Fairbanks and beyond

Heading toward Fairbanks, we decided to detour to Chena Hot Springs for a look and maybe camp there. The hot springs turned out to be a little too upscale and crowded for out taste so we continued on to Fairbanks. In Fairbanks we camped at the Tanana Valley Campground for a couple of days then we drove out the Steese Hwy to Circle on the Yukon River. Nice drive through goldrush area, but there wasn't much at Circle itself. We had a look around and headed back down the Steese Hwy to find a place to camp and then out the Elliot Hwy to Manley Hot Springs.  We camped across the road from the Manley Roadhouse and dinner and breakfast in their bar.

The campground office at Tanana Valley CG was a replica of a cabin used by early residents of the Fairbanks area. The campground is pretty central to everything in Fairbanks. That door is only about 4 or 5 feet tall so watch your head!

Informative sign at the end of the Steese Hwy in Circle, AK.

Al headed over to the Manley Roadhouse for an adult beverage. Manley seemed primarily oriented to sport and subsistence fishing. Fun drive out, good for overnight and return to Fairbanks.

From Manley we drove back to the junction eith the Dalton Hwy and decided to take it north to the Yukon River. We have now seen the Yukon from where it begins in B.C. to as far west as we can without going to the Bering Sea.

After Amy arrived in Fairbanks, we did a ride on the Discovery riverboat. It is somewhat like a Disney ride where they take you downriver about two miles to a replica indian village and then back to the landing and it's souvenir store. It was fun, pretty hoakey, but educational too!

Amy's hand showing a cabbage at the U. of Alaska botanical gardens. Plants really benefit from the long hours of sumer daylight.

Amy liked Denali Park.

First grizzly at Denali Park.

Mt McKinley, we were some of the people lucky enough to visit the park when the mountain is out for viewing. Only about a third of visitors get to see the mountain.

Another grizzly bear. Unfortunately, on the day we left the park, a hiker was mauled to death trying to get too close while taking pictures. We were taking pictures from the safety of the bus.

Another view of Mt McKinley.