Pioneer Park, Fairbanks, AK

We had a slow start to the day after a restless night in the Wally World RV Park. The forecast was for a very hot day so we tried to get into the Chena River State Campground but all their electric sites were full. So we decided to tough it out at the Pioneer Park RV parking area. It did get to over 30 C today so it we spent a good part of the day in the motorhome with the generator and a/c running.

Pioneer Park is a really neat place in Fairbanks where they have assembled a bunch of pioneer-era buildings, an old sternwheeler and narrow guage railroad. The buildings are restored really well, like the kitchen of this house:

There were lots of interesting gift shops and artisans’ studios:

Plus playgrounds, a merry-go-round, vendors of food and other stuff, and so on. There is lots of green grass, flower beds, and water. Fran and I looked around at most everything (he particularly enjoyed the aviation museum) and we rode the little railroad.

This little engine is 112 years old. It is going to be fired up on July 4 this year:

What Pioneer Park is really well-known for is the Alaska Salmon Bake. (It was even recommended by Santa when we visited him at North Pole yesterday!) This is a terrific buffet meal which includes prime rib, salmon cooked over an alder fire, lightly breaded cod and tonight – Crab legs! Salads, roasted poatoes, dessert, beverages, too. It was an excellent meal and we both ate way too much.

After supper we took in the musical/comedy show at the Palace Theatre. It told the story of the founding of Fairbanks and included lots of really funny bits and good singing.

The dogs had been hanging out in the motorhome all day and were really happy to get to go for a walk in the park after the show. They even got to go for a swim in both the little creek in the park and the adjacent Chena River! Rolling in the fresh grass was a big hit, too. They are such good dogs.