Trying Not to Travel

It's in my blood. Travel, that is. I've never lived in one place longer than 20 years and I yearn to see new places and experience other cultures. But, for now, I have realized that it's time to sit back, work on my pictures and write about all the wondrous places I have been over the summer.

Summer in the desert is unbearable so many become snowbirds and fly north. Me? I just travel to cooler climates. Here's my suggested list of personally experienced getaways for those suffering from the summer heat:

Oregon Coast
Oregon's Columbia River Gorge
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Gallup, New Mexico
Salt Lake City, Utah
Anchorage, Alaska

No wonder I need to stay put! Look where I have journeyed.... and all in one summer!
Read the articles and get ideas for your next getaway.

August Getaway Itinerary - Santa Fe Indian Market

The first half of this Indian Country itinerary took us from Phoenix to Gallup with a side trip to Zuni. This article, the second part of the itinerary, describes Indian Market week in Santa Fe.

Leaving Gallup on a beautiful Sunday, I drove three hours, through Albuquerque, to central Santa Fe. If you are going to truly enjoy Indian Market, make a reservation in downtown Santa Fe or at a hotel that has shuttle service to Indian Market activities. Another idea, if you plan ahead is to rent a home with Vacation Rentals by owner. Fortunately I have friends within walking distance of the historic Plaza and was able to stay with them for the entire week.

Enjoying Santa Fe

Early in the week, we checked out the exhibitions at the various museums. We stopped in to see the Silver Seduction exhibit at the Folk Art Museum. Also on Museum Hill you can enjoy the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art (a surprisingly small, but nice museum), the Wheelright Musuem (best gift shop)  and the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture.

Early in the week, is a good time to sample the wonderful restaurants of Santa Fe. When the crowds arrive, it will be hard to get a reservation or a table.

Gallery Openings
Be sure and pick up one of the many Indian Market guides available free throughout Santa Fe. Look for the gallery openings. The openings are an opportunity to see world-class art, meet artists and enjoy some refreshments. Through my presence on Facebook and Twitter, I was invited to a studio open house at the Upper Canyon Road studio of Michael Roanhorse and Mateo Romero (Cochiti). It was there that I learned about Michael's collaborative efforts with Tony Abeyta. Tony is primarily a painter and is now producing a fascinating line of jewelry. Michael Roanhorse is an jewelry artist and is beginning to offer paintings.

At this small gathering I was able to get to know both artists and chat with some of their collectors. I met a fascinating woman named Linda who shares my love of Native American culture and art as well as my interest in Mexican and Central American folk art.

One thing led to another and we found ourselves attending a fund-raiser for Roanhorse for the Cure at La Fonda's beautiful Terraza and more trips to see artists and their work at Blue Rain Gallery.

At Packard's on the Plaza we ran in to Palm Springs artist, Darryl Edwards and an eager group of customers trying on his creative jewelry line (pictured at right).

Both Thursday night and Friday nights Manitou Gallery offered wine and Mariachi Music on their second story balcony. Thursday there was ample seating and we were able to chat with two Navajo women, one a well-known weaver and the other a jewelry maker.

As the week progressed the gallery openings became more prevalent and we ended up having to make a schedule so we were able to attend the parties that were most interesing to us.

Shopping and Enjoying
As the artists and shop representatives arrived in town, there were some that opened early in the week. We visited Silver Rain Jewelry from Albuquerque. They had set up in the Hilton Hotel. By Thursday, the vendors at El Dorado hotel, across the street had filled all the conference rooms and ballrooms. There was so much to see, that we were glad that they had opened early so that shopping there did not conflict with our time at the Saturday/Sunday Indian Market.

Vendors began to set up on side streets (there were not related to the SWAIA artists) and my friend purchased a strand of vintage green turquoise to use in a necklace. We also noticed that the Navajo Arts and Crafts Enterprise was set up outside the Hilton Hotel.

