Fairbanks Day Tours & Attractions
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The waterways of Interior Alaska brought the first modern settlers to Fairbanks and remain just as important as roads and skyways in transporting goods and people across the state. They’re also one of the most popular options for recreation and adventure.
Hop aboard a watercraft to experience Fairbanks from the riverbed. Choose Riverboat Discovery to learn all about local history, dog mushing, and native culture.
To continue lessons in local history, try your luck at Gold Dredge 8 and get a feel for what it was like to be an early pioneer hoping to strike it rich in such a harsh and remote environment.
The best way to glimpse the “real Alaska” of northern wilderness and bush villages is to book a trip with an operator of daily tours above the Arctic Circle. Warbelow’s Air Adventures and Northern Alaska Tour Company are two good options. The companies offer tours for every schedule and interest, including rides on bush mail flights, multi-day excursions, and flying to a far-flung village to watch polar bears feasting on whale remains. Embark on an arctic tour and you are guaranteed to return home with more than a few Alaskan stories.
Like to be a “do-it-yourself” traveler? Rent a car and take to the Dalton Highway, the “haul road” which runs straight north between Fairbanks and Deadhorse and became the stuff of legend through the hit TV show “Ice Road Truckers” on the History Channel. Fairbanks is the only access point to this road trip, which is the farthest north in the country.
If you are traveling to Fairbanks in the winter, try an authentic Dog Sledding experience or view the Northern Lights!
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Fairbanks
Jump to:
Gold Panning Tours
Dog Mushing
Riverboat Tours
Arctic Tours
Winter Sightseeing Tours
Dog Sledding
Summer Fly-In and Winter Ice Fishing
Jeep / ATV Tours
Wildlife Parks
Polar Bear Viewing
Snowmobiling Tours
Northern Lights Tours
City Sightseeing Tours
Museums & Cultural Centers
Visitor Information Centers
Walking Tours
Fairs & Festivals
Points of Interest
Gardens & Arboretums
Gold Panning Tours View All
Learn about Fairbanks gold rush history • hands-on gold panning
Hop aboard a narrow-gauge train and get ready to stake your claim to gold on this two-hour tour of Gold Dredge 8. Learn all about how 100,000 gold rushers fought the permafrost in their quest to get rich. Then grab some gold of your own!
Gold Daughters provides a fun, hands-on way to learn about Fairbanks’ gold rush history, and get a glimpse of the same thrill that brought so many people to Alaska in the first place. Your entrance fee provides you with a poke of paydirt with guaranteed gold and lets you pan all day.
Sample a variety of Alaskan activities year-round through this organization that’s all about showcasing the community of Two Rivers. The signature Taste of Two Rivers Tour includes a dog sled demonstration, gold panning, and an opportunity to meet & pet reindeer. Other summer tours include hikes with reindeer and visiting a peony farm. In winter, go dog sledding (day or multi-day expedition) and view the northern lights.
Dog Mushing View All
Take part in the thrill of winter and fall dog sledding out of Fairbanks. You’ll experience the sport with one of Alaska’s longest-running dog tour companies. Go for a ride, attend mushing school, or go on a multi-day adventure to the historic Tolovana Roadhouse.
Glide over the snow on a sled that’s being pulled by a team of dogs — many of whom have run the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, or other races. Go with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service and experience the thrill of dog sledding with dogs that love to run and passionate mushers who will offer a deeper understanding of this unique sport.
Plenty of people come to Fairbanks to look at the sky — for northern lights, or to bask in the midnight sun. But this dog-mushing experience outside of Fairbanks is proof that there’s plenty more of Fairbanks to be seen at eye — or even paw — level. May through October, take a a trail ride with 16 dogs hitched up to an ATV. November through April, take a mushing tour through the snow!
