It’s Two Hundred miles to Fairbanks from Tok. Even though we see some rain showers in our future, we feel the need to wash The Roadrunner (our motorhome) and Rubi the Jeep before taking off. The timer at the vehicle wash pad said 45 minutes to wash and dry. There was no one behind us so as a team we just went through the usual steps to get the job done. We finished 90 minutes later.
We made it to the end of the Alaska Highway, and Mark has a Certificate to prove it.
We spent a few hours at the Pioneer Air Museum in Fairbanks. Four dollars to get in and well worth it. I’ve never seen so many aircraft engines that have been salvaged from crash sites in any other air museum.
We decided to stay with the Loyal Order of the MOOSE for a few days. They have a huge gravel parking area. Water is available as well as a Sani-dump on request. You must be a Moose member in good staying to stay here as well as be invited into the lounge area.
A fun group here and good food. We enjoyed watching the Belmont Stakes race on their two large TVs. We participated in two of their fundraising programs and purchased libations and food while we are parked here. The RV parking fee is also by donation. A very fair trade-off for an enjoyable stay in Fairbanks.
One of our friends who spent many years traveling to Alaska for work gave us a list of restaurants that rank above the average throughout Alaska. Our First stop was just outside of Fairbanks in a small town of Fox, AK at THE TURTLE CLUB.
It seems we will be eating our way through Alaska.
They are famous for many of their items of the Menu. To start out with every Monday night through the summer they feature their TURTLE BURGER. We will head over there on June 11th for that.
Its a Prime Rib Burger pasta salad and chips for $10.00
We arrived for dinner on a Friday night, Best to make reservations at this place It Gets Busy..for a reason. After a cocktail in the quaint bar, we were seated in the dining area. This place is set up in small rooms and I asked for a “view of the ocean”… the hostess said “no ocean view but you are getting our BEST waitress, Martha”
She was Right, Martha was the sweetest, calmest waitresses I have ever experienced. She has worked here over 25 years and explained it is such an easy job to work in an establishment that puts out consistently Over the top cuisine.
No pictures of our Delicious dinner. After a trip to the amazing salad bar, we dug into our choices.. Me, I had Alaskan King Crab Legs, 1 1/2 pounds and Mark had the Prime rib (The Turtle Cut) 18 oz and a bottle of Cabernet. Honestly, the best entrees of Crab and Prime rib either of us has had in Years. ~ Thank you, Larry, for your tip about this place.
The Alaska Pipeline
Between Fairbanks and Fox, there is a nice pull off on the East side of the road to get an up-close view of the Pipeline. Eight-hundred miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. It passes through Delta Junction, Fairbanks, Glennallen and North Pole. The construction began in 1975, and the First oil left Prudhoe Bay en route to Valdez, March 1977. It was in March 1989 that an oil tanker spilled 260,000 to 750,000 barrels of crude oil into Prince William Sound. It carries an average of 1.8 MILLION barrels of oil a day. The pipeline is above ground in places where there is permafrost.
The Wedgewood Auto Museum, located at 230 Wedgewood Drive Fairbanks
Mark took a side trip to the Fountainhead Antique Car Museum today. The displays range from 1898 to 1938.
It’s Not on the Diet, but the Best Bakery in Fairbanks is MARLO’S
The Knotty Shop
Great photography and thoughts on Fairbanks and what is there to see, thanks for sharing.