Creamers and Tanana Farmers Market

Creamers Dairy was a local dairy that sold the usual goods to the folks of Fairbanks, milk, orange drink and of course ice cream.  Seems a lot of folks eat ice cream in Fairbanks.  They need the calories for the winters.  On every street corner is a Sunrise Coffee Kiosk with a soft serve cone on top.  I even saw a Hawaiian Shave Ice cart in town.  Anyway, I digress...

Creamers Dairy was a family operation until Pan Am started flights into Fairbanks and brought with it outside goods.  The dairy closed and for several years just sat.  The dairy grew barley in addition to the dairy operations.  These fields attracted many different types of birds on the migratory path.  At certain times of the year, it is said that thousands of cranes make a stop here.  Not this time of year of course....

The people of Faribanks put their money together and purchased the dairy to allow the migratory birds to have a place to stop over.  The commercial area of town has reached the farm/dairy, so you can imagine without this spot, the birds would have to keep on going.

They have a one mile trail into the Boreal Forest.  The birch trees are not yet budding out, but there are hopeful signs....

The pups enjoyed the mile long walk, but are really tired this afternoon.  I guess it is probably twice or three times as long to them.

Some shots of the trail.. They did a really nice raised wooden platform in spots and dirt trail in others.  A very nice trail.  Lots of little songbirds, robins and sparrows where looking for food on the ground.

 

We visited the Tanana Valley Farmers market on Wednesday.  Since most everything is closed this year until Memorial Day, I didn't expect it to be open, but it opened last Saturday.  There were no vegetables or fruits, but there was a honey booth, pottery, goat soaps, fabric crafts and wood carvers.  The market was started in the 1970s and everything has to be grown or made in Alaska.  I purchased a sweatshirt for the upcoming Homer nights.   They had a Thai booth, crepes, reindeer sausage and a taco booth.  We enjoyed the fresh air and just being out and about around nice people.

After the Farmers Market, we ventured into downtown and had lunch at Big Daddies BBQ.  This placed was awesome!  It was on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on the Food Network.  

The portions were huge and we have lunch/dinner for tomorrow while we are on the road.  

Yum, Yum, Yum.

We had to visit Santa's House in North Pole, Alaska.  I was positive they would have a miniature ornament for my miniature tree since they have so many RVer's come through.  They didn't so they are missing a little piece of the market.  We improvised and got little 1 inch license plates from the North Pole with our names on it.  That will work!  We saw Santa's Reindeer.  They are resting and eating up for their December flights.  

Tomorrow (Friday), we are heading to Healy, Alaska in search of the elusive full hookup.  Hopefully, water will be available and the dumps will be unfrozen.  Sunday is the Indy 500, so I must find a place with cable so I can watch the race.  My needs are pretty simple...Water, a place to dump it, and one channel on the cable.....