Work in Anchorage - Only a Little Time to Play

Following my Fairbanks excursion, I headed back to Anchorage.  While I was there mostly for work, I was able to see a few friends and take in a few new sites.

I will write about my experience at the Native American Heritage Center (I threw arrows), the Saturday market (I met my favorite Alaska artist), re-visited some of my favorite jewelry stores, and took in the Mammoth and Mastodon exhibit at the Anchorage Museum . . . and of course, there was halibut!  Yummy!

Chena Hot Springs

Right on the top of the list of places to visit in north central Alaska was Chena Hot Springs.  Known in the region, and they say outside of it, as a hot spring with healing properties (don't all of them say that), Chena is a natural spring that runs just over 160 degrees...  the area is miles away from the nearest transmission line so the owner/operator has invested in geothermal energy for the entire facility (instead of operating on diesel generators). It was actually quite amazing... a complete closed loop system that used heated antifreeze brought to a boil from the natural water temperature.  No, I am not a geothermal energy genius...  The resort offered all visitors and guests tours of their energy generation plant as well as their greenhouse... because, they grow all of their veggies on site, year round too!  The owner has a reputation as quite the eccentric in Alaska, but he deserves the distinction... he bought this facility that the state operated, and transformed it into a resort getaway that now generates enough energy for it and some  neighboring areas.  The resort is over 20 miles from the civilization (and I use that term loosely).


The Hot Springs Resort reminded me of a summer camp with its cabins, the animal pens, the greenhouse, the pool and mess hall, aka restaurant.  Within the campus were hiking, atv'ing, and sledding trails, a trailer hook up area, a recreation room, a barber (yes, a barber), a ICE carving museum, and, of course the thermal pools.  The museum was very different from the ice presentation in Fairbanks; here was small warehouse, kept freezing cold, that not only housed some amazing sculptures, but included 2 ice hotel rooms and a ICE bar.  I guess staying with a sweetie at such temperature would mean lots of cuddling, but I can't wrap my head around sleeping on ice.  BRRRR!


On the complete opposite extreme was the hot spring.  My day at the Springs was, of course, the warmest of my entire stay in the Fairbanks area.  It was warming up fast, and when temperatures jump up to the upper 60's, nothing says refreshing like 140 degree pool water.  I seriously felt like I was cooking.  I do not think I lasted longer than an hour.  Walked around the water, but never got comfortable... when I got out, I did not get back in... I was done.  But I can understand why people would love the place on a cold night gazing at the aurora.


My way out of the Resort, I stopped at a few pull-outs to feed the mosquitoes.  After being in such a warm area, it was strange to see fresh river water that was cooler (and some ever with ice breaking)... odd place

Fairbanks and the Circle

I finally made it past Denali... in fact, I did not even stop.  The plane flew over, giving me fantastic views of Mt McKinley.  Sometimes I have to admit that work travel can spoil me.  I have been fortunate enough to travel to Alaska a handful of times.  This trip was special (and more than made up for the pain of the last excursion).

This was my first trip to Fairbanks.  For some reason, I have wanted to see it.  I know, I know - WHY?  I have been warned... it was small, it was nothing exciting... it was skippable... but if it was the 2nd biggest city in Alaska, I wanted to compare.  I wanted to see the sights,  I wanted to use it as a point to visit some of the northern sites.

My journey started months in advance... I contacted a few tour operators for guidance and reservations.  Since this is a about as north as you go on the paved roads, I was interested in what the tours offered.  I also talked with a new colleague that had lived up north to get some recommendations.

Unfortunately, over those some months (and until the day before the trip), I learned that nothing was open... I was coming too early.  The cheesy tourist activities closed... the tours, both bus and flights not running yet... UGH!

Yet, Alaska luck was on my side... while at work, after animated stories of my failed tour contacts, a "new" friend offered to act as my tour guide.  In fact, several people offered to hang out and show me around.  Maybe there was and advantage to being a new face in a community just coming out of the winter freeze!