Riverboat Tours View All
Authentic sternwheeler riverboat tour
Climb on board an authentic Alaskan sternwheeler, the Riverboat Discovery, and take a journey back in time along the Chena and Tanana rivers. Sternwheeler boats transport you out into the Alaskan wilderness, and also back to a time when Gold Rush fever was sweeping across the state. The Discovery II and Discovery III offer fully narrated three-and-a-half-hour tour. But all your time isn’t spent on the boat. You’ll make an unforgettable one-hour ...more
Arctic Tours View All
Travel above the Arctic Circle • Fly, drive, or combination
The folks at Arctic Outfitters are travel specialists, and they’ll work hard to help you plan a trip to fit your needs. Arctic Outfitters rents reliable, stable vehicles that are specially equipped for remote travel.
Fly from Fairbanks and travel 80 miles above the across the Arctic Circle on a scenic and historic adventure. Departing in the evening, you’ll pass over the stark terrain of northern Alaska and land at the Athabascan village of Fort Yukon. Then, with your guide, you’ll spend an hour learning all about this fascinating area — the history, how people take care of themselves in a punishing environment, and some of the characters who have called this ...more
Northern Alaska Tour Company offers several tours that transport visitors to the Arctic Circle. You can fly, drive, or do a combination of the two, depending on your travel preference and how much time you have. The most popular tour is the fly-and-drive excursion, which gives you incredible views from the air and a tour of the town of Coldfoot, followed by a drive back to Fairbanks.
Winter Sightseeing Tours View All
Northern lights tours • Aurora Winter Train • Snowshoeing
Winter in Alaska is a magical time, with fewer visitors and a serene, snow-covered landscape. If you’re here from mid-September to mid-May, you can take it in from the comfort of the Aurora Winter Train, which runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks. It’s an easy and memorable way to travel north and experience the aurora borealis, or even do a weekend getaway to Talkeetna.
Sample a variety of Alaskan activities year-round through this organization that’s all about showcasing the community of Two Rivers. The signature Taste of Two Rivers Tour includes a dog sled demonstration, gold panning, and an opportunity to meet & pet reindeer. Other summer tours include hikes with reindeer and visiting a peony farm. In winter, go dog sledding (day or multi-day expedition) and view the northern lights.
A guided day trip out of Fairbanks reveals the quiet winter landscape of the Tanana Valley and Denali National Park. Walk or snowshoe on picturesque trails through the boreal forest, deep in the heart of the Alaska range.
Join Alaska Wildlife Guide in exploring one of Alaska’s most desired attractions, Chena Hot Springs Resort. From visiting the most northern Ice Museum, soaking in the all-natural hot springs to viewing the breathtaking Northern Lights dance across the sky, this tour will be a highlight of your Alaskan experience.
Dog Sledding View All
Summer Kennel Tours • Winter Tours
Take part in the thrill of winter and fall dog sledding out of Fairbanks. You’ll experience the sport with one of Alaska’s longest-running dog tour companies. Go for a ride, attend mushing school, or go on a multi-day adventure to the historic Tolovana Roadhouse.
Plenty of people come to Fairbanks to look at the sky — for northern lights, or to bask in the midnight sun. But this dog-mushing experience outside of Fairbanks is proof that there’s plenty more of Fairbanks to be seen at eye — or even paw — level. May through October, take a a trail ride with 16 dogs hitched up to an ATV. November through April, take a mushing tour through the snow!
Glide over the snow on a sled that’s being pulled by a team of dogs — many of whom have run the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, or other races. Go with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service and experience the thrill of dog sledding with dogs that love to run and passionate mushers who will offer a deeper understanding of this unique sport.
Summer Fly-In and Winter Ice Fishing View All
Summer fly-in • Pike • Winter ice fishing
The lakes and rivers of Interior Alaska teem with fish, and charters from Why Knot Adventures offer a great opportunity to go catch them. Cast in summertime while floating out on a shimmering lake, or experience the unique thrill of ice fishing in winter. If you’re lucky, you may even be under the famous northern lights!
Jeep / ATV Tours
Pilot your own ATV through the rugged Alaskan wilderness outside Fairbanks. Choose from morning or evening tours driving an ATV — a 2021 Can-Am Trail Maverick side-by-side in Fairbanks with Midnight Sun ATV tours.
