(Plans) Glennallen AK

We will be staying 3 nights in Glennallen Alaska. It will be high time for a rest break by now! We won't have finished the entire length of the Alaskan Highway...but we will finish the last few 10s of miles when we leave Alaska from Fairbanks headed back to the lower 48 sometime in mid-July.

We will be staying at a campground with (supposed) stream-side RV sites, plus a short walk to its very own bubbling mudpot spring. (Maybe a small substitute for Yellowstone National Park which was still snowed in when we left Wyoming on May 1st!!)

(Plans) May 24th -- In Alaska for the Summer--FINALLY!!

We plan to enter Alaska sometime on May 24th to stay through much of the summer. After almost a month of travel, we will finally reach this state. (Can it REALLY be part of the USA when it is SO far separated from the rest of the states??!!

(Plans) Whitehorse Yukon Territories

We don't know for sure how much energy we will have for sightseeing by the time we have gotten this far (historical milepost 918 on the Alaskan Highway). We know we plan some rest and relaxation time for the 4 nights and 3 full days we will be here.

Some of the sightseeing possibilities include:

Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre (about the animals and people who crossed the bering land bridge and lived in this area): www.beringia.com

SS Klondike (Canadian) National Historic Site (tour of a sternwheeler boat which helped supply the Klondike gold camps): http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/yt/ssklondike/index_e.asp

If we still have energy after the above, we may check out the Yukon Transportation Museum (cars, planes, and a whole lot more) www.yukontransportationmuseum.ca

We will let you know what we decide to do...and what we think of the places we visit!

(Plans) The Days of '98 Show -- Skagway AK

We are hoping to catch this musical revue show about Soapy Smith on May 18th. We learned a little bit about this con-man from studying Colorado Mining History. Eventually, Soapy made his way up to the gold camps of Alaska.

For more information about the show: http://thedaysof98show.eskagway.com/index.htm

For more information about con-man Soapy Smith: http://www.soapysmith.net/page35.html

(Plans) Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park -- Skagway AK

This will be our first stop in Alaska. Skagway doesn't actually connect directly to other parts of Alaska by any route other than by ferry, so this will be a short 3 night/2 day visit (May 17th through May 20th) back to the USA surrounded by time in Canada both before and after this.

Skagway was the entry point for the Klondike Gold Rush miners to head further north to the gold fields in search of riches. This Visitor's Center tells the story of hopes and heartbreaks for these miners. I wish we could attempt to hike at least part of the Chilkoot Trail...but we are definitely NOT prepared for that much difficulty! (Yes, we would have FAILED as Klondike Gold Rush miners!)

Anna will get another Junior Ranger badge here to add to her collection.

For more information: http://www.nps.gov/klgo/index_old.htm

(Plans) Northern Lights Centre -- Watson Lake YT

We will spend a day in Watson Lake, Yukon Territories, on May 15th. This center has a reportedly awesome planetarium show about the Aurora Borealis. Since we will not be in Alaska during the winter and will miss seeing the Northern Lights in person, this might just be the next best thing. We will let you know!

For more information: www.northernlightscentre.ca

Casa Grande National Monument

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Most INTERESTING: Being able to walk into the rooms. The houses were on the open ground, not in a canyon like at Walnut Canyon. Also, these houses were MUCH bigger. The walls were taller than me. There weren't any roofs. There was also a huge building in the middle.

Most BORING: Not being able to go into the big castle. Now there's big bars to keep people out.



For FAMILIES: This is another place to get your Junior Ranger Badge. Here is a picture of me being "sworn in" as a Junior Ranger. This was my seventh badge!