Fairbanks
The Midnight Sun shines brightly on a fun-filled town
A fun-filled town with a free-thinking spirit, Fairbanks is where Alaska’s legendary routes intersect and where tourists convene for prime aurora borealis viewing. Many travelers wind up lingering in Fairbanks and find themselves charmed by its history and local customs. Others use it as a jumping-off point to venture to the Arctic Circle, just 119 miles to the north.
Fairbanks also serves as the springboard for trips to Denali National Park and Preserve, two hours to the south. North America’s highest peak, Denali and its surrounding landscapes boast some of the region’s most spectacular wildlife, including bears, sheep and caribou.
© State of Alaska/Kristen Kemmerling
Fun Under the Midnight Sun
With a population of just over 32,000, Fairbanks is a great place to experience the extremes of the Last Frontier. In the winter, record-low temperatures of 60 below zero have been reported, while summer temperatures can soar above 80 degrees. Fairbanks enjoys more than 22 hours of daylight when the summer solstice arrives on June 21, and the city’s Midnight Sun Baseball Game pits two minor league teams against each other in a late-night tradition.
In Fairbanks, the great outdoors is never far away, and just 18 miles to the east lies Chena Lake Recreation Area. At the height of summer’s midnight sun, boaters, anglers and swimmers (there are two designated swimming areas) congregate at Lake Park’s 260-acre lake and sandy beaches.
Anglers can continue their adventure in the nearby Chena River State Recreation Area. Drop a line for grayling and reel in a hefty haul. You may even see moose on the banks.
Hop aboard the Riverboard Discovery and take a three-hour voyage along the Chena River for fascinating destinations. Tour a Chena Indian Village and watch Alaska sled dogs go through their off-season training paces.
Big Veggies, Big Ox
Looking for a wholesome family daytrip? Georgeson Botanical Garden spans 5 acres of native flowers, plants and trees. The vegetable garden merits special attention — the midnight sun accelerates some veggies’ growth to massive sizes. On the site, the Large Animal Research Station studies mammals’ adaptations to the sub-Arctic climate. LARS tends a herd of 25 musk ox —once close to extinction from Alaska — as well as reindeer and caribou.
For More Information
Fairbanks Convention & Visitor’s Bureau
800-327-5774
Alaska Travel Industry Association
907-929-2842