Things to do / Travel Guide
Address:56.5 Mile Chena Hot Springs Road
Fairbanks, Alaska
Tel:
(800) 478-4681
Have some real Alaskan outdoor fun and carry on the centuries-old tradition of soaking in mineral hot springs. Ride a dog sled, visit a museum made of ice, or just ponder the starry Alaskan sky.
It has been said that the Chena Hot Springs will cure whatever ails you, and some even claim it holds the fountain of youth. But whatever your belief about the mineral-rich waters here, the Chena Hot Springs Resort is definitely the most accessible and developed hot springs resort in the interior of the state, and a popular hot spot for everyone from older health seekers to young families.
Guests to the Chena Hot Springs Resort can enjoy the hot springs in an indoor pool, indoor and outdoor hot tubs and spas, or the outdoor hot pond, and soak to their heart's content. Children are limited to the indoor swimming pool, which is kept cool enough to swim in, so you'll find quieter time in the other pools and tubs. The locker rooms are fairly small, so you may want to change in your own room.
If visiting the resort in the high winter season, the view is exceptional, with no city lights to distract you from the natural night sky. Go Nordic skiing, Sno-Cat and snow-machine touring or ice skating, and if you're feeling a bit more adventurous, try dog sledding. Winter biking is also a unique experience and there is an aurora viewing station nearby with a warm-up lodge where guests are invited to kick back in the snow under the stars, and leave their cares behind.
The Chena Hot Springs Resort is home to the world's only year-round ice environment, the Aurora Ice Museum, created from over 1,000 tons of ice and snow, all harvested at the resort. If you're visiting in the summertime, there's still plenty to do, from horseback riding, rafting and canoeing, to hiking, gold panning, flight seeing and mountain biking.
Once you've made it all the way to the Chena Hot Springs Resort, you'll surely want to stay a night or two, and lodgings range from the original cabins built by the prospectors who discovered the area, to new hotel rooms with amenities. The restaurant and bar in the resort's main building are a great place to unwind after an active Alaskan day with meals made with fresh herbs, greens and tomatoes from the nearby greenhouses.