Fairbanks, Alaska’s second largest city, is located 360 miles north of Anchorage and known for the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis.
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We visited in the fall, which is a good time to visit as the weather is not too cold, considering it is Fairbanks. It was in September and the temperature ranged between 39 degrees and 46 degrees.
We stayed at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, conveniently located less than five minutes from the Fairbanks International Airport. It is a great place to stay to get that Fairbanks experience. Enjoy daily complimentary breakfast as well as their Aurora Conservatory, which is a heated room with glass walls and ceilings to relax and comfortably view the northern lights on those cold nights.
Driving conditions were not a problem as the roads were dry but there is a possibility of snow during the fall season so be sure to check the weather before your visit. The roads are fairly empty and the drives are nothing but scenic. Most of the activities we did are less than 20 minutes away from Pike’s Waterfront Lodge.
THINGS TO DO IN FAIRBANKS
RUNNING REINDEER RANCH
The Running Reindeer Ranch is such a unique experience. It is a family owned business where the owner takes you on a guided tour walking with the reindeer in the beautiful Boreal Forest. Reservations are required and can be made here.
SANTA CLAUS HOUSE
Santa Claus House is located in North Pole, Alaska, about 20 minutes from Fairbanks. It is full of Christmas decorations, ornaments, and apparel. Santa is only there from Wednesday through Sunday so be sure to visit on one of those days if you want to see him. You can also purchase a personalized letter from Santa that you can schedule to be delivered.
AURORA ICE MUSEUM
The Aurora Ice Museum is located at Chena Hot Springs Resort, about 60 miles from downtown Fairbanks. It is the world’s largest ice museum that is open all year round. Inside the museum is a cold 25 degrees Fahrenheit but they provide jackets to keep you warm and comfortable. Tickets can be purchased at the Activity Center Desk on the day of the tour. They have tours throughout the day and tickets must be purchased at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour.
AURORA BOREALIS (NORTHERN LIGHTS)
It was our last night in Fairbanks and the main reason we visited was to see the northern lights. It rained the day before and was cloudy all three nights we were there. Luckily, the sky cleared a little and we got to see them within a 10-minute span. The photos below were taken at Creamer’s Field in Fairbanks. If taking photos with your phone, use night mode.
Aurora Season is between August 21 and April 21. Prime viewing hours are between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE SYSTEM
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline System is an 800-mile pipeline that carries barrels of oil from Prudhoe Bay (north of Alaska) to the Port of Valdez at Prince William Sound (south of Alaska).
NORTHERNMOST STARBUCKS
We had to make a stop here since it is the northernmost Starbucks.
THE GREAT ALASKAN BOWL COMPANY
The Great Alaskan Bowl Company has a collection of beautifully crafted wooden bowls and more, a great souvenir or gift from Fairbanks.
PLACES TO EAT IN FAIRBANKS
EAST RAMP WOOD FIRED PIZZA
If you like pizza, you must add East Ramp Wood Fired Pizza to your Fairbanks itinerary. It does get very crowded during dinner time so it is best to go as early as possible.
THE COOKIE JAR RESTAURANT
The Cookie Jar Restaurant, featured on Guy Fieri’s Diner’s, Drive-Ins & Dives, serves breakfast all day, lunch, and dinner. They have an extensive menu that includes Fairbanks Favorites and dishes that made the restaurant famous in Fairbanks. We had an early flight so we enjoyed breakfast but we would have loved to go back for lunch or dinner if we had stayed longer.
FUJI JAPANESE RESTAURANT
If you are looking for Japanese food in Fairbanks, head to Fuji Japanese Restaurant. While looking for somewhere to eat, we came across this restaurant and it had really good reviews so we thought we would give it a try. The service and food quality were great. We really enjoyed our meal.
Looking to explore more of Alaska? Check out my Alaska Travel Guide, which includes Anchorage, Whittier, Seward, and Denali!
Happy Travels!
BK Travel Collage 