SEVENTH DAY IN FAIRBANKS (A GLIMPSE OF EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE; SEEING SANTA AT THE NORTH POLE; VISIT WITH BRIAN & KAREN BURK & KENAI) - Saturday, July 22, 2023

Not wanting to sound like a broken record -- but it was another magnificently sunny day in Fairbanks with temperatures starting out at 64 degrees and hitting 85 degrees by the afternoon.

Our first stop this morning was again at the post office -- but this time we were successful -- the mail had arrived.

We had invited Brian, Karen and Alyssa to join us at the North Pole today. We planned to meet them there.

On our way to North Pole, I asked Mel if we could drive by the Eielson Air Force Base first since that is where my Uncle Burdette had been stationed while he was in the air force. Mel said ok, but when we got close to the base -- we saw traffic backed up for miles and miles due to the air show they were holding today.

Eielson Air Force Base is located 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks. It was established in 1943 as Mile 26 Satellite Field and re-designated Eielson Air Force Base on January 13, 1948. It was named in honor of polar pilot Carl Ben Eielson.

Miles and miles of cars waiting to get into Eielson Air Force Base for the air show.

We decided to drive on past and I took what pictures I could from the highway (see below).

We drove down to the first exit past Eielson Air Force Base and turned back around heading toward North Pole.

Do you believe in Santa? Even if you don't, a visit to North Pole, Alaska is in order if you are in the Fairbanks area. This community of 2,138 residents and an elevation of 483 feet, keeps the Christmas spirit alive all year long.

As we got closer to North Pole, Alaska we began to see street signs (St. Nicholas Drive) and church named in accordance of where we were (St. Nicholas Catholic Church).

And then our first glimpse of the North Pole.

North Pole is a small Alaskan city near Fairbanks. It's known for its year-round Christmas decorations, including candy cane-striped street lights. Santa Claus House is a Christmas store with walls and walls covered in children's letters to Santa and a huge Santa statue and sleigh outside. Streets have names like Kris Kringle Drive and Mistletoe Lane. 

Shown below are several closeups of Santa Claus House with the its neat Christmas characters. A variety of murals and exciting display windows adorn the Santa Claus House.

The North Pole, first homesteaded in 1944 by Bon V. and Bernice Davis, North Pole was given its holiday-themed name by a development company, Dahl and Gaske Development Company who bought the Davis property and hoped to attract a toy manufacturer that could advertise products as being made in North Pole. Although the toy industry did not materialize, the name stuck, and the city incorporated in 1953 and developed into a theme city.

When Conrad and Nellie Miller arrived in Fairbanks in 1949, they only had $1.40 in cash and two hungry kids. Determined to carve out a living in the new territory of Alaska, Conrad soon became a merchant and fur buyer in the surrounding villages. He donned an old red Santa suit each Christmas, and earned the celebrity status as Santa Claus in the eyes of the village children -- the first St. Nick many had ever seen. After that he set up a trading post in North Pole, and named it Santa Claus House. 

You can celebrate Christmas year-round at the Santa Claus House -- which is North Pole's best-known attraction. Today, the sprawling store features almost endless aisles of Christmas ornaments and toys, and a giant statue of Santa beckoning in highway travelers.

The large decorated Christmas tree outside is only the tip of the iceberg, as inside you will find a live Santa and Mrs. Claus to listen to your Christmas wishes. As you stroll through the magical winter wonderland inside Santa Claus House, you can shop in Santa's workshop for unique toys, North Pole apparel, and Alaska-made gifts. You can also sample fudge, cookies and other treats to get you into the Christmas spirit.

And now it's time for us to go inside Santa Claus House and see what "eye candy" beholds us.

There is even a chance to have a "letter from Santa" sent to your children or grand children (see one of the such letters below).

This letter says:

Merry Christmas to you from all of us here at Santaland! Mrs. Santa and I are enjoying a cozy, crackling fire this chilly evening. We are chatting about Christmas preparations here at the North Pole while looking over my good list together. We are so pleased to see your name near the top. Congratulations!

My elves have been very busy today harvesting all of he colorful candy canes in Mrs. Santa's Candy Cane Garden. We have sampled several and they are especially delicious this year. The reindeer love this job because the elves always slip them a candy cane or two. Rudolph's nose is glowing a shiny bright red from all the excitement and fun!

I love this time of year at Santaland! The snow glistens on Silver Bell Pond and it is surrounded by snow-capped evergreen trees. I can see the tracks made by the elves' ice skates from their ice skating party earlier this week. Silver Bell Pond is one of my favorite places in all of the North Pole!

Soon it will be Christmas Eve and Rudolph will be guiding my sleigh to your house. A very Merry Christmas from all of us at Santaland!

Your friend always,

Santa Claus

As shown above, you can also purchase an authentic deed to one square inch of North Pole property or a "toehold in the far north." 

Above are are our friends, Brian, Karen and Alyssa Burk, sitting in the snowmen chair in Santa Claus House at the North Pole.

Above are Mel and Shirley sitting in the snowmen chair in Santa Claus House at the North Pole.

Above and below are Santa and Mrs. Claus in Santa Claus House at the North Pole.

Above and below are two different life-size old-fashioned Santas greeting you at the front door.

After we had had enough stimulation and Christmas cheer, we wandered outside and were greeted by the World's Largest Santa Claus -- a almost 50 foot tall, 900 pound, three-dimensional Santa statue and Santa's sleigh, perfectly placed just outside the store to welcome both the young and young-at-year to Santa Claus House.