Indian Market
After a week of museums, gallery openings and shopping, you may already be overwhelmed with the Santa Fe experience. But, the best is yet to come on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday night the streets fill with visitors, workers putting up tents and vendors getting ready for their big weekend. By early morning on Saturday the streets literally bustle with pickup trucks, vendors rolling carts and helpers setting up the artists' booths.

Saturday morning dawns and the early shopper at Indian Market (you can go as early as you want but the first purchases cannot be made until 7am) will find the most highly collectible treasures. Some of the top artists sell out during this early-morning frenzy.

Early morning is a great time for everyone to shop. It is cool, most of the tourists are still having their first coffee, and you'll have a great selection. Tip: If you see something you like, purchase it. It may not be there later in the day!

Seeing Indian Market
It's all a bit overwhelming. If you have favorite artists, use the Indian Market guide to find out where their booths are and write the booth numbers down.

Otherwise, just start walking the Plaza and side streets and enjoy the art and artists. You'll find presentations and music in the Plaza at the bandstand. There are several food courts.

Tip: If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, consider lunch at the Hilton Hotel. The restaurant has a soup and salad bar, with hand-carved meats and chili soups. It usually is not crowded, the dining room is cool and restful, and the food is excellent. We had lunch with author, Paula Baxter, and compared notes on shopping and collectible jewelry.

Indian Market is best seen in two days. Some say that by Sunday afternoon shoppers can find some bargains.

Indian Market Alternatives
Not everyone loves Native American jewelry and pottery as much as we do. But never fear, there is plenty going on to suit other interests. How about a Native American film festival... or skateboarding contest? Those events were going on as well. There is usually music in the Plaza and a full schedule of Santa Fe events that weekend as well.

Comments, Questions and Suggestions Welcomed
We would love to hear about your Gallup, Zuni and Santa Fe experiences and welcome suggestions and questions. Just leave a comment here.
More Information:
Native American Art and Jewelry on Examiner.com
SWAIA Website
Santa Fe Hotels

Shopping with the Courtyard Vendors at the Gallup Ceremonial

One of the enjoyable things to do at Gallup Ceremonial is shopping with the vendors who make authentic hand made items. The Ceremonial screens the vendors and I think this year there were an exceptional number of very high quality items for sale.

I visited with the vendors in the outdoor courtyard at the Convention Center (outside the exhibit hall) and enjoyed seeing some well-known artists from Hopi, Zuni and, of course, the local area.

I visited with Brad Panteah whom I first met at the Heard Indian Market in Phoenix. He does some interesting contemporary overlay silverwork. My friend purchased bear earrings from him years ago. I was concerned about Brad as he often came to shows on oxygen and seemed very tired. However, this year, he looked much healthier and was cheerfully selling sans oxygen. He's a smart businessman who has items at all price points. He makes simple stampwork silver tree ornaments that sell for only $30.

I watched as D. Smallcanyon (I'm sorry I forgot her first name) from Gallup sold a beautiful Squash Blossom necklace that she made. The necklace and earrings went for only $400. The elderly woman whose husband purchased the set was noticeably moved. She was so thrilled to be able to have the necklace that she had tears in her eyes. I purchased a lovely corn or squashblossom pair of silver and turquoise from her for only $20 for the pair. I thought that was very reasonable.


Farther down along the row of vendors I encountered a nice couple with jewelry done in the Hopi style. It was very well done....lovely. Calvin Peterson is from Chandler, Arizona and anticipates opening a jewelry store soon. Meanwhile his simple silver creations were going well. I purchased a nice heavy sterling ring with a turtle symbol for $40, again a reasonable price.

There was a wonderful variety of bead work, silver jewelry, pottery, quilts and so many more creative products I can't list them. If you shop the vendors at Ceremonial, there is a good chance you will come home with a collectible item at a bargain price.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose

August Getaway Itinerary - Gallup Ceremonial, Zuni Festival and Santa Fe Indian Market

I needed a rest and an escape from the heat of Phoenix so I decided to extend my planned trip to Santa Fe Indian Market by starting  over a week early and heading for Gallup, New Mexico.  Gallup's Intertribal Ceremonial takes place a week before the Santa Fe Indian Market. If you take a week and a half, you can enjoy both!

