We’ve spent the longest time in Alaska than we have in any other state this trip, but for very good reason. It makes up about 20% of the United State’s land mass. This state is HUGE! Considering that we made it up here we decided to spend some time touring the entirety of Alaska’s interior, in addition to hitting our goal of driving the Dalton Highway to Deadhorse, Alaska. Our road trip route took us from Tok, AK to Fairbanks before hitting the Dalton Highway to the North.
Our Route from Tok Alaska to Fairbanks Alaska
We started our official first day in Alaska’s interior with a hearty breakfast in Tok’s Mosseberry Inn. It’s the first B&B we’ve ever stayed at and it was a neat experience. We made some more travel friends over breakfast, and had a good time chatting with the hosts and guest alike. After warming up the car we took began our Alaskan Tour!
Hitting the Alaskan Highway on the way to Fairbanks
While driving to Fairbanks, we had the opportunity to drive through a couple neat towns. The first stop was a little place called Delta Junction which is the official end of the Alaska highway!
The End of the Alaska Highway in Delta Junction
The next neat stop right outside of Fairbanks is a hokey little town that celebrates Christmas year around: North Pole, Alaska!
Santa Welcomes you to the North Pole
Toy Soldier at Santa Claus House
When we got to Fairbanks we were having a hard time finding pet-friendly lodging, but then we got a recommendation for Pikes Waterfront Lodge. I must say the place was amazing! It’s more of a resort than a lodge plus the staff was incredibly nice and the rooms were excellent.
With Fairbanks being a highly seasonal location (most things operate mid-May to mid- September) there weren’t a ton of tourist activities available. We were ok with that, knowing we were traveling off season, so we decided to explore the town on our first night there. While driving around town the first night we found a great Hawaiian restaurant in downtown Fairbanks called Aloha BBQ Grill. I had the classic Moco Loco and Lauren had her very first Lau Lau. They were both delicious! We’re no Hawaiian food experts considering the first time we had Hawaiian food was in Tacoma on our last trip , but we would highly recommend this place!
Moco Loco at Aloha BBQ Grill
Lau Lau at Aloha BBQ Grill
We spent the next two days in Fairbanks enjoying the resort and making arrangements for driving the Dalton Highway to Deadhorse. Pikes was great place to relax for a few days and call home base. It was full of great kitchkey artwork and knick-knacks and made for a fun environment to unwind.
I need one of these
If you find yourself in Fairbanks on a Sunday you need to add the Pikes Landing Sunday Brunch to your “must do” list. The food was high quality and it was a solid value considering the price included unlimited champagne and mimosas.
Buffet line at Pikes Brunch
The best part however was the dessert spread at the end.
Desert Spread at Pikes Brunch
While preparing to drive the Dalton we ran into a huge snag and struggled for a day or two in finding a solution. We had assumed that we would be able to find pet friendly lodging on our way to Deadhorse and back, considering Alaska’s dog history. Unfortunately this is not the case. The roadway and services are so focused on oil workers that no one allows pets! After making many phone calls and emails we FINALLY found an option we didn’t like but had to take. We boarded the dogs with an in-home sitting service called White Eyes and Bushy Tails. We absolutely hate having to board our pets but we made the decision that was right for their comfort and safety. Sonja, the owner, did a great job with making us comfortable and keeping our poochies happy
White Eyes and Bushy Tails Pet boarding
After dropping off our kiddies we began the final leg of our epic journey and took a drive along Alaska’s Dalton highway.
Dalton Highway Beckons…
We’ll tell you all about that in our next update: Great Drives: Alaska’s Dalton Highway!
Enjoy our Gallery and please feel free to comment below.
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- Our Route from Tok Alaska to Fairbanks Alaska
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- Hitting the Alaskan Highway on the way to Fairbanks
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- The End of the Alaska Highway in Delta Junction
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- Pig used on the Alaskan Pipeline
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- Cross Section of the Alaskan Pipeline
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- Lau Lau at Aloha BBQ Grill
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- Moco Loco at Aloha BBQ Grill
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- Desert Spread at Pikes Brunch
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- Buffet line at Pikes Brunch
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- I need one of these :-)
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- Stuffed Polar Bear
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- White Eyes and Bushy Tails Pet boarding
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- Dalton Highway Beckons…
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- Toy Soldier at Santa Claus House