After a quick flight from Dawson City to Fairbanks Alaska, we find our hotel room isn’t quite ready. So we hop on the free shuttle and head to Pioneer Park. It is as good a place as any to spend an afternoon in Fairbanks.
We’ve been here before and know that we will have options for shopping, food, and recreation. The weather is near perfect. And the sun is shining.
Upon entry to the park, there is the train that President McKinley used when he visited the area. There is also an old paddle wheel steamboat. We walk through both. There are dioramas showing life along the river in earlier times.
Nearby are the houses of early residents which are freely open for visitors. The small houses are a time capsule of pioneer life near the turn of the twentieth century. As history teachers, we like to take our time and examine the artifacts. Since we are the only visitors we enjoy the small rooms without feeling crowded or rushed.
By now, we have worked up an appetite. I see Cheechako’s tacos next to the historic Presbyterian Church. (Side note: a Cheechako is a person new to the gold fields or a greenhorn. A veteran miner was called a sourdough. Oddly, this nickname was because they kept their sourdough starter inside their pants to keep it from freezing, thus ensuring that they would have bread. But I am not sure about eating bread from yeast some grubby guy held in their shorts….)
I love tacos and they are smoking the meat onsite. They have lots of variety to choose from. My barbacoa tacos are even better than they smell. And we have entertainment as we eat. A small and fearless squirrel decides to beg for scraps at our table. I know you are not supposed to feed the animals…but he is so cute…. And it is just one tiny tortilla crumb….
Because we are really just big, goofy kids, we decide to play mini-golf. It is just us and the eight year olds. The course is simple and generic but we still have fun.
Pioneer park has a local history museum where we see dog sleds and farm implements among other remains from the past. There is a train shed with locomotives large and small. There is even an aircraft museum with helicopters and small planes (It is closed today, but it was a good value when we were here last.) Eventually, we wander to the first nation picnic area, and decide to rest on a bench. We enjoy icecream while we watch the world go by.
It should time to check into our room now, so we decide to head back. On the way, I notice the community center is hosting a quilt show. (I love quilts, because it reminds me of sewing with my grandmothers). I stop in and am not disappointed. There are several stunning variations. I don’t think my husband is as enthusiastic about the unplanned stop, but he just had ice-cream so he will be fine waiting on me.
It is actually hard to leave Pioneer Park, there is always just one more thing to catch your eye. Just one more quick little stop….
