Day 4 - Sep 3, 2000 Last updated: 9/3/00 9:40pm AKDT
Today started out with a bright and early check-out of the Super 8 in Fairbanks, and a taxi ride to the train station. We rode the Princess Midnight Sun Express down to Denali National Park. The train ride between Fairbanks and Denali is about 4 hours. Princess has a hotel just outside the park, which is where we are staying. Our seats on the train were the best. We sat all the way in the back in the upper deck. There were windows everywhere.
On the first floor of the train car, they have an open air viewing platform. Here’s a shot out the back.
The sights along the way were very scenic. Here is a shot of our train making a turn. Since we were in the last car, we got a great shot of the front of the train. Yes, that is the front of our train!
When we arrived at the Denali train station, we were greeted by another moose. Thanks to young Carrie and Chrissy for pointing out that on a previous page I had said “Mr. Moose” when in fact it is “Ms. Moose”. Female moose do not have antlers. Here is another “Ms. Moose”.
Lunch was at The Summit, a restaurant at the Denali Princess Lodge. We ate so much, and a little late, that we skipped dinner. We shared a seafood nacho platter, which was outstanding – and huge. We thought that it would be an appetizer, but it could have been a whole meal for both of us. Denise ordered the salmon bisque, and I ordered a turkey sandwich. My sandwich was good, on really fresh bread, but the bisque tasted a little funny. Here’s the view outside our door.
Late in the afternoon we boarded a shuttle bus into the park. It took two shuttles actually to get to the dog sled demonstration. We got to see and pet the Alaskan Huskies that are used during the winters in Denali by the rangers to patrol the park. 5 dogs were hooked up to a sled and the ranger went for a ride. Rides were not available to the public. 🙁
The weather was nice, slightly chilly, very little rain. Tomorrow we take the Denali Park Shuttle Bus in to the heart of the park for an 8 hour round trip tour. (I should mention that it is a school bus – not very comfortable).