2017 Interior Alaska Visitors Guide by Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

The Bag Ladies of Fairbanks Cabin 2 in Pioneer Park Memorial Day to Labor Day

We have many locally handcrafted Alaskan gifts, soaps, books, jewelry, fabric and espresso coffee shop. Why not stop by for our great home made soup & sandwiches while enjoying it in our Historical log cabin!

OPEN DAILY 11 A.M. – 8 P.M. • 455-1269

Step into the Gold Dome.... & You’re In A Special Place! Interior & Arctic Alaska’s Aeronautical History. 16 Aircraft, 31 Engines, Memorabilia, Artifacts, Photos, Stories & More.

Space Camp & Aviation History $1 per person Ages 4-18

Celestial Navigation Course May 31 - August 11 Ages 10-15

Come try out our NEW computerized flight simulator!

Wed-Sun 10:30am-8pm • Mon-Tue Noon-8pm Open 7 Days A Week May 15 – September 10 F11518239

Admission: $4 Single, $8 Family|Children Under 12 FREE but must be accompanied by an adult

(907) 451-0037 • www.pioneerairmuseum.org

Table of contents FAIRBANKS/NORTH POLE REGION Fairbanks FAQs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Downtown Fairbanks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Fairbanks Community Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center . . . . . . . . 8 Trans-Alaska oil pipeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mining Hall of Fame Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Riverboat Discovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Biking in Fairbanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Antique Auto Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 North Pole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Chena Hot Springs Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Gold Dredge No. 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Farmers markets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Alaska Railroad. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Fairbanks Ice Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Running Reindeer Ranch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Fairbanks Children’s Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Fairbanks map. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

• Pioneer Park All about Pioneer Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Top attractions at Pioneer Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Salmon Bake/Golden Heart Revue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

White Mountains National Recreation Area. . . . . . . . . Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge . . . . . . . . Midnight Sun Run. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Running events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Q&A about the aurora. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chena Lake Recreation Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chena River State Recreation Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tanana Lakes Recreation Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

• Main events Midnight Sun Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Midnight Sun baseball game. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Golden Days. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . World Eskimo-Indian Olympics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Arts in the summer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tanana Valley State Fair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Denali National Park and Preserve centennial. . . . . . . . About Denali National Park and Preserve. . . . . . . . . . . Getting around in Denali. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Have only half a day for Denali? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

BEYOND FAIRBANKS

UA Museum of the North . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Large Animal Research Station. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Georgeson Botanical Garden. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Parks Highway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Steese Highway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dalton and Elliott highways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alaska and Richardson highways. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Valdez fishing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Taylor Highway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Denali Highway. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Index of advertisers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Canoeing and kayaking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Fishing in Fairbanks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Get a taste of dog mushing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

54 55 56 57 58 60

DENALI

• University of Alaska Fairbanks

• Outdoor recreation

47 48 49 50 50 51 52 52 53

61 63 65 67

68 69 70 72 73 74 75 78

Important phone numbers All of Alaska is in area code 907. The area code is required when using a local phone to call a location in Alaska but outside the local calling area. The Guide to Fairbanks and Interior Alaska is a product of the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, located at 200 N. Cushman St., Fairbanks, Alaska. Mailing address: P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks, Alaska, 99707. General telephone: 907-456-6661 Advertising: 907-459-7548 Newsroom: 907-459-7572 Business hours: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Find us online at newsminer.com and on Facebook at www.facebook. com/fairbanksDNM. Find this 2017 visitors guide online at newsminer. com. You can stay connected to Fairbanks after you leave by subscribing to the News-Miner’s electronic edition. Start your subscription by clicking on the “Subscriber Services “ link at the top of our website. Cover photo: People traveling on the Parks Highway stop to take in the view at the Denali Viewpoint South Sunday afternoon. The viewpoint is located at mile 135.2 of the Parks Highway, heading north to Fairbanks. John Hagen/News-Miner

Call 9-1-1 in an emergency Alaska State Troopers, Fairbanks post:.....................451-5100 Fairbanks Police Department business line:.............450-6500 Fairbanks Police Department dispatch (24-hour non-emergency number):.........................450-6507 Fairbanks Fire Department:......................................450-6600 North Pole Police Department:.................................488-6902 North Pole Fire Department:....................................488-2232 Fairbanks Memorial Hospital:..................................452-8181 Tanana Valley Clinic:.................................................459-3500 Fairbanks Regional Public Health Center:................452-1776

‘Is it dark all day in the winter?’ and other questions about Fairbanks

▶▶When was Fairbanks founded? It was incorporated in 1903 but it was actually founded in 1901 when E.T. Barnette set out to establish a trading post at Tanacross on the Tanana River. Low water in the Tanana River forced Barnette to put in a few miles up one of its tributaries, the Chena River. Finding more miners than he expected in the area, Barnette decided to open his trading post here and move to Tanacross the following summer. However, he wound up staying when Felix Pedro discovered gold in the area north of Fairbanks. The city sprouted around Barnette’s trading post. Barnette became the first mayor of the city when it was incorporated in 1903. ▶▶How did Fairbanks get its name? Fairbanks was named by city founder E.T. Barnette in honor of Sen. Charles W. Fairbanks of Indiana, who would go on to serve as Theodore Roosevelt’s vice president.

▶▶Do people still mine gold in Fairbanks? Yes, especially with gold prices being what they are. The largest open-pit gold mine in Alaska, Fort Knox Gold Mine, is located 26 miles north of Fairbanks. The Fort Knox mine has produced several million ounces of gold since it opened in 1996. The Pogo Gold Mine, an underground gold mine located 85 miles southeast of Fairbanks, began operation in 2007. ▶▶Can you see the northern lights in the summer? No. The aurora borealis can be visible in Fairbanks for approximately 200 days a year, roughly from mid-September to April, though they don’t show up every night. The best viewing is usually December through March when it is clearest and coldest. ▶▶Why are there electrical outlets in all the parking lots? And why do people have extension cords sticking out the front of their vehicles? Due to the extreme cold temperatures in Fairbanks during the winter, most vehicles are equipped with several electric heating devices that facilitate starting during the coldest time. The standard setup consists of an engine block heater, an oil pan heater, and a battery blanket/pad that warms the battery. It usually takes an hour or two after a vehicle is plugged in to warm it enough to start. Most employers provide “plug-ins” for its employees. ▶▶How long does the Chena River stay frozen? The Chena River usually freezes sometime in mid- to late October and remains frozen until late April or early May. One part of the river, about a mile-long stretch from the Aurora Energy power plant on First Avenue to Pioneer Park, remains open yearround because of the warm water being discharged from the power plant. ▶▶Is it dark all day in the winter? Not really. The shortest day of the year is Dec. 21, the winter solstice, when there is 3 hours, 43 minutes, of official daylight.

But there is usually about a half-hour of twilight on each side of sunrise and sunset that translates to about four or five hours of light during the darkest days, from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Granted, it’s not bright light, but we’ll take what we can get. Soon after Dec. 21, we start gaining six to seven minutes of daylight each day.

▶▶Is it light all day in the summer? Look out the window at midnight and you tell us. Seriously, the longest day of the year is summer solstice, which in 2017 is June 20. On that day there will be 21 hours, 49 minutes of official daylight. But it is pretty much light all day long through the first half of July. We start losing six to seven minutes of daylight each day soon after the solstice. ▶▶How do you sleep in the summer with all the light? You close your eyes and count moose. Kidding aside, most people who have spent much time in Fairbanks during the summer either are used to the extended daylight or they get a good set of curtains to keep the light out at night. Beyond that, you can use a mask to cover your eyes or move to the Lower 48. ▶▶Why do people drive around with big, plastic water tanks in the back of their pickup trucks? Many people in Fairbanks do not have wells because of the high iron and/or arsenic content and instead use holding tanks that are buried beneath the ground and plumbed into the house. Holding tanks for residential homes are usually 1,000 to 1,500 gallons. People with holding tanks have two options: Pay to get water delivered by one of several water delivery companies or haul their own water at a cheaper rate. Those tanks in the back of trucks are for hauling water. ▶▶What do people do outdoors in Fairbanks during the winter? You’d be amazed at how many people you see doing things outdoors in the winter in Fairbanks, even when it’s 20 or 30 degrees below zero. Cross-country skiing, skijoring, dog mushing, snowshoeing, snowmachining — or snowmobiling as people outside Alaska call it — and ice fishing are all popular wintertime activities. ▶▶What do dog mushers do with their sled dogs in the summer? For the most part, sled dogs get a chance to catch their breath and shed their coats during the summer months. While most mushers typically stop running sled dogs at the end of April when the snow melts, some mushers do exercise their dogs during the summer months using ATVs if the weather is cool enough. Competitive racers usually start training their dogs again in August when the weather starts to turn colder. Mushers will use ATVs to train their dogs until there is enough snow to use a sled, usually sometime in midto late November.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Downtown in the Golden Heart City is full of life Staff report newsoom@newsminer.com

owntown is the very heart of Fairbanks, and like any city center, it’s where the unique shops are, says David van den Berg, executive director of the Downtown Association of Fairbanks. More than 300 Alaska-owned businesses operate in the downtown core, and you won’t find any box stores. There are longtime establishments such as If Only... and Arctic Travelers, where gifts and souvenirs are abundant, and Big Ray’s, where you can find your outdoor clothing needs. Downtown Fairbanks has been improved over the last decade with new sidewalks, roads, and other infrastructure. New businesses of all types have recently made their way to the area, among them the Fairbanks Distillery, Venue, the Crepery, Bad Mother Vintage, and Lavelle’s Taphouse. With the Chena River running through it and extended daylight hours, downtown is pleasant in the summer. “It’s a place visitors should come,” van den Berg said. “They will have positive enduring memories of Fairbanks and the Interior.” The main route through downtown is Cushman Street, which is also home to several notable structures. The Patrick B. Cole City Hall building, located at Ninth Avenue and Cushman, is the former home of Main School. The old City Hall building, at Fifth and Cushman, is now the home of Fairbanks Distilling Co.

Courthouse Square, on Cushman Street between Second and Third avenues, was the location of the first courthouse and federal jail built by Judge James Wickersham in 1904. The old federal building was constructed in 1932 and became the anchor of the downtown district, serving as a courthouse and post office. It’s now an office building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Second Avenue, which crosses Cushman Street one block south of the river, was once an entertainment hub that included a string of bars, diners and other establishments. The Co-Op Plaza, a former movie theater, now includes restaurants and shops. A portion of Fourth Avenue, three blocks to the south, was once home to Fairbanks’ red light district. On the north side of the river, across the Cushman Street Bridge, is Immaculate Conception Church, Fairbanks’ first Catholic church. Originally built in 1904, it was moved from the south side of the river in 1911. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Across from Immaculate Conception Church, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, which was first founded as the Daily Miner in 1903, publishes a daily newspaper. It’s also the location of the Arctic Cam, a popular webcam that looks toward the Big I bar and the Chena River. You can access the cam at www.newsminer.com/arctic_cam/ Information about a Fairbanks self-guided downtown walking tour, with 42 landmarks, is available at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center.

www.newsminer.com

Every town has a past and Fairbanks is no exception By Amanda Bohman abohman@newsminer.com

ore than 100 years of history is on display in a collection of photographs, newspaper clippings and artifacts at the Fairbanks Community Museum located at the Co-op Plaza at 535 Second Ave. Admission is free, though donations are gratefully accepted. The museum offers visitors a glimpse into how residents amuse themselves during long, cold winters; a display about the Klondike Gold Rush; a collection of dog mushing memorabilia; and photographs and home movies from the historic 1967 flood. This year marks the floodâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 50th anniversary and the museum has a full flood exhibit, said Bob Eley, museum director. The collection of historic photographs includes a classic picture of miners climbing the Chilkoot Pass during the Klondike Gold Rush. Some of those prospectors eventually made their way to Interior Alaska, striking gold in the hills surrounding Fairbanks, putting the Golden Heart City on the map.

The museum has added an art gallery with works by local artists and an art show on the first Friday of every month. A replica of a minerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cabin has also been added. The museum has exhibits dedicated to the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Examples of beaded mittens and slippers made in the Interior Alaska village of Galena, located on the north bank of the Yukon River, are on display, as is a bearskin coat with a wolf ruff. Another display case boasts a bear skin coat with a wolf ruff. One of the sleds that Charlie Biederman used to haul mail up and down the Yukon River is displayed. Biederman was the last contract mailman to deliver the mail by dogsled. His route stretched 160 miles between Circle and Eagle on the Yukon River. Dogsled deliveries ended in 1938. Across a wall are professional photographs showing all manner of wintertime events and activities in Fairbanks, including a picture of the famous outhouse races that used to take place at the Chatanika Lodge.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

An electronic display pages through more than 400 photographs of the aurora borealis taken by late photographer Warren Gammel. Another exhibit pays tribute to the late George Attla, one of the greatest sprint race dog sled champions of all time. The museum also possesses an old panoramic photograph of Fairbanks that is believed to have once adorned a wall at the Nordale Hotel, which burned down in 1972. It was found in a dump and donated to the museum, Eley said. Burn marks on the picture lend truth to the story that it was salvaged from the hotel’s ruins. The museum has acquired a film projector and will be showing movies this summer. ▶▶ Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week throughout the summer except for major holidays . An expanded gift shop offers patches, pins and historical books.

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Starting your visit? Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center is a great first stop Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com

eople interested in exploring Interior Alaska can get a pretty good start on their trip with a visit to the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Explore Fairbanks, the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs, the Alaska Geographic bookstore and Denakkanaaga Native Elders organization all share space in the building at 101 Dunkel St. on the banks of the Chena River, providing a variety of cultural programs, exhibits and events. The center also includes “How We Live,” an in-depth display of Interior Alaska’s history and people. The walkthrough exhibit hall greets visitors with everyday sounds of the Interior, beginning with a raven’s call, Athabascan fiddle music, the deep roar of a float plane taking off and the musical honking of migrating geese. The exhibit winds through life-size dioramas depicting the seasons, flora and fauna of Interior Alaska. A replica fish camp, hunting camp, public use cabin and a northern lights show add to the realism.

The area’s rich cultural history and highlights of the modern community are featured. Alaska lifestyles past and present and the history of the area from its first people, early exploration, gold stampede and oil pipeline are detailed through a wide range of locally donated art and artifacts. The center is adjacent to Griffin Park and is near bike and walk paths. It offers parking, wireless internet and restrooms. Visitors can stow their gear in lockers while they explore Fairbanks or can watch daily free films about Alaska in the center’s 100-seat theater. A 1905 pioneer cabin on the center’s grounds has been restored, and glass tile mosaics depicting traditional Athabascan beadwork designs adorn the sidewalks. An antler arch is one of the area’s most popular photo spots, and a webcam (www.morristhompsoncenter.org/web-cam) allows visitors at the arch to wave to family and friends around the world. The services offered by the center’s organizations are many. Events available at the center can be found at www. morristhompsoncenter.org/programs.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Explore Fairbanks

Exhibits

There is much to do and see in Interior Alaska, and the friendly folks at Explore Fairbanks will help plan an itinerary of local attractions that fits your schedule. The staff is all local and can answer questions and share personal stories of year-round life in Fairbanks. The organization offers hundreds of brochures for attractions, dining, shopping, camping and outdoor adventures in the Interior and across Alaska. Explore Fairbanks provides a number of services for visitors. They include free courtesy phones for local and credit card calls, public computers for visitors to make travel arrangements and check email, maps of Alaska and the Fairbanks area, and daily listings of available accommodations. For more information, call 456-5774 or visit www.explorefairbanks.com.

Winter in Fairbanks • The Great Flood Klondike Gold Rush • Early Fairbanks The Driving Spirit (Dog Mushing)

museum

(907) 457-3669

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accepted ons gladly

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Summer Hours 11am – 5pm

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Free Admission

Alaska Public Lands Information Center

The Tanana Chiefs Conference, a consortium of 42 villages in Interior Alaska, promotes Alaska Native unity and self-determination. TCC Cultural Programs hosts cultural programs and events Monday through Friday during the summer at the center. For more information, call 459-3741 or stop by the center.

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Alaska Geographic is a nonprofit bookstore dedicated to “connecting people to Alaska’s parks, forests and refuges.” Browse Alaska reading material — children’s books, wilderness adventure, Alaska history and 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 is open daily during the summer months. For more information, call 459-3710 or visit akgeo.org.

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For adventurous visitors, the Public Lands Information Center is dedicated to promoting knowledge and use of “natural, cultural and historic resources on Alaska’s public lands.” 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 sponsors daily natural history or cultural films in the theater. The public lands office is open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information, call 4593730 or visit www.alaskacenters.gov.

Trans-Alaska oil pipeline: Still delivering 40 years later Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com he trans-Alaska oil pipeline, one of the most ambitious construction projects ever undertaken, stretches hundreds of miles across some of the roughest and most remote terrain in the world. Crews began laying pipe in spring 1975 and laid the final stretch of the line on May 31, 1977. The first oil moved through the pipeline on June 20 of that year. More than 70,000 workers were involved in building the pipeline. It cost $8 billion in 1977 and was, at the time, the largest privately funded construction project ever undertaken. The pipeline stretches more than 800 miles from Alaska’s North Slope to the ice-free port of Valdez on Prince William Sound. There, at the pipeline’s end, the oil is transferred into storage tanks and loaded onto tanker ships for transport to West Coast refineries. How much oil goes through the pipeline? The highest average daily throughput was 2.03 million

barrels in 1988. The pipeline carries much less than that now; it averaged 517,868 barrels daily in 2016. The pipeline is one of the top attractions for visitors to Alaska, and some of the best places to view the pipeline are in the Interior. The pipeline often trails alongside the Dalton, Elliott and Richardson highways. One of the best places to view the pipeline is just north of Fairbanks, at 8.4 Mile Steese Highway near Fox. Visitors there can get out of their cars and walk alongside the pipeline, which rests above ground on vertical support beams. For visitors seeking a more sweeping view of the pipeline, Donnelly Dome, located just south of Delta Junction on the Richardson Highway, rises above the surrounding valley and provides a view of the pipeline as it travels south alongside the Delta River. Not far south from Donnelly Dome, the pipeline crosses the Richardson Highway, going below ground to travel under the highway before rising back out of the earth onto its supports. The highway pullout near the pipeline crossing is a popular stopping point for drivers.

