Northern Lights
Flying up to Alaska isn't bad via Seattle, probably didn't need to pay for exit row seating on the relatively short flight from LAX to SEA, although should have considered it for the much longer Seattle to Fairbanks flight (or at least aisle seat). No aurora borealis through the airplane window unfortunately, but at least the beef pho at the North Satellite Terminal at SEA is surprisingly good for airport food.
Can't remember if the SpringHill Suites in downtown Fairbanks is recently renovated or not, but as the only Marriott in the area, I was happy to find it more than nice enough. Stopped by Safeway on the way to the hotel, where the quality of the char siu was surprisingly decent for a Western supermarket, and lucked out into seeing the auorea borealis right at Creamer's Field literally right off one of the main roads at the northern edge of Fairbanks. Was only spectacular for a few minutes, but given I was practically still in the city, and it was my first night, I was not complaining.