My Japanese friend and I visited with Mary at Tails of the Trail. There were people from all over the USA and the world in our small group. Mary's warmth, her beautiful garden, the homey atmosphere in her wonderful log home, the chance to interact with her dogs and to listen to her stories about life in Alaska--everything combined to... More

Whenever I have family and friends visit me, my first excursion is always to Mary Shields. By touring her kennels and getting your "dog fix" then sitting around her kitchen table hearing about her many adventures in Alaska is really a memorable experience. Mary really exemplifies the heart and soul of interior Alaska and we are proud to share her... More

What a pleasant surprise! This is not your typical tourist attraction. Part of the fun is getting there as you drive out of the city of Fairbanks to a log cabin nestled among birch and spruce trees in a very calm and beautiful setting. Mary not only introduces you to the world of 'mushing', but to all of her very... More

Mary Shields is a very warm and friendly person who has lead a very interesting life. She welcomes you into her home. Hearing about her life living in the wilds of Alaska and mushing all her life was fascinating. The visit to her kennel and 8 dogs was so much fun. She treats her dogs like members of her family.... More

Traveling from my home in Hawaii, I spent a fantastic week touring the Inside Passage, foliowed by an equally incredible stay at Camp Denali before heading north to Fairbanks with one thing in mind: to see the Northern Lights! But what does one do during the day in Fairbanks while waiting for the night? Not knowing, I checked TripAdvisor and... More

We had an awesome experience. We enjoyed the ski out and back, the treats left on the trail and Mary's great company and warm hospitality when we arrived. More

Mary is an amazing woman and provides an excellent Alaskan experience. Her stories about dog mushing, the Iditarod, etc. are great and she is a joy to just talk with. Her winter cabin gives visitors a true taste of Alaskan life, she provides great home-cooked food and treats to accompany her stories, and her dogs are incredibly friendly. Visitors get... More

Mary invites you back to her comfy cabin while we all sit around enjoying coffee, tea and her homemade chocolate cakes while we take in her amazing journey to Alaska and the Iditarod. Captivating tales concerning how she came to love Alaska and her passion for the dogs. Felt like hanging out with family. A real joy and pleasure to... More

Where else could you learn about mushing from its primary celebrity, who turns out to be the most knowledgeable, gracious hostess, and lovely overall person? ... and, you'll meet her dogs as well. We met there, visited a few times, and became friends for life. This is the one trip my family never stops talking about. More