To many, Alaska is a land of extremes. If that's true, then Fairbanks is the extreme of the extremes.
In the summer, Fairbanks basks in nearly endless daylight and temperatures that can reach 90 degrees. In the winter, darkness and frigid temperatures reign -- perfect for the northern lights and ice sculptures. Last winter minus 45 was not uncommon.
In summer it's all about the sunlight, which leads people -- both locals and visitors -- outdoors.
Consider these ways to celebrate the sun:
Chena River: The river runs through the heart of Fairbanks, and locals celebrate the water in a variety of ways. Restaurants have decks overlooking the Chena; riverboats take visitors up and down the river; there is a walkway along the waterway, including a footbridge from one bank to the other; Golden Heart Park sits along the river and is a gathering place for many activities; and canoes can be rented for a trip on the river.
Midnight Sun Festival: Get together with a bunch of folks from Fairbanks -- maybe 40,000 or more -- to celebrate the longest day of the year. The June 21 festival features the usual festival lineup -- live music, performing arts, dancing, food, crafts, a classic car show -- but it goes on and on, starting at noon and continuing until midnight. The festival basically takes over downtown Fairbanks for the day. (downtownfairbanks.com, 452-8671)
Midnight Sun Baseball Classic: See something you've likely never seen before, a baseball game with the first pitch at 10:30 p.m. The Goldpanners play in the Alaska Baseball League, a league for college-age players. On June 21 the Alaska Goldpanners will host the 104th Midnight Sun game. The game is stopped at midnight for singing of the "Alaska Flag Song," then picks back up, usually ending around 1:30 a.m. This unique game could be the highlight of an Alaska vacation. (goldpanners.com, 451-0095)
Alaska Bird Observatory: The nature center on the grounds of Wedgewood Resort provides plenty of things for the birders, including guided walks. There also is easy access to Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge. The observatory is at 418 Wedgewood Drive and is open Mondays to Saturdays. (www.alaskabird.org, 451-7159)
Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge: The 2,000-acre refuge is also a birders' paradise, with a wide variety of migratory and resident birds, including Canada geese, sandhill cranes, pintails, golden plovers, shovelers, ravens, owls and mallards. There are about five miles of nature trails for visitors to enjoy. The refuge is at 1300 College Road and is open daily. (creamersfield.org, 459-7307)
Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre: Enjoy Shakespeare's finest works under the midnight sun. This year the theater group is performing "Othello" July 9-26; ticket prices are from $15 to $18. Performances are at Jack Townsend Point on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. (457-7638)
Georgeson Botanical Garden: What's better on a endless-sun day than a trip to a garden to look at beautiful flowers and giant vegetables? On display are annuals, perennials and herbs. Take your kids to the Babula Children's Garden or have a picnic. The garden is at 117 W. Tanana Drive and is open daily. (www.uaf.edu/snras/gbg, 474-1944)
Golden Days Festival: The Gold Rush was crucial to Fairbanks' development, and the Golden Days Festival celebrates the role that gold played in the community's history. The festival includes a parade, pancake breakfasts, historic re-enactments, a river regatta, music and the Rubber Duckie Race. It takes place July 21-26 downtown. (fairbankschamber.org, 452-1105)
Chena River State Recreation Area: The recreation area is the perfect destination for a summer day or longer. With 397 square miles of forests, rivers and alpine tundra, the possibilities are almost endless. The park follows the Chena River, so kayaking, canoeing or fishing are wonderful. But it also has some excellent hiking trails, especially the Granite Tors Trail and the Angel Rocks Trail. There are several campgrounds and public-use cabins that can be rented. The recreation area can be reached from Chena Hot Springs Road. (www.dnr.state.ak.us/parks/units/chena/index.htm)
Chena Hot Springs: This is the place to go in winter, when the wonderful hot springs are surrounded by a blanket of snow and the northern lights shimmer above. But summer isn't a bad time to visit either. The hot springs are still there, especially on a cool day, but there are also area flightseeing, tours of the dog sled kennels, trips on ATVs, mountain biking and horseback riding. If the sun is too much, visit the Aurora Ice Museum, an indoor ice facility that stays at 20 degrees year-round. Inside the museum are a variety of ice sculptures and an ice bar where you can have a drink. ((chenahotsprings.com, 451-8104)
While all that outdoor fun can keep you busy, there are some things to enjoy indoors too.
Probably at the top of the list is the University of Alaska Museum of the North on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus. The museum is the perfect combination of history and art -- with a collection of 1.4 million items, from dinosaur fossils to contemporary art.
The museum is at 907 Yukon Drive and is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily during the summer months. Admission is $15 adults, $14 seniors and $8 youths. ((www.uaf.edu/museum, 474-7505)
Make a trip to North Pole -- the community, not the spot at the top of the globe -- and plop yourself in the middle of Christmas, no matter what day of the year. The Santa Claus House is a gift shop that features a crazy array of Christmas gifts, collectibles, apparel and local crafts. ((www.santaclaushouse. com, 488-2200)
If you have only a day or two in Fairbanks, you'll be sorry and wish you had more.
