Semi live review Y1L Holland America’s Alaska Land and Sea CruiseTour, June 1 – June 19, 2022

[Alphen]

Luggage arrangements Fairbanks, Denali, Anchorage:

 

For the next part of the voyage, you can choose to have part of your luggage shipped ahead on board, or keep it with you.

 

[Alphen]

Fairbanks permanent street art project 

 

Just around the corner, volunteers were working on a street art project (permanent lasting), which is at 4 places in Fairbanks as we were told and also at the same time in other parts of Alaska, stimulating local art and featuring local Alaskan products and such.

[tundra1]

Did you notice if there was self service laundry facilities at the Westmark in either Fairbanks or Dawson City?  Also, did you go out for dinner away from the hotels or just eat in the dining rooms there?  We are trying to figure out whether or not to get the food package for our land tour.  Thanks!

[Alphen]

1 hour ago, tundra1 said:

Did you notice if there was self service laundry facilities at the Westmark in either Fairbanks or Dawson City?  Also, did you go out for dinner away from the hotels or just eat in the dining rooms there?  We are trying to figure out whether or not to get the food package for our land tour.  Thanks!

We have not used self service laundry, but I am almost certain there was one in Dawson.

 

We ourselves have the breakfast plan, since we have several tours that include dining.

For other places, like tonight (Fairbanks, Nims Thai) and yesterday (Dawson, Sourdough Johns) it is relatively easy to locate dining. Having said that, we found tonight (Sunday night), quite a few restaurants were closed, but Google helps out.

 

So far, we found dining options easy to find in Whitehorse, Dawson and Fairbanks,  especially the last one, we found a real gem. What it absolutely lacked in ambiance (none), it made up for in excellent Thai food.

 

Edited June 6, 2022 by Alphen

[Alphen]

Westmark Fairbanks Breakfast 

 

Lots of breakfast options at a good buffet this morning and lots of space in the restaurant, but it can be crowded with manny groups that travel around the same time, so choose wisely.

Edited June 6, 2022 by Alphen

[Alphen]

Westmark Fairbanks View 

 

[Hogladyrider]

@Alphen....great sunshine....how are the temps?

[Alphen]

36 minutes ago, Hogladyrider said:

@Alphen....great sunshine....how are the temps?

Still around 24 degrees!

[Alphen]

Riverboat Discovery Tour

 

Today we are on an included tour on Riverboat Discovery 

 

[Taters]

On 6/5/2022 at 9:11 AM, Alphen said:

And we are in Fairbanks Alaska!

Welcome to the 'Banks!  The weather is quite beautiful right now.  You are here at a great time!

[cat shepard]

3 hours ago, Alphen said:

Westmark Fairbanks View 

 

Holy cow! Is that Denali? What a view!

[oaktreerb]

17 hours ago, tundra1 said:

Did you notice if there was self service laundry facilities at the Westmark in either Fairbanks or Dawson City?  Also, did you go out for dinner away from the hotels or just eat in the dining rooms there?  We are trying to figure out whether or not to get the food package for our land tour.  Thanks!

Not @Alphen but I can give my perspective.  With  the morning rush to get out and about or on the road you will probably be eating breakfast at the hotel anyway.  In the past there have been two buffet options:  full breakfast or continental (which included oatmeal, fruit, etc).  Mornings can be hectic at the hotels so a served/sit down breakfast might not be available.   We researched restaurants in the areas on Trip Advisor so we could have dinner away from the hotel (again depending on time and weather!). 

[Alphen]

7 hours ago, Taters said:

Welcome to the 'Banks!  The weather is quite beautiful right now.  You are here at a great time!

We are and you live in a great town!

[Alphen]

Riverboat Discovery Tour

 

Today we had the absolute best organized and orchestrated tour with HAL, we ever had to date.

We went out buy bus for this included tour in the Land Tour, for the Riverboat Discovery Tour. The whole enterprise was set up by Tom Binkley way back then and was now still family owned. We went over by the Steamboat landing, where a large giftshop was located and also the restaurant, where we later had lunch.

 

We boarded the Discovery III, an actual pedal wheeler from the seventies. The Discovery was well equipped, with several closed and open deck seating’s and beverage and shopping facilities. Narration was great, informative and full of humor, also introducing all crew members and several participants on shore, all clearly audible with headsets.

 

The Discovery set out on the Chena river, where a bush pilot demonstration took place, taking off and landing next to the Discovery on the river.

Next stop was a location alongside the Trail Breaker Kennel, owned by the late four time Iditarod winner, Susan Butcher. The kennel is now still being run by her family, with her husband leading and also her son now participating in the Iditarod.

 

 

Demonstration was good to see and narrated from the Discovery, where several dogs towed a vehicle, which they also use in their normal training.