Wildlife Parks View All
Meet some reindeer • See birds, foxes, moose at wildlife sanctuary
Come visit and you might see up to 15 different kinds of mammals — from beavers to red foxes, flying squirrels, snowshoe hares, and even moose — and several species of birds. Throughout the Sanctuary’s trail system there are 14 interpretive signs, so you can learn how the birds, fish, frogs, and mammals survive in interior Alaska’s tough climate.
You may think of reindeer as flying creatures of the imagination, but here in Alaska they’re very real. And this unique tour gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent animals. Walk among them and pet them — it’s truly a moment made for Instagram.
Sample a variety of Alaskan activities year-round through this organization that’s all about showcasing the community of Two Rivers. The signature Taste of Two Rivers Tour includes a dog sled demonstration, gold panning, and an opportunity to meet & pet reindeer. Other summer tours include hikes with reindeer and visiting a peony farm. In winter, go dog sledding (day or multi-day expedition) and view the northern lights.
Polar Bear Viewing View All
Snowmobiling Tours View All
Safe snowmobiling tours for first-timers • Winter wildlife viewing
Plunge into a winter wonderland of spruce forests, wide open spaces and wildlife. This snowmobile tour in North Pole (just outside of Fairbanks) offers an unparalleled peek at Alaska’s interior and a serious thrill, whether you take a first-timer’s tour or embark on an overnight adventure.
Join Alaska Wildlife Guide on a once in a lifetime adventure as you snowmobile through forests, over frozen lakes, view various wildlife, listen to fascinating stories and meet the world-famous Bison, Cowie.
Northern Lights Tours View All
Warm up by a fire and look at stars as you wait for the Northern Lights
Spend some time above the Arctic Circle under the mysterious, eerie northern lights. From mid-September to late April, when you have the best chance of witnessing phenomenon of the aurora borealis, you’ll fly from Fairbanks to the remote village of Coldfoot, in the Brooks Mountain Range. After the spectacular flightseeing experience, you’ll have either 3 days/2 nights or 4 days/3 nights to explore this rugged, fascinating landscape, with ...more
Stand out on the Arctic tundra under the northern lights, experiencing their eerie glow on a one-day tour you won’t soon forget. From October to April, you’ll depart from Fairbanks on this one-day adventure and get a majestic flightseeing trip to the remote town of Coldfoot, above the Arctic Circle. Explore this fascinating town and look for the mysterious lights overhead. Then drive south and get a close up of all the terrain in between, seeing ...more
Join Alaska Wildlife Guide in exploring one of Alaska’s most desired attractions, Chena Hot Springs Resort. From visiting the most northern Ice Museum, soaking in the all-natural hot springs to viewing the breathtaking Northern Lights dance across the sky, this tour will be a highlight of your Alaskan experience.
Wondering how folks up here deal with Alaska’s long winter days? It’s easy when the inky night sky comes alive with an amazing light show like the aurora borealis. Braving the cold is nothing if you get a chance to see the lights dancing and waving overhead. Combine your aurora viewing trip with a few other highlights planned out by Salmon Berry Tours, and you’ll experience the best of winter in Alaska.
Seeing the Northern Lights is an unforgettable wintertime experience. Of course, you never know quite when (or even if) Mother Nature is going to unleash the display into the night sky. So while you wait, you’ll be trying your hand at another activity that’s unique to the Alaskan winter: ice fishing!
Located on a quiet ridgeline outside of Fairbanks, the Borealis Basecamp offers 20 elegant igloos and a new village with 5 aurora-viewing cubes, including a family suite custom-designed and specifically positioned to maximize your viewing of the Northern Lights. You’ll also have the chance to take advantage of the camps many winter activities like dogsledding, snowmachining, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking.
Just a short 15-minute drive from downtown Fairbanks, wait for the northern lights to appear in a warm, inviting space. Cozy up to the fire, sip on cocoa and coffee, and step outside when mother nature puts on a show. Although the center is a short distance from town, it is far enough away so that you won’t have to worry about light pollution interrupting your view as you stand gazing under the vast, starlit sky.
