CHRISTMAS LAST SUMMER

 

 We visited the Aurora Ice Museum at Cheena Hot Springs during our trip to Alaska.  Even though it was July and fairly warm and sort of sunny outside, once we were inside the museum we experienced our  coldest Winter weather in recent years.    The temperature and especially the festive Christmas room almost made us forget what month it really was.

 

Ice Museum4

There were several rooms carved out of ice in addition to the Christmas one– a bedroom, a music room, a sitting area…    These pictures are just a tiny sampling.    

The most elaborate carvings were along the hallways between rooms… these were for the most part too large to photograph as there wasn't room to get far enough away. 

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 Cheena Hot Springs is near Fairbanks and HERE is an earlier post about the rest of our experience there.  We loved it all!

Ice Museum5

 The bottom left and right photos are in the carving workshop in the Museum.  Everyone on the tour gathers in the anteroom, picks up heavy parkas, and enter the Museum quickly and all at once.  After you enter the Museum itself, pretty much everything that isn't special lighting (or human) is made of ice.

     

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Below is the Ice Bar — (all ice except for the comfy barstool covers).   Someone you may recognize is drinking a very icy appletini (in a martini glass made of ice).  The tour guide also served as bartender and he only served this one drink.  I don't think anyone would have wanted to hang around long enough to choose from a menu — or to drink more than one. 

  Ice Museum6

 

Cheers!  

And Happy Holidays from Florida, where Christmas is a little bit warmer!

 

SHARING with MOSAIC MONDAY and OUR WORLD TUESDAY.

 

Thank you Judith (MM) and Lady Fi, Sandy, Sylvia, Gattina, Arija, and Jenn for Our World.   

 

We appreciate all visitors and commenters! Thank you.

51 responses to “CHRISTMAS LAST SUMMER”

  1. That must have been fun to tour, but I’m FREEZING, just looking at the photos! LOL!

  2. Looks like a great place to visit

  3. orchid

    Dearest Sallie; Oh, the Aurora Ice Museum at Cheena Hot Springs looks SO cold 🙂 But I wish I could experience place like that at least once(^_^)v
    Dear friend, I DO hope you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and will have blessed Holiday Season for coming 2015!!!
    Sending Lots of Love and Hugs from Japan to my Dear friend in America, xoxo Miyako*

  4. “A Full-time Life” has been included in our A Sunday Drive for this week. Be assured that we hope this helps to point even more new visitors in your direction.
    http://asthecrackerheadcrumbles.blogspot.com/2014/12/a-sunday-drive_28.html

  5. It is holiday.
    And Merry Christmas to you.
    And Happy New Year.

  6. And everyone is bundled up in the icy room!

  7. this seems pretty much as the Ice Hotell we have up north. Works during winter time. This is a beautiful place. 🙂

  8. amazing sculptures! Wishing you much joy in this season of love.

  9. This is very interesting and cleverly done! Somewhere in the far north of Scandinavia there is a hotel made of ice, I can’t remember where but when I have time today I shall google it! I enjoyed seeing your photos and reading your post.
    Have a merry Christmas.
    Wil, ABCW Team.

  10. Wow, they are all so pretty! It is very early here, but I wanted to be sure and say Merry Christmas to you. My left arm is still not pain free and it is causing numbness down into left hand and so I will be copying and pasting this message for my blogging friends, but did not want to leave anyone out of this greeting, coming from my heart to your own. We have a blog draft in the works for publishing on Friday and then a hope and a prayer that the New Year will be good to everyone~

  11. Happy Holidays to you and yours Sallie… Hug… Michelle

  12. That is pretty awesome! I love ice sculpture:)
    Blessings, Aimee
    PS: Thanks for your comment-I’ll be checking my e-mail soon.
    A very blessed Christmas to you and yours!

  13. These are glorious! How sparkly!

  14. WOW! I’m always so impressed at the creative talents of so many people out there in the world. Thank you once more for sharing with us this cool (COLD) adventure!
    Merry Christmas in the land of warmth!
    Linda
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/?s=The+Adventures+of+Fuzzy+and+Boomer&submit=Search
    http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

  15. What an amazing place Sallie. You certainly saw some interesting things on your travels. I enjoyed these. Merry Christmas to you and your family and Happy New Year 🙂

  16. What a fun adventure and grand place to visit! Christmas in July! 🙂
    Merry Merry!

  17. Merry Christmas to you, Sallie and to your husband too ! No snow here this year but sun ans sun again.

  18. Wow that must have been very special in the middle of summer ! We have an Ice sculpture exhibition here, but as this year there are only Disney sculptures, I am not so interested. The best exhibition was when buildings from other countries were carved !

  19. Riet

    I find those sculptures so amazing. Sitting on those ice chairs must be so cold.:))
    Merry Christmas Sally.

  20. What a great experience and a fantastic festive post. Merry Christmas!

  21. Oh, how lovely! I do admire ice sculptors! Wishing you and yours a marvellous Christmas.

  22. Wishing you lots of love and joy during this Christmas. Merry Christmas.

  23. How cool!

  24. Interesting images. Love the flowers in ice. Happy Holidays to you.

  25. Hmm, that is interesting. Especially the appletini in an ice glass.

  26. An interesting experience if ever there was one, Sallie and so beautiful. The sculptures from the carving workshop are interesting Frozen Chihuly’s? You really had the trip of lifetime.

  27. ooooo a weee bit chilly.
    Merry Christmas.

  28. that is one cool place. do they provide the coats?
    happy christmas.

  29. Pete

    did you have to drink it fast?

  30. Awesome ice carvings and great captures!!

  31. Happy Holidays to you too!

  32. Beautiful montage of photos ~ love the glass made of ice ~
    Happy Holidays to you,
    artmusedog and carol

  33. A glass made of ice. Cuts down on needing ice cubes!

  34. Wonderful to see… I wish you and all your family a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year xxx

  35. Amazing! Lovely photos to accompany your good wishes. I just viewed the online gallery for the Ice Museum.

  36. This is one cold post! But fascinating. I would probably walk though rather quickly and take my martini in a warmer clime!

  37. The ice museum contrasted with the hot springs is a fantastic idea. I think the ice rose is especially lovely, as it seems to float in the air.

  38. WoW!! Causes one to shiver. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!!!

  39. Sallie,
    That must have been amazing to see. Welcome back to FL.
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
    Judy

  40. I think I may bookmark this page for a 100+ degree day!
    Nice pictures.
    Hope you have a great Christmas.
    Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne

  41. It’s gorgeous but I’d rather look at all that ice from some where warm.

  42. Beautiful Christmas decorations in ice. Very innovative.

  43. Wow. What an experience that must’ve been! The perfect place for me to deal with these hot flashes!
    Sallie, I hope you have a very Blessed and Merry Christmas!

  44. I’m always amazed by what can be made of ice! Have a great Holiday!

  45. How amazing…something spectacular to see! We’re having a little rain here in central Florida today but that can be nice too. Enjoy your week my friend! Merry Christmas!

  46. Creative and very beautiful – but I can only imagine how cold it was! I’d rather have a Florida type Christmas – or an Aussie one!!

  47. Judith @ Lavender Cottage

    Awesome photos and the ice bar looks like an interesting place to visit.
    Thank you for linking to Mosaic Monday.
    Merry Christmas.

  48. Sounds beautiful, but cold. Glad they provided warm clothing and a non-frozen seat.

  49. Oh wow, what a neat place to visit.. You always find cool places during the travels.. The ice bar is very cool, or should I say cold.. Thanks for sharing! Merry Christmas to you and your family!

  50. too darn cool (no pun intended!)

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