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The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

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Fairbanks region

Museum offers nuggets of mining history Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com

airbanks has its roots in gold. When Felix Pedro found gold in Fish Creek in 1902, he and his fellow prospectors laid the groundwork for today’s lively community. Pedro, and the miners who followed him, including those active today, forged a rich history that is captured in the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame museum on First Avenue. The museum, organized by the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation, opened in summer 2014 and is located in the Historic Bath House and Oddfellow’s Hall at 825 First Ave., on the corner of First Avenue and Cowles Street. The two-story building was constructed in 1907. The Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation was formed to honor outstanding individuals who have played important roles in the development of Alaska’s mineral industry. The mining pioneers include a wide variety of individuals active since the mid-19th century, including prospectors, miners, mine entrepreneurs, professional geologists and engineers, educators, government employees, aviators and even those in the legal profession. The individuals are known, understood and appreciated for their contributions to the development of the territory, and subsequently the state, of Alaska. The Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation began inducting pioneers in the Hall of Fame in 1997. Each inductee in the Mining Hall of Fame has a plaque with a biographical sketch. There is mining memorabilia associated with each inductee as well. The museum also has a collection of mining equipment, mining documents and rock samples among its many exhibits.

There is a small gift shop where T-shirts, coffee mugs and more than 30 different books portraying mining in Alaska are sold to help support the foundation. Most of the docents at the museum come from the Santa’s Seniors program in North Pole. The museum also offers lectures on a variety of mining subjects. The lectures are usually held at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays during the summer months. Stop by the museum to check on the summer lecture schedule. ▶▶The museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday from Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 20. Admission is a suggested $2 donation, but any donations are appreciated. Information is available online at alaskamininghalloffame.org

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www.newsminer.com

History flows with a ride on the Riverboat Discovery Staff Report

he Riverboat Discovery takes visitors on a trip to Alaska’s not-so-distant past when sternwheelers were a major part of Alaska’s transportation network. The Binkley family has worked on Interior Alaska rivers for five generations, piloting ships for more than 100 years. Since the 1950s, various versions of the Riverboat Discovery have taken visitors for a uniquely Alaskan river ride. The tour meanders down the Chena River where passengers will watch a bush pilot take off and land in a small plane. The sternwheeler pauses at Trailbreaker Kennels, home of the family of late four-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Susan Butcher, where

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SERVING THE INTERIOR OF ALASKA AND BEYOND SINCE 1986

377 HELMERICKS AVENUE FAIRBANKS, ALASKA (907) 457-8555

OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK - FIND US ON FACEBOOK

visitors will learn about modern competitive mushing. Sled dogs were a vital form of winter transportation between villages, carrying people and freight in the days before snowmachines. Another stop is at a replica Interior Alaska Native village and fish camp.The Riverboat Discovery stops for an hour at the Native village, where passengers get a guided tour. Village hosts relate stories about their history, culture and subsistence lifestyle. Tour a fish camp, complete with a fishwheel, and learn techniques for catching, drying and storing salmon. The trip begins at Steamboat Landing in west Fairbanks near Fairbanks International Airport. The landing is a replica gold rush-era river port with a dining hall where a hearty miner’s stew is served. The landing also includes a gift shop, museum and ice cream parlor. For those who want to experience a taste of an Interior Alaska winter, you can participate in “Alaska at 40 Below,” a specially designed chamber that drops the mercury to the frigid depths of a mid-winter Fairbanks day. The tour costs $64.95 for adults, $39.95 for children age 3-12, and is free for those younger than age 3. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 479-6673 or online at www.riverboatdiscovery.com.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

▶▶Tours run at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily from May 9 through Sept. 22. Lunch is an additional $11.95 for adults and $4.95 for children. The Alaska at 40 Below Experience is free, but you can have your picture taken for a $10 fee. Locally brewed beer from HooDoo Brewery is available on the cruise and in the dining hall for an additional cost.

What: Riverboat Discovery Cruise When: 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. daily from May 9-Sept. 22 Where: 1975 Discovery Drive, Fairbanks Cost: $64.95 adults, $39.95 for children. Free for children age 3 and younger Phone: 479-6673 Online: www.riverboatdiscovery.com

ALASKA FEED Co.

Alaska Made Market The Best Selection of Made in Alaska Products 1600 College Road • Fairbanks, AK 99709 (907)451-5570 • 800-478-FEED F12518229

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Pedal-power can get you easily around town By Matt Buxton mbuxton@newsminer.com

he summer of 2016 saw the wide debut of on-the-spot bike rentals in the Golden Heart City. The red-and-yellow Fairbikes cruisers are an easy and fun way to see the city at your own pace. With a phone app, riders can find nearby bikes available to rent from one of more than a dozen conveniently located stations throughout Fairbanks. Riders then use the app to rent the bike and unlock it. Bikes can be returned to any station. The Fairbikes app is available on the Apple App Store for iPhones and Google Play for Android devices. More information is available online at fairbikes.com. Co-founder John Stowman said the first summer went well and that the company plans to expand its fleet in 2017. He said they’re planning on doubling the number of bikes in the fleet to 50 and add more rental stations throughout town to total about 20.

“Last year we had over 1,000 people download the app and check out bikes; we had an amazingly successful season,” he said. Stowman said College Road is in line to get more stations, including one at Gulliver’s Books and another at the midpoint on College Road. He said the stops are intended to expand the routes where people might take the bikes. Another fun bike rental experience includes CanoeAlaska, which offers a package where you can bike and boat in Downtown Fairbanks. Adventurers can rent an inflatable kayak from the company’s downtown location, by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Administrative Center at 907 Terminal St., and float down to the Pioneer Park location, where they can get a bike and ride it along a wide, paved riverfront trail back to the start. More information is available at canoealaska.com/ or by calling 907-457-2453. CanoeAlaska opens Memorial Day weekend and is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

  Mon.-Thurs. 11-9:30 • Fri. & Sat. 11-10:30 • Sun. Noon-9:30

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The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

500 2ND AVE, FAIRBANKS 907-451-8224

Fairbanks region

The Alaska Public Lands Information Center at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center maintains a list of businesses that rent bikes and other equipment. Information online at alaskacenters.gov/cycling-in-the-interior.cfm. Fairbanks has only a handful of designated bike trails. The main ones are along the Chena River and around Farmers Loop. Some city streets are safer than others for biking, so local governments have created an online map (bit.ly/1qvnG0k), with preferred bike routes in the city. A paper copy of the map is available at the Morris Thompson Center.

Rides A good half-day bike trip is the 16-mile bike path that follows Farmers Loop. The route climbs into the hills north of Fairbanks, giving a great view of the city and the snow-covered mountains of the Alaska Range more than 100 miles to the south. Other road bike excursions from Fairbanks include trips to the town of Ester (about 20 miles round-trip from downtown Fairbanks) and Fox (about 25 miles round trip).

The World Famous

101 St. Nicholas Drive

North Pole, Alaska

S i n c e 1952 , S a n t a C l a u s H o u s e h a s p r o v i d e d m i l l i o n s o f g u e s t s w i t h a n e xc i t i n g s h o p p i n g e x p e r i e n c e a n d a n a b u n d a n c e o f p h o t o o p p o r t u n i t i e s . V i s i t w i t h S a n t a a n d h i s r e i n d e e r, b r o w s e t h r o u g h t h o u s a n d s o f u n i q u e g i f t s , a n d v i e w t h e Wo r l d â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ta l l e s t S a n t a , s t a n d i n g o ve r 4 0 f e e t h i g h .

1-800-588-4078 or (907)488-2200

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Antique Auto Museum is a road trip through the past Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com

www.hotelnorthpole.com • 907-488-4800 • 877-488-4801 449 Santa Claus Lane, North Pole, AK

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luxurious vehicles circa 1900 with lavish interiors and an increasing number of pistons. The museum prides itself in historically authentic vehicle restoration, and several of its cars are prize-winners from the Pebble Beach Concoursd’Elegance competition. Accompanying the vehicles are more than 100 vintage outfits arranged to match the era of the vehicles they are displayed with.

What: Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum When: Summer hours start May 16: Sunday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost: $10 for age 13 and older, $5 for ages 6 to 12, 5 and under free. Tours and season passes are available. Contact: 907-450-2100, online at fountainheadmuseum.com

We welcome all to visit our community...featuring SOD-ROOFED LOG CABINS in the TRUE ALASKA MOTIF visit our website - www.mosquitonet.com/~KJNP Broadcasting the Gospel in: English • Athabaskan • Inupiat ng Celebrati s 50 year io ad on AM R 67

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The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

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he Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum is a living museum. That means the cars and horseless carriages from the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the museum’s collection are functional, including the very first car built in Alaska. Seventy to 75 are on display at any one time. On loan to the museum from the UA Museum of the North is the first car built in Alaska: the 1905 Sheldon Runabout built by Robert “Bobby” Sheldon in Skagway. Sheldon had never seen an automobile but improvised one capable of going 15 mph to impress a lady. He later came to Fairbanks and in 1913 was the first motorist to drive the 370-mile trail between Fairbanks and Valdez. An Alaska auto history exhibit at the museum contains examples of the first three models of vehicles that came to Fairbanks in 1908 and 1909, along with newspaper reports from the time about the exploits of these novel “devil wagons.” The 30,000-square-foot Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum is one of Fairbanks’ premier attractions. It opened in 2009 from the antique collection of Fairbanks real estate developer Tim Cerny. A full list of vehicles is available at the museum’s website at fountainheadmuseum.com. Visitors to the museum may see some of the vehicles driving around the Wedgewood Estates parking lot or at the Golden Days parade. Inside the museum is a large window through which visitors can watch employees work on the cars in the garage. The collection ranges from bicycles and a 19th century horse-drawn sled that was the Cadillac of its era to

Fairbanks region

There’s a reason why Santa calls North Pole home By Amanda Bohman abohman@newsminer.com orth Pole’s town motto is “Where the spirit of Christmas lives year round,” and the city website—www. northpolealaska.com—has a counter showing how many days are left until Christmas, but there’s more to do in North Pole than check out where Santa Claus lives. The community 14 miles southeast of Fairbanks down the Richardson Highway has a network of trails, including an exercise path with stations for doing different kinds of strength training, a new library and a growing inventory of parks, including a music park, a dog park, a newly-expanded skate park and a new memorial park dedicated to people who have died in the line of duty. The community also has its own visitor center and a wheelchair-accessible nature trail that starts at City Hall. North Pole began as a homestead. Development-minded residents adopted the name with the hope of attracting toy manufacturers. When the toy factories failed to materialize, the town decided to embrace the Christmas theme. Many streets in and around the community bear holiday names: Santa Claus Lane, Snowman Lane, Kris Kringle, Mistletoe, Holiday Road, Saint Nicholas Drive, North Star Drive, Blitzen and Donner. Buildings and street lights are decorated with Christmas designs. The Santa Claus House, the red and white building beside a 42-foot tall, 900-pound Santa Claus statue, was originally a trading post and served as the first post office in North Pole. It’s now a gift shop and a top attraction along the Richardson Highway, where visitors can meet St. Nick and pick up some Christmas treasures. The Christmas-themed town of about 2,100 people is home to a large concentration of military veterans and hosts one of the most patriotic Fourth of July parades in the area. A street fair follows with games, family-friendly activities and vendors. One of the features of the block party is an ice-carving demonstration. Last summer, the city put up new way-finding signs in an effort to improve pedestrian signage around the community. The exercise trail with stations for working out starts and ends near City Hall and is named after Thomas Uptgraft Sr., a retired U.S. Army first sergeant who lived in North Pole and died of cancer in 2013 at age 51. His family donated money to create the exercise path. Also on Santa Claus Lane is the Terry Miller Park, which offers a playground and a music park.

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“There’s a lot of percussion instruments,” Mayor Bryce Ward said. “You can use the hammers or your hands. There are also xylophone-style instruments. It’s a lot of fun when you get some people around the circle and everyone rocks the instruments and you just kind of jam out.” The North Pole Grange at 2800 Grange Road hosts community events and an art show every third Friday of the month.

771 Badger Road, Suite 140 (inside the historic McPeak’s Building) North Pole, Alaska 490-CLAW (2529) www.mrsclawschocolatebar.com

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Soak in natural geothermal springs at Chena Hot Springs Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com

or more than a century, people have been heading to Chena Hot Springs to soak up the mineral springs. Today, they also can tour ice carvings and geothermically heated greenhouses and ride behind a team of sled dogs. All are open year-round. The resort lies 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks at the end of the paved road that bears its name. The resort draws visitors from around the world and is renowned for the amazing aurora borealis displays overhead in the winters. Chena Hot Springs Resort adds a number of amenities to the naturally occurring springs, including an indoor pool ideal for kids and hot tubs. The resort features about 80 rooms and family suites in its Moose Lodge as well as cabins and camping areas. Several hiking trails lead into the hills surrounding the resort. Other attractions include an activity center, a disc golf course, bike rentals and horseback tours.

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The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

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In Downtown Fox, Junction of Hwys 2 & 6

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Fox General Store

Fairbanks region

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JOU RN EY Christian Church F11518105

Sunday worship at 10 a.m.

“Connecting People to Jesus Christ and to Each Other”

1201 Hoselton Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99709 455-4433 www.journeyalaska.org

Christ welcomed all, and so do we! Come worship with UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

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3510 College Road 907-479-6728 Sunday service begins at 10:30 a.m. Nursery available

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Visit One Of the Oldest Frame Houses in Fairbanks, The Two Sisters Building, Built in 1910, is Home of The Craft Market Gift Shop

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The resort is self-contained and sustainable in a number of ways. It includes its own restaurant, cafe, ice museum, cabins, hotel and saloon. For many years and in many cultures, mineral spring waters have been considered to possess healing properties. In addition to taking the waters at Chena Hot Springs, visitors can schedule a massage at the resort’s massage parlor. Developer Bernie Karl is a firm believer in sustainable business methods. Much of the food served at the resort is grown in its greenhouse on site, and much of the rest is locally sourced from Interior Alaska. The greenhouse, like the springs, is heated geothermally. Each year, the resort hosts a renewable energy fair that brings in exhibitors from across Alaska. While visiting the ice museum, chilled to 20 degrees in the summer, people can take an ice-carving class and go to the ice bar for a drink in an ice glass. The resort’s website includes information on its accommodations and openings as well as pictures of the hot springs in both summer and winter. Special online-only deals are often posted on the resort’s website: www.chenahotsprings.com.

Gold Dredge No. 8 has the scoop on history of large-scale mining gold (oil) from Prudhoe Bay through the Interior to the port city of Valdez. Located just seven miles north of Fairbanks in the beautiful Goldstream Valley, Gold Dredge No. 8 offers visitors the opportunity to learn about the gold seekers of yesteryear as well as the “black gold” flowing through the oil pipeline. Visitors will ride to the dredge site on a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad that linked mining communities north of Fairbanks in the early gold mining days and have a chance to pan for gold and cash in on their findings. The tour also provides a close-up view of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline. You’ll learn about construction and operation of the oil pipeline while standing in its shadow. Then board the replica of the narrow-gauge Tanana Valley Railroad and

For the News-Miner

here are two kinds of gold found in Alaska, and both created stampedes to Interior Alaska and the Fairbanks area in particular. A trip to Gold Dredge No. 8 will give the visitor a chance to learn about both kinds. The first gold rush was for the mineral gold found in the rivers, streams and ponds dotting the Fairbanks area. That rush started in the early 1900s and in some form or another continued until almost the middle of the century. The second stampede came in the 1970s with the building of the trans-Alaska oil pipeline, which brings black

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275 Bentley Trust Rd.

(907) 452-3313

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

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Fairbanks region

Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge® Fairbanks Princess Lodge welcomes the independent traveler with unmatched comfort in the midst of the grand Alaska wilderness. Enjoy ﬁrst-class amenities and all the comforts of home by booking your stay at Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge.®

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Welcome to the Golden Heart City Whether business or pleasure brings you to Fairbanks, your hospitality needs will be met at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center! Featuring a host of modern amenities, the Westmark has something to offer every Golden Heart City traveler.

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hear tales of the thousands of miners who swarmed the surrounding valley in the early 20th century searching for the big strike. Gold Dredge No. 8 is a National Historic Site, and the tour focuses on the history of small- and large-scale mining in the Interior. You’ll see firsthand how dredges in Alaska sifted the gold from the soil, recovering 3.5 million ounces of gold during the time they were in use. The two-hour tour allows visitors time to explore the dredge, the dredge camp and the gift shop to have their gold weighed before boarding the train for the ride back to the depot. ▶▶Tours are available at 10:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. daily at the train depot near Goldstream Road and the Old Steese Highway. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 907-479-6673 or online at www.golddredge8.com. The cost is $39.95 for adults and $24.95 for children age 3-12. Infants younger than 3 get in free.

Get a fresh start at Fairbanks farmers markets By Gary Black gblack@newsminer.com

he bounty of the state’s harvests can be found all over Interior Alaska, especially at our farmers markets. Usually starting in May and running through mid-September, farmers markets in the Fairbanks region offer everything that grows big and bold under our 24-hour summer daylight: zucchinis, yellow squash, onions, potatoes, broccoli, greens, carrots, radishes, tomatoes and more. Much more. If we can grow it in Alaska, you can find it at a farmers market. And that’s not even mentioning the people who turn out to sell their homemade wares. Potters, craftsmen and artists all inhabit our markets, too, selling everything from homemade goat milk soap to paintings and pottery to hand-crafted items that reflect Alaska. Don’t forget the food, either. Our markets are filled with vendors selling fresh-made items for purchase that you can eat on the spot. The Tanana Valley Farmers Market is the largest of Interior Alaska’s farmers markets. Located at 2600 College Road, the market is open Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays through Sept. 17. The market opens for the season May 13. May 28 marks the beginning of the market’s Sunday hours. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays.

BEADS & THINGS

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537 2nd Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska

The Tanana Valley Farmers market also features Chef at the Market from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every other Wednesday starting in July. The program, now in its sixth season, is an effort between the Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation and the farmers market in which local chefs demonstrate easyto-make recipes using Alaska-grown produce. Market Festival Fairbanks will be open in Golden Heart Plaza. The market, which features produce stands from local farmers, food vendors, and artists and their wares, opens May 29 and runs through Sept. 11. It’s open noon to 7 p.m. Mondays and noon to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. The nonprofit organization Festival Fairbanks organizes the downtown market.

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Ser ved 11am through 3pm

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Regular Hours: Monday - Saturday 11am-10pm

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Because of its central location in downtown, Market Festival Fairbanks also includes a slate of rotating performers and musicians who perform summer concerts in the plaza. It’s located at 530 First Ave. In South Fairbanks, the Southside Community Farmers Market, hosted by Calypso Farm and Ecology Center, is returning. It will operate 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays at the corner of 24th and Rickert streets, next to the JP Jones Community Center. The market opens June 6 and runs through Sept. 26. The market also doubles the value of food stamps and accepts WIC and senior stamps. Just outside Fairbanks, the community of Ester hosts the Ester Community Market each Thursday, June through September, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. in Ester Community Park. Nenana, about 60 miles south of Fairbanks on the Parks Highway, hosts its farmers market from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays starting in mid-May and running through midSeptember at the Nenana Civic Center on Main Street. Contact Features Editor Gary Black at 459-7504 or on Twitter: @FDNMfeatures.