City Sightseeing Tours View All
The folks at Arctic Outfitters are travel specialists, and they’ll work hard to help you plan a trip to fit your needs. Arctic Outfitters rents reliable, stable vehicles that are specially equipped for remote travel.
Alaska Motorhomes Rentals from Alaska Travel Adventures offers one-way rental options. Seeing Alaska by motorhome is different than seeing it by train, for example – so why not experience them both? If the thought of a long, round-trip journey on the Al-Can keeps you from setting out on that amazing adventure, how about driving one way and flying back? You can consider all these options when you rent one of the comfortable, easy-maneuvering C ...more
Come visit and you might see up to 15 different kinds of mammals — from beavers to red foxes, flying squirrels, snowshoe hares, and even moose — and several species of birds. Throughout the Sanctuary’s trail system there are 14 interpretive signs, so you can learn how the birds, fish, frogs, and mammals survive in interior Alaska’s tough climate.
Some of Alaska’s most alluring destinations are along its gravel roads, through timber, tundra and quaint towns. Alaska 4×4 Rental’s 4‑wheel drive vehicles are perfect for navigating these rugged roads. Choose a new model Jeep, SUV, pickup or van for your own custom road trip – and you can drive all the way to the Arctic Circle!
Gold Daughters provides a fun, hands-on way to learn about Fairbanks’ gold rush history, and get a glimpse of the same thrill that brought so many people to Alaska in the first place. Your entrance fee provides you with a poke of paydirt with guaranteed gold and lets you pan all day.
A guided day trip out of Fairbanks reveals the quiet winter landscape of the Tanana Valley and Denali National Park. Walk or snowshoe on picturesque trails through the boreal forest, deep in the heart of the Alaska range.
Seeing the Northern Lights is an unforgettable wintertime experience. Of course, you never know quite when (or even if) Mother Nature is going to unleash the display into the night sky. So while you wait, you’ll be trying your hand at another activity that’s unique to the Alaskan winter: ice fishing!
Take a deep breath and explore Fairbanks! With the midnight summer sun shining nearly 24 hours a day, Fairbanks is bursting with energy and things to do. Explore Fairbanks is headquartered at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center which is also the hub of year-round staffed visitor information and services.
Ursa Major was one of the first distilleries in Alaska and the first legal distillery in Fairbanks. Today they’re dedicated to the fine craft of small-batch spirits, and you can enjoy their akavit, rum, vodka, gin, canned cocktails, and seasonal releases of whiskey. Visit the tasting room, join a tour, or take a mixology class!
Wildlife viewing opportunities in Alaska’s second largest city. Look for migratory birds, moose, salmon & more.
Alaska’s road to modernization a century ago was a dramatic journey, and the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum explores that journey in fun, vivid detail. On the grounds of Wedgewood Resort — a member of the city’s premier, locally owned hotel group — the museum showcases dozens of historically significant pre-World War II automobiles, and offers visitors a trip back to Alaska’s rugged and exciting formative years.
This train travels through the forested areas north of Anchorage into the boreal forest, and eventually into the tundra regions further north. On a clear day the train will slow down to allow you to see beautiful vistas of Denali. You may also spot wildlife along the way. Day Trip from Anchorage: Talkeetna Day Trip from Fairbanks: Denali Multi-Day Trip from Anchorage: Talkeetna, Denali National Park, and / or Fairbanks Multi-Day Trip ...more
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in downtown Fairbanks has brochures, maps, free WiFi and telephone, daily lodging availability, and local walking and driving tours. Serving as the regional visitor facility, the friendly and knowledgeable staff have answers to all your questions.
This is your chance to travel like the locals! Many Alaskans ride this bus line that motors between Anchorage, Glennallen, Fairbanks, and Tok, making stops along the way in off-the-beaten-path destinations. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, you can board a van or a 20-passenger bus to travel Interior Alaska Bus Lines’ route.