I'm sharing this itinerary because I enjoyed it so much. I plan to do it again next year (and you might enjoy a similar trip.)

Day 1 - Drive from Phoenix via Flagstaff and stop for lunch at La Posada in Winslow. By now, it's 20 degrees cooler and wandering the art-filled halls of La Posada after lunch in the Turquoise Room will certainly get you in an artsy, relaxed mood.

Arrive in Gallup and check in at one of the Gallup hotels. I usually stay at the Hampton Inn because of cleanliness and comfort but have been known to stay at El Rancho because of the history and fun atmosphere.

I arrived early enough that I was able to visit some of my favorite  Native American jewelry haunts to see what was new. I enjoy finding unusual things for my Native American Jewelry and Gift business. I had the option of attending the Gallup Intertribal Ceremonial Thursday night parade but decided to opt for the Saturday parade instead. Besides, I was trying to rest.

Day 2 - Rested up, it was time to spend a full day enjoying the activities of the Gallup Ceremonial. I went out to Red Rock State Park at about 10am. The parking lot was not full at all and the festival grounds were not crowded. In fact, some of the vendors were just setting up. I soon learned that most people come later in the day and stay well in to the night enjoying the dances, presentations and fun.

I took time to learn about the prize-winning art in the Exhibtion hall for a series of articles I was writing. I then visited the vendors in the courtyard and noticed that the quality was really quite good this year. Brad Panteah (Zuni-Navajo) was there with his contemporary Navajo designs and silver Christmas ornaments.

I also enjoyed the dancing and story-telling in the amphiteater and the Gourd dances in the main Pow Wow arena. When you go, be sure and pick up a schedule. There is much happening concurrently.

While writing about the prize winners, I had the pleasure of talking with Head Judge, Joe Tanner, who described the judging process and later, invited me to visit him and his wife at their shop. Tanner Indian Arts, in downtown Gallup. Visiting with this amazing trading couple and seeing their treasure trove of collectible Indian art, was a privelge. I will be writing about it later.

Day 3 - It's parade day! Saturday parades can get quite crowded and people had suggested I go really early for a good place (usually at an  intersection as that is where the dancers stop and perform). However, I opted to drive downtown a bit late and saw folks parking. I pulled in behind another parade-goer and parked. What I found out is that yes, you can go late and park but you need to be prepared to walk 5 or 6 blocks to the parade route. That was fine with me, although I ended up sitting on the sunny side of the streeet. I was in good company and everyone chatted and had a great time. I was at the beginning of the parade route so saw all the units first.

The parade was  a non-stop fashion show of traditional Native clothing. From the dignitaries and politicians in their velvet shirts and conchos to the groups of dancers such as the Olla Maidens, there was so much to see and photograph. The parade consisted of individuals, bands and groups of colorful dancers. The two-hour feast for the eyes was drawn to a close by the Wells Fargo stage coach and team of horses.

I had been invited to Zuni Pueblo to see their Culture and Arts Festival which traditionally takes place on Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4pm. After the crowds and traffic in Gallup, it was a relief to drive out Hwy 53 through the beautiful countryside to the Pueblo of Zuni. ( Map )  Overshadowed by magestic Corn Mesa, the Pueblo is home to the Zuni, one of the most culturally intact communities of the area.

I arrived at the Visitors Center in time to see dancing and listen to Tony Eriacho give a talk on ensuring that your Native American jewelry purchases are authentic. It is so hard to tell the difference between Native American made and foreign copies, that I know the only way to be sure, is to purchase directly from the artist or from a reputable trader or gallery.

After visiting the artisans, talking to some Zuni friends and purchasing an interesting fetish carving, I was headed back to Gallup to enjoy the countryside once again.

