My favorite Alaska meals always begin with a starter of salmon cakes; pan-seared and served with a citrus mustard sauce.  Follow this with a lighter course, like the grilled Caesar salad or the seafood salad blended with crab and shrimp. If you’re a glutton for seafood, the Wild Alaskan Salmon Chowder is a house favorite with chunks of salmon smoked over hardwood in traditional Northwest style. For the main course, the reindeer lasagna is a salivating twist on the traditional dish, packed with Alaska reindeer sausage, ricotta and mozzarella cheese. For the perfect endnote to a melody of wild seafood and fresh game, try the berry desserts such as locally made blueberry ice cream or the wild berry pie in a flaky crust. While the name and décor put you in the mindset of summiting Alaska’s Great One, after a meal of this caliber you’ll be glad you’re only steps away from your bed.

Friday

2 p.m.                        Northern delight

There are few places I make a point to stop in every time I visit a particular location. The Museum of the North is one of them. If offers a dramatic dose of Alaska’s history, with 1.4 million artifacts and specimens including art, the state’s largest display of gold, an ever-changing sound and light installation and the most distinctive attraction: Blue Babe, a 36,000-year-old mummified steppe bison. If you haven’t visited in awhile, you will notice the dramatic architecture of the building immediately, evoking images of alpine ridges, glaciers and a diving whale tail. You can arrange your visit to the museum through the tour desk at the lodge.

5 p.m.                        Christmas all year round

It’s not exactly beginning to look a lot like Christmas with almost 24 hours of daylight in Fairbanks, unless you make a visit to North Pole where it feels a bit like the holiday season all year round. Book an evening in Santa’s hometown and check out the Interior’s largest gift shop, the Santa Claus House. You can snap pictures with members of the reindeer team and share the holiday spirit by sending home a few letters from Santa. The 3.5-hour adventure includes a city tour of North Pole highlighting the history of the themed city and dinner at North Pole’s most popular restaurant, the Pagoda.

Saturday

7 a.m.                         Up with the sun

Start your day with an early breakfast so that you may enjoy as much of the extended daylight hours as you can fit in. Overlooking the river, The Edgewater restaurant has a lot of enticing choices with menu items like Raspberry Stuffed French Toast, Alaskan Smoked Salmon Benedict and the Chena Medley with reindeer sausage, bacon, mushrooms and cheese.

10 a.m.                        Follow the travelers

Even if you consider yourself a seasoned pro at experiencing the highlights and off-the-beaten-path of your home state, every once in awhile you simply must go by way of the tourist. After all, thousands of travelers a year can’t be wrong. The Riverboat Discovery Cruise is often thought of as a treat for out-of-towners, but if you haven’t experienced the authentic sternwheeler for yourself, there’s more than one reason not to wait for the in-laws to come to town. The fully narrated cruise along the Chena and Tanana rivers highlight all the reasons you love the 49^th state — from a bush pilot demo to a working fish wheel. You’ll cruise by a mushing show by Susan Butcher’s famous Iditarod sled dog team and even travel to shore to an authentic Athabascan village to experience Native lifestyles and art.

6 p.m.                        Salmon Bake

Take a break from the restaurant scene with one of Fairbanks’ most treasured culinary experiences: the Alaska Salmon Bake. You can enjoy the extended daylight outside at historic Pioneer Park while filling up on all-you-can-eat halibut, prime rib, fire-cooked king salmon and Bering Sea cod and a selection of sides. Like everything in Alaska, this meal is big. Afterwards, walk it off with a stroll over to the Palace Theatre for some entertaining renditions of Fairbanks’ history.

Sunday

11 a.m.            If you teach a man to cook a fish

If you’re like me, you have the bounty of the Great Land coming out your ears — halibut from a friend, a freezer of blueberries from a hike last fall and some bison steaks received as payment for dog sitting. With unlimited access to mouthwatering cuisine, it’s a shame not to learn how to cook it. While you’re up in Fairbanks, spend an evening at Chez World Cooking School for some hands-on instruction on preparing all that fabulous food that’s right at your fingertips. If taking home some great recipes wasn’t reason enough, they don’t call it the Taste of Fairbanks tour for nothing, so be sure and arrive with an appetite.

