As with most everywhere else in Alaska, the dress code is come-as-you-are. You enter the park, then follow the signs to the Salmon Bake. It’s set up as a pioneer town with log cabins and proverbial-themed gift shops. After a quick wait in line, you choose your options and pay the cashier. My partner and I choose the standard dinner with an extra entrée plus up.

There are four food areas to choose from at this point. First, I went to the side item/salad bar, where you load up on soups, bread, potato salad, and the like. The main course area was a gigantic half-circular grill operated feverishly by at least three chiefs: each grilling fresh salmon, thick beef steaks, or large, deep-fried halibut chunks. I had the salmon and halibut. My buddy had the beef. All were fresh, healthily large portions and very delicious.

Seating is festival- or family-style. There are large picnic tables at various spots throughout the dining area. There are indoor options as well, in a heated shelter. We sat next to a couple from Las Vegas who had retired six months previously. They got in their new RV the next day and hadn’t been home since. They had traveled all over the Southwest during the winter and now (springtime) were touring the Northwest, including Canada and Alaska. Next year, they casually discussed doing the East. No schedule, no restrictions, no worries: sounds like a great retirement.

Beer, wine, soda, and other drinks were served out of a separate kiosk. The desert and coffee cabin was a popular place as well. I don’t mind paying the caloric price for a good dessert, but these didn’t look that tempting, so I just had coffee. I always prefer local favorites to tourist traps, but at the Alaska Salmon Bake, you find both.

http://www.akvisit.com/salmon.html