Celebrate the midnight sun in Alaska

After a cold winter, Alaskans welcome the abundant summer sun with gusto. They can routinely be spotted gardening at 10 p.m. or teeing off at a local golf course at midnight. For RV enthusiasts, the long days present ample time to explore the territory.

RVers and other travelers who want to experience the celebration of summer firsthand should arrive in time for the solstice on June 21. Fairbanks is famous for its Midnight Sun Baseball Game, a tradition that has started at 10:30 p.m. on either June 20, 21 or 22, since 1906. The city also celebrates with a 12-hour Midnight Sun Festival from noon to midnight and the Midnight Sun Run, a 10-kilometer race that starts at 10 p.m. (www.explorefairbanks.com).

Although the Seldovia Summer Solstice Music Festival is a newer tradition, it's taken just as seriously and known to attract headlining musicians from across North America (seldoviamusicfestival.org).

Anchorage also celebrates the solstice with music at Moose's Tooth & Bear Tooth Summer Solstice Concert on June 21. For those who want to spend the day outdoors, there is the Mayor's Marathon, a beach volleyball tournament, a golf tournament and an outdoor Summer Solstice Festival at the Anchorage Town Square (www.anchorage.net).

To plan a trip to Alaska during the summer solstice, visit www.travelalaska.com.

Traveling to Alaska? Check out the big selection of books and DVDs about traveling to the state via the Alaska Highway, and camping there in an RV.

Sit on an ice chair in Alaska this summer

Summer RV travelers curious about what winter throws Alaska's way should check out two new venues in Denali and Fairbanks this year. "Alaska at 40 Below," a cold room and museum operated by The Riverboat Discovery, opens at the Denali Princess Resort outside Denali National Park and Preserve and at Steamboat Landing in Fairbanks this month.

RV enthusiasts and other travelers will be able to don a parka, enter the cold room and try a few experiments — blowing soap bubbles and throwing hot water into the air.

They will find a similar experience at Pioneer Park in Fairbanks, where "40 Below Fairbanks" opened last year. Guests can get their photos taken sitting in a chair made of ice and try their hand at hammering a nail with a frozen banana. Guests stayed in the cold room on average about two minutes, but some remained as long as five minutes listening to the staff's expertise on cold-weather motor oils, housing construction, survival tactics and more. Those who prefer the summer's warmth can linger outdoors.

For information on planning a trip to Fairbanks, visit www.explorefairbanks.com.