Things to See & Do -

Fairbanks is the jumping-off point for trips to the far north and Arctic Alaska. Several companies operate tours and excursions to Barrow, Prudhoe Bay and the Brooks Range, departing from Fairbanks. In addition, there is a fantastic stern-wheeler riverboat tour on the Chena and Tanana Rivers, tours of operating gold mines, and a hot springs resort. Fairbanks is also the main campus for the University of Alaska, and hosts a fine museum, the Geophysical Institute of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the International Arctic Research Building. Pioneer Park hosts restored gold-rush era buildings, a restored sternwheeler, and the “Harding Car”, the railroad car used by President Harding when he visited Alaska to drive the golden spike to signify the completion of the Alaska Railroad.

Places To Eat  –

Fairbanks has a number of wonderful restaurants, featuring Alaskan favorites as well as some of your favorite ethnic cuisine. Two Rivers Lodge is a bit out of town, but definitely worth the trip. They specialize in standard American fare. Pike’s Landing is a longtime Fairbanks institution, featuring fine dining, as well as sandwiches and appetizers on their deck. Pike’s is a favorite of visitors and locals alike. The Pump House is a great restaurant located in a historical building on the Chena River. They also have fine dining, as well as  serve sandwiches and appetizers on their deck. If you’re looking for ethnic food, the two standouts are Gambardella’s, in downtown, and Lemon Grass, a wonderful Thai restaurant. If you’re looking for the quirky Interior Alaska Experience, try The Turtle Club in Fox, or Ivory Jacks in Goldstream. Both have great food, and are gathering places for the locals.

Places to Stay –

Fairbanks is home to some fantastic hotels and inns. Whether you’re looking for luxury accommodations, or the comfort and intimacy of a bed and breakfast, Fairbanks has a number of great choices. All have a distinctive Alaskan flavor, and are hosted by some of the friendliest people in the world! We can help you find the place that fits your needs, whether it is a room overlooking the river or the best breakfast in Alaska.

Geography –

Fairbanks is the second-largest city in Alaska, located on the Tanana and Chena Rivers. The city is the northern hub of the Alaska road system, with four major highways converging there. The George Parks Highway heads south from the city, connecting Fairbanks with Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula. The Richardson Highway heads southeast from Fairbanks, and connects the city with Delta Junction (the end of the Alaska Highway), the Copper River Valley, and Valdez. The Steese Highway heads northeast from Fairbanks to Circle, Central and Circle Hot Springs. The Elliott Highway heads north and west, connecting Fairbanks to the Dalton Highway and Prudhoe Bay, as well as Manley Hot Springs.

Fairbanks is located about 100 air miles south of the Arctic Circle, and about 350 air miles north of the Gulf of Alaska and the Pacific Ocean. 

Climate –

Fairbanks is at the northern edge of the continental climate zone. This climate is characterized by large seasonal variations, with warm summers and long, cold winters. The annual temperature variation in Fairbanks is occasionally as great as 150 degrees Fahrenheit, with a summer high of 95 degrees and a winter low of -55 degrees. Typical summer days have highs in the 70’s, and typical winter days are as cold as -25. Fairbanks receives just over 10 inches of precipitation each year. The average annual snowfall in Fairbanks is about 65 inches, most of which falls from September to May.

Another notable aspect of the Fairbanks climate is the length of the days. Throughout most of the summer months, the sky never gets dark. Sunset for most of June and July actually occurs after midnight each night, followed by a sunrise between 3 and 4 am. Even when the sun is down, the sky is not dark, because the sun is just a degree or so below the horizon. At the other extreme, days in the winter are very short, and when the sun is up, it is very low in the southern sky. On the Winter Solstice, the sun is up for only 3 hours and 49 minutes!

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