Find Fun in Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska’s second-largest city, is as diverse and distinct as any place in the state. The city is known for dog sledding and northern lights in the winter, and long, festive days during the summer.
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Boasting a population of 32,000, Fairbanks lies less than 120 miles south of the Arctic Circle. In the winter, temperatures fall as low as below 60 degrees. Conversely, 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.
City Attractions
Annual attractions or events within the city include Creamers Field State Migratory Waterfowl Refuge, the Golden Days Parade in July, the Open North American Championship Sled Dog Race in March, Pioneer Park and the World Eskimo Indian Olympics in July.
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The menu of recreation activities in this area may seem endless, from mountain biking, hiking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, snowmobiling, camping and backpacking. Looking for more fun? Head down to the Chena River State Recreation Area to launch a canoe, kayak or raft on the water. You might even see a moose or two. Also in the recreation area is the Angel Rocks Trailhead, located an eight-mile hike that leads to nearby Chena Hot Springs Resort.
Sports
Fairbanks is a hub for cross-country skiing in Alaska. It has hosted many different big ski events, including the 2003 Junior Olympic Cross Country Ski Championship and the 2008 and 2009 U.S. Cross Country Distance Nationals. Recreational cross-country skiers will also find trails.
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Fairbanks is also home to the Yukon Quest, an international 1,000-mile sled dog race that’s considered one of the toughest in the world. The race alternates its starting and finishing points each year between Fairbanks and Whitehorse in Canada’s Yukon Territory. The race, which has been run every year since 1984, lasts from 9 to 16 days, from the first “mush” until the final dog team crosses the finish line.
