL FREE1-877-895-5068
e-mail: deltacc@deltachamber.org http://www.deltachamber.org
End of the Alaska Highway
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• Historical Sullivan Roadhouse Museum • Highway’s End Farmers Market • Big Delta State Historical Park • State camping grounds, Private RV parks with full hookups • Great fishing, hunting in season, and hiking throughout the season • Gifts, Groceries, Motels, Bed & Breakfasts, Restaurants. • Largest free-roaming bison herd in Alaska • Quartz Lake: fishing, hiking, camping, picnics, cabins
Stop at the Visitor Center to see our displays and find out more about what to see and do in Delta! “End of Alaska Highway” Certificates available for $1.00
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Steese Highway offers visitors 160 miles of adventure engineering projects in the world when it was built in The 160-mile Steese High1925. way retraces a century of The road climbs well historic gold mining. The above the tree line at first 53 miles are paved — Twelve-Mile and Eagle Sum... to drive the windthe rest is an adventure. mits, two popular places ing road to Circle, on the It offers road access to the to watch the sun skirt the banks of the Yukon River. vast White Mountains Recnorthern horizon on summer Before gold was discovered reation Area, where you can solstice. in Dawson City, Circle, pan for gold at Nome Creek After coasting down Eagle founded in 1893, was the at 57 Mile and hike, fish and Summit to the town of Cenlargest gold mining town on camp. tral, about 128 miles north Much of the area was of Fairbanks, travelers enter the river. burned by a massive wildfire the Circle Mining District, in 2004, so use caution. which features many active The Steese Highway mines. toric Places. winds through the scenic Central has a post office, For more information, Chatanika River Valley. service stations, a few resvisit www.fegoldcamp.com. The town of Chatanika, taurants, a museum, a landJust down the road at created by mining activing strip for small planes 28.5 Mile is a large rustic ity, was once 10,000 people cedar lodge, across the street and lodging. strong. Turning right at Central from Gold Dredge No. 3. The Chatanika Gold Camp is Chatanika Lodge was estab- will point you in the directhe site of the old Fairbanks lished in the 1930s as a trad- tion of Circle Hot Springs Exploration Co. Camp, built ing post. (about 8 miles farther); in the 1920s. The camp is on heading straight ahead will The lodge’s Alaska decor the National Register of His- showcases its hearty fare, put you at Circle City. The road ends — eventuwith a full kitchen serving ally — on the banks of the breakfast, lunch and dinner Yukon River in Circle. The from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Stop at Long Creek Trad- river is two miles wide at this point. ing Post at 45 Mile for an Ron & Shirley Franklin Do not confuse Circle espresso or ice cream. The Hot Springs, at one time a trading post offers canoe resort, with the town of Cirrentals, groceries, camping, Across highway from Alaska’s cle, which is about a 34-mile liquor and local advice on 2nd Largest Gold Dredge! drive over rough roads from good fishing and gold panRustic Alaskan Atmosphere ning spots. RV parking and a Central. Circle, founded in 1893, dump station are available. Saloon•Country Cooking•Lodging was the largest gold mining A 2.5-mile loop offers Fishing & Hiking Nearby town on the river, at least access to the Davidson until gold was discovered in Ditch. The ditch is an Live music by Theresa Bauer Dawson City. 83-mile series of ditches, Sunday afternoons 4-8pm More than 1,000 people siphons and pipes once used 907-389-2164 lived in the town, which was to carry water from a small Fax: 907-389-2166 dam on the Chatanika River named in the mistaken belief 1 that it was located on the to the gold dredges of Fox 5760 (28 ⁄2 Mi.) Steese Hwy. Arctic Circle, which is really Fairbanks, AK 99712 and Chatanika. chatanika.ak@att.net 40 miles north. It was one of the largest Staff Report
DON’T FORGET
CHATANIKA LODGE
12365256-5-1-10VG
C HATANIKA G OLD C AMP R E S TAU R A N T • Gold Panning • RV Parking • Camping • Old Chatanika Schoolhouse/Museum
!
L O D G I N G
!
