AK on the GO

Snuggling up in the Ice Museum

After a day spent soaking in a hot mineral springs, riding in a dogsled, and viewing ice sculptures so fantastically created my son was not sure they were made of real ice, it’s a done deal. AK Fam should move to Fairbanks; at least according to our AK Kid, who seems to fit naturally into the landscape of this Interior town quite easily.

Chena Hot Springs and its diverse activity scope captured our attention before noon; this popular spot with tourists was hopping with out-of-towners, yes, but a fair number of Fairbanks residents had made the trip on this gorgeous winter day for a soak in the tubs. We took a guided tour of the Ice Museum, an incredible, year-round display of ice sculptures, an ice bar, and four rooms people can spend $600 per night to experience. The carving master was even on display as he whipped up about five martini glasses right before our very eyes for the Museum’s famous Appletinis.

I wanted to see sled dogs. I love sled dogs, and the chance to ride in the basket of a sled was the culmination of many hours of wishing.  A team of eight pulled AK Fam around the greater Chena property, and we all could feel the power of these trusty canines and the slippery slope of mushing when hills and turns came round.

AK Dad and Kid really, really wanted to hit the pools, so before we headed back to town our now weary bodies indulged in a soak beneath the hot, sulfur-smelling water. Ahhhhhh…Packed wall to wall, the place was so busy that lockers were at a premium and shoes lined the lobby wall and every available space. If I had to list a weak link in the entire day, it would be this. Must. Improve. Locker Rooms.

Aside from this minor inconvenience, our Chena Day was lovely. Great staff, great food, and some nice activities to introduce visitors to life in the frozen North. Alaska residents are fortunate in receiving Chena’s Resident Rate of $129/night for a Signature Room (like a standard hotel room) year round. Not too bad.

After dinner at Sam’s Sourdough Cafe near the University of Alaska Fairbanks, where charming ladies served up a slice of Middle America in the form of meat and potatoes and thousand island dressing (charming the socks off AK Dad in the process), we suited up in our warmest duds and made our way to the World Ice Art Championships  and famous Ice Park. Wow. Incredible. Amazing. Animals, people, themes, and even a kids’ play area and maze kept us moving for a few hours of frozen fantasy. Our son’s fav? The maze, where we slipped and slid and giggled our way through a pretty difficult course and ending at three twirly cups of ice where Kid then made me spin him around like a top. The show runs through the 28th of March and is well worth the $10 admission for adults, $6 for elementary kids, and Free for 5 and under.

For a second evening, our child has run down every spare battery in his little body, so tired he is after a day that started at sunup. He ran, he hipped, he hopped, and he spun the magic that is late winter in this frontier-style town. Pretty cool, indeed.