North Pole: Day 4 - Fairbanks and UAF Museum of the North

 North Pole Day 4: Fairbanks. After another night of catching the Northern Lights and chilling at the cabin, we packed up and rolled out to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks to visit the Museum of the North. Spoiler- this was not about Jon Snow. But it was an excellent natural history museum with an Alaskan Art Gallery wing. Plus it’s up on a hill and it was a perfect lookout point to the Alaska Range. After a stop in downtown Fairbanks along the frozen Chena River, it was time to head home to Seattle. What a wonderful adventure- we want to return to Alaska again soon!!

North Pole: Day 3 - Chena Hot Springs Resort and Ice Museum

 North Pole, Day 3: Chena Hot Springs and the Ice Museum. It was a 90-minute drive up a beautiful valley to our NE. We got to see the sun hanging low and bright on the horizon over the wide plains. Looks like there’s a ton of summer recreation opportunities along the Chena River, but this time of year the river is already frozen over.

The Ice Museum was kitschy, but still cool. There was an ice bar serving Appleton is on ice glasses. You could watch the ice carver making the glasses which was mesmerizing. There were even four hotel type ice rooms in the back with some pretty creative bed situations. Definitely fun to see.

The hot springs felt sooooo good. 4’ deep in the outdoor pool. Nice gravelly bottom. Rocks to chill on. And the temperature had these big contrasts depending on where the input was located etc. I could definitely have spent longer there, but no kids allowed in the big pool, so we were on borrowed time.

Another yummy dinner followed by an extended Farkle game won by Charlotte. The moon looked lovely. It was difficult to catch the Northern Lights though.

North Pole: Day 2

 

North Pole, Day 2. Hanging at the cabin, playing in the snow, and a visit to the Santa Claus House. It features the World’s Largest Santa and a reindeer barn. Amazing burrito bar for dinner and soaking in the hot tub felt divine. Charlotte has now discovered cheesy Christmas romance movies on the Hallmark channel. Not sure how I feel about that!