Which train stop between Anchorage and Fairbanks is the most scenic? (Metlakatla: trip, pics) - Alaska (AK) - Page 2 - City-Data Forum

RayinAK · 02-13-2016, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

What about going up to Chena Hot Springs for a couple of days?

I think there are one or two small lodges in Denali that stay open for winter guests. I want to say Earthsong, but that was several years ago so who knows.

Talkeetna in the winter is a great experience. They'll be able to see the real town without the layer of summer tourists. Climbing season starts in Feb., so there will be a few visitors, but nothing like during summer.

That would be a great idea. If the Auroras don't show when they are in Fairbanks, I was planning on taking them to a few places. The Hot Springs could be a nice experience. They also wanted to go on a sled dog ride, so the link you post it could be a good place to go.

Thanks Met, for the link. I will email it to them.

In fact, I am going to send them the link to this thread, that way they can read it all.

semispherical · 02-14-2016, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayinAK

That would be a great idea. If the Auroras don't show when they are in Fairbanks, I was planning on taking them to a few places. The Hot Springs could be a nice experience. They also wanted to go on a sled dog ride, so the link you post it could be a good place to go.

Thanks Met, for the link. I will email it to them.

In fact, I am going to send them the link to this thread, that way they can read it all.

I just spent five days at Chena Hot Springs in October, and it was a fun experience. I went primarily to see the aurora, but the hot springs also gave me plenty to do during the daytime. There are hiking trails, tours of the grounds, and of course, soaking in the hot springs (both indoor and outdoor). The biggest drawback was no wifi. I rented a car in Fairbanks and when I felt the need to get in touch with current events, I just drove back and hung out in the Fred Meyer coffee shop for a couple hours.

RayinAK · 02-14-2016, 12:10 PM

Thanks to all of you for your great ideas. These should be very useful to the friends visiting from Florida around the by the end of next week. They decided not to take the first train ride, but instead to leave Anchorage and stay around Fairbanks three days or so.

RayinAK · 02-23-2016, 09:02 PM

Update on the friends who came to visit:

They left Anchorage in the morning on the train , and had a blast along the way taking pictures. I was told that they saw plenty of wildlife, and that the scenery was magnificent. They arrived to Fairbanks at 8:30PM last Saturday, and a little later we went for a drive hoping to see the Auroras, but it was just too cloudy. Made it to the Silver Gulch where they tasted some of the beer, which was found to be "excellent"

Sunday they took a 1-hour sled dog ride, and had a great time. The weather was perfect (in the 20s), and sunny. They were quite excited about it, so I was happy for them. After the ride we went to the Silver Gulch to eat and have another beer since it was somewhat close to the sled dog place. I didn't have any beer of course, because I was the driving.

Monday we visited the UAF museum where we spent a few hours looking around, and later ended in Downtown Fairbanks where we visited the Morris Cultural Center. I had never been there before, and was pleasantly surprised as follows: the place is amazing, with great displays that include some sort of murals or vistas of the Alaska landscape during the Fall. When you stand in front of these paintings or whatever they are, you are standing by the edge of the landscape, and it feels like you can just walk right into it for a long hike. Not kidding! This is a great place to visit, because everything relates to Fairbanks, Nenana, with lots and lots of information, brochures, videos about the people, eld dogs, UAF, and the rest. Best of all, it's free

They left early in the morning Tuesday (yesterday).

6.7traveler · 02-23-2016, 10:03 PM

Sounds like you and your friends had fun. I love the silver gulch and pretty much any micro brewery for that matter

. Glad everyone had a good time.

I always love free things, and will check out the cultural center sooner than later. I've driven by it numerous times but was never quite sure what it was. I've also heard good things about the UAF museum as well and it's on my list of things to do one of these days.

Music_Man · 02-23-2016, 10:57 PM

Did they return by train? How did they like the food on the train? Glad they had a good time, just send them some of your shots of the N lights.

riceme · 02-24-2016, 07:56 AM

That sounds awesome. It sounds like they had a great time. What did they think of the sled dog tour?

RayinAK · 02-24-2016, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6.7traveler

Sounds like you and your friends had fun. I love the silver gulch and pretty much any micro brewery for that matter

. Glad everyone had a good time.

I always love free things, and will check out the cultural center sooner than later. I've driven by it numerous times but was never quite sure what it was. I've also heard good things about the UAF museum as well and it's on my list of things to do one of these days.

Both are good places to visit, but I found the Morris Thompson Cultural Center to be a wealth of information about the people and activities around Fairbanks.

RayinAK · 02-24-2016, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Music_Man

Did they return by train? How did they like the food on the train? Glad they had a good time, just send them some of your shots of the N lights.

They flew to Anchorage, where they plan to spend a couple of days, instead of taking a train ride. Yes, I plan mail them a CD with some photos I took of them, plus some photos of the Auroras and such.

Thanks.

RayinAK · 02-24-2016, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by riceme

That sounds awesome. It sounds like they had a great time. What did they think of the sled dog tour?

The sled dog ride was perhaps the highlight of the trip. They had a real nice time and were all exited about the dogs and everything-even left a tip for the musher

The train ride was also real good, since they had the chance to take photos of the scenery, and saw around 20 moose, eagles, and a bear.

The name of the sled dog business is, "Paws for Adventures" (something like that), located off Chena Hot Springs Road, not too far before turning right on Nordale Road. They also have "mushing tours" that last a few days, I believe. The customers and mushers sled about 20 miles out, and set-up a campsite to stay at camping on the snow.