Barrow self-tour? (Anchorage, Fairbanks: rent, how much, taxi)

[Redisca]

My husband and I will visit Barrow this summer. We are coming on our own (no package tour from Fairbanks or Anchorage). We are considering different options. How much would a taxi tour cost (with the understanding, or course, that it won't be cheap)? We would want the tour to include Point Barrow, of course.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[stiffnecked]

A cab tour might not be as expensive as you think. Floyd Davidson will probably chime in. Remember, Barrow has a very limited number of roads.

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Redisca

My husband and I will visit Barrow this summer. We are coming on our own (no package tour from Fairbanks or Anchorage). We are considering different options. How much would a taxi tour cost (with the understanding, or course, that it won't be cheap)? We would want the tour to include Point Barrow, of course.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Chartering a cab isn't all that expensive (compared to the airplane ticket to get here, for example). I'm not sure what they charge these days though, but I'll find out and post it in another article.

Touring the Point involves two distinctly different possible things. One is just going out to the end of the road, which any cab can do for maybe $15 or so.

But what you really do want to do is check with Daniel Lum, at 907-852-5883. He takes people out past the end of the road in a 4-wheel drive van with big tires. There is no guarantee that you'll see anything unusual of course, but there is the possibility of seeing seals and polar bears and geese and swans and ducks and walrus and whales and on and on! You'll certainly see the ocean and the beach at the farthest north point in the US. (It cost something like $100 per person, but that's plus or minus $25 or so, as I'm not sure.)

Another thing that you won't hear about until it is too late, is Joe the Waterman. Joe (Shults is actually his name, but nobody in Barrow ever calls him that) works at Pepe's North of the Border Mexican Restaurant, and every night at 10 PM when they close up shop he gives a tour of his museum. In fact it is his home, but he has the most mind boggling collection of everything you can think of! He has a stuffed polar bear, a wolverine, a wolf or two, a musk ox, and others. He has thousands of odd items found on the beach, from old ivory tools to everything else imaginable. I personally go see it two or three times a year, just for fun. (He never mentions money, but there is a "donation" plate where an observant person will see it.)

Otherwise, the question is just exactly when you are coming, because of course there are various events going on at different times. Next week is the best, with Nalukataq celebrations planned for June 21, 26, 28 and 30th. (See the wikipeadia article on Nalukataq for more information about what that is.) Over the 4th of July we have Arctic games (two foot high kick, knuckle hop, ear pull, that sort of thing). I'm not sure of anything in August, and in September it tends to drizzle all the time.

October is a GREAT month! It snows in the first week of October and that snow stays here all winter. I love it!

Whatever, when you get here... get settled in and then drop by Sam & Lee's Chinese Restaurant. It is possible to miss me in the evening. These days between 9 and 11 in the morning is almost a guaranteed thing though. Just look for one big fat old guy and one short fat (older) guy (me) sitting in the middle of the room downstairs acting like they own the joint. (You won't have to find us actually, as we usually latch onto every tourist who walks in, just for entertainment.)

[warptman]

He can give MrKnowitall a call(magic).

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by warptman

He can give MrKnowitall a call(magic).

Don't be stirring the pot with that sh*t stick of yours!

I don' t mind poking folks with a sharp stick when they live 1000 miles away or can't possibly afford the airplane ticket to come get even. But somebody who's [adjective deleted] and lives half a mile away is a very different thing indeed... (there is more to this story, but it can't be told here).

[warptman]

That was funny!

[Barkingowl]

So are the ivory bracelets a good buy, Floyd?

[Floyd_Davidson]

Originally Posted by Barkingowl

So are the ivory bracelets a good buy, Floyd?

I didn't check the prices, but they are artistically very creative. The photography is creative too.

So are the stories...

[Barkingowl]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

I didn't check the prices, but they are artistically very creative. The photography is creative too.

So are the stories...

Did you ever read the one about Jesus & the snowmobile?

[southeasttexas]

Originally Posted by Floyd_Davidson

Chartering a cab isn't all that expensive (compared to the airplane ticket to get here, for example). I'm not sure what they charge these days though, but I'll find out and post it in another article.

Touring the Point involves two distinctly different possible things. One is just going out to the end of the road, which any cab can do for maybe $15 or so.

But what you really do want to do is check with Daniel Lum, at 907-852-5883. He takes people out past the end of the road in a 4-wheel drive van with big tires. There is no guarantee that you'll see anything unusual of course, but there is the possibility of seeing seals and polar bears and geese and swans and ducks and walrus and whales and on and on! You'll certainly see the ocean and the beach at the farthest north point in the US. (It cost something like $100 per person, but that's plus or minus $25 or so, as I'm not sure.)

Another thing that you won't hear about until it is too late, is Joe the Waterman. Joe (Shults is actually his name, but nobody in Barrow ever calls him that) works at Pepe's North of the Border Mexican Restaurant, and every night at 10 PM when they close up shop he gives a tour of his museum. In fact it is his home, but he has the most mind boggling collection of everything you can think of! He has a stuffed polar bear, a wolverine, a wolf or two, a musk ox, and others. He has thousands of odd items found on the beach, from old ivory tools to everything else imaginable. I personally go see it two or three times a year, just for fun. (He never mentions money, but there is a "donation" plate where an observant person will see it.)

Otherwise, the question is just exactly when you are coming, because of course there are various events going on at different times. Next week is the best, with Nalukataq celebrations planned for June 21, 26, 28 and 30th. (See the wikipeadia article on Nalukataq for more information about what that is.) Over the 4th of July we have Arctic games (two foot high kick, knuckle hop, ear pull, that sort of thing). I'm not sure of anything in August, and in September it tends to drizzle all the time.

October is a GREAT month! It snows in the first week of October and that snow stays here all winter. I love it!

Whatever, when you get here... get settled in and then drop by Sam & Lee's Chinese Restaurant. It is possible to miss me in the evening. These days between 9 and 11 in the morning is almost a guaranteed thing though. Just look for one big fat old guy and one short fat (older) guy (me) sitting in the middle of the room downstairs acting like they own the joint. (You won't have to find us actually, as we usually latch onto every tourist who walks in, just for entertainment.)

Thanks again, FD! You provide great info on Barrow-exactly what I am looking for. I like to "go at it on my own" as much as possible, and I intend to self tour Barrow in summer 09. Can I rent a vehicle in Barrow? Just for two or three days? Thanks!