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Weekly UpdatesLocated on Alaska's North Slope, Barrow is the northernmost community in the United States and the northernmost community of more than 2,000 people in the world. With a population of 4,680, as of 2004, Barrow has a vibrant history of whaling, Native Alaskan culture and tourism. Tundra Tours, currently managed by Joe Sage, has been a Barrow institution for more than 50 years. Tundra Tours has teamed up with Seattle-based Alaska Airlines and Fairbanks-based River's Edge Resort for a top-of-the-world adventure.
Steve Frank co-owns River's Edge Resort with his wife, Linda. The son of pre-statehood immigrants, he holds a bachelor's of business administration degree from the University of Alaska, and served in the state house and senate for 12 years. In 1990, after ending that stint in politics, Frank and his wife started a RV park on the Chena River. The RV park became a hotel in 1997.
Why did Frank get into full-scale tourism? While running the RV park, "I was impressed by how guests mingled and socialized with each other. Could we achieve that (vibe) with a hotel?" So Frank started building cabins with a view. "In Fairbanks, we have the midnight sun. Guests can enjoy the view from their patios rather than being cooped up in their rooms.
"The property has an early 1900s look," says Frank. "A gold mining look, with frame houses." Even though the resort building has an Edwardian appearance, the amenities will satisfy 21st-Century travelers. Each of the 80 cabins includes two queen-size beds, a full bath, television with cable, telephone, hair dryer and air-conditioner. The hotel's restaurant serves American and Mediterranean cuisine made with fresh Alaska seafood.
"It's very nice and upscale," says Frank.
ARCTIC BOUND
While the River's Edge property is a destination in itself, many of the guests take advantage of tours to the Arctic. For more than 10 years, River's Edge has worked with Alaska Airlines and Tundra Tours to take guests to places like Barrow. From May to September of each year, between 400 and 500 people take part of this tour of a lifetime. River's Edge takes care of the reservations and marketing, brings guests to the Fairbanks airport, and brings them back to the resort in the evening.
Joe Sage of Tundra Tours in Barrow has been a tour guide on and off for more than six years. With a background in construction, Sage has worked as assistant manager of the Top of the World Hotel and Tundra Tours for more than a year now.
"The tour includes an Inupitat Eskimo blanket toss," says Sage. "Tourists can look at and buy local artwork. Depending on the tour guide, tourists may go to a family member's house or get a chance to the join the Polar Bear Club. "Joining the Polar Bear Club means jumping into the Arctic Ocean. Planes come in daily during the summer season.
About 10 years ago, Tundra Tours got a contract with Alaska Airlines. Travelers with frequent-flyer miles from Alaska Airlines can book a discount vacation package with the airline and hotels like River's Edge to travel to Barrow. There are day and overnight tours to Barrow. For the day tour, travelers come in the morning, do the tour, and leave that evening. Overnight travelers come in the evening, do the tour the next day, and leave the following evening. The overnighters stay at the Top of the World Hotel, which was founded in 1972. The hotel is one and two stories tall, with 43 rooms and some ocean view.
In addition to the tours associated with Alaska Airlines and River's Edge Resort, Tundra Tours hosts private excursions, and bird-watching tours. "You can check out birds that are born and bred here," says Sage, like the red phalarope. Up in Barrow, it's red during the breeding season. You can also see eider ducks of brilliant colors, tundra swans, white-fronted geese, sea gulls of different species, sandpipers and snowy owls. Other animals you might see on occasion include polar bears, walruses and gray whales.
Toni Markham is the product development specialist for Alaska Airlines Vacations. She says that Alaska Airlines Vacations has provided tours to Barrow since the early 1990s.
"Alaska Airlines Vacations included Barrow in our program to highlight the most northern spot in the United States, which is also the largest Eskimo village in the state of Alaska." According to Markham, about 4,000 passengers travel to Barrow via Alaska Airlines Vacations packages from May to September every year. The company is proud of its great relationship with both Tundra Tours and River's Edge Resort.
As another tourist season thrives in this unique community, Joe Sage states the motto of Tundra Tours, and in general, of Barrow, the northernmost part of America: "You don't stop 'til you reach the top.'"
In the future, business travelers in Fairbanks will have a great stay at River's Edge Resort. When it's time to wind down from meetings-hotels, airlines and tourist companies in the state will continue excursions to Barrow, where Native culture and the environment continue to influence day-to-day life.
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