My visit to Gallup was drawing to a close and soon I would be off to Santa Fe, a three-hour drive, to enjoy all the festivities associated with Indian Market. Watch for Part II of  this August Getaway Itinerary - Indian Market Week in Santa Fe.

Photography copyright: Elizabeth Rose Photography

Look Who's in Gallup!

I've been traveling New Mexico and writing about my love for the land, the culture and the fun for years now. But imagine how surprised I was to run into a real celebrity at the Gallup Inter-tribal Ceremonial.

I had just finished enjoying the award-winning Native American art, listening to a Native flute player and I headed toward the horno (oven) to see if the bread was done. And there were my friends from northern New Mexico... Jack the travelin' bull dog and not far behind, Ms. Jill! It was so fun to see them. Jack was noticeably afected by the warm weather (after all, he is from a much cooler climate).

Later we saw Jack, in the Exhibition Hall, happily posing for photos near some absolutely splendid Navajo weavings. He really liked the cool floor.

Jack was just a pup when I first met him. But he's doing a great job of promoting tourism in New Mexico. Go Jack!

Follow Jack's exploits on his blog.

Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose

Flying "Air Geoff" - Cross Country with the Piper Lance

Salt Lake City to Jacksonville, Florida in a Piper Lance

I had a marvelous experience with my son recently. He purchased a larger private plane, based in Salt Lake City, and invited me to fly cross-country with him to deliver the plane to his home in Florida.

I was so excited, and a bit apprehensive, since the longest flight I had ever had in a private plane was 1.5 hours! This flight would take approximately 12 hours and would be divided in to two legs with an overnight. Originally the overnight was planned for Texas. I soon found out that pilots plan their trips according to the weather. So, before we left Salt Lake City, our interim destination was changed to Kansas City.

First Meeting with "De Plane"

I arrived in Salt Lake City a couple of days in advance of our big trip. Geoff met me and we headed for Red Robin, a family favorite, and had juicy hamburgers. On the wall, behind Geoff, was a Babar poster showing the storybook elephant flying a plane. How appropriate, I thought. And then I drifted off in thought to the days when I read books to my little boy, many of them about flying.

After checking in to the Embassy Suites, we headed for the airport to meet the new plane's former pilot. Needless to say, we were both very excited.

We went through the gate and eagerly headed for the open hangar. There was the new, much larger, plane that Geoff had purchased over the Internet. It was a blue and grey Piper Lance but somewhat dulled by hangar dust. That was a bit disappointing. Geoff's first plane had been presented to him in tip top condition, complete with polishing kit for the windows. As Geoff went over the plane, I thought about how I could help clean her up for the big flight.

Fortunately a bit of dust has nothing to do with the mechanical condition of a plane so Geoff planned to meet the pilot the text day for test flights and I e-mailed a Salt Lake City friend who I volunteer with at the Adopt a Native Elder Program. She gladly agreed to meet me for a personal Temple Square tour and lunch.

Early in the morning, Geoff was off to spend time in his new plane. I met my friend Sarah, a documentary film maker, and we walked to Temple Square to see the sights. I learned much from her and enjoyed her company during the warm day.

That evening we visited the plane and gave her a bit of a sponge bath... well, Geoff cleaned up the windows, especially the photographer's window (mine). The plane looked much better already!

Planning for the Flight
By now Geoff was noticeably more relaxed. He'd flown the plane, everything checked out and he was complimented by the pilot, an IP for high performance aircraft. Geoff is a great pilot and I have tremendous confidence in him.

We found a place to have pizza and talked about details for the next day's flight. It was going to be an early departure as the morning weather would be better. Our big hurdle, literally, was going to be climbing over the Wasatch Mountains. Geoff chose a great route... follow I-80 through the pass. Geoff intuitively knew that sharing all these details with me would help me with any apprehensive feelings I would have. He was spot on and this helped me immensely.