S A L O O N
• Sunday Brunch • Fine or Casual Dining • Outdoor Deck with view of Mining Valley • Beautiful Trails
Open Daily 11 a.m.– 9 p.m. (Closed Mondays) • 5550 (Mile 28) Steese Hwy • (907) 389-2414
12365268 5-1-10VG
Preserving Interior Alaska’s Mining History • National Register of Historic Places
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
North Pole keeps the spirit of Christmas alive all year long By JAN THACKER For the News-Miner Although it’s only about 13 miles south of Fairbanks, North Pole is a world unto itself. Of course, how could it not be, since it’s the home of Santa Claus and all
things Christmas? During the years, North Pole businesses and residents have worked at living up to the name of their town. Many stores are decorated with a Christmas theme year-round, and streets bear names like
Santa Claus Lane, Snowman Lane, St. Nicholas Drive, Kris Kringle, Holiday Road, North Star Drive, Blitzen and Donnor. Once visitors to the area learn about North Pole, SanPlease see POLE, Page 68
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It’s driving down Santa Claus Lane or going into Safeway and knowing many of the people you pass. But beyond that, it’s the little things. It’s people look-
An Alaskan Gift Shop And Mounted Wildlife Display
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Alaskan size ice cream cones at a small Texas price. Unusual Burl Construction 32 Miles South of Fairbanks on Richardson Highway Phone: 488-3014
6565 Richardson Hwy., Salcha, AK 99714 knotty@alaska.net
THE ELF’S DEN R E S T AU R A N T A N D L O U N G E
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Open 7 days a week 8:00 a.m.–12 a.m.
488-8788 or 488-3268
Gordon Rd
Nelson Rd
Rd
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North Pole
ing out for one another and sharing each other’s burdens. If you live in North Pole, it doesn’t take long to know the mayor, City Council members, fire department personnel and many of the store owners on a first-name basis. In fact, it’s hard to live in North Pole and not know most of them. Residents are proud of their little town and the fact that Santa Claus lives here. Sometimes they might think it’s all a little hokey — the glitter and glitz of Christmas trappings in July — but deep down they’re proud. When they see a camera-toting tourist snapping pictures of Santa Claus House or posing in front of the reindeer pen, it makes them puff up just a little bit. There’s something wonderful about sending letters postmarked “North Pole, Alaska,” and living on streets named Mistletoe Lane or St. Nicholas Drive. Life is a little slower and simpler in North Pole. You hardly ever see anyone in a suit, except for weddings and funerals. And over at City Hall, if you want to talk to the mayor you don’t need an appointment.
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS Welcome Veterans & Their Families! RV Parking, Outdoor Family Rec. Area 3159 VFW St. North Pole, AK 99705 488-9184
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Next to North Pole NAPA
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2556 Mistletoe
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DeeDee Hammond/News-Miner
The KNOTTY Shop
Delivery Available
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ta Claus House, what it’s like to live at 60 below or colder and living with moose in the front yard, they are hooked. Visiting North Pole gets jotted onto their must-see list. So, what is it really like living in North Pole? Residents here frequently are asked why they would choose to live in North Pole when they could luxuriate under the big-city lights of Fairbanks. Well, the theme “Where the Spirit of Christmas Lives Year Around” pretty much sums it up. It’s the people. It’s going to the post office and talking to at least nine people you know. It’s going for a walk and having half a dozen folks stop and ask if you need a ride.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
POLE Continued from Page 68
Eric Engman/News-Miner
During the years, North Pole businesses and residents have worked at living up to the name of their town. House, started in 1952 that sealed the identity that would bring North Pole fame
throughout the world. North Pole is a theme city, and we cherish that identity.
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You walk in and say, “Is Doug busy?” and if he isn’t, you sit down and chat. So, how did this little community come about, and how did it get its name? It shouldn’t surprise you to learn that it had a lot to do with toys. In 1944, before it was a town, the present site was the Bon Davis homestead. The town started when Davis subdivided and settlers bought lots and set up housekeeping. Old-timers wanted to name the fledgling town “Moose Crossing,” to which Davis stated it might just as well be named “Mosquito Junction” in honor of the trillions of insects that also call it home. The buyers of most of the homestead, the Dahl and Gaske Development Company, thought the name North Pole would attract a toy manufacturer. While that didn’t happen, it did become the official name and the city was incorporated in 1953 with James Ford appointed the first mayor. A small school was built in 1953 in a donated house, and the city scraped up $100 per month to pay a teacher to educate the 30 students. Before long, North Pole Trading Post opened its doors, KJNP radio station went on the air, churches were built and businesses thrust up from the untouched earth like eager mushrooms. But it was Santa Claus
We welcome all to visit our community...featuring SOD-ROOFED LOG CABINS in the TRUE ALASKA MOTIF visit our website - www.mosquitonet.com/~KJNP
The City of North Pole Home of Santa Claus Welcomes You!