Who: The Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation (AMHF) was established in 1997 as a Section 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization to honor Alaska’s mining pioneers. Through their lives, we tell the story of mining in the 49th State. During the last 20 years, nearly 110 men and women have been inducted. Where: On July 18th, 2013, the AMHF opened up a museum at 825 1st Avenue

in downtown Fairbanks—near the Bridgewater Hotel. The building was constructed in 1907 to serve as a bathhouse for early prospectors and miners. The museum, which is being leased from historian Candy Waugaman, is on the historic register.

Organization of Exhibits: The AMHF inductee plaques are arranged in historical sequence from the earliest mining history events to the more contemporary. These include late 19th Century mineral exploration and trading activities, the Alaska-Yukon Gold Rush, and then later periods involving copper, tin, and strategic mineral developments. Featured at the Museum:

Please Come Visit the Alaska Mining Hall of Fame Foundation Museum and Learn More about Alaska’s Mining Pioneers and About Alaska’s Rich Mining History.

Placer gold engineer and University of Alaska educator Doug Colp (1914-2010), inducted during 2013

Adriano Pedroni, grand nephew of Felix Pedro, visits the museum with his family during 2016

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• Paystreak Newsletters that provide biographic summaries of the pioneers. • Biographies with plaques and numerous photos depicting Alaska’s mining history. • A store that features books, coffee cups, and tee shirts. • Movie clips and other digital media are featured at the AMHF museum. • Wednesday evening lectures during the summer months. Santa’s Seniors honored at the museum during the 2013 Xmas Party for their volunteerism during 2013-2014 When: We will open our doors on May 29th and close in mid September. The AMHF Museum will be open Monday through Saturdayfrom 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The AMHF benefits from the volunteer organization, Santa’s Seniors of North Pole.

Fairbanks resident Jim Baldridge inspects a museum exhibit in 2016’

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Ride the rails through The Last Frontier Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com

Congratulations Visitors, You’ve made it to FAIRBANKS!

During your much too brief trip to the heart of our great state, be sure to visit FOX, and

AMERICA’S MOST NORTHERN BREWERY Sure, the population of Fox is only 350 people, but we’ve got quite a bit to offer in terms of making your vacation more enjoyable and memorable: With the high prices of oil and gold, you’ll no doubt be visiting the pipeline viewing station, and the local mining attractions in Fox. Since you’re already in Fox, get the whole bus to tip your driver a couple of extra bucks and make him stop for some BEER!

There’s a REASON our motto is: “Where the people are unusual, and the beer is”

FREE BREWERY TOURS

Come and see how beer is made in the Arctic, and then sample some of the great Silver Gulch beers in our fabulous brewpub! You can’t get them back home! In addition to our locally-brewed beers, we’ve got about 100 other great beers from around the world. You’ll also find the best brewpub fare you’re likely to encounter on your entire trip to Alaska.

WHEN IN FAIRBANKS, DRINK AS THE LOCALS DO... DRINK SILVER GULCH

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FOX is the ‘cultural epicenter’ of Fairbanks: (at least we think so!)

SILVER GULCH Brewing and Bottling OPEN 7 DAYS a WEEK in Scenic Downtown Fox

One of the most popular passenger train is the Denali Star, a daily summer service between Anchorage and Fairbanks, with stops at Talkeetna and Denali National Park and Preserve. The park is celebrating its centennial this year. The Aurora Winter Train provides a winter weekend service between Anchorage and Fairbanks from mid-September through mid-May. Other summer passenger trains include the Coastal Classic, daily service between Anchorage and Seward, which is increasing in popularity every year; the Glacier Discovery, daily summer service from Anchorage to Whittier with whistle-stops at Spencer Glacier and Grandview; and Hurricane Turn, a Thursday through Monday service between Talkeetna and Hurricane with several stops in between. The railroad has a passenger service fleet of dozens of railcars, including passenger coaches and dining cars.

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Literacy Council of Alaska Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5

517 Gaffney Rd • 456-6210 www.literacycouncilofalaska.org

Good Books. Good Prices. Great Cause. This ad good for a free book up to $2.75 value. Limit 1 per customer. Expires: September 30, 2017

Borealistowing.com 1-800-554-3521 1-907-451-8697

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

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he Alaska Railroad offers a unique vantage point for visitors to the Last Frontier, providing both industrial muscle and a relaxing way to see the vast state. The railroad hauled nearly 3.7 million tons of freight in 2016, including 1.9 million tons of gravel. But it also serves as a busy passenger service, giving almost 500,000 annual passengers a leisurely look at some otherwise inaccessible scenic areas. The Alaska Railroad’s significant role is at least partly due to limited infrastructure in the state. About a third of Alaska’s public roads are unpaved, according to the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. The railroad stretches from Seward on the Kenai Peninsula to the Fairbanks North Star Borough. With 656 miles to cover, it offers six separate passenger trains and a variety of runs.

Fairbanks region

Local Spirits

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Check out the newest, most beautiful cocktail lounge in Fairbanks, boasting the best, REAL cocktails in town. Tours Tastings Bottle Sales Merchandise Private Parties

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It also features a variety of cars specifically for enjoying scenery along the route, including GoldStar cars with a glassdomed compartment with a viewing platform and reclining seats; Vista Dome Coaches, with reclining seats beneath a dome in the middle offering 360-degree views; and low-level dome coaches have seats arranged around tables, a small galley and service bars. The railroad also offers vacation packages, running from two days to 10 days. Offerings include glacier cruises, a rails and trails package featuring backcountry hikes, and a basic tour featuring stops in Anchorage, Talkeetna and Denali. New this summer, railroad passengers can book ziplining and kayaking excursions through the railroad. The ziplining is available to passengers of the Denali Star. Kayaking is available to passengers of the Glacier Discovery. Information about the Alaska Railroad’s various passenger and vacation plans is available online at www.alaskarailroad.com.

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Fairbanks Ice Museum is a cool place to be Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com

ou may have seen photographs of Fairbanks in winter – magnificent ice sculptures, giant ice slides and the amazing hues of the aurora borealis. Well, there’s a place in the center of the Golden Heart City where you can experience winter fun in the middle of summer: the Fairbanks Ice Museum. Visitors can choose to stay warm and view ice art through glass windows inside the museum, or get a closer, and cooler, physical experience. At the corner of Second Avenue and Lacey Street, in the old Lacey Street Theatre, the Ice Museum is operated by Ice Alaska, the organization that hosts the World Ice Art Championships in late February and March here in Fairbanks at the George Horner Ice Park. The Ice Museum showcases magnificant ice sculptures carved by some of the same champion carvers who enter the annual championships. The museum offers hourly shows from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week from early May through mid-September. Each show features a film on the World Ice Art Championships, an ice carving demonstration you can watch

from the comfort of your seats, the opportunity to view ice sculptures and see an ice carver at work and, for the adventurous, the chance to go down an ice slide. While demonstrating the art of ice carving, an ice sculptor explains the process and answers questions. Admission to one of the Ice Alaska shows is $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6 through 17, and children 5 and under are free. At 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. each day visitors can view LeRoy Zimmerman’s aurora borealis photosymphony “The Aurora Experience!” The photosymphony is billed as a “widescreen, panoramic, visual masterpiece.”

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Zimmerman, who died in November 2015, worked as a photographer for more than 40 years and traveled the globe capturing images of the northern lights. The cost to see Zimmerman’s show is $10. Admission to both, Ice Alaska show and Zimmerman’s photosymphony is $22.

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Get close to the reindeer at Running Reindeer Ranch Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com

tourism business built around Alaska wildlife, a symbol of Christmas and a family pet has become a popular attraction for visitors to Fairbanks. Running Reindeer Ranch is home to seven reindeer. It offers visitors a 2.5-hour tour with reindeer and a chance to learn about the animals, which are a domesticated subspecies of the wild caribou. The business, now in its seventh year of operations, is one of the top-rated Fairbanks attractions on travel website TripAdvisor.com. Jane Atkinson runs the ranch with her husband, Doug Toelle, and Atkinson’s daughter, Robin Spielman. The first reindeer, a compromise pet for Robin, who wanted a horse, arrived in 2007. The business started by accident after walks with the reindeer became popular with friends and family.

What: Running Reindeer Ranch tours are available only by reservation. How: Book online at www.runningreindeer.com. Contact the ranch for other information, at info@runningreindeer. com or call 455-4998. How much: Prices start at $55 for adults, and $35 for children 3-13. Kids younger than 3 are free. The tour is best suited for school-age children. Where: The ranch is in the Goldstream Valley; contact for directions. Online: www.runningreindeer.com

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Jane Atkinson knew almost nothing about reindeer before her daughter suggested the idea. She has since become knowledgeable about the history and behavior of the animals. The most common visitor questions she gets are about the differences between reindeer and caribou, as well as questions about the antlers. In the summer, the tour includes a stop at the family garden and a chance to taste its bounty. The tour ends with cookies made from a recipe Robin developed when she had a cookie-dough business to raise money for the first reindeer. Visit the website, runningreindeer.com, to reserve a tour of the ranch. For further information, send an email to info@runningreindeer.com or call 907-455-4998. Tour prices start at $55 for adults and $35 for children 3-13. There is no charge for kids younger than 3.

Fairbanks region

Something for the kids: Fairbanks Children’s Museum Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com

airbanks is rich in museums, and the newest addition is the Fairbanks Children’s Museum. The museum opened January 2015 in downtown Fairbanks after almost 10 years of planning. Its goal is simple — to foster education through play. It achieves that goal by housing educational exhibits designed as play stations. Kids can climb a replica of Denali, take in art and science classes, play and create, all while receiving an education and not even knowing it. In addition to permanent interactive exhibits, the museum hosts rotating in-house displays and programs and provides summer field trips to Fairbanks destinations. The museum also hosts summer camps for children ages 4-8. Registration is necessary to attend the summer camps. An upcoming summer camp such as, First Friday Parent’s Night

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Out, cost $25 per child from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the first Friday of every month. As the museum likes to say, “Adults must be accompanied and supervised by a child.” ▶▶The 7,500-square-foot museum is located at 302 Cushman St., Suite 101. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. The museum is closed on Mondays. Regular admission is $8 for ages 12 months and older; children under 12 months old are admitted free. $7 for active duty military and dependents. Museum memberships are available. The museum is a partner with Museums for All, so if you have an EBT card, admission is reduced to $3 for up to four people per card. You can reach the museum by email at info@ fairbankschildrensmuseum.com, by calling 907-374-6873 or by visiting its website — www.fairbankschildrensmuseum. com. Check out the museum’s online calendar of events for the most updated selection of classes, programs and exhibits.

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Mon. & Tues. Noon–8pm • Wed.-Sun. 10:30am-8pm Open 7 Days a Week

Pioneer Park Pioneer Park marks its 50th year as a central place to visit For the News-Miner ioneer Park offers a little bit of everything for visitors to the Golden Heart City. If you want history, head to Pioneer Park. If you want fun for the kids, go to Pioneer Park. If you want to eat on the run or have a family-style dinner, go to Pioneer Park. With eight museums, nine attractions, eight shops, at least five places to get some grub, arts events, a playground and picnic areas and more on the 40-acre site, the historic theme park gives the visitor an opportunity to learn a lot about Interior Alaska and early Fairbanks. Most of the buildings in Gold Rush Town are homes of prominent Fairbanks founders, moved to the location when the park opened as the “Alaska ‘67 Centennial Exposition” in 1967 to celebrate the 100 years since the United States purchased Alaska from Russia. Originally known as Alaskaland, the name was changed to Pioneer Park by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Assembly in 2002. A 50th anniversary celebration of Pioneer Park is set for May 26. On this day park visitors will have a chance to

participate in fun activities and see community performances on the grandstand stage. There will be a ceremony with members of the Alaska Legislature, too. A midway will bring back the carnival that was present at the original opening of Pioneer Park, providing rides of all kinds for all ages. In the GoldRush Town the museums will open the season celebrating International Museum Day. There will be games in the playground for children organized by park staff, music, and free train rides. Park visitors can end the day with a special once in a lifetime VIP tour of Pioneer Park. The historic experts of the park will guide visitors through locations not open to the public and narrate the history of this incredible community asset. The historic tour will be paired with beer and wine tastings from local distributors. You won’t want to miss this party. There are eight historic exhibitions located at the park at 2500 Airport Way — Alaska Native Museum, Harding Car, Kitty Hensley House, Pioneer Air Museum, Pioneer Museum, Riverboat Nenana, Tanana Valley Railroad Museum, Harding Rail Car Museum, S.S. Nenana, Lavelle Young Wheelhouse, and the Wickersham House.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Other attractions in the park include the Canoe Alaska, Bear Gallery, Big Stampede Show, Crooked Creek Railroad, Lucky Fox Gold Mine, Mini-Golf Fairbanks, Roela’s Carousel, First Presbyterian Church, Dance Hall and the Palace Theater. You can do plenty of shopping on the grounds, as well. Shops include Betsy’s Photography, CHARMS by CJ, Fairbanks Arts Association, Just Originals, Little Willow, Oh So Wonderful, Alaska Wilds Photography, Color Bucket 3,000, and the Pick and Poke Gift Shop. Midnight Sun ATV Tours also operates out of Pioneer Park. The company offers half-day and full-day excursions that include scenic views, wildlife viewing and lots of trail riding time. Costs are $190 for a driver, and $280 for people on the same machine. There are discounts for senior citizens, military and groups of five or more. For more information on Midnight Sun ATV Tours, go to www.midnightsunatvtours.com or call 907-987-3331. If you are looking for some food, there’s plenty of it, with the Alaska Salmon Bake, Frosty Paws, Gold Rush Ice Cream Parlour, Mama Grizzly’s Grill, Souvlaki, The Bag Ladies of

Fairbanks and possibly others all offering up something to please, Tasha’s Caribbean Cuisine, If you’re into the arts, the Bear Gallery in the Centennial Center for the Arts offers monthly shows, and there are Gazebo Nights featuring different local musicians or storytellers at 7 p.m. daily at the gazebo. There’s a square dance hall as well. Pioneer Park also features two large playgrounds stocked with plenty of equipment, a picnic area, a mini-golf course, horseshoes, volleyball, a carousel and a narrow-gauge train that takes passengers for a ride around the perimeter of the park. The park is open year-round. Concession hours, however, are from noon-8 p.m. daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There is no general admission fee, but some museums have admission charges while others accept donations. Pioneer Park also welcomes RV visitors to stay in the parking lot for $12 per night for a maximum of five consecutive nights. No reservations are required, but RV visitors should register at the dropbox in the parking lot. There are no hook-ups available. Potable water is available on-site.

PIONEER PARK www.pioneerpark.us • email: pioneerpark@fnsb.us

Park Office: (907)459-1087 • 2300 Airport Way, Fairbanks, AK 99701

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• Alaska Salmon Bake • Crooked Creek & Whiskey Island Railroad • Pioneer Museum & Big Stampede Show • Railroad Museum • National Historic Landmarks • Picnic Shelters & Playground • Free WiFi parkwide

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• GAZEBONIGHTS - Live entertainment nightly at 7p.m. - FREE • FINE ARTS GALLERY & GIFT SHOP open Noon. - 8p.m. daily - FREE • MONTHLY LITERARY READINGS FREE – Contact Arts Association for times • TIPS – Totally Impromptu Performance Series All Arts in the Park activities will be held in the Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts Bear Gallery, Theater or in the Gold Rush Town Gazebo. For Arts in the Park info call Fairbanks Arts Association at 456-6485

Relive the past and explore the treasures of the Golden Heart

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Lots to see and explore at Pioneer Park For the News-Miner ioneer Park offers visitors numerous opportunities to take in the deep and rich history of Fairbanks and Interior Alaska. Museums and facilities in the park showcase aviation and railroad history, as well as some of Fairbanks’ storied buildings. The Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department oversees the park. Facilities are open from noon to 8 p.m. daily from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend. Most are free, but some charge admission as noted. Donations are gladly accepted. Here are some of the major attractions:

Pioneer Museum and Big Stampede Show The Pioneers of Alaska play a huge role at Pioneer Park by operating the Pioneer Museum, the Big Stampede Show and the Kitty Hensley House. Hundreds of photographs and numerous items donated by the early pioneers and gold-seekers adorn the walls of the museum, which was built in 1967 as part of the Alaska 67 Exposition to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the United States’ purchase of Alaska from Russia. Photos and dioramas depict the first Fairbanks gold rush as well as the second surge when a series of gold dredges extracted millions of ounces of gold from area lakes and ponds. The museum also has a research computer to check family genealogy or to view any of the more than 10,000 photographs from the early days of Fairbanks to the mid1960s. Marks on the outside of the building show the water levels from the devastating flood of 1967. The museum is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated.

Big Stampede Show The Gold Rush Saga comes to life in the Big Stampede Show, which shows four times daily throughout the summer. Take a trip over Chilkoot Pass, shoot the rapids, strike it rich in Dawson City, then move on to Fairbanks. The 50-minute show is narrated by poet laureate Ruben Gaines and includes 17 paintings by C. Rusty Heurlin valued at more than $1 million. Shows are at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. in the theater. Admission is $4 for adults, $2 for children age 6-16. Children under age 6 get in for free.

Kitty Hensley House The Pioneers of Alaska also operates the Kitty Hensley House, which was originally located at 921 Eighth Ave. In 1914, Kitty’s friend Cap Smythe, a retired riverboat captain with excellent carpentry skills, remodeled the cabin using lumber from the sternwheeler, which had been damaged during spring breakup. The house was moved to Pioneer Park in 1967. The Pioneers of Alaska have furnished the house with authentic pieces of furniture from the period.

The SS Nenana Located in the center of Pioneer Park is the SS Nenana, a sternwheeler renovated by the Fairbanks Historical Preservation Foundation and operated by Pioneer Park. The renovation of the SS Nenana began in 1987, and the “Last Lady of the River” was declared a National Landmark in 1992, thanks to the efforts of the late John D. “Jack” Williams and other influential Fairbanksans who formed the foundation. The SS Nenana is the largest steam-powered sternwheeler ever built west of the Mississippi River and the second largest wooden vessel in existence. It has more than 11,930 square feet of interior exhibit area space and 10,000 square feet of exterior decks. The 300-foot diorama with an oil background mural depicts, in incredible detail, life in the 22 villages along the Tanana and Yukon rivers between 1847 and 1932, when sternwheelers ruled the waterways of the Interior.

