Alaska, Here We Come!!! Part 4 (Fairbanks)

Fairbanks - The Golden Heart City

Fairbanks Princess Lodge must have been all sold out by the time we booked the tour. They put us at a hotel called Bear Lodge. It was a nice hotel.

 

 

Of course, they had this in the lobby.

 

Huge bear!

 

Watch out, Ken!!

Fairbanks Visitor Center.



Fairbanks Visitor Center. Very nice one and it has a lot of
information about Fairbanks.

Visitor Center ground

Then, we went to LARS to see Muskoxes.

Then to Pipeline. There was a guy whose job is to repair the pipeline, so he started explaining to us about the pipeline and it was very interesting. It sure was nice to have our own guide there.

Most of the pipeline is above ground, but some places it goes
underground.

This is called a pig. This moves inside the pipeline and cleans and
detects problems in the pipe.

We went to Pioneer Park and had to try "-40 Degree Room". But only Terry and Ken tried it, so I don't have a picture of them.

But this is what it looks like, if you go in there. (from last year's trip)

-50 degrees F... Brrrrr...

(This is my index finger, not my middle finger, pointing to the thermometer, just so you know.)

And then, you come out, looking like this, so happy and proud of yourself that you did it!

(That is my thumb that is up.) By the way, why does Scott have his hood off in -50 degree room and hood on where it was 80 degree?...

Then, my favorite! Yes, it's the Salmon Bake, also in Pioneer Park!  Food is fabulous there.

Went to an antique car museum, which happens to be on the property of the hotel we stayed. We were amazed by the quality of this museum. What a nice museum this was! They have a LOT of antique cars there.

1907 Cadillac

Restoring an old car in their shop

Best part of this museum was that we could dress up and sit in one of the classic cars.

How cool is that? 

Doesn't Grandma and Ken look cute?!

Terry and Maureen went home earlier than they planned, because Maureen's daughter-in-law started labor in Colorado. It was too bad that they  had to leave earlier, but congratulations on Maureen's first grandchild (a boy!)

Grandma, Ken, Scott and I continued on sightseeing of Fairbanks.

We went to North Pole one day, but it was Santa Clause's day off, so we didn't get to meet him.

Well, at least I have a proof that Santa exists in North Pole from last year's photo.

We saw Comet and Cupid.

And then, Julie invited us over to her mine and gave us a tour. (Some photos are from last year, because I didn't take very many photos this year at the mine)

This is Fort Knox Gold Mine where Julie works. Looks like a miniature version of Kennecott Mine.

Here is a HUGE truck! A little bit smaller than Kennecott trucks, but still huge.

Julie took us to the mill and it was very interesting. This huge round machine turns and grinds  the ore. Can you see the ground ore coming out in the foreground?

Then she took us to the crusher. This is my favorite place. A huge truck backs up to unload the ore.

Ready to dump it.

And there it goes. Into the crusher.

And then, of course, we held a bar of gold (about 22lbs), which is worth about $300,000. You wouldn't believe how heavy it is. I was so worried that Grandma might drop it on her toes!

Thanks, Julie, for a wonderful tour! We had a great time!