From Elton John to Motley Crue, from the Lord of the Dance to Disney on Ice, from the Harlem Globetrotters to Jeff Dunham, the Carlson Center is Fairbanks’ — and Interior Alaska’s — premier entertainment and sports facility. With its 35,000 square foot arena, the Carlson Center is host to concerts, conventions, tradeshows, and sporting events. It is home to the University of Alaska, Fairbanks Nanooks Ice Hockey Team, the Fairbanks Grizzlies Indoor… ...more
You’re just a few minutes from downtown Fairbanks and all the major shopping sights, but at this 157-room resort hotel — part of the city’s renowned Fountainhead Hotels family— you’ll feel like you’ve found a quiet place in the wilderness.
Spend some time above the Arctic Circle under the mysterious, eerie northern lights. From mid-September to late April, when you have the best chance of witnessing phenomenon of the aurora borealis, you’ll fly from Fairbanks to the remote village of Coldfoot, in the Brooks Mountain Range. After the spectacular flightseeing experience, you’ll have either 3 days/2 nights or 4 days/3 nights to explore this rugged, fascinating landscape, with ...more
This path was constructed to provide a place for hikers to view the plantlife around interior Alaska. This is a unique trail that allows hikers to view things that would be impossible to hike without a trail. There are all types of wildlife and small plants. Waterboots are recommended in spring.
Experience the fabulously unique sport of ice fishing in winter. Owner, Rod Pangborn and his team of skilled guides based in North Pole will coach you, based on whatever your skill level. Choose from a daytime experience, or an evening tour with a chance to view the northern lights.
Watch craftsmen turn birch logs into heirloom bowls, browse some 1,500 Made in Alaska products or custom design your own laser engraved bowl while at the Great Alaskan Bowl Company. Started over 20 years ago, this family-run business is one of the last operational bowl mills in America, and it thrives because of the quality products and large selection.
Experience the Alaska of 100 years ago! Pioneer Park is an historic village that features original buildings moved from downtown Fairbanks, as well as museums and a Gold Rush town street. But it’s also a theme park with a carousel and train that runs the perimeter, shops, and restaurants. Stay a few hours or spend a full day; Pioneer Park offers fun for the whole family.
Winter in Alaska is a magical time, with fewer visitors and a serene, snow-covered landscape. If you’re here from mid-September to mid-May, you can take it in from the comfort of the Aurora Winter Train, which runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks. It’s an easy and memorable way to travel north and experience the aurora borealis, or even do a weekend getaway to Talkeetna.
This 15-mile loop is well worth the moderate to strenuous hike. This trail provides views of tors, unusually shaped outcroppings that were formed 70 million to 90 million years ago when molten rock pushed upward and cooled before reaching the surface.
Plunge into a winter wonderland of spruce forests, wide open spaces and wildlife. This snowmobile tour in North Pole (just outside of Fairbanks) offers an unparalleled peek at Alaska’s interior and a serious thrill, whether you take a first-timer’s tour or embark on an overnight adventure.
Just a short 15-minute drive from downtown Fairbanks, wait for the northern lights to appear in a warm, inviting space. Cozy up to the fire, sip on cocoa and coffee, and step outside when mother nature puts on a show. Although the center is a short distance from town, it is far enough away so that you won’t have to worry about light pollution interrupting your view as you stand gazing under the vast, starlit sky.
The Chena Riverwalk makes for a relaxing self-paced stroll along the Chena River and through the most scenic parks and plazas of historic downtown. It’s best when flowers are in full bloom (July-August). The path stretches approximately 3.5 miles between Pioneer Park and Airport Way, with longer options available. Or — park at Immaculate Conception Church or in the Downtown Transportation Center for a shorter jaunt.
You may think of reindeer as flying creatures of the imagination, but here in Alaska they’re very real. And this unique tour gives you the opportunity to get up close and personal with these magnificent animals. Walk among them and pet them — it’s truly a moment made for Instagram.
