Fairbanks Alaska: Day Trips, Hotels & Vacation Package Options
Fairbanks is Alaska’s second largest city, and the trade and transportation hub for
interior and north Alaska. Recreational activities include hunting, fishing, boating,
hiking, camping, rafting, skiing, and dog mushing. Races in the area include the
Yukon Quest Sled Dog Race and the Open North American Championship sled dog race.
Travelers to
Fairbanks should visit the University of Alaska Fairbanks museum to view exhibits
on all the regions of Alaska, its wildlife and native culture. The university
is also the 2,250-acre home to the Geophysical Institute, the Large Animal Research
Station, the farm of the Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station. Also
stop in to visit one of the state's top natural history museums, the University
of Alaska Museum of the North.
Popular Fairbanks Tours & Day Trips:
Fairbanks
also offers a variety of tours and day trips, including: a tour of a working gold mine, a visit to an authentic gold dredge,
a three and a half hour Riverboat Discovery tour (rated best boat tour in North
America), or visit Pioneer Park, and get a taste of pioneer life.
The
World Eskimo-lndian Olympics are held each July. Spectators can view traditional
events such as the high kick, greased pole walk, stick pull, fish cutting, ear
pulling contest, and traditional Native dancing.
The
sternwheeler Riverboat Discovery cruises the Chena and Tanana rivers, with a stop
at Chena Indian Village. The Tanana Chief, another authentic sternwheeler, offers sightseeing
and meal cruises.
Pioneer Park is a popular attraction and day trip in Fairbanks, and is Alaska's only frontier theme park. Visitors
can stroll back in time and enjoy entertainment throughout this 44-acre area.
At Photosymphony
Productions, visitors can experience a dazzling, multi-image visual concert of
Alaska's northern lights in Ester, just 8 miles out of town.
Ice carvers from around the world compete in the World Ice Art Championships,
a unique, annual winter event.
A
few minutes out of Fairbanks you will find Chena Hot Springs, a resort built around
a natural hot spring. If you’re interested in taking a few days to rest
and relax before continuing home or abroad, consider taking a few days to swim,
go horseback riding, river raft, or explore interior Alaska in the quiet and comfort
of a secluded resort.
The
nearby community of North Pole, which receives thousands of letters to Santa Claus
each year, has several attractions that are worth the visit. North Pole offers
great views of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline and many gift shops selling toys and
presents straight from the North Pole!
Flying
or driving excursions to Fort Yukon or other parts of the Arctic Circle are available
from Fairbanks. These tours will give you an idea of life on the Yukon River and
Alaska’s 
bush
country. Other tours into the Arctic include trips to Kotzebue, Nome or composite
Arctic native culture tours designed to give vacationers an idea of subsistence
life in Alaska’s polar region.
Population: 35,000
(85,000 including surrounding areas)
Location: Center of Interior;
358 road miles from Anchorage, or 50 minutes by jet; 4 hours by jet from Seattle
(via Anchorage).
Access: Daily jet service from many U.S. cities,
connecting flights through Anchorage from international cities, highway access
to U.S. and Canada, Alaska Railroad (connects Southcentral and Interior Alaska),
air taxi service.
Accommodations: 21 hotels/motels (3,395 rooms),
106 bed and breakfasts (664 rooms); 100 restaurants (seating for 9,800).
Fairbanks Facts:
Wildlife
& Nature | Specials | Reservations
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