Harding Car Near the SS Nenana rests the Harding Car, the elegant railroad car President Warren G. Harding traveled in while touring the territory just two weeks before he died in California from a heart attack. Harding was the first chief executive officer to visit the territory and came to Fairbanks to celebrate the completion of the Alaska Railroad. The Harding Car was restored by the Fairbanks Historical Preservation Foundation.

Wickersham House Judge James Wickersham is known as the man who brought law and order to the early days of the gold rush town of Fairbanks, but there’s more to his story.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

In addition to being a law man, Wickersham was a carpenter, an advocate for the community and what would eventually become the 49th state, and a leader in a community that was growing in all directions. As a carpenter, Wickersham built the first “modern home” in the thriving gold rush town in 1904. The first home constructed of milled lumber, the house on the corner of First Avenue and Noble Street also was the first home to be surrounded by a white picket fence. All homes in Fairbanks before that time were made with logs. He purchased the lot for $175 and built the house himself, hauling the lumber down the street on his back. Operated by the Tanana-Yukon Historical Society, the Wickersham House was relocated to Pioneer Park in 1968 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The furnishings are as they would have been in Wickersham’s time, with some original pieces.

Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad restored Old Engine No. 1 in 1999, and she is rolled out several times a summer to putt down the tracks circling Pioneer Park with at least two open cars full of visitors. On other days, the train pulled by a replica, Engine No. 67. When at rest, Engine No. 1 resides at the museum and engine house, operated by the all-volunteer Friends of the Tanana Valley Railroad. An operating speeder, Model T and velocipede also are on display.

Native Museum Pioneer Park is working with AmeriCorps Vista to put together a revitalization plan on how to share Alaska Native culture with visitors to the park. The Alaska Native Museum features artifacts, maps and other exhibits depicting the life of Natives well before Alaska was purchased from Russia. The museum is a work in progress and continues to grow each year.

Pioneer Air Museum Operated by the Interior and Arctic Alaska Aeronautical Foundation, the 14,000-square-foot circular building with a gold dome is filled with artifacts and aircraft from Alaska’s early aviation history, most of which took place in Fairbanks and other parts of the Interior. The museum houses 14 aircraft as well as one of the largest piston engine displays ever assembled. A collection of more than 500 photographs chronicle early flight and the brave men and women who ventured into the unknown skies above Alaska. Displays range from the first flight in Fairbanks in 1913 to the present. Admission is $4 for adults and $8 for a family of four. Children younger than age 12 are free and must be accompanied by an adult. The museum is open from 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. daily from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Tanana Valley Railroad Museum and Engine House

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The railroad played a vital part when the gold rush ripped through Interior Alaska and a key component of that era now resides in Pioneer Park. Steam engine No. 1, an 8.5-ton engine built in 1899 by H.K. Porter Locomotive Works of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was the first locomotive in the Yukon and Tanana river drainages. It arrived in Fairbanks in 1905. It is the oldest gold rush artifact in Interior Alaska.

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Dinner and dining, with some Last Frontier taste Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com ou’re hungry as a grizzly bear looking for a feast. Where do you go? Pioneer Park, where you can get a quality dinner and an old-fashioned performance in a rustic gold rush setting in the same evening. First, follow your nose to the Alaska Salmon Bake. The Alaska Salmon Bake — the only one in Fairbanks — is where you can enjoy all the food you like while surrounded by the historic theme park filled with Gold Rush cabins and antique mining equipment. The Salmon Bake offers two entrée selections – one featuring all-you-care-to-eat fire grilled salmon, hand-dipped beer battered cod and prime rib, and the other featuring a healthy 1 1/2-pound portion of Alaska snow crab. The crab is available as a stand-alone meal or as an add-on to the allinclusive dinner for an additional fee. It is not included with the all-you-care-to-eat dinner. Each meal comes with a trip through the salad bar, roasted potatoes, baked beans, sourdough rolls, dessert, coffee and non-alcoholic beverages.

Each entrée is $34.95 for adults, $14.95 for children ages 9-12 and $9.95 for children age 4-8. The salmon is caught in Alaska waters, cooked on an outdoor grill over a bed of black spruce coals while basting in a sweet sauce. The cod is from Alaska’s Bering Sea and hand-dipped in a special beer batter. The prime rib is dry-rubbed with the venue’s signature seasoning and slow cooked in an outdoor smoker.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Dinner is served from 5 to 9 p.m., daily, from May 7 to Sept. 8. The Salmon Bake offers a shuttle service from many local hotels for $8 round-trip. Beer and wine are available for an additional cost. The venue offers plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.

Palace Theatre For after-dinner relaxation, you’ll find plenty of laughs and merriment at the Golden Heart Review in the Palace Theatre, located a short after-dinner stroll away from the Salmon Bake in Pioneer Park. Through original songs and light-hearted stories, the cast of “The Golden Heart Review” answers many commonly asked questions about Fairbanks such as “Why would anyone want to build a town in this swamp area, anyway?” and “Why has this unlikely little town survived for more than 100 years?” The Golden Heart Revue features music and lyrics by Fairbanks composer Jim Bell and a book by Timothy Ames, William Arnold, Richard Ussery and Steve Arthur. ▶▶The professional, live performance at the Palace Theatre is at 8:15 every evening from May 15 to Sept. 8. Additional performances may be added later in the summer. The cost of the show is $22 for adults and $11 for children. To make reservations, call 1-800-354-7274. The Alaska Salmon Bake and Palace Theatre are familyowned businesses that have operated for more than 35 years. For more information, go to www.akvisit.com.

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The Golden Heart Revue will leave you a bit wiser and will bring a smile to your face. The professional performance at the Palace Theatre is at 8:15 every evening from May 16 to Sept. 9. Additional performances may be added later in the summer. The cost of the show is $22 for adults and $11 for children. To make reservations, call 1-800-354-7274. The Alaska Salmon Bake and Palace Theatre are family owned businesses operated for more than 35 years. For more information, go to www.akvisit.com.

University of Alaska Fairbanks Museum of the North shows off science and culture Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com

he University of Alaska Museum of the North is one of the jewels of Interior Alaska. The museum, located at 907 Yukon Drive on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus, is home to a massive repository of Alaska science and cultural history, holding 1.5 million artifacts and specimens that form the basis of the museum’s exhibits and research. The collections are divided into 10 disciplines (archaeology, birds, documentary film, Earth sciences, ethnology/history, fine arts, fish/marine invertebrates, insects, mammals and plants) that serve as a catalyst to study all aspects of life in Alaska. The exhibits are as varied as the museum’s specimens. Permanent exhibits include the Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery, which houses art that spans 2,000 years, from ancient ivory carvings to modern works; the largest display of gold in the state; Blue Babe, a 36,000-year-old mummified steppe bison; and even the museum’s unofficial mascot, Otto Bear, a mounted, towering grizzly that greets guests. (Otto gets around, too — he’s all over social media under the hashtag #OttoBear.) The museum is home to 19,526 square feet of space, with galleries taking up 13,915 square feet of that space. Galleries include the Gallery of Alaska, Collections Gallery, Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery, Place Where You Go to Listen, and Special Exhibits Gallery.

This summer will feature the opening of the Polar Passion exhibit, a collection of polar bear art gathered by Grace Schaible. Schaible served as Alaska attorney general from 1987 to 1989, making her the first female attorney general of any state, and also as a member of the University of Alaska Board of Regents. “She collected polar bear art of all kinds, from fine art and high-end to what she called cutesy pieces like Coca-Cola posters and things like that,” said Theresa Bakker, who handles marketing and communications for the museum. “It’s going to be about her passion for art and ties in well with the centennial year. She’s one of the well-known alums.” The exhibit opens May 27. Bakker said the Collections Gallery also has an Expedition Alaska series, focused on telling the stories of pieces from the archaeology and mammalogy collections. ▶▶The museum’s summer schedule is 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days per week from June 1 to Aug. 31. Admission is $12 for ages 15 and up; $7 for ages 5 to 14; $8 for adults with an Alaska ID; $5 for Alaska youths; and $4 for UA staff and faculty. Admission is free for UA students with ID, for Museum of the North members and for activeduty military families stationed in Alaska. You can follow the museum on Facebook at www.facebook.com/alaskamuseum, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/alaskamuseum, and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/alaskamuseum.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Ice age survivors thrive at university’s research station Staff Report newsroom@newsmienr.com ne large animal you won’t see in the wild in Alaska is the musk ox, a shaggy mammal straight out of the last ice age. But you can see musk oxen and other large mammals up close by taking a short drive to the Large Animal Research Station. The Robert G. White Large Animal Research Station is located near the University of Alaska Fairbanks, at 2220 Yankovich Road. It is home to three herds of large herbivorous land mammals — caribou, reindeer and musk oxen. The animals are part of long-term studies in Arctic biology and nutrition, among other fields. Musk oxen once roamed throughout the northern region of North America but were forced out of Alaska more than a century ago due to climatic and environmental changes. They were transplanted back into the region from Greenland See page 42 in the 1930s.

VISIT US to experience

Alaska Native cultures, discover natural wonders, and explore the state’s diverse wildlife.

2,000 YEARS OF ALASKA ART

ORIGINAL MOVIES

•

MUSEUM STORE

Summer Hours: 9 AM – 7 PM Daily Winter Hours: 9 AM – 5 PM Monday – Saturday 907 Yukon Drive • Fairbanks, AK 99775 • www.uaf.edu/museum • 907.474.7505

UAF is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.

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Open year-round on the UAF campus.

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LARS offers musk ox and reindeer viewings and naturalist presentations throughout the summer. A trained naturalist is on staff to answer questions about the animals, and 45-minute naturalist presentations occur at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. daily, Wednesday through Sunday from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Cost is $10 for adults; $9 for military and seniors over 65; $6 for students; children 5 and under are free. Special tours can also be arranged. Naturalist presentations last about 45 minutes to an hour. In addition to seeing the animals, visitors will learn about natural history and ecology and will be able to feel hide, horn, and antler samples. Naturalists also discuss the research taking place at LARS.

Even when the station is closed or not offering tours, visitors can stop by the station to see the animals from beyond the fence. The station’s parking lot is always open, and station staff say animals can often be seen going about their way along the fence line. A picnic area is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday from June through August. LARS has a gift shop onsite where visitors can purchase qiviut, the under-wool of the musk ox. The shop sells qiviut samples, raw qiviut to process and spin, as well as qiviut yarn from LARS musk oxen and garments that have been knit from qiviut. For more information, visit www.muskoxuaf.org.

See Alaska in full color at botanical garden Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com laska is known for the enormous vegetables that thrive during the long summer days, but there are plenty of less-famous plants that make their home in the North. Many of them can be found in the Georgeson Botanical Garden at the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. The northernmost public garden in North America is a scenic spot to view flowers, perennials and even some of the state’s wellknown veggies. Visitors can check it out during a self-guided tour, using brochures and signs for interpretation. The area includes a gorgeous view of the Alaska Range, with Mount Denali visible on a clear day. A children’s garden includes a maze, a miniature log cabin and a water garden. Benches, bird baths and sculptures accentuate the scenery. The century-old garden, named after former Alaska Agriculture Experiment Stations director Charles Georgeson, is more than just a spot for a scenic summer walk. It’s a hub for high-latitude plant science, serving as a 3-acre laboratory for growing beneath the midnight sun in Interior Alaska’s short summers. A pair of memorial gardens are dedicated to longtime supporters of the botanical garden. The Earl and Dorothy

What: Georgeson Botanical Garden When: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 1 to Labor Day Where: 117 West Tanana Drive, UAF Admission: Suggested donation of $5 per person. Phone: 474-7222 Online: www.georgesonbotanicalgarden.org

Beistline Garden, named in honor of the late Fairbanks residents, is planted with delphiniums in honor of the couple. Earl, an influential Alaska miner, died in 2012 at age 96. A “weather garden” honors longtime National Weather Service meteorologist Ted Fathauer, who died in 2013. The garden features a sundial and rain gauge, among other weatherrelated items. The garden is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 1 through Labor Day. Admission is a suggested $5 per person. Pets aren’t allowed in the garden, and tree-climbing is not allowed. For more information about the botanical garden, go to www. georgesonbotanicalgarden.org.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Outdoor recreation Float the Chena River for a different view of Fairbanks By Sam Friedman sfriedman@newsminer.com anoeing or kayaking through town is a popular way for locals to cool off on a hot day. The Chena River flows east to west through Fairbanks before spilling into the larger, silty Tanana River south of town. The Chena has access points at parks and riverfront bars and restaurants. Floating the Chena is a good way to see the Golden Heart City from a different angle. For visitors who don’t have boats or transportation, there are a few business that rent boats: stand-up paddleboard business TraxOutdoor Center and Canoe Alaska, which rents canoes, kayaks and paddleboards. Although the Chena River is a fun watercourse to float, it comes with hazards. The river is far colder than most Lower 48 rivers and can quickly cause overboard boaters to lose dexterity and muscle control. Several people have drowned in the Chena River in recent years. By Alaska law, boaters are required to have a personal flotation device for every person on board. Minors are required to wear the flotation device at all times, but it’s a good idea for everyone to wear them. Alaska State Troopers patrol the Chena River for safety violations. Intoxicated boaters, including canoers and kayakers, can be arrested and prosecuted under the state’s law against driving under the influence.

Trax Outdoor Center Trax is a paddleboard and cross-country ski business at 314 Birch Hill Road off the Steese Highway. The phone number is 374-9600

Paddleboard rentals are $35 for up to three hours or $100 for 24 hours. The business can deliver paddleboards around the Fairbanks area for $20, or at no cost if you rent three or more paddleboards. Trax also offers water ski lessons and longboard lessons.

Canoe Alaska Canoe Alaska is a Pioneer Park business that provides a boat rental and shuttle service. The business is located at the Chena River dock on Peger Road and can also be accessed by walking through Pioneer Park. Canoe Alaska can also be reached at 347-3602 or online at canoealaska. com. Canoe Alaska owner Josh Davis purchased the business two years ago from former boat rental business Paddler’s Cove. The most popular float is a one- to two-hour trip through residential neighborhoods and a campground between the Pioneer Park dock on Peger Road and The Pump House restaurant. For the more adventurous, the company does a five-hour day trip that starts at Nordale Road in the North Pole area. The float to Pioneer Park takes five to eight hours and takes boaters through a rural area and Fort Wainwright Army post. Another option starts downtown at Barnette Street and finishes at Pioneer Park. From Pioneer Park, customers trade their kayaks or canoes for rental bicycles and pedal back to downtown. Call the business or see its website for price and availability information.

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Fish on! Fairbanks area’s rivers and lakes await

hey’re not as famous as Alaska’s salmon, crab and halibut, but Interior fish such as grayling, char and pike swim through waters around Fairbanks. These Interior freshwater fish are good eating, can be fun to catch and seldom require much equipment to bring in. To catch grayling, the most common species in Interior Alaska, you don’t have to go far. They swim through Fairbanks on the Chena River, which is accessible in town and upstream in the Chena River State Recreation Area along Chena Hot Springs Road. Check Alaska’s fishing regulations before heading out. The Chena River is a catch-and-release fishery for grayling. However, several ponds along Chena Hot Springs Road are stocked with rainbow trout, which anglers can take home for dinner. Complete fishing regulations can be found online at 1.usa.gov/1Dntb6s. Fishing licenses cost $25 per day for non-Alaska residents. Discounts are available for multi-day licenses. Fairbanks has numerous stores that sell fishing tackle and licenses.

Popular Interior Alaska fish

Salmon: Salmon can be found on some Interior rivers as they make their way to their spawning grounds. Alaska is home to five species: king (also known as chinook), silver

(coho) red (sockeye), pink (humpback or “humpy”), and chum (dog). All five species live their adult lives in the ocean and return to fresh water to spawn. By the time they’ve reached the Interior they’ve already swum hundreds of miles upriver, a trip they make without eating and while their bodies begin to decay. They can be caught here, but salmon are fresher closer to the ocean. Arctic grayling: This trout relative usually grows between 8 and 18 inches in the Interior, but is known for its voracious appetite and a disproportionate fight for its size. Fly fishermen prize grayling for their willingness to respond to a dry fly. The fish is easily distinguished by the large fan-like dorsal fin along its back. Arctic char: These salmon-shaped fish can grow to more than 3 feet. They generally have light spots on a dark background, but their markings can range widely based on season and habitat. Northern pike: Pike are long, aggressive fish with a fearsome row of sharp teeth. Pike of about 20 pounds are common. The record northern pike is 38 pounds. They’re found in large Interior Alaska rivers such as the Tanana south of Fairbanks and in some lakes. They’re considered invasive in lakes south of the Alaska Range, where they’ve been illegally introduced. Burbot: Ugly but tasty, burbot are a blotchy-colored eellike fish in the cod family. They average 3 to 5 pounds but can grow to more than 10 pounds. They’re not known for fighting particularly aggressively but are valued for their meat. In the summer, burbot, like pike, are often found near the mouths of sloughs.

Personal home visit with Mary and her big, friendly huskies!

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The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

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By Sam Friedman sfriedman@newsminer.com

Fairbanks region

It’s summer, but you can still have a go at dog mushing By Danny Martin dmartin@newsminer.com he absence of snow in the summer in the Interior doesn’t mean that sled dogs and mushers are hibernating. Visitors can find out about them at places that honor the sport and also by visiting any of the several sled dog tour operators.

Mushing history The Yukon Quest headquarters, 550 First Ave., is all about the 1,000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race that runs each February between Fairbanks and Whitehorse,Yukon, in Canada. The 2018 race starts on the Chena River in downtown Fairbanks and finishes in downtown Whitehorse. The start and finish alternate between the two cities each year. The Fairbanks start line also is short hop from the Yukon Quest headquarters, which features a display, a couple of sleds, results from the 2017 Yukon Quest, and souvenir merchandise and apparel. Summer hours for the Quest headquarters are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. The Yukon Quest headquarters also has weekly visits during the summer from mushers and their dogs. For more information, call 452-7954 or visit www.yukonquest.com. The Fairbanks Community Museum, upstairs in Suite 215 in the Co-op Plaza on Second Avenue downtown across from the Marriott Springhill Suites, includes exhibits and displays about sled dog racing. The museum includes exhibits about the Yukon Quest, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, Open North American Championship and sprint mushing legend George Attla,

an eight-time winner of the ONAC, conducted each March in Fairbanks, and 10-time winner of the Fur Rendezvous Open World Championship in Anchorage. It’s newest display is about Mary Shields, who in 1974 became the first woman to finish the Iditarod. Shields and Lolly Medley were the first two women to enter the annual 1,000-mile race that runs between Anchorage and Nome. Shields crossed the finish line on Nome’s Front Street 29 minutes ahead of Medley. Museum hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, call 457-3669 or email info@fairbankshistorymuseum.com.

