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.