With Natron Air you can charter flights on your schedule for up to 5 passengers. Their luxury Aerostar 601P Superstar 700 is the world’s fastest piston twin. Destinations include Soldotna (their home base), Anchorage, Fairbanks, Kodiak, King Salmon, Port Alsworth, Dillingham, and Pilot Point.
This resort is a collection of private cottages set along the scenic Chena River. The owners wanted to create a private experience that was also conveniently located, and that encouraged guests to experience the outdoors. River’s Edge Resort does just that. The location is not far from town, but just outside each cottage guests can take a walk along the river or enjoy the floral displays across the property.
Located on a quiet ridgeline outside of Fairbanks, the Borealis Basecamp offers 20 elegant igloos and a new village with 5 aurora-viewing cubes, including a family suite custom-designed and specifically positioned to maximize your viewing of the Northern Lights. You’ll also have the chance to take advantage of the camps many winter activities like dogsledding, snowmachining, snowshoeing, and fat-tire biking.
170 site RV Park and Campground on the banks of the Chena River
The White Mountains National Recreation Area is home to 200+-miles of trail traversing a million acres of wilderness and a mountain range named for the dominant color of its limestone foundation. To get there, drive 28 miles on the Elliott Highway from Fox (where it splits with the Steese) and look for signs marking the trailhead. The trailhead is the starting point for both the Summit Trail, and the Ski Loop Trail, a 5‑mile loop and a nice ...more
With its warm atmosphere, lush setting and elegantly rendered Alaskan cuisine, it’s not hard to see why this hotel-based restaurant attracts locals and travelers alike.
Join Alaska Wildlife Guide on a once in a lifetime adventure as you snowmobile through forests, over frozen lakes, view various wildlife, listen to fascinating stories and meet the world-famous Bison, Cowie.
Wondering how folks up here deal with Alaska’s long winter days? It’s easy when the inky night sky comes alive with an amazing light show like the aurora borealis. Braving the cold is nothing if you get a chance to see the lights dancing and waving overhead. Combine your aurora viewing trip with a few other highlights planned out by Salmon Berry Tours, and you’ll experience the best of winter in Alaska.
Join Alaska Wildlife Guide in exploring one of Alaska’s most desired attractions, Chena Hot Springs Resort. From visiting the most northern Ice Museum, soaking in the all-natural hot springs to viewing the breathtaking Northern Lights dance across the sky, this tour will be a highlight of your Alaskan experience.
Take part in the thrill of winter and fall dog sledding out of Fairbanks. You’ll experience the sport with one of Alaska’s longest-running dog tour companies. Go for a ride, attend mushing school, or go on a multi-day adventure to the historic Tolovana Roadhouse.
Stand out on the Arctic tundra under the northern lights, experiencing their eerie glow on a one-day tour you won’t soon forget. From October to April, you’ll depart from Fairbanks on this one-day adventure and get a majestic flightseeing trip to the remote town of Coldfoot, above the Arctic Circle. Explore this fascinating town and look for the mysterious lights overhead. Then drive south and get a close up of all the terrain in between, seeing ...more
Set on the banks of the Chena River, the 328-room Fairbanks Princess Hotel boasts all the atmosphere of a wilderness lodge, yet it’s also one of the city’s most luxurious properties. It’s also conveniently located, close to the airport, shops, and restaurants. You can take a shuttle downtown to enjoy the sites, or enjoy walking around the various gardens and trails on the lodge property. When it is time to dine, enjoy the elegant Edgewater ...more
Modern and stylish, the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel is conveniently situated in downtown Fairbanks. The hotel boasts 400 guest rooms, yet provides the personal service of a small hotel. Features include spacious rooms, a fitness center, two new restaurants, and free Wi-Fi. Relax in your room or go for a stroll through the hotel’s fresh herb garden.
The team at Alaska Auto Rental offers rental cars for the most unique itinerary: over gravel highways, through winter weather, on one-way legs, or starting out from unusual locations. It’s locally-owned, with employees who know Alaska’s roads and their challenges. You’ll get helpful travel advice, a can-do attitude, and reliable wheels.