2 p.m.                        To the land of extremes

From latitude to Fahrenheit, Fairbanks is known for its extremes. You can experience a few of them all in one place with a trip to Chena Hot Springs and Ice Museum. The expedition begins with a 60-mile drive out to the resort, once there you will begin to learn about the history of the 103-year-old property. After a dinner buffet of prime rib, halibut or salmon, you’ll tour the ice museum for your first extreme: a 20-degree year-round ice environment made from over 1,000 tons of ice and snow. Then move to the opposite end of the spectrum by taking a dip in the natural hot springs outdoor rock lake. If renewable energy piques your interest be sure and work in a geothermal energy tour to learn more about the energy savings projects at the power plant, Chena greenhouses and ice museum absorption chiller.

The basics

Set on the banks of the Chena River, the 325-room Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge is located just minutes from the Fairbanks International Airport and convenient to downtown and popular attractions of the area. The lodge combines a riverside setting with modern amenities such as conference and banquet rooms, wireless Internet, fitness center and more.

“Weekend at Base Camp” is a blog series that shares how you can plan a weekend escape full of adventures to enjoy our Alaska-sized backyard.

Friday in Denali

5 p.m.   Baby it’s cold inside

Alaskans are pretty adept at surviving in below zero temperatures. But if you haven’t felt 40 degrees below zero — or even if you have — it’s fun to step into Denali’s own Alaska’s Arctic Blast. They provide the parka and guide you into the chilled chamber where you can play around with some favorite pastimes like throwing hot water and blowing soap bubbles into the frigid air. It’s especially a treat for visiting out-of-town relatives since it only reinforces your Alaska tales of walking to school through waist-deep snowdrifts, uphill both ways.

7 p.m.   Taste of Alaska

If you’re craving a taste of Alaska, try the Base Camp Bistro. They’re serving up some of your homegrown favorites like Bubbling Hot Alaskan Crab Dip, Seafood Mac and Cheese or Alaska-style nachos loaded with king crab and bay shrimp. The restaurant stays open until midnight for late-night dining or you can mosey over to the bar for a nightcap.

Saturday

7 a.m.   Tee time

You’ve heard of the old adage about the gopher stealing the golf ball. In Alaska, go ahead and make it a grizzly bear. And when you say that the golf course was in Denali, they might even believe you. Even if you can’t really blame bears for your golf handicap, you will be confronted with the unique challenges of putting around moose prints, the distraction of stunning scenery and an infamous red fox that steals balls of green number two (at least that’s the story around here). Denali Princess can book your Tundra Mountain Golfing excursion on the rugged nine-hole course located just minutes from the lodge.

1 p.m. Dogging around

Jeff King is a legend to the Iditarod world — recognized as the “winningest musher in the world” and a kind and familiar face to many. His victories include four Iditarod championships while logging more than 100,000 miles by dog sled. At least to Alaskans and dog mushing fanatics, it feels like meeting a celebrity to visit Goose Lake Kennels and home to the mushing maven himself. The Husky Homestead Tour teaches visitors about the history of the sport and breed of dog used in mushing as well as the necessary equipment and training needed to reach the finish line. If you’re not already convinced to take up the sport of dog mushing, by time you snuggle some pups and see the mushing demo, you might be calculating harness sizes for Fido back home.

6 p.m. A local bite

To dine with fellow Alaskans, you’ll likely find them at Lynx Creek Pizza, a place famous for specialty pizzas, salads, sandwiches, beer and ice cream. If you want to chitchat over a pie — like the Forest Mushroom with pesto sauce topped with four cheeses, mushrooms, artichoke hearts and onions — enjoy dinner at the log-cabin-style restaurant or you can have it delivered to your room.

Sunday

7 a.m.   Early start

With a number of dining options at Denali Princess, you can practically eat every meal on site without a bite at same place twice. But since the lodge is so close to the park entrance, the location is perfect to get your food to go. The River Run Espresso serves coffee, muffins and pastries or visit Rapids for some sandwiches to take with you on a walk along the River Walk or while perusing the promenade shopping cabins. If you feel like starting off with a big bite, the Denali Sourdough Expedition Breakfast starts seating at 5 a.m. in the Music of Denali Dinner Theater. If the name isn’t description enough, this all-you-can-eat breakfast served buffet style features Alaska sourdough pancakes, eggs, bacon, reindeer sausage, biscuits with Alaska fireweed honey and more. Consider the buffet your first expedition of the day.