Broadcasting the Gospel in:
• English • Athabaskan • Inupiat AM RADIO • 1170 • 50,000 watts FM RADIO • 100.3 • 25,000 watts TV-Channel 4 KJHA 88.7FM in Houston, AK
www.northpolealaska.com
For more information write:
CALVARY’S NORTHERN LIGHTS MISSION
2501 Mission Rd., P.O. Box 56359 North Pole, AK 99705 • 907-488-2216
16365623 5-1-10VG
16366312 5-1-10VG
“Where the Spirit of Christmas Lives Year 'Round” (907) 488-2281
Bibles For Others P.O. Box 601 Grand Rapids, MN 55744 218-328-5873
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Golden Days Celebration is a wet, wacky good time By REBA LEAN For the News-Miner The Golden Days Celebration is a commemoration of the earliest mining days in Fairbanks. In 1902, Felix Pedro discovered gold, and every year since there has been cause for celebration. The event occurs at the height of tourist season, in late July. This year the fun spans from July 21-25, with interest culminating on Saturday’s Grande Parade, possibly the largest parade in Alaska with about 100 entries. The Fairbanks Chamber
of Commerce boasts events all week that lead up to the parade climax, starting with kickoff luncheons and parties. Attendees are encouraged to dress in turn-of-the-century wear. A re-enactment of Pedro’s gold weigh-in takes a crowd of spectators through the Wild West excitement one might have witnessed in the early 20th century. The Chamber also hosts a Rubber Duckie Race in the downtown portion of the Chena River. About 6,000 rubber ducks race from the Wendell Street bridge to the Golden Heart Plaza. The
BOONDOX BAR –and Package Store– Fine Wine • Beer • Liquor • and other goodies!
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Serving Salcha & Harding Lake
Office Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
1-888-488-6392 (907) 488-6392 1316 Badger Rd, North Pole, AK 99705
10 minutes to Fairbanks or North Pole
So Much to Offer… at REASONABLE RATES!
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• Assorted activities • Tour Info Reservations & Tickets • Gift Shop • Pets Welcome • Good Sam Park • Gas & Diesel • Groceries • Spirits/Beer/Wine/Ice • ATM • DVD Rental Kiosk riverview@acsalaska.net
When: July 21-25 Highlights include: • Rubber Duckie Race • KUAC Red Green Regatta • Golden Days Jail
lucky duck winners receive prizes. The KUAC Red Green Regatta is one truly Alaskathemed event that flows down the Chena. In the “Red Green” TV show’s honor, rafts are made using duct tape to hold materials together. The rafts are raced in hopes of winning some prizes. Often, the scantily made crafts are not too pretty up close, and each year one is specially awarded the “Best Viewed from a Distance” award. The Golden Days Jail is always one activity people look out for. If not spotted wearing either a Golden Days pin or garter, people are sent to “jail.” During Golden Days, the Chamber warns, “Any street of Fairbanks is ‘fair’ game.” The weeklong celebration of Fairbanks’ past is worth checking out, be it the antique cars display or costume competition. Each bit of celebrating the past helps Fairbanks remember its roots. Ask about "Wilderness Taxidermy"
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• Clean Restrooms • Laundry Facilities • Telephone room with modern hook-up • Free Car Wash • Quiet Wooded Area • Bank Fishing • 3 Hole Golf Course
16365621-5-1-10VG
• Big Rig Friendly & Most Welcome • Many 70’ Pull Throughs • Full hook-up with 30/50 Amp Electric • Cable TV + WI-FI Internet • FREE Showers with Private Dressing Rooms
GOLDEN DAYS CELEBRATION
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
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Elliott Highway is rich with Interior’s gold-mining past Elliott Highway is the Hilltop Truckstop, which offers the The 152-mile journey up the last chance to gas up for more Elliott Highway offers both an than 100 miles. Big appetites up-close view of Interior Alaska will be rewarded with heaping and a trip through the region’s breakfasts and generous slices gold mining history. of homemade pie. The road, which includes The area north of Fox both paved and gravel stretch- includes a handful of areas for es, connects the community of fishing and outdoor recreation. Fox and Manley Hot Springs. Olnes Pond, which includes an Just five miles up the unmaintained campground and Staff Report