Still working on my Alaska Stuff

So - I had over 1000 pics to sort through and I really only did a few things up there.  I am still sorting through the different views.  Already there are a few that I love, and I have plenty of stories to share.  I promise to get that up soon.  Until then, I am adding a link (on the right side of the page) with a link to the pictures I have pulled from the masses.

Up the Dalton Highway to the Arctic Circle

I will write the how story soon, but I had to let it be known that I had a blast in Fairbanks Alaska.  I know that it is not much to look at, there is not much to do, it has lots of foul weather (home of the 40-50 below)  and the downtown is (in short) pathetic.  BUT - I got lucky, the weather kicked into gear when I was there.  I met some really nice people and was "shown the town". 

The highlight of the trip was my version of Ice Road Truckers, Spring Edition.  With a new friend, I traveled up the Dalton Highway past the official Arctic Cicle line.  Honestly, it did not look like anything I was expecting.  With the Black Spruce and Aspen trees, the fire damage and the wildlife, it had lots in common the with the upper Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

I have lots of stories and pictures to share... stay tuned for typical Janine travel craziness. 

I just could not wait to get that off my chest!!!

Singing in the Rain in NYC

Headed home for the holiday, to spend my weekend with my sister... it has been a while since I headed home to Jersey, and even longer since I visited my city.  The plan was to head to my sisters, go to NYC on Saturday, do holiday dinner on Sunday and then head back to DC.  Technically, the plan worked... it just rained on our plans.  It rained a lot!!!

The original plan was to walk though an area in Central Park. That did not pan out... we had to find something else to do, but with 4 people, finding agreement was not so easy.  We could have went to a show, a matinee, but we were soaked and the teenager with us was not interested in that option.  There is a special Harry Potter exhibit on display at the Discovery Times Square, but I was the only Potter fan in the group. (It is open until September 5th, so I will hit that this summer).  Both the Met and MoMA were vetoed due to interest issues on the part of the teen... I was out of luck.  Suggested the Natural History Museum, but my sister wanted to take her daughter to see the new dinosaur exhibit and did not want to go without her.  We debated Madame Tussaud's but the line was ridiculously long.

So, what was of interest was the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum.  I have seen them in soooo many locations, but never been in one.  Always been too busy and had higher priorities.  Honestly, I had thought tourist trap with these places; I have seen Ripley's in a whole bunch of places.  I thought it would be a waste.  I was pleasantly surprised.  It was quirky, and oddly informative.  They had a fantastic collection of African tribal masks from Ripley's personal collection, along with other notable cultural artifacts.... and they had art made out of dryer lint.  There was something for everyone.  I am still scarred from the Medieval Torture Room, I could have lived without seeing an Iron Maiden.

After we took in the craziness of the museum, we headed to the Hershey shop for Easter chocolate, and Roxy's for Cheesecake.  Ohhh, how I miss NY cheesecake - yummy!  There are just some things you can't get in DC...

A quick, wet, but filled trip to mid-town.  Nice to be back!!!

Picasso Visits the Capital of the South

The Virginia Museum of Fine Art is the only art museum on the East Coast that is temporary home to the Picasso Masterpiece exhibit on loan from Paris.  This week, a friend and I took the day off to visit Richmond for the first time (besides driving through), and took in in Capital of the South.  The timing could not have been more in sync with other notable events since the Civil War 150 year anniversary celebration are being planned around the coast (more so in the South).    Neither of us had any idea what to expect, and we were pleasantly surprised.  The architecture spoke to old southern charm, and Catytown offered a "main street" with food and shopping choices very close to the Museum.

If you are planning to attend the event - BEWARE!  It is crowded.  We visited mid-week in the morning, and we were still dodging insanely large crowds.  The Museum's first entry point shoved all timed ticket holders into the first room, and you were left to fend for yourself.  It was so crowded, we were grateful that we were tall (and in heels) to see over the children, wheelchairs and the shorter masses.  Crowds lasted through the first three rooms and finally broke up after the hall of sketched.  So, if you are interested in the show, wear platforms and go early.