 

Next stop was the Chena Indian Village, living museum. This facility was also set up with the help of founder (Captain) Tom Binkley. The village was again really great to visit in strictly organized groups, so nobody would miss anything of the demonstrations of the life of the Athabasscan Indian natives, who proudly gave us a look in their way of living.

During the total boat ride, the excellent narration, together with free coffee, water and blueberry donuts, topped off with a sample of smoked Captain Jim’s Salman, was a great tour in all of its aspects.

All of this was concluded with a lunch at the steamboat landing, consisting of “Heary Miners Stew”, “Rustic Roasted Vegetables”, “Apple Pecan Salad” and “German Chocolate Brownie” for dessert.

 

 

Edited June 7, 2022 by Alphen

[Alphen]

Gold Dredge 8

 

After lunch we headed for Gold Dredge 8 (owned by the same family as the Discovery Boat Tour), to have a gold adventure, lead in the same efficient and great way as the morning tour.

Gold Dredge 8 operated in the Goldstream Valley of Fairbanks from 1928 to 1959 and extracted millions of ounces of gold from the frozen Alaskan Ground. Today, Gold Dredge 8 is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and the site  is a U.S. Historic District.  

 

We first set out on a ride on a replica of the Tanana Valley Railroad a narrow gauge railroad, on a short narrated journey to the dredge. Before the ride starts, Earl Hughes, provided festive music on guitar and violin.

After a short demonstration of mining equipment along the way, we arrived at the Gold Dredge 8, for another talk about the huge dredge.

After that, each was handed a sack of pay dirt, hopefully containing some gold flakes, for us to go panning for gold.

 

I can now tell you, panning for gold IS HARD. We ourselves got under $5 and over $11 respectively, other got around that figure, one topping the list at $30!

A fun experience, proud, only to be told that experienced panner do it under 30 seconds!

The tour was conclude with a short talk about the Alaskan pipeline. In all, one of the best, if not the best tour we ever had with HAL!

Edited June 7, 2022 by Alphen

[tundra1]

Thank you!  We love Thai food!  I had read that Fairbanks for well known for its Thai population and excellent Thai restaurants.  That riverboat tour looks amazing!  

[Alphen]

3 minutes ago, tundra1 said:

Thank you!  We love Thai food!  I had read that Fairbanks for well known for its Thai population and excellent Thai restaurants.  That riverboat tour looks amazing!  

Indeed, just remember that not everything is open every day!

[shuyak]

@AlphenThank you!  Too bad our land tour does not include the riverboat, but will see our luck with gold.  Did I see it right that no one appears to wear mask?

 

@tundra1, we called all the hotels along our tour, if remember correctly, Skagway, Whitehorse, Dawson City, Fairbank, and Delani all have self coin operated laundry facility and can purchase detergent.  Anchorage is the only one without.

 

[shuyak]

Denali. 😓

[caledonmango]

We are really enjoying your pictures and descriptions. We are sailing on the Nieuw Amsterdam on June 19, followed by a 6 night land tour, so the descriptions of the hotels, meals and tours is very helpful!  Looking forward to reading more, especially since this is our first trip to Alaska.

[Alphen]

Fairbanks Alaska Salmon Bake & Palace Theatre Revue

 

Tonight we had a Alaska Salmon Bake & Palace Theatre Revue, a BBQ style happening down in Pioneer Park. The BBQ itself was reasonable, but not really organized for a big group arriving at one time. Because of this, we were a bit pressed for time, to make it in time for the theatre part. All in all, the baked salmon was nice and we made it just in time to go to the theatre.

The theatre was a bit like a theatre in a house sitting room, small and in the style of forgotten era.. The play itself was a little gem. Only 4 actors and a piano player, performing a musical style history of the becoming of Fairbanks. Very funny and not at all bad singers, good in fact and an excellent show altogether.

 

A perfect conclusion of 2 days in Fairbanks, wish we could stay longer!

 

 

 

Edited June 7, 2022 by Alphen

[rajkr74]

Glad you two are having fun.  Pictures are great.

[Alphen]

Off to Denali this morning!

 

[Alida9]

The pictures are wonderful. Thank you for the updates. 
Think  I may have to do that trip one of these years! 
Veel plezier! 

[Taters]

I'm so glad that you had a great time in Fairbanks!  As an FYI, the Riverboat Discovery has been rated the best excursion in Alaska for years.  It is really a wonderful experience.  

 

And Fairbanks is a very small town, indeed.  We've been friends with Earl Hughes for decades, and our daughter is a chef at the Salmon Bake this summer.  You may have talked to her.  😁  Her "real job" is on the North Slope in the oil camps, but she is taking this summer off to be in town with friends and family.  She'll go back in October.

 

And oh that fashion show portion of the show at the Palace Saloon!  Hilarious!

 

This weather!  You came at the perfect time.

 

Cheers!

Edited June 7, 2022 by Taters