FAIRBANKS and CHEENA HOT SPRINGS

Hope everyone isn't sick and tired of Alaska flowers;  they did so amazingly well up there that I just couldn't stop taking pictures.   The one directly below is from River's Edge RV Resort where we stayed in Fairbanks.  This Park was on the Cheena River and besides having excellent RV facilities, and a  lovely river path to walk, it also had rental cottages, each of which had its own hanging basket.  This is one of them. There was also an excellent restaurant on the grounds.   

 

We actually stayed at this RV Park two different times.  There aren't a lot of highways in the State and so it was almost impossible to do circle trips -- there was a lot of out-and-back driving.  Which was always fine because there was too much to see on one (or even two) trips.  And of course, when your day ends at a nice stop like this one, it is even better.  

When we left Fairbanks after one of our stays we were headed to the Dalton Highway -- up to Prudhoe Bay and the Arctic Ocean.   We knew that would be kind of a roughing-it trip, without nice RV Parks, so we took advantage of the city facilities at the RV Park and in Fairbanks. 

While we were there we read about a resort called Cheena Hot Springs that had RV spaces.  Even though it was only about 70 miles from Fairbanks, it sounded intriguing, and it was sort-of on our way toward the Dalton so we decided to stop there for a night.

 

 We found the resort and the attached RV Park, which had spaces out in a woodsy area.   Above is what our "carpet" underfoot looked like after we settled our little camper van into its spot.    

Then we walked over to check out the resort grounds.  There were beautiful flower gardens.  And we checked out the Hot Springs -- there were several spring-fed pools and hot tubs that were absolutely beautiful.  And another wonderful restaurant.  And more.

It did not take us long to decide that we needed to stay a few more nights.  I guess I had hot-tub brain because I totally forgot to get a picture of the wonderful pools, but really they were amazing!  I did get flower pictures.

  

 

 And (before we developed that hot-tub brain from soaking in the mineral springs) we learned that the owners of the resort are working toward becoming a self-sustaining community.   Vegetables are already grown in year-round greenhouses that are heated entirely by geothermal sources.     

 

 We signed up for the very informative tour of the greenhouses and geothermal facilities.  We learned that Cheena, in conjunction with the Department of Energy, is funding a project to use the geothermal reservoir which underlies the area.  They are also working with the University of Alaska on several environmental projects. 

When there is more produce than the restaurant can use, the resort sells it at the Visitor Center --   we bought some wonderful tomatoes and lettuce to take with us when we left.   

 

The Resort also boasts an amazing Ice Museum which we toured.  But that's a whole other post someday.    We really enjoyed our stay at Cheena Hot Springs.   (Here is a link to their website.)  

 

LINKING this post to TODAY'S FLOWERS; I HEART MACRO; MOSAIC MONDAY; and NF BLO-MA.   

Thank you to Denise (TF); Laura (Macro); Judith (MM) and Monica (Nature Fotos).    Each of these lovely hosts have  amazing blogs and it is great of them to take time to host these fun sharing opportunities.  

 

Comments

[NatureFootstep]

this is amazing. So much beauty for the eyes and soul. :)

I seem to be late too. If you have a hard time finding my blogs, please remember they are all on display in the sidebar in my main photo blog. Looking there is the best way to fidn them. :)

Monica / NatureFootstep
nfbild2.blogspot.com

[Mary Howell Cromer]

Oh My those pine cones, I would have plucked up a few to take home and dry open, and then try to grow trees from the seeds ;)

[DeniseinVA]

Oh wow, gorgeous flowers Sallie and love those pine cones too. Thanks for linking with Today's Flowers, you always make my day :)

[Pat]

Such gorgeous flowers.

[Laura Hegfield]

What a beautiful assortment of photos Sallie. I especially love that "carpet"! Thanks as always for sharing the love up-close with I Heart Macro:-)

[Pat]

BEAUTIFUL flowers and photographs of them!
I would love to do that same trip. Hey, I'm just down the coast from there. "Just down" being over 3000 miles!
I'll settle for enjoying the trip through your great photos and words. Thanks!

[Donna@Gardens Eye View]

I never tire of flowers so keep them coming especially given the snow here now. And I loved hearing about the Chena project....fascinating.

[Sharon Wagner]

The fuzzy framing really show them off. So pretty.

[Life Images by Jill]

gorgeous gardens and cheerful colourful flowers. Enough to brighten anyone's Monday. Have a lovely week.

[Rajesh]

Very pretty and colorful flowers.

[Judith @ Lavender Cottage]

Very enjoyable to see flowers and scenery from Alaska that we didn't on our cruise. Your photos help prove what a beautiful state Alaska is beyond snow and ice.
Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday Sallie.

[Cindy]

Such amazing beautiful flowers, one would think it to be too cold for blooms, it is too cold for me for sure. I'm on my across Canada trip and was disappointed when we reached Haida Gwaii to find out the Hot Springs had been closed due to the earthquake what in 2010, I've been looking for hot springs ever since. Today we are out of the mountain area and in Vancouver. Lovely pictures

[Marie-AZ]

Beautiful flowers! The whole trip sounds like fun...and I think it's so interesting about the geothermal area and the gardens that are utilizing it.

[Jenn Jilks]

Wouldn't a greenhouse be fun? We have snow today, so I'm happy to see your colourful flowers!!!

[Yogi]

Nope, not getting tired of Alaska flower pics.
That resort was a great find. Obviously the owners are in it for more than money. I love it when people have a passion for things.

[Gaelyn]

Hot springs and beautiful flowers in Alaska sounds divine. Then you tease with an ice cream museum. These photos are spectacular!

[Mick]

Beautiful flowers and so many! It's hard to imagine that a place at that latitude has time in the summer to grow flowers and veges too. The hot pool resort looks absolutely wonderful. I grew up in New Zealand where thermal hot pools were never too far away - happy memories!

[Felicia]

I've heard everything grows pretty well in Alaska.

beautiful flower images.

[Penny]

I will never tire of Alaskan flowers - and what a lush carpet, Sallie.

[Dianne]

The top photo of the basket of North and South American Petunias is stunning. Plants in Alaska look so beautiful after the cold has passed.

[Gunilla]

Gorgeous flowers and I really like the cones.

[HAZEL]

Sallie-it says online that it is 1C where you are today! is that right?

[Lowell]

We watch the Alaska shows on HGTV, etc. and are often mesmerized by the state's beauty. Gorgeous flowers. How were the mosquitoes?

[Enerhagen]

Marvelous series of captures. Such a burst of colors:)

[Gattina]

Very creative photos !

[TexWisGirl]

wow! that sounds like a bit of eden up there! how wonderful!

[Hazel]

Alaska certainly makes the most of the short summer! The flower photos are stunning. The RV/Camp sites with facilities are amazing compared to those in UK!

[Carver]

I will never get tired of Alaska flowers. These are all so beautiful. I am vicariously getting my Alaska trip through you as that's somewhere I've always wanted to go and never been to yet.

[Rainfield]

In fact, our world is full of beautiful flowers.

So full that we can't see them all.

[Jocee]

What wonderful pictures, so many different flowers. I love that hanging basket in the first shot. Wish mine looked like that. :)

[Linda]

Beautiful! I didn't know Alaska was so rich in flowers.

[Carletta]

These are so lush and lovely! I have another blogging friend who has gone to Alaska a few times and always takes flower pics as well. I just don't think of these kind of plants in Alaska - I mean it's supposed to be cold and snowy! LOL!
Lovely shots Sallie!