a stocked lake, is at 10.7 Mile Elliott Highway. The Lower Chatanika River is just down the road from the Olnes Pond turnoff. At 27.9 Mile is the Wickersham Dome Trailhead, which provides access to White Mountains National Recreation Area trailheads. Please see ELLIOTT, Page 72
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Driving up the Haul Road Explore life above the Arctic Circle on the Dalton Highway highway stretches for 414 miles from just north of Fairbanks to five miles south Everyone comes to Alaska. of the Arctic Ocean. It’s In 2008, more than the only Alaska highway to 1.7 million people visited cross the Arctic Circle and Alaska between May and the only one that crosses the September. That’s nearly Brooks Range to the North double the year-round popu- Slope. lation of the state. Fewer Seventy-five percent of than 55,000 people visited the road is gravel, and the the Arctic Circle, Arctic remaining 25 percent alterOcean or the North Slope. nates between sealed gravel If you’re unwilling to shell and asphalt. The road is one out the money to fly to Barof the most challenging in row, Prudhoe Bay or Nome, Alaska. It provides an opporthere’s no better way to visit tunity to see unmatched Alaska’s Far North than by vistas, isolated tundra, the driving the Dalton Highway industry of the Alaska oil (or the Haul Road as locals fields and the ice-pocked call it). expanse of the Arctic Ocean. Built in 1974 to help conThe easiest way to experistruction of the trans-Alaska ence the Dalton Highway is oil pipeline and supply the by bus or van. Prudhoe Bay oil fields, the Tours regularly run By JAMES BROOKS jbrooks@newsminer.com
between Fairbanks and the Arctic Circle and Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay. Alaskan Arctic Turtle Tours operates custom year-round trips to the Arctic Circle, Brooks Range and Arctic Ocean. Prices vary for each destination and reservations can be made at 1-888-456-1798. Dalton Highway Express ($448 two-way, 907-474-3555) offers two-day van trips to the Arctic Ocean; AlaskaTours features a three-day package tour of the Dalton Highway for $1,169 (907277-3000); Northern Alaska Tour Company (907-4748600) offers various package tours; and Holland America, Princess and Grey Line do as well. Please see DALTON, Page 73
ELLIOTT: Road ends at Manley Hot Springs Continued from Page 71
About 200 miles of trails are available, including access to Bureau of Land Management cabins that are
Use this ad for $2 Off any Meal Purchase*
available to rent. Most are accessible only in winter, but a recording with information about trail conditions is available at 907-474-2372. The trailhead entrance includes
24 Hour Gas • Diesel ATM • Showers Full-Service Restaurant Groceries • Ice • Liquor Propane • Phone Hand-Dipped Ice Cream Famous Homemade Pies!
*Limit 2 Per Visit – Not Valid With Any Other Offer Limit 1 Coupon Per Item Purchase exp. 12/10
11365441-VG10
5.5 mile Elliott Hwy. • 15 minutes from Fairbanks Open 5 a.m.–Midnight • (907) 389-7600
picnic tables and basic restroom facilities. At Arctic Circle Trading Post at 49 Mile, gifts and basic groceries are available. The tiny community of Livengood is a mile off the Elliott at 71 Mile. A gold claim nearly a century ago brought the community to life, and it still includes about 30 residents. A few miles farther, where the Elliott forms a junction with the start of the Dalton Highway, the road turns to gravel. At 75 Mile, the Tolovana River offers fishing for grayling and an informal campsite. The road ends at Manley Hot Springs, with the hot springs located on the right. Springs and baths are open for weary travelers looking for a dip at the end of the Elliott. Call 672-3231 for information. Manley Roadhouse is one of Alaska’s original roadhouses, featuring rooms, cabins, food and a bar. For more information, call 672-3161.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
News-Miner file
There’s no better way to visit Alaska’s Far North than by driving the Dalton Highway. But beware: Drivers should be prepared for flat tires, cracked windshields and all the trials that come with a 15-hour trip on a road that is mostly gravel, has few facilities and is in one of the most remote areas of the United States.
