Fairbanks is the city of extremes. Cold, dark winters make viewing the stunning northern lights possible and the city comes to life with the World Ice Art Championships. Summer can bring temperatures in the 90s and a number of celebrations and festivals fill long days.
Daylight lasts 21 hours and 49 minutes on the summer solstice. The city celebrates with the Midnight Sun Festival featuring music, food, a car show, kids' entertainment, craft vendors and more. Summer in Fairbanks also brings midnight baseball, midnight golf and long days for fishing, hiking, riverboat rides, fairs, industrial tours and train trips.
Near the center of the state, Fairbanks sits near the junction of the Chena and Tanana rivers. It was founded in 1902 as a trading post for gold miners developing the Interior fields. Today travelers can try their hand at gold panning or visit the state's largest public display of gold at the University of Alaska Museum of the North. A visit to Pioneer Park takes you through a Gold Rush town with original structures that were moved to the park. The park is also home to the Alaska Native Museum, the Pioneer Air Museum, the Tanana Valley Railroad Museum and the riverboat SS Nenana. Restaurants, shops, art galleries and entertainment make the park a hub for family entertainment in the summer.
With a population of more than 98,000, this growing city has more ways to get around, more places to stay and more things to do than ever before. Plus, good eateries are never hard to find.
New hotels are popping up all over Fairbanks and the surrounding areas, with the opening of The Lodge at Black Rapids, Hotel North Pole, Ichiban Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites and Best Western during the past year.
"Fairbanks has 8 percent new room inventory," said Karen Lundquist, vice president of marketing for the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau. "That's a lot of new hotels."
It's not just the lodging industry that's growing. Expansions to the Fairbanks airport and Alaska Railroad depot make visiting Alaska's Interior landmark city easier than ever.
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center opened in 2008 as the new home for the Fairbanks Visitors and Convention Bureau, the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, the National Park Service, Alaska Geographic and Tanana Chiefs Conference Cultural Programs. A 9,000-square-foot exhibit hall showcases life in the Interior. APLIC shows free films in its 100-seat theater.
Signs throughout the city boast about its latitude, with "Farthest North Girl Scout Council" and "Farthest North Harley Davidson Outpost."
Fairbanks is a great jumping-off point for an Interior Alaska adventure. Alaska Hummer Tours won Princess Tours' 2008 Tour of the Year Award for its rugged backcountry adventures in a military Hummer.
Lundquist said many people plan trips to Fairbanks as a base for excursions to the north. Several aviation companies take travelers into the Bush to view wildlife, tour Native villages or visit Nome or Barrow. The Bush Mail Flight by Arctic Journeys allows passengers to ride along with a bush mail pilot for mail drops in Native villages.
"I think people in state are wanting to see how Natives live and traditional lifestyles," Lundquist said.
Several bus and van tours guide travelers across the Yukon River and north to the Arctic Circle. Others explore the Alaska pipeline or head out on nighttime trips for premier northern lights viewing opportunities.
SIDEBAR: NEW ANTIQUE AUTO MUSEUM
Fairbanks boasts a host of museums, including the Fairbanks Community Museum and Dog Mushing Museum, the University of Alaska Museum of the North and the Ice Museum in downtown Fairbanks. But a new museum is turning some heads.
At the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, 55 rare automobiles from the turn of the century to the late '30s illustrate evolution in American manufacturing. A collection of photos ties the vehicles to Fairbanks history and the development of Alaska. Displays of clothing from early Fairbanks give visitors a real taste of the times.
Tim Cerny, president of Fountainhead Hotels and creator of the museum, turned his passion into an Alaska landmark.
"I've had a lifetime interest in old cars and I had this opportunity to connect a passion with what we're doing with the resort," Cerny said.
Cerny and his team have done their research. They spent more than two years collecting the 80 photos and corresponding signs.
Cerny has an extensive knowledge of the collection, pointing out braking mechanisms, describing the ins and outs of early headlights and explaining how he knows one particular car is actually the same vehicle driving down a snowy Fairbanks road in a historic black-and-white photo enlargement on the wall. He even tells a story about how he bid against Jay Leno to acquire one of the cars. Most of the vehicles run and are used for community events.
Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for ages 3-12.
FAIRBANKS EVENTS
Fairbanks is known for its ice championships in the winter and its midnight sun in the summer. Here are the details on major 2010 events:
World Ice Art Championships
This international ice sculpting event features more than 180 sculptures. The best viewing of finished sculptures is March 4-14.
Where: Ice Park, 1925 Chena Landings Loop
When: Feb. 20-March 28
Cost: Varies, $5-$25 based on admission type.
Phone: 907-451-8250
Web: icealaska.com
65th Annual GCI Open North American Championship Sled Dog Race
The world's fastest mushers compete in the oldest continuously run sled dog race in the world.
Where: Starts and finishes downtown
When: March 19-21
Phone: 907-457-MUSH
Web: www.sleddog.org
Chatanika Days
Outhouse races and snowmobile tug-of-war are featured in the historic gold mining town of Chatanika.
Where: Chatanika, 30 miles north of Fairbanks
When: March 27-28
Phone: 907-389-2164
Midnight Sun Festival
The largest one-day event in Fairbanks offers music, food and family fun on the longest day of the year. Enjoy a vintage and classic car show, children's rides, petting zoo, gold panning, military display, Alaska craft vendors, strolling entertainers and more.
When: June 21
Where: Downtown Fairbanks
Cost: Free
Phone: 907-452-8671
Web: downtownfairbanks. com
105th Midnight Sun Baseball Game
The Alaska Goldpanners baseball team begins their contest at 10:30 p.m. and continues past midnight without artificial lighting. The "high noon at midnight" classic is an annual ritual on the longest day of the year.
Where: Growden Memorial Park
When: 10:30 p.m. June 21
Cost: $10
Phone: 907-451-0095
Web: goldpanners.com
Golden Days
Golden Days is five days of summer festivities with activities for everyone, including the largest parade in Alaska, pancake breakfasts, historic reenactments, beer festival, river regatta, music and the Rubber Duckie Race.
Where: Downtown Fairbanks
When: July 20-25
Cost: Free
Phone: 907-425-1105
World Eskimo-Indian Olympics
Indigenous people compete in traditional athletic games and celebrate through pageants and dances. The event includes a show of authentic Native arts and crafts.
Where: Carlson Center
When: July 21-24
Cost: $8 ages 5 to 15, $10 ages 16 to 60
Phone: 907-452-6646
Web: weio.org
Tanana Valley State Fair
The fair offers produce and agricultural shows, commercial and craft enterprises, rides, games and entertainers for the whole family.
Where: Tanana Valley State Fairgrounds, 1800 College Road
When: Aug. 6-14
Cost: $5-$35 depending on admission type
Phone: 907-452-3750
Web: tananavalleyfair.org
FAIRBANKS HIGHLIGHTS
Alaska Bird Observatory
The nature center on the grounds of Wedgewood Resort provides information, exhibits and programs on a variety of Alaska birds. Guided bird walks and local birding information are available. The center has a gift shop and easy trail access to Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge.
Where: 418 Wedgewood Drive
When: Summer hours 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; winter hours 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free; donations encouraged
Phone: 907-451-7159
Web: alaskabird.org
Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
The 2,000-acre refuge started life as a dairy farm during the Gold Rush. Today, migratory and resident birds including Canada geese, sandhill cranes, pintails, golden plovers, shovelers, ravens, owls and mallards visit the refuge. In addition to open spaces and wildlife, the refuge has about five miles of nature trails for visitors to enjoy. The farm buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places. The trails are always open and special events are held year-round.
Where: 1300 College Road
When: Open daily
Cost: Free
Phone: 907-452-5162
Web: creamersfield.org
El Dorado Gold Mine
Take a trip into Fairbanks' gold-mining history. Ride the Tanana Valley Railroad, pan for gold and visit a permafrost tunnel.
Where: Fox, Mile 1.3 Elliott Highway
When: 9:45 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily, mid-May to mid-September
Cost: $34.95 adults, $22.95 children ages 3-12
Phone: 907-479-6673, 866-479-6673
Web: eldoradogoldmine. com
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
More than 50 rare cars from the turn of the century to the late '30s are paired with vintage clothing from the times. Walls feature a collection of historical Fairbanks photos.
