| What should I do on the drive to Fairbanks? |
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| Fairbanks, Alaska's second-largest
city, is a former gold-rush town with a cutting-edge university-and
it still holds onto its fiercely independent roots. Tour old gold
mines, take a historic riverboat cruise, or just wander around downtown.
It's a 7-hour drive up from Anchorage, but thanks to the midnight
sun you'll find enough daylight to enjoy some of the scenic highlights
and activities along the way-here are a few of our favorites: |
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| Eagle
River Nature Center (Mile 13.4) |
| Just
30 minutes out of town, you'll come to the dramatic Eagle River
Valley and the nature center, the gateway to Chugach State Park.
Pick the brains of the rangers for activities; perhaps you'll
hike a section of the Iditarod Trail and hark back to the days
when the trail was used as a mail route. Albert Loop Trail meanders
three miles through prime beaver-watching territory and serves
up great peak views. |
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| Details |
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907-694-2108 |
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Exit at mile 13.4 and take Old Glenn Highway,
follow signs to mile 12.5 Eagle River Rd. |
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| 32
min from downtown |
27 miles
one-way |
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| Thunderbird Falls
(Mile 25.2) |
| Walk through the
mossy forest of birch trees about one mile; you're soon surrounded
by ferns, and then at the viewing platform, where you can watch
the thunderous falls tumble down the rocky cliff face. |
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| 31
min from downtown |
26 miles
one-way |
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| Eklutna
Village Historical Park (Mile 26.5) |
| Dating
back to 1650, the park is the area's oldest continuously inhabited
Athabaskan Indian settlement. Russian Orthodox missionaries
came here in the early 1800s, and you can still see St. Nicholas
Church, the oldest standing building in greater Anchorage. Snap
some pictures of the colorful Spirit Houses build over the graves
of the deceased-a custom that came from the melding of the cultures.
Up for a walk? It'll pay off with a glacier view, as well as
the chance to see foxes, eagles, and black bears. |
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| Details |
|
907-696-2828 |
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Exit at mile 26.5 and take Eklutna Lake Rd. |
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| 32
min from downtown |
27 miles
one-way |
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| Eklutna Lake |
| On the other side
of the highway, a 10-mile road leads to this secluded lake,
a great spot to picnic, hike, or fish. Trails include the easy
8-mile Lakeside Trail or 6.5-mile Twin Peaks Trail, which climbs
to magnificent views. |
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| 44
min from downtown |
37 miles
one-way |
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| Old Glenn Highway
(Mile 29.6) |
| To explore the road
less traveled, take the Old Glenn Highway to Palmer, a back
road that feels like old Alaska. The roadside homes and farms
are rural and private, with space and beauty all around them.
You'll cross the old Knik River Bridge where you can get out
and hike around, but there tend to be a lot of four-wheelers
in the area. |
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| 36
min from downtown |
30 miles
one-way |
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| Wasilla
(Mile 42.2) |
| Wasilla
boasts historic buildings and, for dog-mushing fans, the Iditarod
Headquarters. Here you can buy sled-dog booties actually used
in the race-you're practically guaranteed to be the only one
on your block with 'em! |
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| Details |
|
Iditarod HQ:
Mile 2.2 Knik Road (south from Wasilla); 907-376-5155; www.iditarod.com;
open daily 8:00am-7:00pm (summer hours, May15-Sep 18) |
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| 52
min from downtown |
43 miles
one-way |
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| Talkeetna
(Mile 98.7-halfway to Denali) |
| The 15-mile
drive down a spur road into Talkeetna
is a worthwhile detour. This authentic pioneer town offers awe-inspiring
southern views of McKinley, gorgeous flightseeing, world-class
fishing, and the staging ground for climbing expeditions. Take
in a slice of Alaska's past-and have a drink-at the historic
watering hole, the Fairview Inn. |
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| 2
hr 17 min from downtown |
114 miles
one-way |
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| Scenic
Stops |
| You'll
cross the mighty Susitna River (mile 104.2), get your first
clear view of the Alaska Range (mile 107.6), and drive through
wide open Broad Pass (mile 195). |
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| 2-4
hr from downtown |
105-195
miles one-way |
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| Denali
Highway Junction (Mile 210) |
| This
135-mile dirt road leads you through the high country to lakes,
lodges, and tons of camping and hiking. |
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| 4
hr 13 min from downtown |
211 miles
one-way to junction |
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| Denali
National Park (Mile 237) |
| Here
lies the pinnacle of many travelers' Alaskan visits-the incomparably
beautiful Denali.
The park holds six million acres of lakes, tundra, peaks, and
wildlife dominated by North America's highest peak and interrupted
by a single 90-mile road. |
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| 4
hr 45 min from downtown |
238 miles
one-way |
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| Fairbanks
(Mile 358) |
| You've
reached the end of the Parks Highway and arrived in Fairbanks. |
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| 7
hr 11 min from downtown |
359 miles
one-way |
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