Continued from Page 72
If you want more flexibility than a guided tour and decide to make the trip on your own, get ready for an adventure. Drivers should be prepared for flat tires, cracked windshields and all the trials that come with a 15-hour trip on a road that is mostly gravel, has few facilities and is in one of the most remote areas of the United States. Stock up with food and water in Fairbanks, carry an extra can or two of gasoline and have two full-size spare tires already mounted on rims. Most rental agencies do not allow their vehicles to be used on the Dalton Highway or other gravel roads. A handful of specialty companies have vehicles intended for traveling to Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Circle. Arctic Outfitters (907-4743530) provides vehicle rentals based on a sliding scale depending on the number of days rented. GoNorth Travel Center (907-479-7272) also has Please see DALTON, Page 74
IF YOU GO If you want to see the Arctic Ocean from the Dalton Highway, you need to plan ahead. Between the end of the highway and the ocean shore are the oil fields of Prudhoe Bay. Since Sept. 11, 2001, increased security has been put into place. Visitors are required to take a guided tour from the Arctic Caribou Inn (907-659-2368) and are required to provide a driver’s license number and book a reservation at least 24 hours in advance. Note: If you do not make advance reservations, you will not be able to see the Arctic Ocean.
Alaskan Arctic Turtle Tours • Prudhoe Bay • ANWR • Arctic Circle • Travel Alaska with experience. 907-457-1798 Fax 907-456-1798 1-888-456-1798
Brooks Range *Wildlife*
Alaskan Arctic Turtle Tours Inc. PO Box 60866 Fairbanks, AK 99706 USA www.wildalaska.info
email: wildalaska@alaska.net
See The Wonder of It All North! with Alaska’s Jim Winslow and Company
11365458 5-1-10VG
DALTON
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide The Associated Press
When you drive, expect to become familiar with the transAlaska pipeline — it follows the Dalton Highway for most of its length.
DALTON: Offers many beautiful views Continued from Page 73
gravel road-ready vehicles for rent, including RVs and trucks. When you drive, expect to become familiar with the trans-Alaska pipeline — it
follows the highway for most of its length. Most of the other landmarks and attractions along the highway are natural: scenic overlooks, granite tors (outcroppings), ample wildlife and so much beautiful scen-
ery that it can become overwhelming. If you drive yourself, be prepared to share the road with dozens of tractor-trailers. The Dalton Highway is primarily an industrial road supplying the oil fields, and you’ll be passing and being passed by trucks during the entire trip. Remember not to stop in the middle of the road, pull to the side to allow fast-moving trucks to pass and check your mirrors regularly. There are many blind curves and hills along the Please see DALTON, Page 75
EXPLORE ALASKA’S ARCTIC! Experience for yourself the legendary hospitality and authentic interpretation of Northern Alaska Tour Company’s one-day and overnight Arctic Circle Adventures®. Travel the famed Dalton Highway. Visit the Arctic Circle Trading Post. View the remarkable Trans Alaska Pipeline. Experience the mighty Yukon River. Cross the Arctic Circle. Explore up close the amazing arctic tundra. Tour the Nunamiut Eskimo village of Anaktuvuk Pass. Fly Alaska’s rugged wilderness airways. Arctic Circle Drive, Fly/Drive, Air, Native Culture, and Brooks Range Adventures available. OR extend your journey to the shores of the Arctic Ocean with our
ARCTIC OCEAN ADVENTURE™
P.O. Box 82991-VG • Fairbanks, AK 99708
907-474-8600
www.northernalaska.com
800-474-1986
adventure@northernalaska.com
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Sharing Alaska’s Arctic With The World
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All the highlights of our one day excursion PLUS Overnight in rustic Coldfoot. Visit the historic community of Wiseman. Travel through the majestic Brooks Mountain Range. Tour the Prudhoe Bay oil field. Optional Barrow extension tour also available.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Tok: cool town, warm people By BROOKELYN BELLINGER For the News-Miner If you arrived in Tok in the middle of winter, you would see why the Chamber of Commerce calls it “The coldest inhabited community in North America — with warm friendly people.” With winter temperatures of 30 below to 70 below, Tok has earned its reputation. Summer though, brings a warmer opportunity to explore this first major city as travelers enter Alaska via the Alaska Highway. Situated on the intersection of the Alaska Highway and Tok Cutoff to the Glenn Highway, Tok is a nice place to break yourself into the Alaska lifestyle, quirky and colorful as it is.
DALTON Continued from Page 74
ONLINE For more info on Tok, check out www.tokalaska info.com.
The inside is filled with displays of Alaska wildlife, jewelry, Native crafts and Internet access. The Web site is www.allalaskagifts. com. If you’re looking for entertainment, check out the popular “Dave’s Live Alaska Show” — a combination of songs, poetry and stories from life on the Last Frontier. The show runs nightly from June 1 to Aug. 10 at Tok RV Village.