8 a.m. Fly me to the view

Few people are skilled enough to reach the great heights of Mount McKinley, but that doesn’t mean that the rest of us can’t experience it. With the Denali Heli-Hiking Adventure you can skip the first pesky dozen or so miles by taking a helicopter to the most remote areas inside Denali National Park and Preserve. In just 15 minutes, you are above the tree line overlooking the Yanert and Moody River valleys. The 3.5-hour soft-adventure hike is led by a guide who provides information on some of the wildlife and habitat of the area.

2 p.m.   Ore power

If you’ve experienced Denali’s views from above, you might enjoy the different perspective by navigating through the Nenana River Gorge. With numerous active glaciers pouring from the mountains of Denali, the terrain is perfect for rafting. The 11-mile Nenana Gorge Whitewater trip travels through a dozen or so major Class III and Class IV rapids. You can choose to paddle or just hang on and enjoy the view, making for a thrilling ride if you’re a seasoned whitewater veteran or a first-time rafter.

The Basics

The Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge is located on the banks of the Nenana River, offering easy access to the 6-million-acre playground of Denali National Park and Preserve. Aside from North America’s highest peak, the park is home to an array of wildlife — from moose, caribou, Dall sheep and brown bears to gray wolves and red foxes. Recent renovations to the lodge increased the room total to 656, making it the largest hotel in the state of Alaska. Reach the lodge via the George Parks Highway from Anchorage or Fairbanks, or on the Alaska Railroad, offering daily services in the summer.

The Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge will be open this summer from May 19 – Sept. 15.

“Weekend at Base Camp” is a blog series that shares how you can plan a weekend escape full of adventures to enjoy our Alaska-sized backyard.

Friday

5 p.m.  Not far from home

Before you arrive at the lodge, make a pit stop in Talkeetna, a place that resembles the quintessential Alaska and always feels like coming home. It’s a popular stop for visitors, but the town hasn’t seemed to notice. Aside from a few gift shops — which are a treat even if you generally avoid Alaska’s gift shops — and various tourism businesses housed in quaint log cabins, you won’t find Talkeetna to be what you might call a “tourist trap.” You’re sure to see a mountaineer or two — clearly identifiable by their specialized packs and wary expressions — walking the dirt streets or bunkered down awaiting departure over steaming cups of joe.

6 p.m.  So much to choose from

Once you check in at the McKinley Princess Lodge be sure to stop by the Tour Desk to plan out your weekend adventures. The helpful staff can answer questions about all of the activities and book the perfect mix of excursions to make your stay a true escape.

7 p.m.  Food for thought

The name 20,320 sounds odd for a restaurant unless you know your Denali trivia. If the mountain-climbing decor doesn’t give it away, the 20,320 Alaskan Grill is named for the height of Mount McKinley. The newest in dining options at the lodge, 20,320 offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and stays open late. Impress the out-of-towners by pronouncing the name “twenty-three-twenty.” The menu cover reminds you that you’re just 40 miles from North America’s highest peak and inside, offers up some of your hometown favorites such as salmon cakes, fish and chips and one standout in particular, reindeer lasagna. (It’s nice to have someone else catch, clean and cook the fish for a change.) If the restaurant name has piqued your interest, peruse the menu pages for more Alaska fun facts. Did you know that the Alaska Law prohibits pushing a live moose out of a moving plane?

10 p.m.  Walk it off

An evening on the Botanical Walking Trail is the perfect way to rejuvenate the senses and work off a few salmon-cake calories. Located near the lodge, the half-mile trail follows fairly even terrain and some interpretive placards identifying some 25 different plants. Or for a more strenuous hike, the Hill Trail takes off right from the front door of the lodge and offers many scenic overlooks and views of the Alaska Range. Moose are a common sight along the 1.2-mile trail as are bald eagles and over one hundred different birds.

Saturday

7 a.m.  Art shows and tasty doughs

Take the McKinley Princess shuttle into Talkeena for a breakfast experience you won’t soon forget.  The Talkeetna Road House was made famous for its gigantic cinnamon rolls, hand-rolled bagels and other specialty breads and sourdough hotcakes bigger than the plate they’re served on. In the intimate setting of the roadhouse, you might even have the pleasure of sitting down next to a climber who’s just back from the 20,320-foot level — talk about working up an appetite. The local artist scene thrives in Talkeetna and is celebrated on the second Saturday of every month. Check out this month’s featured artist’s work at the Sheldon Community Arts Hangar, but you’ll have to return between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. for the art opening reception and live music at the Roadhouse.