Where: 212 Wedgewood Drive
When: Summer hours 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; winter hours noon to 6 p.m. Sunday only
Cost: $8 adults, $5 ages 3-12; discounts for Fountainhead Hotel guests
Phone: 907-450-2100
Web: fountainheadhotels. com
Georgeson Botanical Garden
Explore the gardens and discover what can be grown under the midnight sun. Thanks to summer's long daylight, giant vegetables and beautiful flowers are guaranteed at the garden. Take a trip through the experimental perennial and rose gardens. Play in the Babula Children's Garden, have a picnic or volunteer to pull weeds.
Where: 117 W. Tanana Drive
When: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, May through October
Cost: $2, children under 6 free
Phone: 474-1944
Web: www.uaf.edu/snras/gbg
Large Animal Research Station
See musk oxen and caribou up close at the University of Alaska Fairbanks facility. The tour presenters have a natural science background and offer information about the Alaska animals.
Where: Yankovich Road
When: Hourly from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day
Cost: $10 adults, $9 seniors, $6 students
Phone: 907-474-5724
Web: www.uaf.edu/lars
Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center
This is the starting point for a visit to Fairbanks and the Interior. At the center, which opened late in 2008, is the Alaska Public Lands Information Center, the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Alaska Geographic Store and other helpful resources. Free films are shown daily at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
Where: 101 Dunkel St., Fairbanks
When: Summer hours 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; winter hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free
Phone: 907-459-3700
Web: morristhompsoncen ter.org
Pioneer Park
Activities at the historic theme park include a Gold Rush town featuring Alaska gifts and crafts in authentic log cabins, picnic areas, canoe and kayak rentals, an art gallery, train rides, playgrounds, President Warren G. Harding's railroad car, folk dancing, museums showcasing early Alaska life, and a diorama of the Yukon River aboard the sternwheeler SS Nenana. The park also has live shows with music and comedy skits about early Fairbanks. Parkwide Wi-Fi is available.
Where: 2300 Airport Way
When: Noon to 8 p.m. daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day
Cost: Free; many activities have separate prices
Phone: 907-459-1087
Web: www.fnsb.us/pioneerpark
Riverboat Discovery
Enjoy a relaxing cruise on the Chena and Tanana rivers, including a walking tour of the Chena Indian village. See late Iditarod champion Susan Butcher's dogs, a floatplane display and the wedding of the rivers.
Where: 1975 Discovery Drive
When: 8:45 a.m., 2 p.m. daily
Cost: $54.95 adults, $37.95 children ages 3 to 12
Phone: 907-479-6673, 866-479-6673
Web: riverboatdiscovery. com
Santa Claus House
It's Christmas every day at this unique gift shop in North Pole, featuring an assortment of Christmas gifts, collectibles, apparel and local crafts.
Where: 101 St. Nicholas Drive, North Pole
When: Open daily
Cost: Free
Phone: 907-488-2200, 800-588-4078
Web: santaclaushouse.com
University of Alaska Museum of the North
With its stunning architecture and award-winning exhibits, the University of Alaska Museum of the North is a must-see. The museum's Gallery of Alaska gives visitors an excellent introduction to this vast and diverse state. Highlights include the state's largest gold exhibit, an extensive collection of Alaska Native artifacts, the world's only restored ice age steppe bison mummy, and videos on the aurora, a whale hunt and Alaska Native dances. The Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery presents a full range of Alaska art, from 2,000-year-old ivory carvings to contemporary paintings and sculptures. The Place Where You Go to Listen is a unique sound-and-light exhibit. In summer, the auditorium has multimedia programs on the aurora borealis, winter and Alaska's art. The museum offers special exhibits, family programs and lectures throughout the year.
Where: UAF campus, 907 Yukon Drive
When: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, May 15 to Sept. 15; winter hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday
Cost: $15 adults, $14 seniors, $8 youths, free for 6 and younger; price includes auditorium shows
Phone: 474-7505
Web: www.uaf.edu/museum
