Fairbanks Alaska

I travelled all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska this past week just to see the beautiful aurora borealis. I was going on 24 hours of no sleep and out at a field at 1 am but it was absolutely worth it. The light danced in the night sky colors of green, pink, and purple. With minimal to no light pollution I could make out the planet alignment and see the big dipper. It was peaceful and in that moment everything seemed to stand still. The next few days were quite busy. I went to see the World Ice Carving Championships both in the daytime and at night. There was sledding, and games entirely made out of ice! On the route to Cheena Hot Springs I was able to go for a quick 20 min dog sled ride and meet the pack along with a few cute pups. Those dogs love to run and we were going about 10-15 miles per hour. At the hot springs resort I got to experience the aurora ice museum with its famous ice bar and apple martini. After you finish with the drink you stand towards the north and make a wish before breaking your glass into the ground. The hot springs themselves were very warm, and some parts were hotter than others but the water feels healing and relaxing. You just have to get past the smell of sulfur. We took a 20 minute drive just south of Fairbanks to see the North Pole which is a town dedicated to Christmas all year long, and has a huge store filled with everything you would need for Christmas decorations and Alaska souvenirs. During certain times of the year you can go and interact with their herd of reindeer. Lastly if you’ve never been to Alaska before I highly reccommend the University of Alaska Museum of the North which will tell you everything you need to know about the animals that inhabit the land, the native people, the history of Alaska with the United States, and the plants and minerals that can be found. Upstairs of the museum they have a sound room where you can hear the sounds of the aurora and Alaska nature. Then you can visit the gallery filled with artwork from Alaska artists. The people of Alaska have a slow and easy going way of life, and are one of the friendliest people I have ever met. I wqs fortunate enough to see the restart of the Iditarod taking place and the whole town seemed to show up to support all of the mushers and make memories with their family. Alaska is truly one of a kind and a must see state more than once.