Stay at the Bridgewater Hotel, and you’re getting a front row seat on downtown Fairbanks.
Sophie Station Suites has 149 suites that are perfect for business travelers or vacationing families. All are one-bedroom units and come with a balcony and full kitchen. And if you don’t want to cook, you can get all three meals at the restaurant, Zach’s.
Set outside of the downtown bustle in a naturally wooded environment, the resort’s lodge-style buildings are spread out across 30 acres. Walk the meandering paths, which are punctuated by flower gardens, or explore an old miner’s cabin. Inside the hotel, the “home-suite-home” 1- and 2‑bedroom suites are a great option for groups and families.
Climb on board an authentic Alaskan sternwheeler, the Riverboat Discovery, and take a journey back in time along the Chena and Tanana rivers. Sternwheeler boats transport you out into the Alaskan wilderness, and also back to a time when Gold Rush fever was sweeping across the state. The Discovery II and Discovery III offer fully narrated three-and-a-half-hour tour. But all your time isn’t spent on the boat. You’ll make an unforgettable one-hour ...more
Fly from Fairbanks and travel 80 miles above the across the Arctic Circle on a scenic and historic adventure. Departing in the evening, you’ll pass over the stark terrain of northern Alaska and land at the Athabascan village of Fort Yukon. Then, with your guide, you’ll spend an hour learning all about this fascinating area — the history, how people take care of themselves in a punishing environment, and some of the characters who have called this ...more
Pike’s Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks sits along the banks of the beautiful Chena River. Inside, you’ll find comfortable accommodations; outside are beautiful gardens and a greenhouse growing lettuce, strawberries, and tomatoes. Dine inside, or out on the waterfront deck. The hotel also has Wi-fi, to help you stay connected while on vacation.
In Summer (May — September), The Denali Star Train services Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. In Winter (October — April) the Aurora Winter Train operates as a flag top train between Anchorage and Fairbanks. It stops here heading North on Saturday, and South on Sunday.
Glide over the snow on a sled that’s being pulled by a team of dogs — many of whom have run the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, or other races. Go with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service and experience the thrill of dog sledding with dogs that love to run and passionate mushers who will offer a deeper understanding of this unique sport.
Northern Alaska Tour Company offers several tours that transport visitors to the Arctic Circle. You can fly, drive, or do a combination of the two, depending on your travel preference and how much time you have. The most popular tour is the fly-and-drive excursion, which gives you incredible views from the air and a tour of the town of Coldfoot, followed by a drive back to Fairbanks.
Riding the train in Alaska is a relaxing and fun way to take in amazing sights around every bend, and many travelers choose a dome car for the best viewing experience. When you’re headed north of Anchorage, hop on a Wilderness Express private dome car for deluxe viewing at great value.
At A Taste of Alaska lodge you’ll find comfortable, modern accommodations. This quaint lodge feels more like a B&B, but has all of the privacy of a hotel.
Get a close-up look at one of the world’s engineering marvels. Here you will find informational displays about the pipeline and an example of a pig, the device used to clean and inspect the inside of the pipeline.
Hop aboard a narrow-gauge train and get ready to stake your claim to gold on this two-hour tour of Gold Dredge 8. Learn all about how 100,000 gold rushers fought the permafrost in their quest to get rich. Then grab some gold of your own!
Take in the scenic views from the domed windows in the private McKinley Explorer railcars by Gray Line Alaska. Independent travelers can book a seat, but most opt for a multi-day package including hotel and transfers. Enjoy excellent service from your car manager, who will point out sights and scenery along the way. Dine in the restaurant located just beneath you, and don’t miss a thing as you continue to gaze out of large picture windows. ...more
Join Alaska Wildlife Guide in experiencing one of Alaska’s most desired attractions, Chena Hot Springs Resort. From visiting the most northern Ice Museum, soaking in the all-natural hot springs to learning more about geothermal energy and visiting reindeers, this tour will be a highlight of your Alaska experience.