10 a.m.  Lift off

There is no way around it; if you haven’t been on a flightseeing tour of Denali, go. The Discovery Tour is just over an hour, flying by the south face of Mount McKinley and descending into the immense Sheldon Amphitheater. Or tack on a glacier landing for a slightly longer tour and stand at 5,600 feet atop Ruth Glacier with views of the amphitheater’s granite walls and Mount McKinley. The most dramatic is the Summit Flight, climbing to 20,000 feet, where only a few of the most successful climbers have come.

Noon   Dog, eat, dog world

Talkeetna is a haven for dogs. It’s not only the home of Sun Dog Kennels offering mushing demonstrations and possibly even some puppy-holding, but pets roam freely in the streets in packs countable from three to eight at any given time. And why wouldn’t they? With an abundance of tasty eateries, there’s never a shortage of pizza crust-laden or scrap-discarding patrons coming and going. Grab a slice at Mountain High Pizza Pie affectionately known as the “purple pizzeria” for obvious reasons (the building is purple) and if you’re there on a summer evening, you might get to catch a live music show from the outdoor beer garden. Don’t forget to take your crusts to go.

2 p.m.  Not your average boat ride

From air to land, it seems only natural to include a water-based adventure. The Wilderness Jet Boat Adventure whisks you 20 miles along wildlife-inhabited shorelines to a short trail leading to an authentic trapper’s cabin where Alaskans before you lived just over 100 years ago, and the tour ends right back at the lodge. Or if you prefer to be a bit more airborne, board a fully enclosed airboat that jets through narrow channels of just inches of water (and in some cases, none at all) on the Susitna River Airboat Adventure. Float trips in Talkeena, such as the Talkeetna River Float Trip or closer to the lodge, for instance the Chulitna River Rafting offer a relaxing seat to view wildlife and the Alaska Range, including Mount McKinley.

7 p.m.  Alaska-style relaxin’

Even the sky looks bigger here, while relaxing with a nightcap on the outdoor deck or hot tubs or at the Grizzly Bar, where fish tales are as free flowing as the fish and chips. Exchanging a story or two with travelers or locals will not leave you disappointed and will likely leave you planning your next trip. Indulge in an Alaska-style cocktail like a Chocolate Moose Martini, a Mosquito Mojito or the Grizzly Nudge Kahlua coffee drink.

Sunday

9 a.m.  Keep it light

Grab a quick bite at the McKinley Cub Café, a quick, casual dining experience with a morning breakfast buffet or a variety of light salads and sandwiches. Or relax with a book and coffee in the Great Room with its massive stone fireplace, sitting areas, tables for games and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on Mount McKinley. With wireless Internet available in common areas, feel free to send a few emails (if you must), but try and keep them non-work related if at all possible.

10 a.m.  End on a high note

For a real treat, (other than the libations mentioned above) “Denali: Song of the Land” is a 35-minue slideshow of Alaska imagery set to classical music located in the lodge’s Mount Foraker Room. The show features views of Denali, natural scenery, wildlife and even glimpses of the northern lights. For your shopping enjoyment, indulge in Alaska art and fine jewelry, ulu knives and other mementos at the McKinley Gift Shop. And before you head out of town be sure to start stocking your freezer with king, silver or red salmon or trout with an afternoon fishing trip on the Talkeetna River.

The Basics

The Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge is a convenient two-hour drive from Anchorage or 4.5 hours from Fairbanks. Princess Rail Tours combine one or more nights at the lodge with a ride in domed rail cars from either Anchorage or Fairbanks. Each of the 460 guest rooms contains two double beds, nine-foot ceilings, sitting area and more. Residents can take advantage of shoulder-seasons to avoid the crowds and reap some great discounts, make sure to check out current specials.

The Mount McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge will be open this summer from May 19 – Sept. 15.

Any blog readers attending the Wine Dinner –we’d love to post a couple photos from the evening. Leave a comment letting us know you have some photos you’d like to share and we’ll arrange to get the file from you.

Click here to take a look at the menu and package options.

We are all looking forward to a fun and indulgent New Year’s Eve in Fairbanks!