ARCTIC CIRCLE TOUR
Daily departures 8am & 1pm 1 ⁄2 Day $299/person One Hour flight to Bettles see Brooks Range & Koyukuk River, Gift Shop Full Day $499/person incl Riverboat tour & Lunch
Bettles Lodge & Air Service
6146 Old Airport Way, Fairbanks AK 99706 1-800-770-5111 www.bettleslodge.com Arctic Circle Certificates
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!Fairbanks • Yukon River • Arctic Circle • !Wiseman Brooks Range • !Prudhoe Bay • !Point Barrow
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Experience Alaska’s Arctic on a guided adventure. Stop along the shores of the Yukon River, cross the Arctic Circle, enjoy the Brooks Mountain Range, land in the Gates of the Arctic National Park, or take a dip in the Arctic Ocean. Learn more on our website at: www.ArcticTreks.com
479-5451 (local) • 1-800-336-TREK (8735) (outside Fbks) adventure@northernalaska.com • www.ArcticTreks.com
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highway, so be alert. Construction also is a constant presence on the Dalton Highway, as continuous maintenance is needed on the road. Delays are possible because of road repair. Limited rest and fuel facilities are available. Coldfoot Camp (907-474-3500) offers lodging, fuel, food and tire repair halfway between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay. In Deadhorse, the town at the end of the highway, fuel and lodging are available from multiple sources. The Arctic Caribou Inn (907-659-2368), Deadhorse Camp ($199 single/double, $219 triple, 1-877-474-3565) and Prudhoe Bay Hotel ($150 single, 907-659-2449) all offer rooms at the northern end of the highway. Visitors should expect motel-style accommodations with an on-site cafeteria. Deadhorse has no restaurants outside the hotels, and the only shopping opportunities are at gas stations.
The first thing you’ll probably notice about Alaska is the slow pace, and Tok is no exception. Although a haven for weary road warriors and RV adventurers, you still can find that quiet piece of Alaska heaven you’ve been looking for. Start off with a meal at the locals’ favorite restaurant, Fast Eddy’s. With extra big portions and a friendly staff, you’re guaranteed to go away satisfied. If you’re looking for Alaska gifts and art, check out All Alaska Gifts & Crafts, located at the main intersection in town. Watch for the big yellow sign and check out the large stuffed moose in the glass gazebo next to the parking lot.
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Eagle still welcomes guests Devastating flood won’t keep this town down By JAMES BROOKS jbrooks@newsminer.com One year ago, the Yukon River town of Eagle was devastated by a spring flood that sent house-sized chunks of ice and 20 feet of water down Front Street. Dozens of homes and businesses were destroyed or damaged by the water and ice. But while Eagle might be down, it definitely isn’t out. A full year of rebuilding and assistance from various aid organizations has left the town in position to welcome visitors again. Eagle is the best-preserved of the original Yukon River mining and trading towns and contains seven century-old buildings from the gold rush era. The Eagle Historical Society maintains many of the buildings and runs a daily 9 a.m. walking tour of town. Visit www. eagleak.org/ for more information. Eagle also is home to the headquarters of the YukonCharley Rivers National Preserve, site of magnificent whitewater rafting, wilderness excursions and other outdoor activities. The park’s website, www.nps. gov/yuch/ has a detailed list of potential activities. The visitors center will be open seven days per week starting in May. Getting to Eagle is simple but be prepared for a long drive. From Fairbanks, take the Alaska Highway to Tok, then take the Taylor Highway north. In total, it’s
Photo from Jean Turner, Eagle Historical Society
Despite a devastating flood, a full year of rebuilding and assistance from various aid organizations has left the town in position to welcome visitors again.