Hands-on experience • Mary Shields offers sled dog tours through her company, Alaskan Tails of the Trail. Shields conducts one tour a day in the boreal forest near her home near Fairbanks. The tours also offer an up-close look at mushing. Reservations are required. To make a reservation or for more information, visit www.maryshields.com for more information. Shields said that the company has been top ranked on Trip Advisor (www.tripadvisor.com) for the past five years. • Frisky Pups Bed and Breakfast and Sled Dog Tours, coowned by Bill and Sandy McKee and located at 14.1 Mile Chena Hot Springs Road, offers a kennel tour and, depending on the weather, short sled dog rides. The one-hour tour starts with a visit to the dog lot, where visitors will be taught to harness dogs and learn about the care of sled dogs in the summer.

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Bill McKee said a team will be hooked up to a four-wheeler to take visitors on a ride that lasts five to 10 minutes if temperatures are cool enough for the dogs. This year, he said, the company will have a side-by-side UTV that can seat up to four people. The schedules for tours are predicated on weather conditions. Information about schedules and rates is available at 7502313 or by sending an email to friskypupsbb@gmail.com. • Thirty-four friendly, happy huskies greet visitors at Just Short of Magic, 16.5 Mile Chena Hot Springs Road. Company owner Eleanor Wirts offers a summer kennel tour from June until September. The 90-minute tour includes leading a sled dog team. Wirts said that visitors also will learn about the Alaskan husky as a breed, the racing and touring equipment that Just Short of Magic uses, and feeding and handling of the company’s dogs. Reservations are required. For more information, call Wirts at 750-0208 or visit www.justshortofmagic.com. Click on the summer link of the website.

• Sirius Sled Dogs offers a touring experience on Murphy Dome, about a 45-minute drive northwest of Fairbanks. For more information and to set up an appointment, visit www.siriussleddogs.net. • Visitors to Black Spruce Dog Sledding, which conducts tours through black spruce forests and scenic viewing areas north of Fairbanks, experience dogs pulling them on a sixperson UTV. There’s also hands-on experience for visitors, such as harnessing dogs, helping to give them water and holding puppies. KattiJo Deeter, who owns the company with her husband, Jeff, said Black Spruce Dog Sledding will be offering its Husky Hiking Experience this summer. Visitors get to take dogs for a walk , which depending on weather or trail conditions, can be around the company’s yard or up to 3 miles. Tours are offered by reservation from May to October. To make reservations or for more information, call 371-3647 or visit www.blacksprucedogsledding.com.

Beaver Sports

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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. Overnight in the Prudhoe Bay oil field service community of Deadhorse. Visit the shore of the Arctic Ocean. Optional Barrow extension tour also available.

Fairbanks region

White Mountains rec area shows off rugged country north of Fairbanks By Sam Friedman sfriedman@newsminer.com orth of Fairbanks, the White Mountains National Recreation Area is best known as a winter playground with more than 220 miles of groomed trails for skiers, dog mushers and snowmachiners. It boasts a network of 12 public use cabins. In the summer, the 1 million acre recreation area is popular with hikers, berry pickers, fishermen, four-wheelers, boaters and recreational gold miners. The mountains that give the recreation area its name are merely hills compared to the Alaska Range to the south and the Brooks Range to the north but make up some of the rockiest country in Interior Alaska. The summits offer sweeping views of Interior Alaska and wildlife sightings are common. As in much of Interior Alaska, it’s harder to get around in the summer in the White Mountains because many winter trails become wet and marshy during the summer, but several of the trails in the rec area are open year-round. The Bureau of Land Management maintains 40 miles of trails in the summer and three campgrounds. A few of the cabins are accessible in the summer months. The Beaver Creek National Wild River is a popular summer float for experienced outdoors enthusiasts.

Access points • Nome Creek Area: This access point is northeast of Fairbanks, about seven miles down gravel road U.S. Creek Road, which begins at 57.1 Mile Steese Highway. There are a few car camping sites in this area, as well a section of the creek designated for recreational gold mining. The Quartz Creek Trail is a popular 16 mile ATV loop in this area. Mount Prindle is a popular hike in this area. • Wickersham Dome: This access point is north of Fairbanks at 28 Mile Elliott Highway. It is the main access point for winter trail users. In the summer the trailhead is used by hikers headed to the summit of Wickersham Dome (a 6.5 mile round-trip hike) and the summit trail beyond. A different trail from this trailhead leads 6 miles to Lee’s Cabin, one of the few public use cabins that’s easily accessible in the summer. Staying in Lee’s Cabin requires a reservation with the Bureau of Land Management, which can be made at recreation.gov. The area is popular among berry pickers in late July and August. Phone: Call the Fairbanks Bureau of Land Management office at 474-2200 for information about trail and river conditions or for help using the reservation website. Online: on.doi.gov/2nMXMUo or go to recreation.gov to reserve public use cabins.

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Creamer’s Field a lush place for birding, hiking By Vicki Crosby vcrosby@newsminer.com he environmentally diverse Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge is a safe haven for migratory birds and other wildlife and an oasis to people who want to spend a few quiet minutes or hours outdoors. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the fundraising drive and purchase of what was then Creamer’s Dairy. That historical theme will inform the events planned throughout the year, said Christine Huff, director and program coordinator of Friends of Creamer’s Field. The Alaska Conservation Society set up the campaign in hopes of securing a purchasing option for the property. The drive was widely popular, especially among children. “A bunch of local kids did bake sales,” Huff said. “Kids from Nordale Elementary donated their Christmas money. Eielson High School students held a dance and raised money.” Community support and involvement continues with Friends of Creamer’s Field at the helm. The nonprofit group run by volunteers serves as steward of the state-owned refuge in cooperation with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and coordinates several activities for the public. A presentation on the history of the refuge, “From Cows to Cranes: How the people of Fairbanks saved the fields,” is sheduled for 6 p.m., Aug. 23, at the REI Fairbanks store on College Road. Other events include a Dairy Day, featuring a walking tour of the buildings, on July 23 and evening concerts in commemoration of the conversation of the fields. Local musicians will perform in the west field from 7-8:30 p.m. June 27, July 25 and Aug. 22. The original farmhouse and barn now house a gift shop and visitor center, where you can learn about the refuge and the varied animals that inhabit it. Stationary binoculars are installed in front of the main field where you can watch the migratory waterfowl and other wildlife.

The 20th annual Sandhill Crane Festival occurs in late August when thousands of cranes make landfall in the front field of the refuge for a few weeks before continuing their fall migration from Siberia and Alaska. This year’s festival is scheduled for Aug. 25-27. The event offers workshops, demonstrations and talks by special guests, guided nature walks and other fun activities, and, of course, plenty of birdwatching. Trail maps are available in the Visitor Center, and trail-mileage signs are posted at the entrance of the nature trails. Dogs must be leashed, and doggy stations are set-up along the trails. There are elevated observation platforms overlooking the refuge for those who want a birds-eye view over the birch, spruce, poplar and willow trees. Visitors can leave the trails and venture into the open barley fields at any time except during the bird migration periods when the fields are off-limits to people and dogs. For adventurous hikers, there is a new entrance on the northeast side of the refuge, accessible from Farmers Loop, off of Fielder Road, via the Alaska Dog Mushers Association trails. Trail users are advised to exercise caution and preparedness. The trailhead leads to 40 miles of undeveloped trails best used in winter. Summer hikers should be aware that the terrain may be boggy.

What: Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge When: Refuge is open year-round. Gift shop/visitor center is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily, June 1-Sept. 15. Where: Main entrance is at 1300 College Road. Handicap accessible parking is available next to the farmhouse entrance ramp. Cost: Admission is free. Donations are accepted. Online: Friends of Creamer’s Field, www.creamersfield.org Phone: 907-452-5162

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Midnight Sun Run isn’t your ordinary 10k By Danny Martin dmartin@newsminer.com usan Kramer has been involved in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Midnight Sun Run for parts of eight years. She’s worked as the event’s race director for the past four years, overseeing what is one of the most popular 10-kilometer runs in Alaska. Last year’s race drew 3,072 entries. Kramer also competed four times in the race, which starts at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Patty Center and finishes in front of the Square Dance Hall in Pioneer Park. The 2017 race begins at 10 p.m. June 17 and is part of the annual Midnight Sun Festival. “I think what I enjoy the most is that every state is represented,’’ Kramer said. “We had 11 countries represented last year.” “I like the fact, too, that it can be a competitive race,’’ she said, “but it also can be a fun race for people who have never done a race before.” A fun aspect of the Midnight Sun Run is its costume parade and contest. This year’s costume categories are Alaska Pioneer, Cartoon Characters and Anything Goes. Local businesses sponsor prizes for the best costumes, which are in three divisions — individual; teams of up to four people; and ages 12 and younger. Pre-registration for the Midnight Sun Run goes through June 12, and the entry fee is $25 per entry. The race’s website will be closed June 13 for processing. From June 14-16 the entry fee will rise to $30, and race-day entry will be $35.

There is a discounted rate for runners ages 9 and younger. To register, visit www.midnightsunrun.net and click the “2017 Registration” link. More information about the race is available at the website and on the race’s Facebook page (www.facebook. com/midnightsunrun/). Kramer also can be reached at the Fairbanks Resource Agency at 456-8901. The top male and female finisher of the Midnight Sun Run each receive $500. Japheth Ng’ojoy, from Fort Wainwright, won overall last year in 33 minutes, 26 seconds, and Anchorage’s Katie Krehlik was the women’s winner and placed 25th overall in 38:23.

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Runners, don’t lose a step while in town By Brad Joyal bjoyal@newsminer.com When the snow melts and the temperatures rise, it is officially running season in Fairbanks. ith various running events scheduled throughout the week and every weekend, the Golden Heart City has your running needs satisfied. Events range from casual 5-kilometer runs to beer runs to the grueling Equinox Marathon. Each Tuesday from May 2 to Aug. 29, Running Club North sponsors both men’s and women’s interval and track training at West Valley High School at 3800 Geist Road. Women’s training runs from 5:30-6 p.m. and men’s runs from 6-6:30 p.m. All abilities are welcome. The women’s runs are coordinated by Bruce Miller (479-5585), and the men’s are coordinated by Tracey Martinson (474-8353). For runners looking for a more leisurely stroll, HooDoo Brewery and Goldstream Sports offers a midweek fitness opportunity for runners and walkers wanting to participate at their own pace — with an added twist. Meeting at the HooDoo Brewery, located at 1951 Fox Ave. every Thursday at 6

p.m., participants can run or walk 2 to 6 miles and meet back at the brewery for a well-deserved beer. Contact race director Stacy Fisk at 455-6520 or stacy@goldstreamsports.com. Running Club North’s calendar and the group’s website are great resources for information about more-serious runs, such as the 36th annual Chena River Run, which starts at 10 a.m. May 6 and the Two-Way Torture Test, starting at 10 a.m. May 27, where two-person teams run in opposite directions. Visit www.runningclubnorth.org/calendar for a list of all running options in the Fairbanks area. The Equinox Marathon, which starts 8 a.m. Sept. 16, is in its 55th year. The marathon features a climb of more than 2,000 feet and a descent of 2,000 feet through the beautiful Fairbanks area when the leaves on the trees are starting to turn golden brown. Running Club North’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/ runningclubnorth, also has information about other running events scheduled throughout the summer.

Golf in the Far North? Watch out for the wildlife

By Brad Joyal bjoyal@newsminer.com

f you’re looking to play a round of golf during your visit to the Interior, you have four options and each has its own challenges — including wildlife on the fairways and greens. It is recommended to call in advance to book a tee time at any of the courses as the three located in Fairbanks all have leagues that play on weekday evenings.

Chena Bend Golf Course

GOLF!

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North Star Golf Club

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907-457-4653 northstargolf@alaska.net

The par 72, 18-hole course is located on Fort Wainwright. The course features several holes along the Chena River and includes tree-lined fairways. It’s not uncommon to see a fox or marmot while playing a round. To access the course, check in at Fort Wainwright’s front gate and have your vehicle registration and insurance ready if you are driving. Chena Bend Golf Course will also offer hourly rates Thursday and Sunday at the beginning of the season. To book a tee time or purchase a season pass, call 353-6223.

The oldest course in the Interior is located at the intersection of Farmers Loop and Ballaine Road near the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

The nine-hole, par 36 course was built in 1946 and features three par 3s, three par 4s and three par 5s. Fairbanks Golf Course also has a lake on No. 9. The course is also home to the Double Eagle restaurant. Call 479-6555 to book a tee time.

ball can be dropped from where the original was stolen without a penalty. Tee times can be booked by visiting northstargolf.com or calling 457-4653.

North Star Golf Club

Black Diamond is located at 1 Mile Otto Road, just minutes from Denali National Park in Healy. The course offers pickups and dropoffs from area hotels. The nine-hole course, established in 1995, has views of mountains in the Alaska Range. There’s a chance you will see wildlife while playing. You can also find moose footprints on the course. The course is also home to the Black Diamond Grill, which takes reservations. To book a tee time, call 683-4653 or visit blackdiamondtourco. com/golfing.html.

North Star Golf Club is the northernmost golf course in America, and it changes ever year. The course sits atop permafrost, which creates new dips, swales and mounds. The club is located just north of Fairbanks on Golf Course Drive off the Old Steese Highway. The 18-hole, 6,342-yard, par 72 course features four par 3s, 10 par 4s and four par 5s. The scorecard also includes a checklist for the wildlife that can be seen along the course. The local rule is if a raven or fox steals your ball, a replacement

Black Diamond

Aurora borealis forms stunning displays on Fairbanks winter nights By Bob Eley For the News-Miner Q: What is the aurora? A: The glow in the sky, known as the aurora borealis, is the result of energetic particles entering the upper atmosphere. The specific glow is different from 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 the energetic particles penetrate 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 photons 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 storms. Oxygen atoms typically emit green and red colors. The overall impression is a greenish-whitish glow. An 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? A: The bottom edge is typically at 60 miles altitude, but it extends over a large altitude range. An intense aurora from high-energy electrons can be as low as 50 miles. The top of the visible aurora fades about 120-200 miles, but sometimes high-altitude aurora can be seen as high as 350 miles. Q: How often does the aurora appear? 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. To see the aurora, the sky must be dark and clear, which is why it’s not visible in the Interior until August. If you are here then, hope for clear skies and head outside for a look.

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Float, fish or hike in the Chena River State Recreation Area By Sam Friedman sfriedman@newsminer.com ust upstream from Fairbanks and Fort Wainwright, the Chena River gets faster and wilder within the boundaries of the Chena River State Recreation Area. This 397-square-mile recreation area is popular with locals because it’s one of the closest places for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, canoeing and winter sports. The rec area is accessible along Chena Hot Springs Road just outside of Fairbanks between miles 26 and 56. The road ends at Chena Hot Springs Resort. Three developed campgrounds and several public use cabins are available, several of which are easily accessible in summer months. Reservations are required. Moose and beaver are abundant, and both black and brown bears frequent the area. All milepost markers refer to Chena Hot Springs Road — not to be confused with Chena Pump Road on the west side of Fairbanks. Chena Hot Springs Road is accessible from the Steese Highway.

Popular trips Chena River — Chena Hot Springs Road crosses or approaches the Chena River a half-dozen times in the recreation area, allowing for ample boating opportunities. It’s Class 1 water under most water conditions, but watch out for sweepers, branches or trees that stick out into the channel and can easily capsize boats. The Chena River water is very cold even during the hottest months. The river is a great place

to catch Arctic grayling, but the fishery is catch-and-release only. Several lakes along Chena Hot Springs Road are stocked with fish, including rainbow trout and chinook salmon. Fish caught in stocked ponds can be kept, but be sure to get an Alaska fishing license and research the limits. Hiking — The two most popular trailheads are Granite Tors and Angel Rocks, accessible at mileposts 39.5 and 48.9, respectively. A $5 day-use fee is required at both trailheads. Both offer trails to see interesting geological formations along ridgelines. At Angel Rocks, a 3-mile loop trail climbs steeply to the rock formations, or hikers may traverse the 9-mile one-way hike from the trailhead to Chena Hot Springs Resort. From the Granite Tors trailhead, hikers traverse a 15-mile loop that accesses several rock formations above treeline. The primitive trail shelter along the way is first-come, first-served. Off road vehicles — Popular trails for four-wheelers include the Compeau Trail at milepost 29.9, the Angel Creek Hillside Trail at milepost 50.5 (the Lower Chena Dome trailhead), and the Stiles Creek Trail at mileposts 31.6 and 36.4. Information is available online at dnr.alaska.gov/parks/units/ chena or by calling the northern region office of Alaska State Parks at 907-451-2695.

Picnic, canoe, float or walk at Chena Lake Recreation Area Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com hena Lake Recreation Area is a popular local spot for fishing, barbecues and walks. It’s really two parks in one: a riverside area along the Chena River and a recreation area along the shores of Chena Lake. Both offer amenities including camping sites, picnic tables, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits and water access. The recreation area contains 2,100 acres and is managed by the local government. The Chena Lake beach is especially popular in the summer when Interior Alaska temperatures can climb into the 80s. During the summer, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department rents canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, rowboats and stand up paddleboards at Chena Lake.

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Fairbanks region

The lake is next to the Moose Creek Dam, part of the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project completed in 1979 to protect the area after a 1967 flood destroyed much of downtown Fairbanks and displaced 7,000 people. At high water levels, flood gates on the Chena drop and divert water into the larger Tanana River. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game stocks Chena Lake with rainbow trout, king salmon and Arctic char. The park rents boats in the summer and ice fishing houses in the winter. Arctic grayling, northern pike, whitefish and burbot swim through the Chena River. Wildlife sightings are common. In July and August, visitors can watch spawning chum and king salmon from the dam.

