Favorite places on Alaska Highway (Fairbanks, Tok: hotels, houses, closing)

[JoDan]

I'll be coming through Alaska last week in April which is about two weeks later than I usually travel through Canada to Alaska. Lots of businesses are closed and I assume that will still be the case even though it's two weeks later. What are some of your favorite places along the Alaska Highway? Places that I've maybe driven by, but would find it a neat place to stop, either for food, lodging or scenery.

[Dakster]

On the AK Highway - Liard Hot Springs... But pretty sure you probably stopped there for a dip before?

The drive itself is so incredible we didn't really feel the need to explore all that much. We did drive around whitehouse a lot, and stopped to eat and some local restaurants. I figure if I am on vacation, I don't want to eat at a chain.

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En route to the AK Highway - I still can't get over BANFF and the Lake Louise area. Even if you just drive through it. We stopped at some of the pull offs. I liked the Town of Banff as well. Two best meals of our trip were probably the Turtle Club in Fairbanks and Little Missteak in Banff. (Both were the most expensive too). There are other notable foods stops as well, like Fast Eddies in Tok.

If you go thru the Town of Radium, there are Radium Hot springs and the drive to them is nice because you go through a canyon. The hot springs in Radium is more like a swimming pool, even though they don't treat or heat the water - but the facility is "modern" as in you have a place with heat or a/c and running water to change and shower. Since Radium was an overnight stay, the hotels usually have "free" passes included in your high overnight room rate included. So we took advantage. I at least can say we took advantage of a $32 savings to hit the pools and relax before we ventured on.

While Liard is more like in the "woods" with outhouses. You also don't have the 1/2 mile hike to the springs like you do at Liard. All depends on what you are looking for. Oh and Radium gets really busy, we got there when they first opened and still had to park at the end of the lot, when we left, people were walking in from some off site parking lot...

[JoDan]

Thanks Dakster. I have stopped at Liard Hot Springs. You know, I've never been through the Banff area. I come from the east coast and enter Canada through Saskatchewan. I've often thought about returning the route you described. May do it this time. I usually leave mid September. Think the weather (snow) will be ok through the Canadian Rockies?

[Dakster]

I live in South Florida and the most direct route would be the same for me. If it wasn't for some bloggers here and a friend that said, I *had* to see Banff I might not have gone.

As far as snow, I have no idea. I went in the June/July time frame and the temps were very mild our whole trip. From what I can tell, this year, snow could be hit or miss. If you go on the Canadian provinces traffic websites - There is one for B.C., Alberta, Yukon Territories separately they all have live web cams at various places on the roads. They also list road conditions and any pre-planned closings (partial or otherwise). Today we could look and everything could look perfect and next week it could be under 3 ft. of snow.

My feeling is this, if you are going to AK you need to be prepared to deal with snow and ice anyways. And you can always change you route to avoid a nasty snow storm at that point in the journey North. (Not much you can do once you are on your committed route though.)

[heathen]

The Canadian Rockies are at their best in late September. Bugs are gone, crowds are gone, fall colors are out, and snow is starting to work its way down the high peaks (but rarely the highways). I used to make the 500 mile drive from Seattle almost every year when I lived down that way. The drive from Banff to Jasper is plowed and always worth driving, but not at its best in late April, when mushy snow alternates with mud and brown vegetation in the mountains. Still beautiful, just not as much to do.