ON THE WEB • Map of Taylor Highway: www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/media lib/blm/ak/fdo.Par.10476.Image.-1.-1.1.jpg • Falcon Inn: http://falconinn.mystarband.net • Eagle Canoe Rentals: www.eaglecanoerentals.com
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about an eight-hour drive, and the last half of the trip is on gravel roads. Air transportation to Eagle is available daily from Everts Air (450-2351), and the Yukon Queen II catamaran riverboat (867-993-5599) travels between Eagle and Dawson City daily during the summer. Because it crosses the Canadian border, you’ll need a passport. Because of the flood, many of the facilities previously open to Eagle travelers have changed. The Falcon Inn Bed and Breakfast (547-2254) remains open, and a motelstyle bunkhouse is available as well. The bunkhouse has a separate bathhouse with all the amenities. Eagle Trading Post is the sole grocery store in Eagle, and no other dining facilities are available. Shopping is similarly limited, but there are a number of stores selling handicrafts, two gas stations that offer tire and auto repair, and a
laundromat. The Bureau of Land Management operates a self-service campground for visitors, and those seeking information on the campground can call 474-2382. Unlike in past years, no RV hookups are available. If you have any questions about traveling to Eagle or the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve, call Interpretive Ranger Pat Sanders at the National Park Service Eagle office at 547-2223 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
EVENTS • Memorial Day Observance: 3 p.m. at Eagle Cemetery • July Fourth Celebration: Potluck and auction on July 3, old-fashioned activities including a flagraising, parade, games, booths, rifle shoot and more on July 4
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Underrated Wrangell-St. Elias boasts tall peaks, large area or camping are not required in Wrangell-St. Elias like they are in Denali. “You definitely have more freedom (in Wrangell-St. Elias),” Stoerberl said. “People can do their own trips without notifying us they’re in the park.” The best way to see Wrangell-St. Elias is from the air, Stoerberl said. Air taxis in Glennallen, McCarthy and Nabesna offer flightseeing trips in the park. Gilpatrick's
Hotel Chitina
Historic hotel Full Service restaurant & BAR All rooms with private bath
The Gateway To Wrangell St. Elias Nat'l Park Hotel (907) 823-2244 Winter (907) 835-5542 33 Edgerton Hwy, Chitina AK 99566 www.hotelchitina.com • info@hotelchitina.com
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which is bigger than Rhode Island and is the largest piedmont glacier in North America. Everything about Wrangell“The superlatives just keep St. Elias National Park and coming,” Todd Stoerberl, headPreserve is big. quarters district interpreter for At 13.2 million acres, Wrangell-St. Elias, said. Wrangell-St. Elias is the largYet, despite its status as est national park in the United the country’s largest national States. It is more than twice park, Wrangell-St. Elias still the size of the more-famous stands in the shadow of Denali Denali National Park and Pre- National Park and Preserve serve and six times the size of and 20,320-foot Mount McKinYellowstone National Park, the ley, which ranks as the top largest park in the Lower 48. tourist destination in Alaska. It is the largest designated “We think we’re just as spewilderness area in the U.S., cial and beautiful as Denali is, with more than 9 million acres with less development and less of designated wilderness. crowds,” Stoerberl said. Nine of the 16 tallest peaks While nearly a half million in the U.S. are in Wrangell-St. people crowd into Denali each Elias, including 18,008-foot summer, only about 100,000 Mount St. Elias, the secondvisit Wrangell-St. Elias, he highest peak in the U.S. noted. Visitors to Denali are The park contains more required to ride a bus into the than 150 glaciers, including the park while visitors to Wrangell76-mile long Hubbard Glacier, St. Elias can drive their vehithe longest tidewater glacier cles into the park on one of two in Alaska; the 75-mile long roads. Nabesna Glacier, which is the There is no fee to enter longest valley glacier in the Wrangell-St. Elias and backworld; the Malaspina Glacier, country permits to go hiking By TIM MOWRY tmowry@newsminer.com
Join us on main street Kennicott, a ghost town overlooking the majestic Kennicott Glacier and 16,000-foot Wrangell Mountains. We offer you gracious hospitality, fine dining, comfortable guest rooms, and memories to last a lifetime. Drive or fly into the heart of the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and stay at: CALL TOLL FREE
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2010 Summer Visitors Guide