Location: 3780 Laurance Road, look for signs on the Richardson Highway, south of the town of North Pole Camping: $15 a night for tents, $20 a night for trailers Boat rentals: $10 per hour or $40 per day Online: bit.ly/1SgmCHh

Enjoy Tanana Lakes, a recreation retreat just minutes from city center Amanda Bohman abohman@newsminer.com

arved out of 750 acres of junk-covered wetlands with grant money, donations and the labor of volunteers, the Tanana Lakes Recreation Area offers nature trails, a swim beach, boat launches, a rifle range, picnic area and fishing holes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s located about a 10-minute drive from downtown Fairbanks at the end of Cushman Street along the Tanana River, and entrance is free. The partially developed park opened in 2014, and has now become a year-round recreation. Groomed ski trails, a skating rink and ice fishing are available in the winter. The recreation area is rustic in nature with gravel roads, gravel parking lots, vault toilets and limited staff on duty. Hours starting Memorial Day weekend are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tanana Lakes is operated by the Fairbanks North Star Borough Parks and Recreation Department after a coalition of government agencies, businesses and nonprofits teamed up to reclaim it from its former existence as a place for shooting guns, burning pallets and dumping unwanted vehicles. It has quickly become a popular recreation site with the swim beach serving as the major draw. The park offers the only public swim beach in Fairbanks. The beach boasts 4 1/2 acres of silky sand where people can bake under the endless summer sun before cooling off in the larger of two lakes, Cushman Lake, which is dotted with islands and peninsulas. The beach has two volleyball courts. A nearby paddle boat launch is available with parking. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game stocks the lake regularly with pike, Chinook salmon, and trout can be caught on Cushman Lake. Segments of a walking trail circle the lake, which will eventually have a developed path around its periphery.

The picnic area, which is near the swim beach, has a pavilion for rent, picnic tables, grills and a restroom. The cost to rent the picnic shelter is $30 to $50. Reservations can be made by calling 459-1070. Other areas of the park can be reserved for special events and groups. Motor boats and personal watercraft are allowed on a second lake that has a floating dock and two concrete launch ramps. The motorized boat lake connects to the Tanana River. A public restroom is available at the motorized boat launch. The park also attracts dog walkers, but dogs must be kept on a leash and are not allowed on the swim beach. Construction will begin this year on a new playground at the picnic area as well as on a new Rotary-sponsored play park across from the swim beach area.

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Main events Midnight Sun Festival is long on action on the longest day Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com he Midnight Sun Festival brings everyone downtown — and we mean it. About 30,000 people come to the city center for the 12-hour festival, scheduled for June 18 this year. The festival, having its 36th edition this year, is held on the Sunday closest to the summer solstice. It’s the largest single-day festival in the state and takes place rain or shine. “There’s nothing like it in the world,” said Jeremia Schrock, communications director for the Downtown Association of Fairbanks, the organization behind the event. “Fairbanks is a city of sun worshippers. We shut down three blocks of historic downtown, open up three music stages, eat amazing food and party all day and into the night. Who else has a party for the sole reason of celebrating the return of the sun and the longest day of the year?”

More than 30 live performances are expected at the noonto-midnight festival, along with about 200 vendors hawking everything from handmade Alaska crafts, goods and and art to a variety of food vendors and food trucks. A smattering of vendors and performers include The Pretzel Chef, Alaskan Soda Jerk, Zorba on the Run, The Hungry Robot, Ben the Balloon Guy, Salmon Sisters, with more slotted to share the streets of downtown. Several beer gardens also will dot the downtown landscape. The festival often features activities such as gold panning and pony rides, as well as performances by bands, dance troupes and aerial silk artists. Returning this year is a breakdance contest, which always draws a crowd of participants and spectators, and new this year is a smashthe-car-contest where guests get to take a sledge hammer and demolish a vehicle. About 11 p.m., Second Avenue and Cushman Street turns into an impromptu dance party as a DJ closes out the festival. “Sometimes it feels like an unlimited number of man hours goes into it,” Schrock said of organizing the event. “It’s something we spend six months working on. The logistics take months of wrangling hundreds of vendors and dozens of musical performances. There are a lot of moving parts, but, thankfully, the team behind it is great.” The work of Fairbanks artist Hannah Foss will grace this year’s Midnight Sun Festival T-shirts and posters after her design of a bear grappling a salmon won a public vote. It’s the sixth year the Downtown Association has enlisted the public’s help in picking a design, which becomes the face of the festival.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Famed Midnight Sun Game is always a hit Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com or the 112th time, baseball will be played under the midnight sun at Growden Memorial Park. The Alaska Goldpanners, of Fairbanks, will host the San Diego Waves in the Midnight Sun Game, which is played entirely without artificial light on the summer solstice. First pitch for the game that has been featured by the Sporting News and ESPN’s SportsCenter is set for 10 p.m. Wednesday, June 22. Weather permitting, the sun should be shining for most of the game as sunset isn’t until roughly 1 a.m. Tickets to the game can be purchased online at bit.ly/2mULw8N. Gates open at 9 p.m. but buying a general admission ticket in advance allows fans to enter at 8 p.m. In 2015, the Midnight Sun Game was featured on Grantland, and the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York, has declared the game a must-see-event for baseball fans. Last year, the Goldpanners upended the Peninsula Oilers, of the Alaska Baseball League, 9-2. The Goldpanners, who are playing an independent schedule for the second consecutive season after playing in the ABL for about 50 years, haven’t lost the game since 2007, when they fell 6-1 to the Oceanside (California) Wave. The San Diego Waves team is a member of the National Baseball Congress. The Midnight Sun Game will be the third meeting during a six-game series between the two teams. The Panners, who went 25-18 overall last season, have only lost the Midnight Sun Game 11 times since they took over the tradition in 1960.

The first game was played in 1906 as a bet between bars in Fairbanks. One of the traditions at the game is to sing the Alaska Flag Song during the half inning closest to midnight. The Panners are a wood bat, summer-league team whose schedule begins in June and runs through August. The roster consists primarily of college athletes. More than 200 former Panners have gone on to play in the major leagues. The list of Panners alumni includes Baseball Hall of Famers Tom Seaver and Dave Winfield. Barry Bonds, Dave Kingman and Bill Lee also suited up for the Panners. Kris Medlen, who pitched for the Panners in 2005, won the World Series with the Kansas City Royals in 2015. Former Panner Brent Strom currently serves as the pitching coach for the Houston Astros, and Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona played in Fairbanks in 1978. Royals bench coach Don Wakamatsu was part of the Panners 1983 team.

What: Midnight Sun Game When: First pitch 10 p.m., Wednesday, June 22 Where: Growden Memorial Park, Second Avenue and Wilbur Street Cost: $25 for general admission, $50 for a reserved seat in the red section down the third base line, $75 for a reserved seat in the silver section behind home plate. Available at goldpanners.pointstreaksites.com.

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Golden Days celebrates Fairbanks’ golden past Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com old runs through the veins of Fairbanks. Fairbanks celebrates its golden heritage each summer with Golden Days, a multi-day celebration and festival that takes place in July. With the constant chaperone of the golden sun watching over the festivities, Fairbanks commemorates Felix Pedro’s discovery of gold in the hills north of the city more than 100 years ago. Golden Days 2017 will be the 65th annual celebration and will take place July 17-23. The celebration gets started July 18 with the official kickoff at the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce’s general membership meeting. The night of July 21 is deemed comedy night and features a slate of local and guest comedians performing stand-up comedy. The festivities come to a head on July 22, when the 2017 Kinross Fort Knox Mine Grand Parade marches through downtown Fairbanks, followed by the dropping of thousands of rubber ducks into the Chena River for the Sunrise Bagel and Espresso Rubber Ducky Race (No ducks are harmed in the race and all are collected from the river at the conclusion of the race). People can purchase tickets for a numbered duck and have the chance to win prizes based on where in the pack their duck finishes. In the past, prizes have totaled more than $30,000. A street fair also takes place throughout the day on July 22 on First Avenue between Cushman and Lacey streets, featuring food vendors, craft and entertainment stands, and community displays. This year’s street fair is sponsored by Somers & Associates Realtors.

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More information on Golden Days can be found by contacting the Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce at 452-1105 or online at www.fairbankschamber.org/golden-days. Golden Days week encompasses several other events that happen concurrently with the summer celebration. This year’s Golden Days River Regatta, organized by Mammoth Marketing, is slated for July 15. The regatta features homemade watercraft that try to stay afloat while traveling the Chena River from Graehl Landing to Pioneer Park. More information can be found at www.goldendaysregatta.com. The Alaska State BBQ Championships also come to Fairbanks during Golden Days. Teams of barbecue experts from across the state compete for the grand title of best barbecue in Alaska. This year’s barbecue contest is July 22-23 at The Big International Pub and Lounge, 122 N. Turner St. July 22 features the seafood, steak and dessert categories, and July 23 features chicken, ribs, pork butt, brisket and sauce. More information about the event is available at www.alaskabbq.org. Pioneer Park, 2300 Airport Way, also gets in on the Golden Days action, hosting such events as bathtub races, a regent’s tea and a flower show.

What: Golden Days When: July 17-23 Where: Various places around Fairbanks Phone: 452-1105, Greater Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce

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Online: See www.fairbankschamber.org/golden-days for a complete schedule of Golden Days events; www.golden-

July 16 - 30, 2017

fsaf.org

daysregatta.com for river regatta information; and www. 907.474.8869

alaskabbq.org for the state barbecue championships.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Fairbanks region

Popularity of World Eskimo-Indian Olympics goes beyond its venue By Danny Martin dmartin@newsminer.com he World Eskimo-Indian Olympics turns 57 this year, and the popularity of the annual celebration of Alaska Native culture, dance and games extends beyond the Carlson Center. WEIO’s games are based on traditional survival skills, and the event scheduled for July 19-22 attracts visitors from around the nation and world, and dance groups and competitors from throughout Alaska. Athletes from Canada and Greenland also have participated. Nick Hanson, a veteran WEIO participant from Unalakleet, was a finalist last year in NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior” series. Nicole Johnston, who has been involved with WEIO as an athlete, coach, administrator and chairwoman of its board of governors, was an inductee in the individual category for the 2017 class of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame in Anchorage. WEIO was inducted in 2008 in the events category. “Besides being part of my life, it’s definitely a passion,’’ Johnston said of WEIO in a News-Miner article on Dec. 14, 2016. “Just preserving, teaching and coaching traditional Native games. And once you become part of WEIO, you become part of our family, no matter where you’re from,’’ added Johnson, who grew up in Nome. “Like we say all the time, it’s family and getting to share what we love with everyone.” WEIO has drawn attention from national media, as it’s been featured in People and Cosmopolitan magazines and in USA Today. It’s enjoyed exposure on television programs such as

ABC’s “Good Morning America,” ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” and NBC’s “Tonight Show,’’ when Jay Leno was its host. The games of WEIO display the traditional skills needed for survival. For example, the ear pull, a tug-of-war of ears and one of the most popular events of WEIO, is based on enduring frostbite during harsh winters in the North. Another popular WEIO event, the Eskimo stick pull, tests a person’s strength and mimics pulling a seal from a hole in the ice. The best two-of-three event involves two competitors trying to wrest a stick from one another as they sit facing with their knees bent, feet together and hands clinching a long wooden stick. Descriptions of other WEIO games and more information about WEIO is available on the WEIO website (www.weio.org). 25th Annual

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Theater, music and more fill out the summer arts scene By Gary Black gblack@newsminer.com he arts world thrives in Fairbanks, and summer offers its share of performances, concerts and events to fill your cultural need while in Interior Alaska. Many of the productions feature local performers as well as guest artists who travel to Interior Alaska for a chance to perform on our stages. Here’s a look at some of the biggest arts events of this summer.

Opera Fairbanks Opera Fairbanks is the farthest-north professional opera company in the United States. Since its inception in 2005, it has developed a reputation for putting on world-class performances, many of which draw guest artists from around the globe. Past performances have featured such classics as “Carmen,” “Hansel and Gretel,” “Amahl and the Night

Visitors,” “Rumpelstiltskin,” “The Italian Girl in Algiers” and “La Boheme.” This summer, the company is producing Mozart’s “The Magic Flute,” conducted by Gregory Buchalter, an assistant conductor at New York City’s Metropolitan Opera. Performances are 7:30 p.m. July 7 and 4 p.m. July 9 at Hering Auditorium, 901 Airport Way. See www. operafairbanks.org for ticket information.

Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre was founded on the banks of the Chena River in 1992 and has grown into a year-round production company. Each summer, the troupe performs a summer outdoors production at Jack Townshend Point on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. This summer, the theater is producing “King John,” directed by theater founder Bruce Rogers. Dates are July 6-23, Thursdays through Sundays. Evening

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

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Fairbanks region

performances are at 7:30 p.m., and matinees begin at 2 p.m. See www.fairbanksshakespeare.org for ticket information.

across Alaska. The festival is one of the premier arts events during the summer and runs July 16-30.

Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival

Live Music The Fairbanks area is rich in live music, with many bands and performers playing pubic gigs in Golden Heart Plaza in downtown Fairbanks or under the gazebo in Pioneer Park. Also, many local pubs host touring bands as well as local musicians all summer long. You can find a weekly listing each Thursday of art, entertainment and music events in Latitude 65, the weekly entertainment section produced by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner. CIVIC CENTER ON MAIN STREET

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The Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival is a two-week event that spans every facet of the cultural arts — song, theater, improv, dance, music, spoken word, culinary, healing arts, writing and more. Local artists and instructors as well as guest artists from across the world come to Fairbanks to teach classes and host performances at various venues. Residents and visitors are encouraged to sign up for the classes, which can be found on the festival’s website, www.fsaf.org. The site also lists performances that take place across the city, many of which are free to attend. The festival started in 1980 as a one-week jazz festival. Since then, it’s grown and spread, not only across Fairbanks but also Alaska. Visiting artists often host performances in Denali National Park and Preserve as well as in other cities

OPENING DAY MAY 6, 2017

Come join the fun at the

Tanana Valley State Fair! August 4 – 13, 2017 Rodeo, Entertainment, A-1 Midway Rides with new rides for the whole Family! Visit all your favorite vendors – new and old! Enjoy the exhibit halls, see what the community has made. 4-H/FFA Livestock and Equine areas open to all. Come and volunteer and become part of the Fair Family. Contact the Fair at 907-452-3750.

Non Perishable Entry Day – July 29, 2017 Junior Perishable Entry Day – August 3, 2017 Adult Perishable Entry Day – August 8, 2017

www.tananavalleyfair.org Visit us on Facebook!

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Tanana Valley State Fair is 10 days of fun By Dorothy Chomicz dchomicz@newsminer.com he Tanana Valley State Fair is a cherished Interior Alaska event that draws about 100,000 visitors from near and far each year. The fair was founded in 1924 and is the oldest of the three state fairs in Alaska. In its long history, it has been shuttered only twice — once during the World War II years and once due to the 1967 flood. The 2017 fair runs from Aug. 4 to Aug. 13. Eating is a popular activity at the fair, and many visitors carefully plan which food booths they’ll visit to ensure they get all of their favorites. Fairgoers can “power graze” on everything from burgers to burritos, corn dogs to crepes and pitas to pizza. A visit to the beer garden, an ice cold soda or a creamy milkshake help wash it all down. Between noshes, visitors can enjoy carnival rides, get their fortunes told or dress up in period costume for a keepsake photo. Games of chance and skill abound on the midway, and several exhibit halls are filled with submitted items such as arts and crafts, baked goods and quilts. The agricultural hall is always a big draw, and visitors flock there to see vegetables grown to giant size under the midnight sun. Animal lovers can get their fill of goats, pigs, cows, horses and fowl of all shapes and sizes with a visit to the livestock hall. The theme of the fair this year is Raven About the Fair. Visitors can expect lots of local entertainment, kids’ activities, a rodeo, and other attractions. Adults and kids alike are encouraged to enter their livestock, produce, baked goods, craft items, and other creative handiworks for their chance to win a ribbon and support their community fair. Entry day for nonperishable exhibits is July 29. Junior perishable entry day is Aug. 3 and adult perishable entry day is Aug. 8. More information can be found at the www.tananavalleyfair.org or by calling 452-3750.

What: Tanana Valley State Fair When: Aug. 4-13 Where: College Road Cost: Daily: Adults (ages 17 to 59) $10; youths (ages 6 to 16) $5; seniors (ages 60 and older) $5; children 5 and younger, free. Season passes also available. Phone: 452-3750

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Denali

Denali: The Crown Jewel Denali National Park marks its centennial in 2017 By Kris Capps kcapps@newsminer.com

enali National Park turns 100 years old this year, and the celebration is in full swing. A century ago, in 1917, the Congress preserved 1.6 million acres and created Mount McKinley National Park. At the time, you couldn’t drive there, fly there, or even take a train there. The new park was only reachable by dog team in winter and primarily by foot or horseback in summer. The first superintendent wasn’t even hired until 1921, with an appropriation of $8,000. Over the years, the park slowly expanded. In 1980, it tripled in size and it’s name changed to Denali National Park and Preserve. Today, it encompasses 6 million acres and many amenities for the half-million visitors every year. But if you visit the park today and step away from the entrance area and visitor amenities, you will find yourself in a place that is much like it was 100 years ago. Here are some of the centennial events available for visitors this season. • Human Hundred Challenge: Visitors and park staff are challenged to log 100 miles of human-powered travel to commemorate the Denali National Park centennial. A similar challenge was conducted last year for the centennial of the National Park Service.

• 100 Hours of Volunteering Initiative: The connection between park and community will also be highlighted through a new 100 Hours of Volunteering Initiative. Park staff and visitors can track their volunteer activities in both the park and surrounding communities as part of this initiative, intended to help protect Denali into the next century. • Summerfest, June 10: Plans are still underway for this centennial summer kickoff event. Check the park website for more details on this special day, which will include musical performances, food, birthday cake, children’s’ activities and more. • Headquarters Cultural Landscape KickOff, August: The date had yet to be determined, but a special ribbon-cutting event will celebrate the renovation of the historic cabin that once served as park headquarters for the first park superintendent, Harry Karstens. Built in 1926, it also served as the park museum and a maintenance office. It has been renovated in honor of the centennial celebration. Descendants of both Karstens and Charles Sheldon, whose vision and advocacy a century ago helped establish the park, visited the small cabin earlier this year during the special Winterfest celebration. • Denali Staff Reunion: Sept. 1-3: If you ever worked at Denali, you are invited to come to the park for a special reunion over Labor Day weekend. This includes park staff, inholders, bus drivers, concessions staff.

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• Park partners are hosting a variety of centennial activities. Alaska Geographic offers field courses for families. See the options at akgeo.org/field-courses. A special exhibit at the Denali Visitor Center also encourages visitors to express what Denali means to them, through words and photos. Here are a few shared comments: “Denali makes me happy.” Eli, age 4 “I’m sorry, I might have killed some mosquitoes while visiting Denali. But they don’t seem to be an endangered species.” “A place on a map until you get here. Then it becomes a place in your heart.” You can share your personal photos from your park visit at go.nps.gov/DenaliShare. Follow centennial celebration activities here: www.nps.gov/dena/getinvolved/denali-centennial.htm.

