Fairbanks Travel Guide
From Wikitravel
- For other places with the same name, see Fairbanks (disambiguation).
Fairbanks [1] is a town in Central Alaska, 1488 miles from the start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, BC. It is the second-largest city in Alaska and, being a junction of several major highways, will be a likely stop of most visitors to the state.
Fairbanks proper may be like a lot of towns in the lower 48. There's a Wal-Mart, a Home Depot and a McDonald's. Don't let this fool you, The greater Fairbanks area are true to their roots. There are plenty of Alaskan originals here.
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Get in
By air
Fairbanks International Airport serves both remote destinations in Alaska's interior and international cities.
By car
If you are driving up from Anchorage, the George Parks Highway is a beautiful trip. Plan plenty of time in your schedule for sight-seeing, meals and photographs. During the summer, when the roads are clear, the trip can easily be made in 7 or 8 hours, with stops for snacks and bathroom breaks - depending on road construction and motorhome-convoy-slowdowns. You will pass through Denali National Park on your way which is a popular attraction. However, if you plan to stay the night have reservations well in advance. By "lower-48" standards, accommodation near the park is either "4-star" or "rustic". Both can be pricey, but worth every penny, especially if you spend a day in the park.
Though many think Denali Park is the highlight of the trip there are long stretches of breath-taking beauty. It is not uncommon to see moose, caribou, doll sheep, bear, and other wildlife along the road - have your camera ready. There are plenty of gas stations scattered along the route, but as expected, the prices are much higher than in Anchorage or Fairbanks. Fill up before you leave.
There are several good places to eat along the way as well. Most places will have specialties like reindeer or buffalo on the menu as well as more traditional fare.
All in all, you should make the drive at least once. It's worth it.
By train
During the summer the Alaska Railroad provides daily service between Anchorage and Fairbanks, stopping in Denali National Park and other spots along the way. Trains depart Fairbanks at 8:15 AM, and arrive from Anchorage at 8:15 PM. Fares vary throughout the season, with rates between $143 and $179 for a one-way ticket between Fairbanks and Anchorage. Rail tickets can be booked at www.alaskarailroad.com.
Get around
By car
By far, the easist way to get around Fairbanks is by car. Major car rental companies are located at the airport.
Taxi
Multiple taxi companies provide transportation throughout the city.
By bus
Bus service, although infrequent, provides transportation throughout the downtown area. Fares are $1.50, or $3.00 for a day pass. [2]
See
- Creamer's Field, [3]. Located in the northern part of town off of College Road, Creamer's Field Wildlife Refuge is a former dairy that is now a migratory stopover point for countless numbers of Canada geese, sandhill cranes, ducks, and other bird species. Numerous trails lead through the refuge and there is a visitor center located within the old farmhouse.
- University of Alaska Museum, University of Alaska Campus, [4]. An excellent collection of exhibits about the nature, history and cultures of Alaska; the displays on the Northern Lights are particularly trippy. Open 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM during the summer (May 15 - September 15) with shorter hours during the rest of the year. $5 per adult, $3 for youths age 7 - 17, children 6 and under are free.
Do
Tours
If you are visiting Fairbanks mid-May through mid-September, there are several tours that allow tourists to learn the history and culture of Fairbanks. The tours described below are the most popular and advised tours to take while visiting Fairbanks.
The Riverboat Discovery, is arguably the best tour you can take while staying in Fairbanks. This tour goes twice a day and last for three and a half hours. You have the ability to go at 8:30 a.m. or 1:45 p.m. While enjoying a beautiful day out on the Chena River you will have the opportunity to see and learn a lot about Alaska and Fairbanks. This tour demonstrates a bush pilot airplane taking off from a grass runway from the banks of the Chena River. Passengers also meet Susan Butcher who is a four time iditarod champion. Mrs. Butcher discusses what its like to race in a dogsled tournament, she also introduces you to her dogs! The tour stops for an hour at the Chena Indian Village where passengers are taken through a tour by Alaskan Natives. The riverboat also stops at an Athabaskan fishing village where passengers get to see how fish are cut and prepared. One of the most exciting aspects of this tour is you are able to witness "Nuchalawoya", which is an Athabascan Indian term that means the wedding of two rivers, and in this case the Chena and Tanana Rivers.
The El Dorado Goldmine is another half day tour that is ran by the same family that operates the Riverboat Discovery. This tour runs twice everyday at 8:45 a.m. and 2 p.m. However, on Saturdays it only runs at 2 p.m. This tour is located about twenty minutes outside of Fairbanks and takes you on a two hour tour of Alaska's gold mining history. The tour begins on a train where you go thru a permafrost tunnel. While in the tunnel you are shown how gold miners used to underground mine. Following this, you will learn about how miners used to pan for gold and how current gold miners do it today. You'll also have the opportuniy to talk with current Alaskan miners. Each person on the tour gets to pan for actual gold! Everyone finds gold and the staff at the El Dorado Goldmine will weigh it for you to see how much you actually found.
The Fairbanks City Tour is ran by River's Edge Resort. This tour runs everyday at 8:30 a.m. and lasts for three hours. This tour takes you to downtown Fairbanks where you are able to tour Golden Heart Park and the Visitor's Center. While on this tour, you also get to view the Trans-Alaska Pipeline that was built in the 1970's and continues to transport oil to this day. The Fairbanks City Tour takes its passengers to the Univeristy of Alaska Fairbanks Museum and Botanical Gardens.