Geoff checked the weather again and confirmed his route. He selected an airport in Wyoming for a gas stop. Pilots often choose these airports because of low gas prices.

Day 1

It was dawn and we were headed to the airport. I had a bit of trouble quieting my stomach. The plane was tied down at Million Air. What service they provided! A great terminal, help with checking in Geoff's rental car, and they filled the oxygen tank for us. Everything was ready.

As soon as Geoff completed his pre-flight, he showed me how to get in to the plane and buckled me in the comfortable seat. I began to relax. The journey was about to begin. I readied my camera for the glorious mountain photos I expected to take.

Geoff contacted the tower. We thought we'd have to wait until all the "big boys" had taken off, but no... we were second in line. We taxied out to the runway, did the usual engine "run ups," and took off. It was quick. Soon we were gaining altitude and Salt Lake City was getting rather small. The green mountains loomed in the distance. Geoff was busy talking with the tower and I was busy snapping photos.

Over the Mountains

I was pleased with how smooth the flying was. We gained altitude and leveled off just over 11,000 feet.. a great altitude for going through the pass.

The mountain was green and the views reminded me of Hawaii. As we flew, a mountain town came in to sight - Park City. I could see the remnants of the Olympic games construction and, in the distance, two beautiful hot air balloons flying way below us. We quipped about slingshots, and continued on. The green ended and a drier, desert-like look took over the landscape.

Geoff kept me informed about where we were in our flight and which state we were in. It was going fast. Soon we were in Wyoming and desert landscape gave way to agricultural lands.

First Stop - Pine Bluffs, Wyoming

There was no tower at Pine Bluffs but Geoff could get the weather from an automated weather station. We flew over beautiful patch-work fields and over the actual bluffs. Geoff circled and announced to the airspace that he was to land. There was no response. All was clear.

I've heard that take-off and landing are the most dangerous parts of flying. So, of course, I just love take offs and landings. This was our first landing and I was thrilled. Geoff did a great job. We looked for the aviation gas and taxied over. While Geoff gassed up the plane, I learned about the process... affix a ground to the plane, then swipe your credit card, roll out the huge hose and pump gas into both wing tanks. Replace the hose and wince at the credit card receipt.

At the tank was a sign directing us to a metal building for a bathroom break. In front of the building was a retired police cruiser. Geoff pointed out that many small muni airports used police cruisers as courtesy cars. Sure enough, we found the key sitting on the bathroom sink. If we had wanted, we could have driven into town for an ice cream.

After watching the bright yellow crop dusters and military helicopters fly in the area, it was time to take off. Geoff completed his pre-flight and we were off... headed for Kansas City, Missouri.

Kansas City - Here We Come!

When we took off from Pine Bluffs, it was sunny and the winds were quiet. But in the distance we saw some clouds building... harbingers of what was to come.

Geoff, via GPS, worked hard to keep a reasonably direct route, while dodging any major storm activity. I had my first experience with weather in a small plane. Geoff handled everything perfectly, in my opinion.

After several hours Geoff began to communicate with the tower about landing at Wheeler Airport in downtown Kansas City. It was near the hotel... how convenient!

We moved through the patches of rainy weather and we saw the skyscrapers of downtown Kansas City in the distance. And, there, sure enough, was an airport. It was just across a bridge from downtown.

As Geoff banked the plane I got some fantastic pictures of the skyline. And, I experienced another perfect landing. Again, we taxied over to get gas before tying up at Hangar 10. We covered the plane with an eye on an approaching storm. We hoped it would not hail!

Hangar 10 provided a courtesy ride into town and to our hotel. We were both really tired, for different reasons, but agreed we should seek out a Kansas City steak for dinner. I was tired from being overly excited and alert during our flight and Geoff had been communicating with Air Traffic Control and the towers constantly, monitoring weather and acclimating to a new plane.