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Denali

Denali National Park a wonderland of wildlife, scenery By Kris Capps kcapps@newsminer.com

hen an Alaskan says “the mountain is out,” there is no doubt which mountain is filling the horizon. It is the tallest mountain in North America —Denali— a magnificent sight when it emerges from the cover of clouds. This summer, the park is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The mountain is not the reason Denali National Park and Preserve was created, though. In 1917, the park was formed to protect the wildlife. Eventually expanded to 6 million acres, the park is home to moose, caribou, Dall sheep, wolves, and grizzly and black bears. More than 650 species of flowering plants eke out a living in the park, 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 in Denali National Park. Dinosaur tracks, discovered in 2005, revealed for the first time that prehistoric creatures also lived in what is now the park. You can get to the park by train, bus, or car or even by chartering a small airplane.

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The Denali Park Road is a narrow, primarily gravel road that winds through the mountains and across rivers. It continues for about 92 miles to the old mining community of Kantishna, now a visitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; haven. Private vehicles are not permitted, though anyone can drive the first 15 miles to Savage River. After that, traffic is limited â&#x20AC;&#x201D; except during the few days annually when winners of the Denali Road Lottery head into the park in their personal vehicles. The National Park Service allows as many as 400 permit winners per day to drive vehicles the entire length of the park road at the end of the tourist season, in midSeptember. See the Denali National Park website for information on how to apply for this lottery. In 2017, road lottery weekend is Sept. 15-19, including Military Appreciation Day on Sept. 16. Enjoying and appreciating the wilderness of Denali National Park is easy. Visit the Denali Visitor Center or Wilderness

Access Center to pick up a trail map and check schedules of guided walks and other programs. There are 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. Photography is encouraged in the park, but take care when photographing wildlife. There are guidelines on how close you should approach bears, eagles, caribou and other animals. Take special measures to enjoy wildlife from afar and to avoid chance encounters with bears. There also are guidelines for hiking to help preserve fragile tundra plants that cling to life during the short season. 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. The dogs patrol the Denali wilderness during winter months.

What: Denali National Park and Preserve When: Park bus service begins May 20 each year and runs through the second Thursday after Labor Day. However, the entire road is not accessible by bus until June 8. Where: The park entrance is about 120 miles south of Fairbanks on the Parks Highway. Cost: $10 per person. No fee for children age 15 and younger. This provides a seven-day entrance permit. Annual pass: $40. Annual military pass is free. More Info: www.nps.gov/dena

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Denali

Many choices for getting around in Denali National Park Kris Capps kcapps@newsminer.com

Courtesy buses Free courtesy buses take visitors around the entrance area of Denali National Park, connecting with hotels and restaurants just outside the park.

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he 92-mile road into Denali National Park and Preserve runs from the Parks Highway to the former mining community of Kantishna. The first 15 miles are paved and open to the public. Past that point, at the Savage River checkpoint, vehicle travel is restricted on the narrow, winding gravel surface. Buses shuttle visitors in and out of the park and drop off hikers and campers. Bus trips range from two to 12 hours, and visitors can take a tour bus or a shuttle bus, or they can opt for an all-day tour to and from Kantishna. Shuttle buses are less expensive and have fewer amenities but travel farther into the park. Visitors can get off when they want to hike for awhile, then get back on another bus if seats are available. Visitors planning to hike, bike, camp, backpack or picnic in the park should take a shuttle bus. Be sure and bring food and water. There are no convenience stores along the way. Those who prefer a more deluxe trip can opt for one of the tours. A variety of tour lengths, prices and options are available. Fees vary and are in addition to the park entrance fee. Reservations for shuttles and tour buses can be made by calling 800-622-7275 or going online to www.reservedenali.com. You can also reserve a spot in person at the Wilderness Access Center reservation desk, up to two days in advance. Check the website at www.nps.gov/dena/plany our visit for schedules and details.

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Catch those buses at the Denali Visitor Center, Wilderness Access Center, Murie Science and Learning Center, Riley Creek Campground, Denali Park Post Office, Riley Creek Mercantile, Railroad Depot and trailheads that include Mountain Vista Loop and Savage River Loop. A free bus takes visitors to the Denali Sled Dog Kennels for demonstrations at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Board the bus at the Denali Visitor Center bus stop 40 minutes before the demonstration is due to begin. Return 90 minutes later. Some local businesses provide buses for people on their tours. Denali Park Salmon Bake provides a shuttle service between the 49th State Brewery and the Nenana Canyon area. Check their denaliparksalmonbake.com for times.

Depart from Wilderness Access Center only. Tundra Wilderness Tour: This seven- to eight-hour narrated tour goes to Toklat at milepost 53 and provides riders with a box lunch and hot beverage. Cost: $120.25. Natural History Tour: 4 1/2- to five-hour tour focuses on the natural and cultural history of the park and goes to Primrose Ridge at milepost 17, just past the Savage River check station. Snack and beverage provided. Cost: $70.75. Kantishna Experience: One-day, 12-hour round-trip to Kantishna that includes a full lunch. A National Park Service interpretive ranger provides narration. Time is spent in Kantishna learning about its history. Cost: $184.

Transportation options inside park

Visitors headed to the backcountry for overnight stays should board the special camper bus to accommodate their gear. These visitors require special backcountry permits that are obtained at the Backcountry Information Center, adjacent to the Wilderness Access Center.

Shuttle Bus: This is the more flexible and more economical option. You can get on and off at any time — except for wildlife-restricted areas and seat availability. Narration is not included, but experienced drivers often provide it anyway.

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Denali

Have only a few hours for Denali? Here’s what you can do Kris Capps kcapps@newsminer.com enali National Park and Preserve is a place that can take years to explore. But if you only have half a day, here are a few things you should not miss. The 14,000-square-foot Denali Visitor Center provides a world-class introduction to the park, which is considered the crown jewel of the national park system in Alaska. This should be your first stop. Here, visitors can absorb an overall introduction to 6 million acres of wilderness, its history and the many types of wildlife and flora that call Denali home. The carpet even simulates a flowing river of gray and brown, leading to an exhibit area with life-size models of a moose, a wolf and other Alaska creatures. Don’t forget to look up and see the eagle nest. A diorama provides a glimpse of the vastness of the park. To get the full flavor of Denali, watch the 18-minute orientation film, “Heartbeats of Denali.” Those few moments will make you want to get on a bus and see some of the wilderness for yourself. The Murie Science and Learning Center is just a short walk away. The lobby is filled with science-related exhibits, including a special wolf exhibit. Many years ago, the tiny rural school of Cantwell dissected a legally trapped wolf, boiled the bones, and then rebuilt the wolf skeleton under the auspices of a park expert. Along the way, they learned about wolves and their own environment. The display shares that experience. Check out the real-life dinosaur tracks, the first proof that dinosaurs roamed Denali. Local students were among those who discovered some of these tracks. A new dinosaur mural overlooks the exhibit. The Murie Science and Learning Center offers popular family programs and field seminars throughout the summer. Check its website at www.nps.gov/rlc/murie/index.htm. Three times per day, rangers and Denali’s sled dogs offer a demonstration at the only working sled dog kennel in the national park system. The dogs get hooked up to a sled on wheels and race around a looped trail. Catch the free shuttle at Denali Visitor Center 40 minutes before each show. Shows begin at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. If you want to hike, but time is short, there are any number of trails in the entrance area or a bit further into the park. The 30-minute walk on the Morino Trail will lead you through the site of a former homestead. The McKinley Station Trail can take an hour and reveals more Denali history. If you want to

head toward the Nenana River and watch the rafts go by, take the bike path. It leads to the pedestrian bridge over the river. If you have time, take the free shuttle to Savage River, 15 miles into the park. Keep your eyes on the horizon as the bus travels west on the Park Road. On a clear day, you can see Denali about 80 miles away when you reach milepost 9.5 on the park road. The Savage Loop Trail is an enjoyable hike far from civilization, and you only need about an hour to do the entire loop. The new Mountain Vista stop — just before Savage River — is also a great spot to get out and stretch your legs. It’s called Mountain Vista for a reason. Just soak in that view. If you are more interested in activities outside the park, reserve a few hours for a raft ride down the Nenana River. Or drive your own all-terrain vehicle. Or hop on an airplane or helicopter for a memorable flight-seeing trip.

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Beyond Fairbanks Parks Highway has lots of great stops beyond Fairbanks

t takes a little more than two hours to drive the 123 miles to Denali National Park and Preserve from Fairbanks. If you take your time, you might discover some treasures along the way. Right outside Fairbanks is the little town of Ester. This former mining community, sometimes referred to as “The Republic of Ester,” is a reminder of days gone by. Now it is home to artists, teachers and lots of folks who don’t want to be lumped in with Fairbanks. The center of town? The Golden Eagle Saloon, popular with both visitors and locals. The Ester Community Association now sponsors the Ester Community Market every week. Here, artists, farmers, musicians and other vendors sell their wares. Continuing south, the Tanana Hills can be treacherous driving during winter months. But in the summer, the road winds through scenic views on both sides of the road. Vast views of the Tanana Valley and Alaska Range are visible at every turn. On a clear day, you can see Mount Denali in the distance, towering over all the other mountains. The next “big” community you’ll run into is Nenana. The entrance to the community is grand: A towering silver bridge ushers drivers over the confluence of the Tanana and Nenana Rivers. Nenana is home of the Nenana Ice Classic, a lottery that lets people guess the exact moment a black-and-white tripod will fall when the ice goes out on the Tanana River at the end of winter. It began in 1917 when bored railroad workers tried to guess when the ice would break free and float downstream. Many an Alaska resident has spent hours poring over statistics of ice thickness, hoping to get lucky with every ticket. This also is an important staging area for barges that supply communities along the Tanana and Yukon rivers.

The barges deliver fuel and other important supplies to these remote villages. It was in Nenana that President Warren Harding drove the golden spike on the Alaska Railroad in 1923. A monument depicting that spike is on display at the depot museum. That presidential rail car is now at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks. The Alfred Starr Nenana Cultural Center includes a small museum and Native crafts shop. Some local artists sell their wares here. The oldest building in town is a charming 1905 log cabin church on Front Street. Continue driving south and you’ll have the opportunity to turn right, into the small community of Anderson. It is 6 miles off the highway, so it doesn’t get a lot of visitors. Three homesteaders settled here in the late 1950s. In 1959, the town’s namesake, Art Anderson, divided his 80-acre homestead into quarter-acre lots and sold most of them to civilian workers at the adjacent Clear Air Force Station. An elementary school was built and the city was incorporated in 1962. You’ll see Clear Air Force Station while on your way to Anderson, but it’s not a site for casual or spur-of-the-moment visitors. This is a military installation that houses both Alaska Air National Guard and U.S. Air Force personnel. When you get back on the Parks Highway, be sure and stop at the Clear Sky Lodge for the best prime rib sandwich in the area and some conversation with longtime local residents. Then, drive on. Soon, you’ll be in Healy, the gateway community to Denali National Park.

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Beyond Fairbanks

Steese Highway: A trip into a golden past For the News-Miner trip north up the Steese Highway from Fairbanks takes you through some of Alaska’s richest gold country as you make the 155-mile drive to Circle City, located on the mighty Yukon River. In addition to traveling through historic gold rush communities, part of the Steese is near the trail of the Yukon Quest International Sled Dog race, a 1,000-mile trek between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon. Heading north from Fairbanks, the highway starts by skirting the eastern edge of Fairbanks, making a right at the intersection with the Elliott Highway. The first notable stop comes in Fox, 10 miles north of Fairbanks. Fox began as a mining camp in 1905, but has since become a destination for restaurants and nightlife for those willing to make the short drive. The Turtle Club restaurant is well known for its heaping plates of prime rib aand seafood. Silver Gulch Brewing and Bottling Co. is the northernmost brewery in the United States. From May to October, the Howling Dog Saloon features live music in a colorful atmosphere. That’s not all there is at the Howling Dog. There’s a sand volleyball court and horseshoes. There’s a café serving cheesesteaks, burgers and daily specials. If you need a place to stay after a night at the saloon, cabins are available. Road trip supplies and gas are available at the Fox General Store. From Fox, the Steese takes a sharp turn to the east, running through tailing piles and equipment from giant dredges that worked the valley in the mid-1900s. At 16 Mile, visitors can stop at the Felix Pedro Monument, the site where the Italian miner discovered gold in 1902, starting the stampede to Fairbanks. A public gold panning area is located just across the highway from the monument. Gold mining is still alive and well in the area; please respect private property. The Steese also offers road access to the White Mountains National Recreation Area, where you can pan for gold at Nome Creek at 57 Mile. You also can hike, fish and camp in the White Mountains. Much of the area was burned by a wildfire in 2004. Hillsides are strewn with charred trees but become filled with color when the fireweed blooms in mid-July. After descending from Cleary Summit, the Steese Highway winds through the scenic Chatanika River Valley. The town of Chatanika, created by mining activity, was once 10,000 people strong. Chatanika Gold Camp is the site of the

old Fairbanks Exploration Co. Camp, built between 1923 and 1925 as the bunkhouse and dining hall for men who worked on Chatanika’s Gold Dredge No. 3. The camp is on the National Register of Historic Places. At 28.5 Mile is a rustic lodge, across the road from what is left of Gold Dredge No. 3, which burned in 2013. The Chatanika Lodge was established in the 1930s as a trading post. The lodge’s Alaska decor showcases its hearty fare, with a full kitchen serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Stop at Long Creek Trading Post at 45 Mile for an espresso or ice cream. A 2.5-mile loop offers access to the Davidson Ditch. The ditch is an 83-mile series of ditches, siphons and pipes once used to carry water from a small dam on the Chatanika River. It was one of the largest engineering projects in the world when it was built in 1925. The road then climbs well above the tree line at Twelve-Mile and Eagle summits, two popular places to watch the sun skirt the northern horizon on the summer solstice. After coasting down Eagle Summit to the small community of Central, about 128 miles north of Fairbanks, travelers enter the Circle Mining District. Central has a post office and a wonderful museum featuring the history of the Gold Rush and early 1900s. Turning right at Central points you in the direction of Circle Hot Springs. The historic springs and associated resort, about 8 miles down the road, have been closed for years, but you can still check out the small ghost town. From Central, Circle City is 34 miles to the banks of the Yukon River. The river is 2 miles wide at Circle. Circle, founded in 1893, was the largest city on the Yukon until gold was discovered in Dawson City, Yukon, in 1898. It served as the hub community for mines in the Circle Mining District. At its peak, more than 1,000 people lived in Circle, which was named in the belief that it was located on the Arctic Circle, which actually is about 40 miles to the north. Today, the town has only a handful of residents. Gasoline and groceries are available.

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Dalton, Elliott highways offer rugged, remote trips Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com isitors to Alaska often like to get off the beaten path, and there are few roads that provide that opportunity better than the Dalton and Elliott highways. The Dalton Highway, which was built to support the transAlaska oil pipeline, is the farthest-north road in North America. Commonly called the “haul road,” it takes motorists past the Arctic Circle and farther north, almost to the Arctic Ocean. The Elliott Highway, which intersects the Dalton en route to Manley Hot Springs, is a good option for travelers interested in remote adventure and hot springs. They’re both long, remote, mostly unpaved roads, so planning ahead is important. Fill up on gas at the few stations along the 498 highway miles between Fairbanks and Deadhorse. Bring one or more spare tires. Watch out for big trucks.

Explore

Elliott Highway The Elliott Highway moves through rolling hills covered in birch trees as it begins in the community of Fox, where the highway splits from the Steese Highway. The last stop for gas for a hundred miles is the Hilltop Truck Stop, a diner known for its pies and appearances on the reality show “Ice Road Truckers.” At 84 Mile, the northbound Dalton Highway begins as the Elliott jogs west to the community of Manley Hot Springs. A junction at 109 Mile Elliott Highway leads south to the Athabascan village of Minto. The small community of Manley Hot Springs offers a rustic and low-key experience for visitors. Four tubs are located in a greenhouse, and visitors can take a soak in the hot springs for $5 per person per hour surrounded by foliage such as grapes and flowers. Use of the greenhouse is restricted to one party at a time, so visitors are asked to call 907-672-3213 in advance. The Manley Lodge (formerly Roadhouse), established in 1903, provides a cozy launching point for an Alaska adventure. The inn offers meals and lodging “with a pioneer flare.” For information, call 907-672-3161. The lodge opens for the season May 27.

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A good resource on this and other Alaska road trips is “The Milepost,” a mile-by-mile guide to Alaska’s highways updated every year and available at most Alaska convenience stores and grocery stores. If driving a rental car, check with the company before heading out. Many require customers sign agreements not to drive on gravel roads.

The Dalton Highway crosses the Yukon River and climbs the continent’s northernmost mountain range, the Brooks Range, before ending at a security fence just short of the Arctic Ocean. There are few populated places along the way. Hee are a few landmarks: • Yukon River Bridge: 56 Mile (from Elliott Highway junction).The only vehicle crossing in Alaska across the state’s largest river. Fuel, food and lodging are available at Yukon River Camp in the summer.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Beyond Fairbanks

• Arctic Circle sign: 115 Mile. The sun does not rise on the winter solstice nor set on the summer solstice north of the Arctic Circle. • Coldfoot: 175 Mile. A former pipeline construction camp. Amenities include gas, food, lodging and the Arctic Interagency Visitor Center (open only in the summer), the visitor center for Arctic federal lands, including Gates of the Arctic National Park. • Wiseman: 189 Mile. Turnoff for Wiseman, a historic mining community three miles off the highway. • Atigun Pass: 244 Mile. At 4,800 feet, this Brooks Range pass is the highest highway pass in Alaska.

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• Deadhorse: 414 Mile. There is fuel and lodging at the community of Prudhoe Bay oilfield workers. Security fences block access to the Arctic Ocean, but Deadhorse Camp, which offers lodging for both oilfield workers and visitors, offers shuttles to the ocean. Shuttles leave twice per day in the summer and cost $69 per person. Lodging reservations can be made at 877-474-3565, with the shuttle available through www.deadhorsecamp.com. The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in Fairbanks has specific information on the Dalton Highway and receives road condition updates from the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities.

Miles of adventure await along the Alaska Highway Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com he Alaska Highway serves as the gateway to the North. The world-famous highway traverses more than 1,000 miles through Canada before reaching its terminus in Interior Alaska. Built during World War II by the military as a means of getting supplies to the strategic northern territory, the long highway was also meant to help connect the previously unconnected airfields used under the Lend-Lease Agreement to send planes and supplies over the Bering Strait into Russia to support the Eastern Front. Though the highway stretches more than 1,300 miles today, fewer than 200 of those miles run through the state for which the highway is named. The highway ends in Delta Junction, where it converges with the Richardson Highway, 198 miles from the Alaska-Canada border. The Richardson Highway winds north from Valdez, the port city on Prince William Sound where tankers dock to load oil from the trans-Alaska pipeline. The highway and the pipeline meander north from Valdez, often running alongside each other. The Richardson meets up with the Alaska Highway at Delta Junction and branches off to the northwest, toward Fairbanks, as does the pipeline. While the Richardson Highway ends in Fairbanks, the pipeline continues to the North Slope.

