Good news for those who are going to Fairbanks, Alaska to see the “Northern Lights.”

I definitely recommend “CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT” which is crowded with many tourists.

I personally don’t like tourist attractions that are visited by many people, but this was by far the best place to see the Northern Lights and I highly recommend it.

If you ever come to Fairbanks, it would be a great trip.

There are two main reasons why I recommend the “CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT.”

One is that I saw the Northern Lights.

The second reason is that the facilities and staff service are very good.

First, let me give you a brief description of the building and facilities of the spa.

• The hours of operation are from 7AM to 11:45PM (main front desk is open from 9AM to 11:45PM). (The main front desk opens at 9AM).
• Prices are $15.00 Adult $15.00 Adult 1 towel included fee (18-59 years old) Senior $13.00 price with 1 towel (age 60 and over) Children $12.00 (6 to 17 years old) Children 5 years old and younger are free (accompanied by a parent ) Towel rental is extra for day-trippers $5.00 per towel.
• Plenty of parking is available in front of the building. (Free)
• Lockers included (lockable with two 25 cent pieces)
• Hair dryers, showers, toilets, etc. are also available.

The resort is well-equipped enough to be enjoyed by one person.

In addition to the hot springs, there are many other adventures to experience, not to mention the food at the restaurant.

One example from my own experience is the Ice Museum.

You can view art made entirely of ice and enjoy drinks with a grass made of ice.

The number of visitors may vary, but at my time there were about 45 people in the ice dome together.

You can wear a t-shirt. Once inside, you can rent coats and other warm clothes for free. I thought it would be cold, but I didn’t feel that cold. You may not be able to stay for a long time, but 30 minutes is probably enough time to enjoy yourself.

The apple martini in an iced glass was very special. It was delicious, and the performance was enjoyable.

The ice museum experience took about 30-45 minutes and cost $15. Adding a martini cost $14.29 and the total was $30.01.

For that price, I felt it was a good deal to have a martini because it warms you up and helps you communicate with the other guests around you. It is a bit intoxicating, so if you are a weak drinker, you might want to avoid it.

The Martini & Ice Museum was definitely a special vacation experience.

The restaurant is also very busy, so you may have to wait a bit, but the service is very good and I visited often. The service was excellent, and the cheeseburger (Chena Burger) I had for my meal was really good.

The restaurant also has a local brewery in Fairbanks. The menu seems to change from time to time.

The only thing that slows them down is that the number of servers working is too small compared to the number of customers coming in. So, we need to wait peacefully!

The atmosphere is very calm and I wrote this blog in this restaurant. This may be the first time I had such a pleasant dining experience in the United States. You may have to wait for a while, but you will not be disappointed with this restaurant.

The spa is the main attraction here at “CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT.”

It’s great! The price is $15 per person (towels are provided each time you go if you show them your ticket). The ticket can be used as many times as you like until 3:00 the next day when you check out, so it is a good idea to go back in the morning after a night of fun. The museum is open from 7:00 am to 11:45 pm. The official website says that it is not possible to see the “Northern Lights” while soaking in the hot springs, but if you are lucky, you may be able to experience the Aurora Borealis. Maybe maybe.

※ (Unlike in Japan, you will be in a swimming suit while soaking in the hot springs.)

There is an indoor Jacuzzi with Epsom salts, an indoor pool, an open-air bath, and an outdoor Jacuzzi.

Even in summer, it is a bit chilly, so the hot springs are great!

I spent about 2 hours in the outdoor bath, outdoor Jacuzzi, indoor Epsom salt Jacuzzi, and went back to outdoor bath again. There is a shower (with hairdryer) in the restroom so you can wash off everything at the end.

There is also a locker room where you can lock and protect your valuables. You will need two 25 cents (quarter coin) to use the locker key.

This is a great option for hiking enthusiasts.

Since it is a resort area, there are accommodations available.

You can hike at this “CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT” so you don’t have to move. I hiked the “Monument Creek Trail Head” which is about 3 miles. It is very easy, and you can go around the resort. It is very nice to go there in the morning.

I stayed at the campground, which is quite inexpensive at $20 per night. (Some resorts charge $40 to stay at a campground, so the price is reasonable.) The tent sites were for RVs only, but there were tables and fire pits. Of course, you can walk to the main building and the hot springs, so access is easy.

If you are not looking for a campsite, there are also cabins and other hotel-like facilities, so families can easily make reservations through the official website.

CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT official home page: https://chenahotsprings.com/

Here is the page in Japanese: https://www.chenahotspringsjapan.com/index.html

Lastly,

I would like to say that I was able to see the Northern Lights for the first time in my life here at “CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT.”

I thought I wouldn’t be able to see them because of the continuous overcast and rain during the summer, but they did show up for a little while. A little.

Actually, I had a feeling that I could see them here in Chena, so I drove back from the Fairbanks area and forth several times and was able to see them. And finally, the place where I could see the Northern Lights was from the parking lot of this hot spring.

Many people who visited “Fairbanks” said they wanted to see the Northern Lights. But you have to have patience. I stayed up from about 11:00 p.m. on the second and third nights until about 2:00 a.m. after midnight.

The key to seeing the Aurora Borealis is to persevere and stay up until 2:00 am until you see them, and not give up because they don’t appear in one day.

Another thing I recommend is to download the app “MY AURORA FORECAST” and check the status from time to time.

You know what was the right decision to come to Alaska for sightseeing?

The people who live there are very nice.

I found the people here to be friendly and kind, perhaps because they are used to the harshness of the cold in their natural habitat.

I have traveled to many states since I came to the U.S., but this may be the first time I have felt such a warm feeling. The people here are that wonderful. Since many people come here as tourists, it is inevitable that you will talk to many people from different places, and they are all very nice people.

My friends told me that they had a scary experience when they visited a city on a trip to the U.S. and the clerk got angry with them because they did not understand English when they tried to fill up the gas tank. When I heard this, I would still recommend that you focus on the “friendliness” of the local people to some extent if you want to enjoy your trip to the U.S.

Alaska was really nice, and I would like to return in the winter time next time.

This time, I summarized my experience of staying at “CHENA HOT SPRINGS RESORT” in Alaska, USA, and I hope it will be helpful.

I will write more articles when I find a good or recommended location for a trip.

See you soon.

ZenJin