Fairbanks

We arrived in Fairbanks about noon on Wednesday, June 3.  Stopped at Delta Meat & Sausage Co. just outside of Delta Junction and picked up some breakfast sausage - reindeer and yak!!! Neat family business - all USDA approved.  We settled in at the Tanana River Fairgrounds and Campground.  Small, quiet, and off the beaten path.  Did a lot of reminiscing as today was my Dad's birthday - he was with us in Fairbanks in 2004 and those memories came flooding back - glad we have those wonderful memories!!

Thursday we packed a lunch and headed north of Fairbanks for the day. We drove about 70 miles north - as far as the pavement went on Hwy 2, The Elliott Highway. We saw several stretches of the pipeline where it goes above ground and one where it came out of a hillside.
We stopped at a Trading Post and visited with the owners (originally from Wisconsin!!!).

 On Friday we spent the afternoon at the Museum of the North at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. This is a WONDERFUL museum with so much interesting information and so many wonderful displays.  We had visited

the museum in 2004 but it has been expanded greatly since then.  One of their "treasures" is Blue Babe, the mummy of a 36,000 year old steppe bison. They have a wonderful art gallery also.  If you are ever in Fairbanks, this is a "must see."

Today we had lunch at Big Daddy's Barbeque, on the list from "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."   Great food!!  We walked the downtown area and wandered through some of the gift, souvenir, and artsy shops.  We then headed to Pioneer Park, which started as The Alaska Exposition in 1967, later became Alaskaland, and in 2002 became Pioneer Park.  They have moved a number of old log cabins from Fairbanks and surrounding area to the park to save them from destruction and some have little shops with handmade Alaska items like beading, diamond willow, burl items, carvings, etc.  There is a nice little pioneer museum, the first milled lumber home in Fairbanks, an Alaska aviation museum, the last riverboat to operate on the Tanana River, as well as playgrounds, bocce courts, a mini golf course, a small art gallery, etc. etc.  And there is no charge for admission!!  A wonderful park!    We went to a nice little family restaurant for dinner - The Cookie Jar - also on the list from Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives!!! Had a yummy Stromboli.

Rather than sit around in the evenings, staring at each other, we decided to hunt down a bingo game in the area.  We were headed for Downtown Bingo and made a mistake and ended up next door at Fairbanks Area Youth Sports Bingo.  It was a great mistake!!  They were so welcoming and friendly when they found out we were visiting from Wisconsin.  Wednesday night they gave us free daubers and about the second game, one of the gals came with a tray with popcorn, sodas, Drumsticks (ice cream), keychains, bookmarks, etc.  Tonight the caller wished us safe travels and sang "Happy Trails." And tonight they came with a tray with chocolate layer cake, sodas, hats, keychains, huge
foam #1 Fingers, etc. etc.   One of the workers is from Wisconsin originally and just retired from 20 years in the Air Force and a young couple sitting by us was from Wisconsin - he is stationed at Eielson AFB.  Fun way to spend the evening with a bunch of nice, fun people!!

Heading south tomorrow - no definite plans!!  We may wander, but we are NOT lost!!