Quirky Chicken knows how to have a good time Staff Report Located about 66 Mile Taylor Highway, Chicken is perhaps the quirkiest of all the small communities in the state. It consists of several hubs: downtown Chicken; the Original Chicken Gold Camp/Chicken Creek Outpost off Chicken Airport Road; and Chicken Center/The Goldpanner. The community got its name in 1902 when the town was incorporated officially. Lore has it that locals wanted to call it ptarmigan, because that was the wild bird of choice for prospectors in search of gold. But when it came time to officially name the town, no one could spell ptarmigan, so instead of being plagued with the humiliation of perhaps spelling their own town name inaccurately, they called it Chicken. About 20 to 30 people live in Chicken year-round, and the population has a summer spike as miners and tourists come to town. There is no electricity, no phones and no plumbing. Mail arrives twice per week by Bush plane. Chicken has several gift shops, cafes, a bar and a salmon bake. While there, take a tour of Tisha’s School House in the Old Town of Chicken. This summer boasts the fourth annual Chickenstock, billed as the “Top of the World” music festival, where you can get your fill of bluegrass and mingle with the locals. Chickenstock is June 11-12, which includes an informal jam session on the night
Julie Stricker photo
About 20 to 30 people live in Chicken, which has no electricity, no phones and no plumbing. Mail arrives twice per week by Bush plane. of the 11th and the bluegrass festival starting about noon on the 12th. Tickets are available in Fairbanks and at the Chicken Gold Camp/Chicken Creek Outpost. Other tours are available of the historic buildings, which are privately owned. Ask at the Goldpanner Gift Shop. Visitors can tour the historical Pedro Dredge, the most complete dredge open to the public in Alaska. Ask about the dredge at Chicken Gold Camp/ Chicken Creek Outpost. The Taylor Highway winds its way to Chicken from Tetlin Junction on the Alaska Highway, 12 miles east of Tok. There are commercial buses that routinely drive this area on their way to Eagle, Boundary and Dawson City, Yukon. From Fairbanks, it’s about a five-hour drive. For more information visit: • www.chickengold.com • www.townofchicken.com • www.chickenalaska.com
CHICKENSTOCK Ready to get down for a great Alaska music fest? This summer marks the fourth Chickenstock, a gathering of bands and musicians who play all night. • June 11: 7 p.m. to late. Pick’n ‘n Chicken Jam night. Informal jam session with mixed artists. • June 12: noon to dawn • Advance tickets are $20 and are on sale at Gulliver’s Books and Grassroots Guitar in Fairbanks and include admission to both days. A two-day pass will be $23 at the gate. • At-the-gate for June 12 is $6 and $20 for Chickenstock on June 13. • Online: www.chicken stockmusicfestival.com.
www.chickengold.com • 907-235-6396 msg
Dial 511 or online 511.alaska.gov
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1/4 mile Airport Road • Chicken, Alaska chickenRVpark@gmail.com
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RV Park • Cabins • Campground Cafe • Espresso • Beer/Wine Historic Bucketline Dredge Tours Gold Prospecting Adventures: Panning, Dredging, Highbanking
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Picturesque Valdez offers a haven for fishing News-Miner file
By TIM MOWRY tmowry@newsminer.com
ride to and from the glacier. Worthington Glacier, a 30mile drive north of Valdez on the Richardson Highway, also offers a chance to get a close-up look at a glacier and requires no boat ride or expensive tour. You can drive right up to the face of the glacier and walk on the ice. Glacier trekking tours
are available in town. Keystone Canyon, about 15 miles north of Valdez along the Richardson Highway, also features spectacular views with several waterfalls pouring over the steep canyon walls.
Valdez Halibut Charter with Mike McDaneld
aboard the Dawn Treader
! Welcome
Free Wi
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“Feel at home in Valdez” For Reservations Call: P.O. Box 184 1-800-478-2791 113 Galena Dr. or (907) 835-2791 Valdez, AK 99686 Fax (907) 835-5406 www.valdezdowntowninn.com or Email: onen2rs@gci.net
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It’s been more than 20 years since the Exxon Valdez oil spill, but the historic disaster is still a popular topic with visitors to the Prince William Sound town of Valdez. “We do always get quite a few questions about it,” Dave Petersen of the Valdez Convention and Visitor Bureau. “A lot of people think there’s still going to be oil floating around in the water.” Thankfully, most evidence of the largest oil spill in North American history has been erased by time and nature. Visitors to Valdez are greeted with one of the most picturesque towns in the state, commonly referred to as “Alaska’s Little Switzerland” for the steep, snow-capped mountains surrounding the small port town. On a sunny day, there’s not a prettier place in Alaska than Valdez. While oil, as in the oil spill or the end of the trans-Alaska pipeline, is the first thing that comes to the minds of many people when they think of Valdez, the small town of 4,300 offers visitors the chance to experience Alaska on many fronts. With an extensive sport fishing charter fleet for both salmon and halibut, Valdez is one of the premier fishing destinations in Alaska. Thousands of anglers flock to Valdez each year in hopes of catching barn-door-sized halibut or thigh-sized silver salmon. The town plays host to halibut and silver salmon fishing derbies each year. While the excellent fishing lures many people to Valdez, scenery also is one of the town’s main draws. Tours of the Columbia Glacier offer visitors a chance to get an up-close look at one of North America’s largest tidewater glaciers, as well as a chance to see whales, sea lions, dolphins and otters on the boat
Valdez is commonly referred to as “Alaska’s Little Switzerland” for the steep, snow-capped mountains surrounding the port town.
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