Anna's Awesome Adventures!!!: Fairbanks, North Pole, & Delta Junction

Today I woke up at 7:20, got ready, had breakfast (granola, yogurt, orange juice, and milk), loaded up the car, and went to the University of Alaska-Fairbanks Museum. That was definitely a good decision because it was absolutely amazing. The museum is two levels; on the first (main) floor, there is the Gallery of Alaska, Alaska Classics, and the Arnold Espe Auditorium. The Gallery of Alaska is composed of several different alcoves with informative signs, well-thought-out displays, beautiful animals ranging from polar bears to the arctic fox (very cute), historical artifacts, gems (I saw my birthstone, the garnet!), and many biographies of Alaskan pioneers. There was a special small exhibit on Alaska and World War 2, which was absolutely incredible. There were so many signs to read, and unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to read many of them because we had to leave soon. But the small bit that I did read was excellent. Also on the Main Level is the Alaska Classics, an art gallery focusing on the beauty of Alaska with dozens of different pictures and paintings of everything from natives to mountains to cities. The auditorium showed lots of half-hour videos throughout the day (we didn't go to any because it was an extra $5...and we needed all the time we could get in the museum).

On the upper level, there is the Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery, The Place Where You Go To Listen (yes, every word is capitalized), and the Living Room. The Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery was...interesting. It had a lot of very unusual artwork, but it also had a large focus on the natives -- baskets, clothing, jewelry, toys, hunting items, and much more. The Place Where You Go To Listen was a room (that you must enter quietly) where you could sit on a bench and listen to Alaska sounds. Grandma and Matthew went in and said it was kind of weird. The Living Room was a place to sit, relax, and reflect on the museum...which, I must admit, is kind of good to to do because there's a LOT of information to absorb at a museum like that.

The museum also has a store with lots of items, including all those expensive ivory carvings. Matthew and I found hatpins, a postcard of Otto (the grizzly bear that welcomes you into the Alaska Gallery...he's HUGE), and I found a $10 necklace made out of leopard jasper in the shape of a bear. It's pretty.

Next, we drove to North Pole, Alaska! There, at the Great Alaska Pizza Company, we found a Meat Lover's Pizza and Italian bread to eat at a pretty park as the sun shone down and a cool wind blew. After our yummy lunch, we went to Santaland. Basically, it's a monstrous store packed from floor to ceiling with everything ever made for Christmas. Christmas songs play continually, and you can even sit on Santa's lap (except on Sundays and Mondays...he has to rest). Also at Santaland is a fudge shop, a photo opportunity to sit in Santa's sleigh, and a chance to see Santa's (real) reindeer. We saw several happily walking around their pen. Unfortunately, I think Rudolph was out with Santa.

From before Fairbanks all the way on to here, we've noticed these little coffee houses alongside the road. It's not uncommon for one to pop up every half-mile or so, and in several places there are two or three just 100 feet apart! Finally we decided to check one out. We aren't coffee drinkers, but they served us up some creamy, rich, yummy milkshakes! I can settle for that. Mine was vanilla ice cream with chocolate/peanut-butter syrup. The place we went to (in North Pole) was called Sunshine Bagels & Espresso, and it sold breakfast and lunch items, plus sodas and fancy coffees. The menu was simple, you can only drive up to it (it's so small you couldn't even walk in and have any room!), and it was lots of fun!

We also went to Rika's Roadhouse, but I stayed in the car because I was really tired. We even got to see the Trans-Alaska Pipeline again when it crosses the Tanana River. Around 6:45, we pulled into the Garden Bed & Breakfast, a lovely place out in the country with a large, luscious, colorful garden. I am going to go check that out now. Thanks for reading, everyone. God bless you all!