Riverboat Discovery

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The Binkley family has operated riverboat cruises in Fairbanks, Alaska since 1950. They invite you to cruise the Chena and Tanana Rivers with their 3rd & 4th generation Alaskan captains, and to see for yourself why this tour is rated the top attraction in Alaska. If you don't experience the Riverboat Discovery, you haven't really experienced Alaska.

The tour includes a three and half-hour narrated cruise aboard either the sternwheeler Discovery II or Discovery III. You will see the "wedding of the rivers" where the Chena and Tanana Rivers meet, watch Susan Butcher's Iditarod champion sled dogs in action, view a bush pilot demonstration, and see nationally acclaimed Native beadwork.

You'll also visit our Chena Indian Village as Alaskan Native guides take you on a personal walking tour of an Athabascan Indian village. The approximate time at the village is 1 hour. Restrooms are available.)

During the cruise, you'll enjoy our complimentary fresh baked donuts and coffee. You'll also sample Captain Jim's smoked salmon, and have a chance to visit our food galleys and gift shops. Before or after your boat tour, be sure to visit Steamboat Landing, which offers some of the finest gifts--at the best prices--in Alaska.

Gold Dredge No. 8

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Join the Binkley family for another adventures as you explore Alaska's richest gold mining distric. The Gold Dredge No. 8 has a reputation for offering a lively and fascinating tour of Alaska's gold history. Travel professionals describe El Dorado Gold Mine as "the best tow hours you will spend in the state" (Bell's Alaska Travel Guide). And on a national level, NBC Nightly News aired a program that featured El Dorado Gold Mine.

The tour begins as you board a narrow gauge train and travel to a working gold mine where local miners demonstrate modern mining techniques. Along the way, you will see actual demonstrations and experience the gold mining history of Interior Alaska. The tour includes a stop in our permafrost tunnel to learn about historic drift mining in the area.

This tour is a "hand on" experience for the entire family to enjoy. It is informative and interactive, and part of the action includes learning to pan for gold. We even have heated panning water for your comfort.

In our gift shop, you'll enjoy complimentary coffee and fresh baked cookies as your gold is weighed. Then you'll board the train and return to the train station. You'll understand why the Binkley family's success has always been driven by an insistence on high quality and exceeding the expectations of our guest.