Sample a variety of Alaskan activities year-round through this organization that’s all about showcasing the community of Two Rivers. The signature Taste of Two Rivers Tour includes a dog sled demonstration, gold panning, and an opportunity to meet & pet reindeer. Other summer tours include hikes with reindeer and visiting a peony farm. In winter, go dog sledding (day or multi-day expedition) and view the northern lights.
Easily one of the most scenic drives in the Interior, the trip out to Table Top Mountain from Fairbanks winds deep into the center of White Mountains National Recreation Area, rising up hillsides and dipping down into valleys for a rolling picture show of spruce forest and snaking riverbeds. The hike to Table Top Mountain is just as spectacular, providing panoramic views of the White Mountains from the center of the range, and is a short “must ...more
Pilot your own ATV through the rugged Alaskan wilderness outside Fairbanks. Choose from morning or evening tours driving an ATV — a 2021 Can-Am Trail Maverick side-by-side in Fairbanks with Midnight Sun ATV tours.
The lakes and rivers of Interior Alaska teem with fish, and charters from Why Knot Adventures offer a great opportunity to go catch them. Cast in summertime while floating out on a shimmering lake, or experience the unique thrill of ice fishing in winter. If you’re lucky, you may even be under the famous northern lights!
Plenty of people come to Fairbanks to look at the sky — for northern lights, or to bask in the midnight sun. But this dog-mushing experience outside of Fairbanks is proof that there’s plenty more of Fairbanks to be seen at eye — or even paw — level. May through October, take a a trail ride with 16 dogs hitched up to an ATV. November through April, take a mushing tour through the snow!
Completely Road Accessible
Museums & Cultural Centers View All
Fairbanks history • Alaska Native art • Antique automobiles
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in downtown Fairbanks has brochures, maps, free WiFi and telephone, daily lodging availability, and local walking and driving tours. Serving as the regional visitor facility, the friendly and knowledgeable staff have answers to all your questions.
Experience the Alaska of 100 years ago! Pioneer Park is an historic village that features original buildings moved from downtown Fairbanks, as well as museums and a Gold Rush town street. But it’s also a theme park with a carousel and train that runs the perimeter, shops, and restaurants. Stay a few hours or spend a full day; Pioneer Park offers fun for the whole family.
Alaska’s road to modernization a century ago was a dramatic journey, and the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum explores that journey in fun, vivid detail. On the grounds of Wedgewood Resort — a member of the city’s premier, locally owned hotel group — the museum showcases dozens of historically significant pre-World War II automobiles, and offers visitors a trip back to Alaska’s rugged and exciting formative years.
Visitor Information Centers View All
Information on lodging, tours, maps and more
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in downtown Fairbanks has brochures, maps, free WiFi and telephone, daily lodging availability, and local walking and driving tours. Serving as the regional visitor facility, the friendly and knowledgeable staff have answers to all your questions.
Take a deep breath and explore Fairbanks! With the midnight summer sun shining nearly 24 hours a day, Fairbanks is bursting with energy and things to do. Explore Fairbanks is headquartered at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center which is also the hub of year-round staffed visitor information and services.
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Chena River • Hot Springs • Denali Viewpoints
The Chena Riverwalk makes for a relaxing self-paced stroll along the Chena River and through the most scenic parks and plazas of historic downtown. It’s best when flowers are in full bloom (July-August). The path stretches approximately 3.5 miles between Pioneer Park and Airport Way, with longer options available. Or — park at Immaculate Conception Church or in the Downtown Transportation Center for a shorter jaunt.
In Summer (May — September), The Denali Star Train services Anchorage, Wasilla, Talkeetna, Denali and Fairbanks. In Winter (October — April) the Aurora Winter Train operates as a flag top train between Anchorage and Fairbanks. It stops here heading North on Saturday, and South on Sunday.
Wildlife viewing opportunities in Alaska’s second largest city. Look for migratory birds, moose, salmon & more.
Get a close-up look at one of the world’s engineering marvels. Here you will find informational displays about the pipeline and an example of a pig, the device used to clean and inspect the inside of the pipeline.