"Hot Springs, Ice Palace and Bears"

On July 23, we drove 55 miles North east of Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs and Ice Place. As you get to the area of Chena you start to see beautiful rivers and trees everywhere. There were moose in the rivers and beavers and butterflies everywhere, well not everywhere, but it seemed like it. When you get to the Chena Hot Springs and Ice Place you first see a building that is shaped like a long igloo. This is the Ice Palace. We put on huge coats and gloves because this Ice House is going to be 40 below!!!! First we entered into the ice carving area. Then we proceeded to the main chamber where two carved knights on horse back holding Jousting Lances were engaging each other in battle. There are 4 ice bedrooms, each with Elk skin, Bear skin, and other skins to keep the overnight guest warm. If you want to be married there they have a small Ice chapel for the minster to help you say "I Do". There is an ice bar with ice glasses for your favorite drink. There is a ice polar bear holding a big Coke bottle, and as you leave the Place there is a ice pumpkin. The hot springs it self is very nice but I did not take any pictures. It has an inside pool and two hot tubs, outside there are two more hot tubs. Then there is a very large hot pool where you can walk over to a umbrella of warm water shooting over you. Then at one end there is a water fall of very warm water to massage your back and neck. It feels so good. The next day we went to the University of Alaska and visited their wonderful museum. This bear was there to great me. From there we went to another ice place, where ice sculptures from the previous winters competitions are displayed. Sam and I went inside this great freezer and had fun taking pictures of us with ice coats and ice huskies. Fun Fun!