Fortunately we were in walking distance from the Country Club Plaza. We checked out a couple of restaurants and decided on a grill with excellent filet mignon. Neither of us were relaxed enough to eat a great deal and I soon dubbed our adventure, "Geoff's Airborne Weight-Loss Camp." As we ate, a thunderstorm passed through the area dumping what looked like great amounts of rain but no hail, thank goodness.

Day 2
Hangar 10 didn't open until 7am. I was surprised because I liked Geoff's idea of early flying while the air was calm. And, besides, sunrise is the most glorious part of the day. We ended up taking a taxi to Hangar 10 rather than wait for the shuttle driver.

After the pre-flight, we had an easy taxi on the small field and took off. The weather, we heard was fairly clear in Jacksonville even though there were still clouds in the KC area. I was excited. Today I would end my adventure with visiting my granddaughters and daughter-in-law.

What we thought might be a "partly cloudy" flight turned out to be a "storm trooper" type of flight. Geoff did some amazing flying that day. I was totally impressed. Clouds were building all around us. The area was full of storms. And we were in a, gulp, small plane!

Gas Stop - Savannah, Tennessee

It was getting to be time for a gas stop. Geoff switched during the flight from right tank to left tank to keep the plane balanced. He had planned a stop in Savannah, due to their gas prices. As we dipped beneath the clouds, I enjoyed the green trees, rivers and farmland views. Our destination was a small county airport, Savannah-Hardin County Airport.

It was humid out and there was evidence that a storm had just passed through. Surprisingly, we were greeted by the Airport Manager, who pumped the gas and regaled us with tales of Savannah, Georgia shipments that were mis-routed to her airport. The airport manager was so warm and friendly that we spent a bit more time there than we had planned.

The small terminal was decorated like a homey living room. It was ultra-clean and convenient. I rather liked it there. But, it was time to take off on the last leg of our journey.

Storms and Home

We took off into the clouds and from Savannah to Jacksonville, it was hard work for Geoff. By monitoring the GPS, looking at the Strike-Finder, and talking to Air Traffic Control, Geoff managed to dodge the "thunder bumpers" and get us through safely.

As we flew by immense clouds, I was alternately frightened and entranced. They were beautiful and they were unpredictable. If we saw a hole where we could pass through in the distance, it would be filled with billowy thunderclouds as soon as we got there. It was hours of dodging storms and constant work for Geoff. The plane was fairly stable and any bumps we felt were not all that bad. A good family plane, I thought.

Soon Geoff was talking to the tower at his home airport, Craig Municipal. He was very excited to be going home to his family.

We passed over the area where Geoff works as a pilot for the Navy. I saw a tugboat and thought it might be one of his but no, it was a commercial tug. By now we were under the clouds and I saw familiar territory. I was getting excited about seeing my family.

The plane, I believe, was also happy about being in her new home. She eagerly landed on a wet runway and taxied right over to her new house, a small hangar.

It was nice to be on land again after all the storm activity. But would she fit in the hangar. Geoff said yes, but I was unsure. We pushed the plane back into the hangar and she fit! Maybe with only inches to spare, but she did fit in the hangar.

Kristi Abby, and baby Mary arrived.... all excited to see their new plane and Daddy. Abby jumped in the cushy back seats and sat like a princess in her carriage. She then eagerly jumped into the right seat (she usually rides next to Dad) and tried out the controls. I have a suspicion that she will be a young pilot!

It's Over

The cross-country flight was over. We were all safely home in Jacksonville, Florida. That evening we went out to dinner and we all felt like eating. There would be no more flying for awhile. We would just be reminiscing about the adventure we had just experienced.

I will remember this trip for the rest of my life. It was an opportunity to spend time with my son and to learn more about him and his love of aviation. The trip also was an experience based on trust. I would have never taken this flight with anyone else except my son.

Further Reading:
The Pilot's Version of the Trip (and More Photos)
Geoff's Blog - Family Flying
Photo Album on Facebook

Things NOT to See and Do in Anchorage, Alaska - Sourdough Mining Company

I was only in Alaska for a short week, and saw many wonderful things. Only one stood out as a definite “do not do.”

