1. Eat at Pei Wei. Oh my goodness- I will miss this place. I get several cravings a month for Pei Wei- but we have restrained ourselves and only eaten there or got take out from there a couple of times in the last several months. We have "heard" that Anchorage is getting a P.F. Changs (they also own Pei Wei) but whether it's true or not remains to be seen. Anchorage is also 6 hours from Fairbanks, so it's not like we can just get a fix whenver we want!
2. Krispy Kreme. No such thing can be found in the great land of Alaska. Need to drive by when the "hot now" sign is on so that we can have one last melt in your mouth yeasty donut before we leave.
3.Target. Anchorage now has a Target. Wasilla might have one as well. There was one slated for Fairbanks, but got put on the back burner, I think due to the recession. I MUST go in for one more browse before we go, because, like P.F. Changs, the closest Target will be 6 hours away.
4. The mall. The mall in Fairbanks- The Bentley Mall- is affectionately referred to by locals as "The Bentley Hall". It's size is comparable to one end section of a small mall here in the Lower 48 and it's anchored by a Safeway on one side and a Michael's on the other. Now- I'm not a mall junkie, but do occasionally enjoy looking and letting the girls play in the play area. The major department store in Fairbanks- Gottschalk's- is closing, so I best get my department store fix, too! Anchorage has a great J.C. Penney's and a couple of "decent for Alaska" malls- but again- 6 hours away.
5.Enjoy some good fresh produce. Alaska doesn't get the best produce in the world and it's DANG expensive!! The bananas are WAY green in the grocery store and taste awful- I think because they have to pick them so early to get them all the way to Alaska before they go bad. Melons- holy cow. Can you say $10 for a watermelon??? $10 for cantaloupe??? Tomatoes aren't near as sweet. And the Alaskan grown tomatoes- they may look nice and get big, but tomatoes need heat and people, Alaska doesn't get HOT! Apples are always consistently good- which is a great thing, because my kids love apples!
6.Bath and Body Works. I'm not aware of Anchorage having a Bath and Body Works- they may have since we moved back. I need to stock up on anti-bacterial hand soap and my yummy smelling hand sanitizer. I know I can order online, but who really wants to pay for shipping??? And shipping is NEVER free to Alaska!
These are just a few things off the top of my head that I came up with- I'm sure if I asked Jeff, he could list off a dozen other things that are here in the Lower 48 and not in Alaska. I'm sure you'll all here about them, too, after we move and begin to miss some of our favorite stuff! One thing that is greatly loved in our house is GOOD COFFEE and Alaska has an abundant supply on every street corner of GOOD COFFEE! We should be just fine! :)