Events
The Midnight Sun Baseball Game is held every summer on Summer Solstice. The Alaska Goldpanners are the farthest north semi-professional baseball team. What makes this event so special is that the sun never goes down in Fairbanks on Summer Solstice. The game begins at 10:30 p.m. and last the whole nine innings without the sun ever going down. Throughout its one hundred years of existence the Midnight Sun Game has never had to turn on artificial baseball lights.
Fairbanks Golden Days is a week long event that was created to celebrate the discovery of gold in Fairbanks in 1902. The event is usually held toward the end of July. Throughout the week people are able to participate in several activities. However, the highlight of the week is the Golden Days Parade. This parade showcases marching bands, anitque cars, clowns, jugglers, and several decorated floats. Enjoy watching the parade as it goes through the heart of Fairbanks. During this week make sure you wear a Golden Days pin or take the risk of getting "arrested" and put in the Golden Days jail!
Following the Golden Days Parade is the annual Rubber Duckie Race. Every year at this time 6,000 plastic yellow rubber duckies race the Chena River to win cash and prizes worth up to $30,000.
Activities
Pioneer Park is definitely something that all tourists should visit while staying in Fairbanks. Pioneer Park includes several gift shops, the Alaska Civic Center, an aviatiors museum, a native village, fishwheel, President Harding's rail car, mining tunnel, miniature golf course, playgrounds, merry-go-rounds, Pioneer Museum, and the S.S. Nenana which is an old sternwheeler that used to travel Alaskan rivers. Pioneer Park is set up like an old Gold Rush Town, which makes the activities and surroundings very fun.
Chena Hot Springs Resort is located sixty miles outside of Fairbanks. Along your way out to Chena Hot Springs you have a very good chance of seeing moose and other wildlife. Once you arrive at the resort you have a variety of things you can do. The swimming area includes an indoor pool, three indoor hot tubs, an outdoor rock pool, and two outdoor hot tubs all using water from the hot springs. Enjoy relaxing in the rock pool under twenty-four hour daylight! Another must do while visiting Chena Hot Springs is the Aurora Ice Museum. The Aurora Ice Museum is the largest year-round ice enviroment. Everything in the museum is made of ice including a bar, polar bear beds, full-size game of chess, and an ice tower. If your interested in hiking while staying at Chena Hot Springs you must hike Angel Rock.
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline was built in 1975 and was constructed to carry oil from the oil port in Prudhoe Bay down to Valdez, Alaska the northernmost ice-free port, covering 800 miles of land. The pipeline continues to carry 14 billion barrels of oil every day, and contributes 20% of our nations oil. The Trans-Alaska Pipeline is one of the largest pipelines in the world.
Buy
For those who have been camping extensively, one of the first things to look for in Fairbanks is a shower. Practically every laundromat in town also offers showers for between $3 and $7. Most will provide a towel and liquid soap, but be prepared for a quick cleaning as nearly all will utilize timers that turn the water off after only a few minutes.
Eat
- Alaskaland Salmon Bake, 2300 Airport Way (in Alaskaland), [5]. Alaskaland is the mother of all cheesy tourist stops and is heavily trafficked by tour buses filled with foreigners and senior citizens, but for the hungry budget traveller the salmon bake probably provides the best value in Fairbanks. This all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of grilled salmon, halibut, ribs, lemonade, and blueberry dessert can be had for $28 per person (2005 price), which by Alaska standards is a bargain. Summer only, 5:00 PM until 9:30 PM, seven nights a week.
- Alaska Coffee Roasting Co, 4001 Geist Road, [6]. Alaska Coffee Roasting Co is a small coffee shop, offering a small variety of food items as well. Is frequented by locals, college kids, and tourists alike. Alaska Coffee Roasting Co roasts their own coffee and offers specialities such as wood oven baked pizza.
- The Pumphouse, 796 Chena Pump Rd, [7]
- Wolf Run, 3360 Wolf Run
- Cookie Jar, 1006 Cadillac Ct, [8]
Drink
- College Coffeehouse, 3677 College Road Unit 4, Tel: (907) 374-0468, Fax: (907) 374-4442, [9]. Coffee and snacks served in an environment perfectly suited for broke college students. Great for studying, chatting, or listening to the frequent musical guests. Internet access (wireless & LAN) is available, with fifteen minutes free with any purchase, and prices of $2 per fifteen minutes thereafter.
Sleep
Hotels
- Aspen Hotel in Fairbanks Alaska, [10]. Reserve a Fairbanks hotel suite Aspen Hotels online or call: 1-866-GUEST4U.
- Super 8 Motel, 1909 Airport Road, PH: (907) 451-8888, Fax: (907) 451-6690, [11]. Very much like every other Super 8 Motel in America. Rates average about $130 per night in the summer, and about $70 per night in the winter.
- Comfort Inn, 1908 Chena Landings Loop, PH: (907) 479-8080, Fax: (907) 479-8063, [12]. Another national chain, this hotel offers an indoor pool and free breakfast. Rates around $160 per night in the summer, $80 per night in winter.
Get out
- Denali National Park. Located 120 miles south of Fairbanks on the George Parks Highway, Denali is vast wilderness preserve that is the home of North America's tallest mountain, the 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley (Denali).
- Dalton highway
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