Delta Junction Delta Junction stands at the junction of the Alaska and Richardson highways. It is bordered by the Tanana and Delta rivers. Delta Junction’s museums, roadhouses and festivals inform visitors of the town and the region’s rich agricultural history. • The Deltana Fair runs from July 28-30. It includes games,

music, food and contests. The Deltana Fairgrounds are located on Nistler Road in Delta Junction. More information on the fair can be found by calling 907-895-3247. • Big Delta State Historical Park is another main attraction near Delta, featuring Rika’s Roadhouse, which is operated by a private concessionaire. The park shares the history of the former owner, Rika Wallen, whose roadhouse played an interesting and significant role in Interior Alaska’s past. Rika’s Roadhouse rests on the banks of the Tanana River, where a trail once ran from Valdez in the south to the gold claims of Fairbanks in the north. Rika’s provided the trail’s travelers with a place to rest and recuperate from their journey before continuing. The Roadhouse is not always open, but the Alaska State Parks Department continues to operate the historical park site.

Donnelly Dome Donnelly Dome rises high above the surrounding landscape just south of Delta Junction. The dome rises nearly 4,000 feet in a wide valley 15 miles south of Delta Junction, surrounded on two sides by towering peaks of the Alaska Range. The dome lies along a fault line that runs along the northern edge of the Alaska Range, which contributes to its expansive rise. The dome is a popular hike for locals and visitors alike, as it provides sweeping views of the surrounding peaks to the southeast and southwest and the Delta River. The trans-Alaska oil pipeline can be seen winding alongside the river for miles from atop Donnelly Dome. The hike can be done in half a day. Hikers should pack a jacket despite the weather, as the top of the dome is often windy. Access to the path up the dome starts at a pullout on the Richardson Highway about 248 Mile. From there, the trail winds up to the southern side of the dome and along its spine to the top.

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Beyond Fairbanks

Black Rapids

Tok

Black Rapids Roadhouse sits across the Richardson Highway from its namesake. When the ice along the river breaks up in the spring, Black Rapids on the Delta River flow alongside the highway below the roadhouse. The rapids are so named because of the tremendous amount of glacial silt that flows down from the Alaska Range, darkening the water in the shallow riverbed. The Black Rapids Roadhouse and lodge can be seen along a ridge parallel to the highway. Views from the Richardson Highway, especially at the Black Rapids Roadhouse, include the river valley to the Black Rapids Glacier in the mountains to the west, and to the east, the looming peaks of the range that form the back of the roadhouse’s ridge. The lodge hosts guest speakers, musicians and other events and features outdoor tours during the summer. It will host a music festival June 30-July 2. More information on the roadhouse can be found by calling 877-825-9413 and 907-388-8391. For more info, visit lodgeatblackrapids.com.

Tok is the first town visitors drive through after crossing the border with Canada. Tok provides accommodations for RVs and campers. The Tok visitor center provides a range of information on the region’s history and geography. Tok serves as the hub for the other villages in the eastern part of Alaska’s Interior, such as Dot Lake, Northway, Tetlin, Tanacross and Mentasta. It was built to serve as a roadwork camp during the construction of the Alaska Highway in the 1940s. Tok is surrounded by three Alaska State Parks. Eagle Trail State Recreation Site is 16 miles south of town at 109.5 Mile Tok Cutoff Highway. Eagle Trail offers hiking trails, many of which were part of the old Eagle-Valdez Trail. Moon Lake State Recreation Site is northwest of Tok near 1,332 Mile Alaska Highway. The park is a popular boating destination. Tok River State Recreation Site is 4.5 miles east of Tok near 1,309 Mile Alaska Highway and is a stopping point for visitors entering the state from Canada. The biggest celebration in Tok is its Fourth of July parade, which typically begins at 11 a.m. at Fast Eddy’s restaurant, another popular stopping point for hungry travelers.

Cast off for big-time fishing down the highway in Valdez By Sam Friedman sfriedman@newsminer.com aldez is 366 miles south of Fairbanks, but it’s a common destination for Interior Alaska sports fishermen in search of the ocean’s bounty, especially halibut and salmon. Halibut are white, buttery-tasting flatfish that can grow to more than 350 pounds in Gulf of Alaska waters near Valdez. The area also hosts five species of Pacific salmon. One of the most popular is red salmon, also known as sockeye salmon, which is known for its rich, bright red meat. The king salmon, also known as chinook salmon, can grow to more than 90 pounds. Anglers can catch salmon from shore but need boats to reach halibut habitat. Full-day halibut charters in Valdez take fishermen out into the open waters of the Gulf of Alaska and usually cost $375 to $400 per person. Other marine species such as lingcod and yellow eye rockfish can be caught from Valdez-based boats. Salmon charter trips usually cost about $175 for a half day and $250 for a full day. Valdez hosts a series of fish derbies in the summer. They incluce contests for halibut and silver salmon, with special classes for female fishermen and children. Buy a derby ticket before going fishing for a chance to win cash prizes of up to $15,000 if you catch the biggest fish. Last year a Fairbanks man won the halibut derby with a 253-pound fish. A Valdez man won the silver salmon derby with a 17.52-pounder.

Taylor Highway: 160 miles of history Staff Report newsroom@newsminer.com he 160-mile Taylor highway offers stunningly scenic drive through some of Alaska’s most historic mining regions. The highway is open April through October and travels from its starting point at Tetlin Junction on the Alaska Highway to its terminus at historic Eagle. The road frequently climbs above treeline and offers expansive views of Alaska and east to Canada’s Yukon. The route, which follows old mining trails established as far back as the 1880s, provides access to scenic waysides and campgrounds, the historic Fortymile Mining District and the Top of the World Highway. The Taylor has several steep grades, and services are few and far between, so travelers are advised to fill up their fuel tanks and bring adequate supplies. The highway is closed to vehicle traffic between October and April, but snowmachines can be used in the winter. Parts of the highway are narrow and winding with steep drops. The maximum speed on some stretches is 30 mph. Travelers should use caution.

Chicken The Chicken Gold Camp and Outpost is a one-stop shop where travelers can camp, stock up on supplies, eat a good meal, drink a beer, buy authentic Alaska-made gifts and even get in some recreational mining. Owners Mike and Lou Busby have expanded the gold camp with the purchase of Lost Chicken Hill, which is the oldest continuously mined placer mine in the state. Visitors can take a guided tour of Felix Pedro Dredge No. 4 and view the many historic associated relics.

Feel like being a miner? There’s a few options for trying that out, too. Chicken’s small wintertime population swells to about 800 during Chickenstock, a bluegrass and folk music festival that draws fans from as far away as Europe. The annual Chickenstock Music Festival takes place June 9-10, and a ticket buys you a camping spot. Information about the festival is available on Facebook. The Chicken Creek Outpost houses a cafe, saloon, espresso bar and gift store that offers gasoline and seating for 70. Cabin and room rentals are available, Kayak rentals are also available. The Chicken Gold Camp and Outpost opens in mid-May and closes in September, weather permitting.

Eagle Eagle was first incorporated in 1901, making it the first Interior Alaska community to do so. This small community at the end of the Taylor Highway was devastated by a flood in 2009 caused by a spring ice jam on the Yukon River, but residents have since rebuilt.

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Visitors can take a guided tour of historic Fort Egbert and other buildings and museums in the town or take part in the annual Fourth of July parade. Eagle offers several accommodation options. The Falcon Inn B&B has a variety of room options. The Falcon Inn will also offer a wilderness school for adults. Subjects for 2017 include a historical society tour, identifying and using native boreal plants, living off the grid, wilderness first aid, an “In the Footsteps of Amundsen” presentation, and traditional Alaska Native beading, and Eagle lifestyles. Check www.falconinnlodgelogcabins.com for information about room rates and about the wilderness school. The telephone is 907-547-2254. A three-story building houses the Eagle Trading Co. grocery store and the Riverside Hotel and Cafe. The hotel offers 11 rooms, three of them handicapped accessible. Gasoline, diesel fuel, propane and a coin-operated laundry facility are located across the street. Hunting licenses and an ATM are also available. For more information, go to www.riversidehoteleaglealaska.com or call (907) 547-2220.

For those who prefer to get back to nature, the Bureau of Land Management Eagle Campground has 18 campsites. A fee is required. BLM also operates the West Fork campground at mile 49 of the Taylor, and the Walter Fork campground at mile 82.

Denali Highway By Kris Capps kcapps@newsminer.com he Denali Highway offers one of the most scenic drives in Alaska, with frequent reminders of the region’s glacial past. More and more visitors discover it every year, even though most car rental agencies prohibit driving rental vehicles on this mostly gravel 135-mile road. It runs between Cantwell on the Parks Highway and Paxson on the Richardson Highway. Cantwell is 27 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park. The road cuts through the Alaska Range, and majestic mountains and vast tundra line both sides of the highway. Even when clouds move in, the views are spectacular. Constructed in 1950, for many years, the Denali Highway provided the only access to Denali National Park before construction of the Parks Highway. Now a variety of lodges help tourists enjoy the natural beauty of this remote wilderness. Although it is called the Denali Highway, this land is not under the authority of the National Park Service. It is overseen by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, so it’s open to almost any recreational activity. That’s why you’ll see many people enjoying the area on all-terrain vehicles, on bicycles or hiking. It’s a popular hunting area and berry-picking area in the fall.

www.newsminer.com

Most of the highway passes through alpine terrain. You have a good chance of spotting caribou, moose and bear. Parts of the road sit atop eskers, ancient streams that wound through the glaciers. Kettle ponds, formed by melting ice chunks, offer nesting areas for swans and other waterfowl. Maclaren Pass is the highest point on the drive, at 4,086 feet. On a clear day, you can see the Maclaren Glacier. Tangle Lakes is close to Paxson and offers canoeing, hiking and extraordinary bird watching. It is also an archeological site. Alaska Native people have lived in this area for more than 10,000 years. Archaeologists continually find traces of their prehistoric life.

Just driving the road can be an adventure, depending on the condition of the road and its potholes. Be sure to bring along a spare tire. Maybe two. The BLM maintains campgrounds at Brushkana Creek and at Tangle Lakes, but you can pull over anywhere along the road and camp. A few small roadhouses offer lodging, including the Tangle River Inn, Maclaren River Lodge and Alpine Creek Lodge. See www.tangleriverinn.com, www.maclarenlodge.com and www. alpinecreeklodge.com. On the east end of the highway, the closest gas station is Meiers Lake Roadhouse, 16 miles south of Paxson on the Richardson Highway. The roadhouse offers cabins, a restaurant, bar, and convenience store. You can find them on Facebook.

Cantwell The small, tight-knit community of Cantwell sits in a picturesque spot at the junction of the Parks Highway and the Denali Highway. Turn 360 degrees and see towering mountains of the Alaska Range in every direction. The town, primarily an Athabascan Indian village, is named after Jim Cantwell, a worker on the Alaska Railroad. Cantwell was once a railway flag stop. Oley Nicklie sought work with the railroad after fur prices dropped. He and his two brothers founded the settlement. This is where the popular 2007 film â&#x20AC;&#x153;Into The Wildâ&#x20AC;? was filmed. Today it is a haven for snowmachiners in the winter and photographers in the summer. There are outdoor opportunities

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

Worship Directory – Visitors are always welcome!

Fairbanks region

Each Friday, the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner publishes additional local faith news. FAIRBANKS AREA Bethel Church

www.bethelchurchak.org • 907-479-4380 Bible Teaching Church with Contemporary Worship 1310 Farmers Loop Rd. Worship: Sunday 9:15 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. Sunday School - all ages: 11:00 a.m.

Jewish Congregation of Fairbanks

1744 Aurora Drive 456-1002 Friday: 7:30 p.m. • orhatzafon@mosquitonet.com

Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

3030 Peger Road (907)374-6055 Sunday Bible Study 9:30 a.m.; Sunday Service 11:00 a.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study 7:00-8:30 p.m.

Bible Baptist Church

452-1407 32 Adak Ave. 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 cell

Sacred Heart Cathedral

1300 Peger Rd. 474-9032 email: shcparishoffice@gmail.com Weekend Masses: Sat. 4:30 p.m., Sun. 11:00 a.m. & 6:30 p.m. Spanish Mass: 1:00 p.m. on Sunday Weekday Masses: Mon, Wed, Fri: 7:30 a.m.; Tues, Thur: 5:30 p.m.

St. Mark’s University Catholic Church

Church of Chirst

UAF Campus 474-6776 uaf.stmark@gmail.com Sunday Mass: 11:30 a.m. (May 29 - Sept. 3) Mass held Margaret Murie Life Science Bldg Auditorium on UAF campus

Community Convenant Church - C3

Independent Traditional Methodist Worship Sunday School: 9:45 a.m. Worship: 11 a.m. 907 Union Dr., by Dog Mushers 479-7998 A Friendly Little Country Church

645 11th Avenue 456-4921 Sunday 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Wednesday 6:30 p.m.

2136 McCullan Avenue (on Aiport Way) www.c3fairbanks.com • 456-6553 • Sunday: 10:30 a.m.

St. Paul Church

Denali Bible Chapel

Fairbanks First United Methodist Church

915 Second Avenue 452-2956 Sunday: 9:00 a.m. Traditional • 11:15 a.m. Contemporary www.fairbanksfirst.org • office@fairbanksfirst.org

Fairbanks Lutheran Church

1012 Cowles Street (ELCA) 452-3425 Summer worship time: 9:30 a.m. www.fairbankslutheranchurch.org / fairluth@gci.net Facebook: FairbanksLutheranELCA

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.; Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Pastor Bruce Hamilton 907-378-9103

Immaculate Conception Church

2 Doyon Place 452-3533 Mass: Sat. 5:30 p.m., Sun. 7:30 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Weekday Masses (Mon. through Fri.): 12:10 p.m. Church is open Tues. - Fri., 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

St. Raphael Catholic Church

1125 Old Steese Hwy. North 457-6603 Mass: Saturday 6:00 p.m. & Sunday 9:30 a.m. Tuesday 9:30 a.m., Wednesday 5:30 p.m.

University Community Presbyterian Church

3510 College Road (907) 479-6728 Sunday Worship Service: 10:30 a.m. www.ucpcfairbanks.org

Zion Lutheran Church

(LCMS)

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

HEALY/DENALI AREA Holy Mary of Guadalupe - Catholic Church

Sunday 10:00 a.m. at church in Healy 683-2525 Saturday Night Mass 6:00 p.m. at Denali Wilderness Access Center Theatre (1 mi. Denali Park Rd.)

Valley Chapel - Assembly of God

Mile 249, Parks Hwy. Healy 683-2303 Sunday School 10 a.m., Church 11 a.m., Wed. 7 p.m. www.denalichurch.com

www.newsminer.com

F17517990

1201 Lathrop Street 456-5157 Service: 10:30 a.m. www.DenaliBibleChapel.org

Index of advertisers AK Buffet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Alaska Department Of Transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Alaska Feed Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Alaska House Art Gallery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Alaska Mining Hall of Fame. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23, 31 Alaska Raw Fur Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Alaska Salmon Bake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Alaska Tour & Travel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 Alaskan Tails of the Trail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 Arctic Traveler’s Gift Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Bag Ladies of Fairbanks, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Banks Alehouse, The. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Beads & Things. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Beaver Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Best Western Valdez Harbor Inn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Black Diamond Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Borealis Towing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Bun On The Run . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Chena Hot Springs Resort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Chicken Gold Camp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Cold Spot for Healthy Pets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Cookie Jar Restaurant, The. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Craft Market Gift Shop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Denali ATV Zipline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Denali Fly Fishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Denali Outdoor Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 Denali Raft Adventures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Dollar Rent A Car . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Domino’s Pizza. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Eagle’s Rest RV Park & Cabins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Explore Fairbanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13, 30 Fairbanks Automotive Repair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Fairbanks Community Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 Festival Fairbanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 Fly Denali. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62, 78 Food Factory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Forget-Me-Not Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Fox General Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Fudge Pot, The . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Gallentino’s Italian Style Restaurant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 GCR Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Gold Dredge 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Hotel North Pole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Howling Dog Saloon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

10% OFF

Stella’s Superstore

OFFICES IN DENALI PARK AND ANCHORAGE AIRPLANE TOURS OF DENALI NATIONAL PARK GLACIER LANDINGS • DENALI MOUNTAIN 2 hours south of Fairbanks. F18515833

1402 Gillam • Off Airport Way

877.770.2FLY flydenalic.com F11518171

Huge Selection of Native Art & Crafts

If Only... A Fine Store. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Journey Christian Church. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Just Haircuts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Kennicott Glacier Lodge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 KJNP Radio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 L.A. Nails . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Lavelle’s Bistro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Lemongrass Thai Cuisine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Mrs. Claws Chocolate Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Nenana Farmers Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 North Star Golf Club. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Northern Alaska Tour Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Northern Threads. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Palace Theatre and Saloon, The. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Parks Highway Towing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Photosymphony. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Pioneer Air Museum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2, 31 Pioneer Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Pioneer Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30, 33 Revamped Glass Bottle Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Rings & Things . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Riverboat Discovery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 Rivers Edge Resort. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 Riverview RV Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Santa Claus House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Santa’s Smokehouse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78, 80 Stella’s Superstore. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 Taco Azteca. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Tanana Valley Farmers Market. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Tanana Valley State Fair. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 Top of the World Hotel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Totem Inn. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68 Turtle Club . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Two Rivers Lodge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 2 St. Gallery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 University Community Presbyterian Church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 University of Alaska Museum of the North. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Ursa Major Distilling. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Vallata, The. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Waldo Arms Hotel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71 Westmark Fairbanks Hotel & Conference Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Worship Directory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Youth Sports Bingo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

The Guide to FAIRBANKS and Interior Alaska 2017

F11518193

Glacier & Wild Our captains have an average of 24 years of experien guiding tours and all of our crew are Alaskans. Offfffe ering more than just a glacier cruise we take the time to share ALL of the Sound! We provide superior comffo ort and service, all backed by a great saffe ety record. Daily departures May - September Meares Glacier Excursion: 8.5 hrs Columbia Glacier Cruise: 6 hrs Free shuttle service from RV Parks Meals included

anstep

www ww w.valdezharborinn.com

907-835-3434 • TToll oll Free Reservations: 888-222-3440 100 N. Harbor Drive, V Valdez, aldez, Alaska 99686-0468

F40516712

866.867.1297 • Valdez 907.835.4731 • ww