Built in the 1960s by Wes Stanley of Stanley Plastics, the Santa statue was the prototype for three giant statues constructed that same year. After the statue made its way to Anchorage, Conrad Miller purchased the Santa in 1978 for $4,500. The Santa statue was then driven by truck (not a sleigh) in four pieces (so he could fit underneath the overpasses on Parks Highway) to the North Pole. Sadly upon his arrival, Santa was found to be in very poor condition. However, after extensive repair, Santa was soon smiling again and found his permanent home at Santa Claus House in 1983.  

Located next to the main house is Antler Academy where Santa's reindeer team lives.

Next to Antler Academy was a building for Santa's Helpers (see above).

We then left Santa Claus House and drove over to take a picture of the "Welcome to North Pole, Alaska" sign.

We also took a picture of the "Welcome to the city of North Pole, Alaska" sign.

And then as we were leaving North Pole, Alaska we saw the candy cane striped street lights. Another festive touch! 

We ate lunch at the Wendy's in the North Pole with Brian, Karen and Alyssa and then drove over to the KOA that they were staying at to visit with them for awhile. Of course, we got to see Kenai as well.

Mel getting to hold and pet Kenai (see above and below).

Visiting with Karen and Brian at the KOA.

Mel enjoying a beer (see above) and Brian enjoying a beer as well (see below).

Shirley getting a little time with Kenai as well (see above and below).

We were at Brian and Karen's until around 8:15 p.m. After we left there we stopped to get gas at Fred Meyer -- and got home at 9:00 p.m.

Different strokes for different folks -- we got to see Santa Claus and pet Kenai in the same day! 

Shirley & Mel

FIFTH & SIXTH DAY IN FAIRBANKS (A SOAK IN CHENA HOT SPRINGS) - Thursday, July 20 - Friday, July 21, 2023

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Today started out cloudy and rainy at 63 degrees, so we decided to not do any sightseeing. Instead we decided to do our laundry and run some errands -- to Safeway for groceries, to Fred Meyer for gas, to Arby's for lunch and then to Walmart for groceries. For dinner, we had steak and salad.

Friday, July 21, 2023

Today started out as another beautiful day in Fairbanks, with sunshine and a temperature of 61 degrees that would reach 80 degrees in the afternoon.

After going to the post office in Fairbanks to see if we could pick up mail we had sent to the post office, we then drove to the Chena Hot Springs Resort. 

The Chena Hot Springs Resort is located about 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks. The road is paved, and well-maintained and passes by many ponds and sloughs, through low, rolling hills and the flats of the Little Chena River.

Chena Hot Springs is an unincorporated community and hot spring resort in Fairbanks North Star Borough. The resort makes use of the first low-temperature binary geothermal power plant built in Alaska.

(Aerial view of Chena Hot Springs resort.)

Chena Hot Springs was founded over 100 years ago by two gold mining brothers, Robert and Thomas Swan. In 1905, Robert Swan was suffering from rheumatism and needed a place to calm his pain and be comfortable. 

The two brothers set out to find the hot springs. It took them a little over a month to reach the hot springs after searching for it in Interior Alaska's harsh landscape. In 1911, twelve small cabins were built to accommodate visitors.

Also located and on display at Chena Hot Springs resort is a DC6 aircraft that was previously owned by Everts Air Cargo. It is on a dirt airstrip and is hoisted on top of 30-foot poles for display. (See above and below.)

Also on the Chena Hot Springs resort property is the Aurora Ice Museum -- the world's largest year-round ice environment (see above and below). This unique ice museum is created from over 1,000 tons of ice and snow, and is kept at 25 degrees year-round. The intricate detail of each sculpture reveals the artistry in each piece. An optional cocktail is available in an ice-carved martini glass.

And even though we didn't get a chance to go inside the Aurora Ice Museum below is what it looks like with all the ice carvings and lights galore.

We got to Chena Hot Springs at 11:15 a.m. and stayed until 2:45 p.m. It cost us $18/each for senior admission. Below is a story board about the early history and geology of the hot springs.

Chena Hot Springs Resort operates a big indoor pool and hot tub and also has a handsome outdoor wading, boulder-lined lake with a sandy bottom, all of it constantly replenished by pungent mineral spring water that rises from the earth at about 165 degrees Fahrenheit. This facility has authentic Gold Rush roots and was already a premier destination for Alaska's Interior by 1912, with people traveling by stage from Fairbanks. The outdoor hot springs area maintains an average temperature of 106 degrees year round. We strolled around the outdoor hot springs until we found our perfect "Goldilocks" sweet spot -- where it was not too hot, not too cold but just right for our soak.

Mel tucked into the "sweet spot'' where the water was just right!

I walked around a bit trying to take selfie pictures with my phone and not drop it or get it wet.

You can see the water spray behind me in the picture above and the spray coming out of the boulder in the picture below with Mel. 

We enjoyed our soak in the hot springs, but we didn't think it was as much fun as the time we spent at Liard River Hot Springs Provincial Park with our friends, Brian and Karen Burk. 

Above and below are pictures of some of the antiques placed around Chena Hot Springs Resort.

And as we were just getting ready to leave the hot springs, we met Brian, Karen and their daughter Alyssa who has just arrived. We had asked them to join us, but since neither one of us had cell service there, we were unable to communicate with each other.

On our way home we stopped at Taco Bell for a late lunch/early dinner. We made one more stop at the post office to see if the mail had arrived yet and then got home around 4:30 p.m.

We enjoyed our steaming hot soak today and are looking forward to our visit to the North Pole tomorrow!

Shirley & Mel