All You Can Eat Usually Spells Culinary Disaster
Our group package included a dinner (all you can eat) and show at The Sourdough Mining Company.

The restaurant’s free transportation, a converted school bus, transported us from our accommodations to the “gold mine” site, not all that far from the airport. There was a log building, rather quaint, on one side and the Alaska Wild Berry Store on the other. As we entered the restaurant, we weren’t quite sure what was in store for us. Soon we found out.

We were escorted to our rustic wood table and immediately (forget the drink orders) we were presented with round fried balls of something. Eventually we found that these were the famous corn fritters complete with honey butter. After the fritters came French fried potato slices and a few bowls of creamy cole slaw.

As the waiter came around taking drink orders, we noticed the lack of wine list or drink menu and prices. As the waiter had a strong need for efficiency, we ordered our chosen beverages and immediately returned to passing huge plates of steaming foods… ribs, salmon and chicken. All meats seemed to be baked or steamed vs. bar-b-qued. One of our group inquired about sourdough bread (namesake of the restaurant) and was told they didn’t serve sourdough bread.

We sipped, chomped and passed the plates, some of which never emptied. Our waiter announced that we could move on across the street to the Alaska Wild Berry Store where we could shop until the show started in “tent city.” We hadn’t yet finished our wine and beer, so we felt a bit pushed and opted for a brief “sit down strike” in order to finish our meal and drinks.

Complimentary Sundae-bar - Fitting End to a Quick Meal
Diners lined up for the “sundae-bar.” Since across the street was a wild berry store I had been secretly hoping the restaurant would serve a berry pie or cobbler. No such luck. I swigged down my wine and joined my group in line for the ice cream. I had heard there would be ice cream and a wide range of toppings. Actually there was a soft-serve ice cream machine (self serve) with a variety of toppings to choose from. The ice cream was heavy on the ice and weak on the cream. I did get my chocolate fix.

Sticker Shock (and I don't Mean Berry Stickers)
The waiter promptly brought us our drink bills. OMG! Each drink was double what we usually paid for a beer or house wine PLUS they added $1.50 service charge AND 18% gratuity. The waiter, pleasant enough, was tops at efficiency and motioned us to pay at the cashier’s stand. Again, we lined up like sheep and vowed to price our purchases in the future before ordering.

As directed, we crossed the street to the Alaska Wild Berry Company. After all, we had an hour and a half to wait for the show and it was chilly outside. Inside the immense store we enjoyed the centerpiece, a 20 ft. high chocolate fountain (no dipping or swimming allowed) and took the obligatory photos.

We perused the store and found it to be a tourist trap with stuffed animals, junk jewelry and t-shirts galore. In one corner there was a chocolate shop handing out samples. I tried the chocolate with raspberry filling. It was forgettable.

Escape!
We spent as much time as we could stand in the store and realized we had more than an hour left before the show. We saw some of our group outside waiting for a cab (smart women that they were) and we recalled the bus driver saying they could shuttle us back at any time. After discussing that, the taxi-riders opted to wait for the free shuttle and cancelled their cab.

We requested a shuttle and the van was suggested. The crowd in front of the restaurant grew as word was passed along that we could leave early and avoid the sure to be uber-folksy show in the sure to be cold and damp tent. We were told that the school bus was being readied to take us back. We waited longer and the crowd grew. After some time, the free bus arrived and our group filled most of the 40 seats. The door was closed as people not in our group tried to board.

As we were driven back to our accommodations, we had a feeling of relief. We had escaped the hustle-bustle atmosphere of this tourist trap. We had avoided a show which, given the quality of the food and service at the restaurant, was sure to end our day on a down-note detracting from our otherwise marvelous stay in Alaska.


Bottom Line: If they say Sourdough Mining Company…. Don’t sign up!

Photo Credit: Elizabeth R. Rose