Author Archives: Kiki

Fairbanks: Chena Ice Museum

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Kiki

One of the attractions at Chena Hot Springs is an ice bar. You go in in a group and you get maybe an hour to hang out. They only serve appletinis, and they cost $20 a pop, so unless that … Continue reading →

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Fairbanks: Mush Puppies

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Kiki

They had dogsled rides at Chena, but I had already tried it last time I was in Alaska with my mom. Plus, I was running low on funds and had read that sometimes the dogs poop while they run, and … Continue reading →

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Fairbanks: Aurora Take Two

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Kiki

Chena Hot Springs is known for aurora viewing. We knew it looked good for that night, so I had my shoes and coat on, ready to go. I heard people running past our cabin squealing, so I went outside, and … Continue reading →

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Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs Restaurant

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Kiki

They had a nice restaurant and bar. The clam chowder was recommended, and it was awesome, so rich with cream and butter. It was also suggested we order from the appetizers only. The buffalo wings were good and I ordered … Continue reading →

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Fairbanks: Chena Hot Springs

Posted on April 1, 2025 by Kiki

Chena Hot Springs was discovered on August 5, 1905 by brothers Robert and Thomas Swan, gold miners who had heard that a U.S. Geological Survey had seen steam rising from a valley somewhere on the upper Chena River the year … Continue reading →

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Fairbanks: Aurora Take One

Posted on March 30, 2025 by Kiki

The aurora was predicted to be awesome on our second night there, so I booked us an aurora watching in a lodge in the mountains. one trick they pull is that the price does not include the van up there, … Continue reading →

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Fairbanks The Treehouse

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Kiki

I have always dreamed of seeing the aurora. I did some research and Fairbanks in March is the best time. I planned 2 weeks so that regardless of the moon phase, weather, or a low aurora index, I would definitely … Continue reading →

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Just a Quickie to Seattle: The Gits Concert

Posted on February 18, 2025 by Kiki

It was The Gits Day (!), according to a King County proclamation issued by executive Dow Constantine. The second event Saturday to celebrate the re-release of The Gits’ 1992 debut album “Frenching the Bully” took place at KEXP gathering space, a nice, … Continue reading →

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Just a Quickie with Andy and Cat

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Kiki

Bob wasn’t the only one experiencing a homecoming this weekend. I went through 9 years of Catholic school with Journalist Andy Nystrom, and we were even on the school paper together until the teacher told me to stop wasting my … Continue reading →

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Just a Quickie to Seattle: The Gits

Posted on February 16, 2025 by Kiki

There were two events happening Saturday to celebrate the re-release of The Gits’ 1992 debut album “Frenching the Bully” album on Sub Pop Records. There were speeches and proclamations and a mini gallery of Mia’s art. The band signing the reissued … Continue reading →

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Just a Quickie to Seattle: Hotel Sorrento

Posted on February 4, 2025 by Kiki

Bob’s first band was called the Sniveling Little Rat Faced Gits, further cementing our bond with our Monty Python geekiness. They formed when he was at Antioch College in 1986. Bob went back to the East coast and eventually LA, … Continue reading →

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Norway: Fish Market

Posted on August 27, 2024 by Kiki

Bergen’s main attraction is the fish market. There is a large indoor market, then purveyors lining the bridge. there is a sit-down restaurant, and I was craving the crabs legs I had seen, but honestly they were disappointingly small and … Continue reading →

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Bergen: The Never-Ending Bowl of Soup

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Kiki

The Olive Garden’s “Endless soup and salad” has nothing on these people. I was wandering around looking for a place for lunch and saw a Mexican restaurant. Whaaat? But I saw camarones al mojo de ajo and that sounded so … Continue reading →

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Norway: Bergen’s Magic Hotel is Craaazy

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Kiki

OK, so I had to move hotels due to the complicated juggling we had to do in the wake of my hospitalization. I came to the Magic Hotel (K something…Magic Hotel Kierkegaard? Kunterhurst?) Ahhh, here it is. I came in … Continue reading →

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Bergen Norway: You Can Check Out Any Time You Like but You Can Never Leave

Posted on August 22, 2024 by Kiki

The whole time we were in Oslo I had a bit of a sinus thing I attributed to the new plants and spores of a new country. But I was also unusually tired, having weird nightmares, falling out of bed … Continue reading →

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