Restaurants – Page 5 – Wandering Dawgs

Day 57: Searching for Mt. McKinley

July 14, 2013June 17, 2015Posted in Alaska, Restaurants, RV ParksTagged Man vs Food, Mt. McKinley, Talkeetna, West Rib Cafe and Pub3 Comments

Day 57: Thursday, July 11, 2013 Teklanika Campground to Talkeetna, Alaska. Talkeetna Camper Park Site 34. 182 miles traveled.

The sky was still overcast as we drove the 30 miles from Teklanika to the Denali National Park exit. Our chances for a clear view of Mt. McKinley on our drive south on the Parks Highway were looking pretty slim. Mt. McKinley, at 20,320 feet tall, is the tallest mountain in North America. On a clear day there are overlooks along the highway between Denali National Park and Talkeetna where the mountain can be seen. We were keeping our fingers crossed the sky would clear.

The views were spectacular as we drove along.

There were still clouds in the sky as we exited Denali National Park and crossed Riley Creek

Our view out the front window of the truck as we drove south on the Parks Highway

Spectacular view at one of the overlooks on the Parks Highway

Our first view of Mt. McKinley from a Parks Highway overlook

Then finally, parts of Mt. Mckinley came into view at one of the overlooks.

Stops at a couple of other overlooks were disappointing with clouds completely covering the mountain. Finally, as we drove into Talkeetna, we were rewarded with spectacular views from the Talkeetna overlook.

Finally! A beautiful view of Mt. McKinley from the Talkeetna overlook as we entered the town of Talkeetna

Denali (formerly known as Mt. McKinley), 20,320 feet tall, is the tallest mountain in North America

Happy happy happy! We checked into our campground and watched the Alaska Railroad trains load and unload passengers right behind our campsite.

The Alaska Railroad runs right behind our campsite

Our home in Talkeetna

We enjoyed a great dinner on the outside patio at the West Rib Cafe and Pub which was featured on an episode of The Travel Channel’s Man vs Food. An Alaskan Crabcake sandwich for me and Halibut and Chips for Henry hit the spot.

Day 45: A visit with Santa Claus

July 1, 2013June 19, 2015Posted in Alaska, Restaurants, Tourist AttractionsTagged Diners Drive Ins and Dives, North Pole, reindeer, Santa Claus House2 Comments

Day 45: Saturday, June 29, 2013

My reward for cleaning all the dirt and dust from the camper was to go see Santa Claus and North Pole, Alaska.

Reindeer at the Santa Claus House

Beth at the Santa Claus House

Santa Claus House, North Pole, Alaska

Beth with Santa

Feeding the reindeer

Santa greets you outside the Santa Claus House

Welcome to North Pole

The North Pole

Country Cafe, our second Diners, Drive Ins and Dives stop

Lunch at another restaurant from Diners, Dive Ins and Dives was next. Henry had a Bulgogi sandwich at the Country Cafe. It was like a Korean version of a Philly Cheese Steak.

Day 44: Taking care of business

July 1, 2013June 19, 2015Posted in Alaska, RestaurantsTagged Diners Drive Ins and Dives, Elf's Den, North Pole

Day 44: Friday, June 28, 2013

Today was a much needed shopping and work day for both of us. With a list that filled up an entire page in my notebook, we set out to find a new latch for the screen door, a new door handle for the bathroom door, and groceries. Two RV supply stores and a home improvement store later, we had the latch and door handle. A Walmart in Fairbanks had everything else we needed.

After unloading the truck back at the RV park, Henry took the truck to get the oil changed, a front end alignment, and have the ABS system checked out. It started beeping during our trip across the Top of the Road Highway and has been beeping off and on ever since. I did laundry.

Our reward for all our hard work? A visit to one of the restaurants featured in a Christmas special on Food Network’s Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. I studied the descriptions of all six restaurants Guy Fieri visited and we decided to try the Elf’s Den which is located in North Pole. The menu sounded perfect – pizza, pasta and calzones are their specialty.

Guy Fieri’s poster greets you as you enter the restaurant

Our first stop on our Diners, Drive Ins and Dives tour was a hit – a huge Elf’s Special Calzone.

Elf’s Special Calzone

The parking lot is on the side of the building and we entered through the lounge area. We thought the restaurant must fit into the Dives category when we stepped down into a dark pool room. We were pleasantly surprised to find a very nice dining room with table cloths and the waitresses in black and white uniforms. We discovered the restaurant entrance when we left.

We had decided to split the Elf’s Special Calzone. Before we ordered, Henry asked the waitress what Guy Fieri had tried. That was what he chose so we knew it must be good. And it was delicious. And huge, too. We ate what we could and took the rest home.

Day 13: Sightseeing and Shopping in Wyoming

May 29, 2013August 22, 2016Posted in Restaurants, Tourist Attractions, WyomingTagged Blacktooth Brewing Company, brewery, Buffalo Bill Cody, Sheridan, Sheridan Inn, Wyoming Rib and Chop House6 Comments

Day 13: May 28, 2013. Peter D’s RV Park, Sheridan, Wyoming

We took care of a few housekeeping things before going sightseeing in downtown Sheridan. Henry climbed up on the roof of the RV to check on the hail damage. There was a hole in the living room vent cover which he patched with duct tape. You can fix anything with either duct tape or WD40, right?

Once that chore was completed we hit Main Street in Sheridan for a little shopping. We browsed a few shops with everything from shoes to western wear. One shop displayed spurs, cowboy hats, saddles, and cowboy boots of every color and style.

A stop at Safeway for a few supplies and we were back at the campground. Later in the day we returned to town to do a little sightseeing at the historic Sheridan Inn. The Inn is now closed so we could only explore outside and peek in the windows. Buffalo Bill Cody made the inn his home whenever he was in Sheridan and was part owner from 1894 to 1902. The inn is located across the street from the train station.