7-Day “Speed-Run” Diary

✈️ ABOUT ALASKA (copy-paste facts + my jet-lag) “Last Frontier” – biggest U.S. state, 17-hr daylight in March, 16-hr during daylight-saving. Best travel window: Sep–Apr = aurora + snow + zero mozzies. Why March? −12 °C but sunny, dry, 90 % of attractions open, highest aurora frequency. I flew Dalian ➜ Seoul ➜ Portland, then Portland ➜ Anchorage ➜ Fairbanks = $400 domestic + ¥5k China legs. 🚗 TRANSPORT CHEAT-SHEET Anchorage ↔ Fairbanks 3 options: ✈️ Plane = 40 min, ~$100 (we picked = fastest). 🚂 Train = 12 h, ~$200 (world-famous “Arctic Express” – sold out till May). 🚘 Self-drive = 8 h (need snow tyres, no phone signal, rental contract bans many roads). Rental: Enterprise both cities – book at gate, return at airport. License: International Permit + home licence (I used Chinese + Int’l, 5-day express via Ctrip). Car model: random Ford SUV – 98 % roads clear, no snow-chains needed in March. ⚠️ LIFE RULE: rental bans = DO NOT DRIVE THERE – Arctic Circle roads = void insurance + void life. 🏨 ACCOMMODATION Anchorage: Airbnb house – 2 rooms, 4 pax, balcony = snowy postcard. Fairbanks: Hilton downtown (name forgotten = same lobby everywhere). Tip: no slippers / toiletries in U.S. hotels – pack or Walmart. 🧣 WHAT TO WEAR March = “Seattle winter”: down jacket, UGGs, waterproof spray = life-saver. Daylight: 08:30 sunrise, 19:30 sunset – long golden hour = photo candy. 📅 DAY-BY-DAY PLAY-BY-PLAY Day 1 – Anchorage Touch-Down 🍴 Moose’s Tooth Pub – legendary pizza, 5-star after 11-h flight. 📍 Earthquake Park – 1964 memorial + icy river backdrop = stretch legs + photos. 🍴 Glacier Brewhouse – king crab if you like seafood; we had pasta + dessert = wallet cry but yum. Day 2 – Matanuska Glacier 🧊 📞 Book day before: 907-232-9046, $100 pp. 🚗 1.5 h drive – no phone signal last 20 km = download offline map. Gear: they give crampons + waterproof pants; UGG boots OK, gloves mandatory. Tour: 2 h on ice = climb, crawl, lie, photo = cardio + jaw-drop. 🍴 Random Korean (Yelp pick) – hot soup = life after ice. Day 3 – Anchorage Chill 📍 Alaska Zoo – $12, 1 h walk, animals = sleepy but cute. 📍 Anchorage Museum – $15, 2 h of interactive art, 100/100 recommend. 🍴 Random sushi + fast-food – Yelp = best friend. Day 4 – Fly Fairbanks + Hot Spring ✈️ ANC ➜ FAI – afternoon arrival, rental car picked up. 📍 Chena Hot Springs – $15, drive 1 h, ice-bath + 40 °C pool = eyelash frost selfie. 📍 Aurora Ice Museum – closed = door photo only 😅 🍴 Fast-food + Walmart – stock up for aurora night. Day 5 – Arctic Circle + Aurora 🌌 🚌 McKinley Tour – $247 pp, 16 h bus, sofa seats + heater. 📍 Dalton Highway – “world’s most dangerous road” = ice + trucks. 📍 Arctic Circle – signed photo + name certificate. 🌌 Aurora – cloudy until 00:30, then 90 min of GREEN MAGIC = cry + freeze + worth it. Tip: Red head-lamp, NorthernLights app, yell “OH MY GOD” repeatedly. Day 6 – Sleep + Santa 📍 Santa Claus House – closed for renos = door selfie. 🍴 Beijing Hot-pot – no sesame paste but warm + cozy. Day 7 – Fairbanks Last Play 📍 Paws for Adventure – $75 dog-sled, book day before, cute huskies + 2 mi ride. 📍 UAF Museum – $15, smaller than Anchorage but cool. ✈️ Night flight back to Portland – sleepy but satisfied. ⚠️ RANDOM BUT LIFE-SAVING TIPS Download Yelp = food Bible (like Dianping). Night driving = stay in city – no lights / no signal on mountain roads. Car stuck? – locals will pull you out = Alaska kindness. Rental no-go roads = DON’T GO – insurance void + life void. Phone aurora shot: NorthernLights app = 30-sec exposure magic. Offline maps: / AllTrails – download before signal dies. 🌈 CLOSING FEELS 7 days = re-lived movie – glacier ice, husky cuddles, green sky, king-crab food-coma. Travel = best way to hug the world – marry love later, embrace planet first. ✈️🌍💙 Next stop? More stamps, more stories, more frost-bitten fingers. #US #Alaska #Matanuska