Fairbanks

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Fairbanks is a town in Central Alaska, 1488 miles from the start of the Alaska Highway in Dawson Creek, BC. It is the second largest city in Alaska and, being a junction of several major highways, will be a likely stop of most visitors to the state.

	fairbanks Travel Guide : 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By air 2.2 By car 2.3 By train 3 Get around 4 See 5 Do 6 Buy 7 Eat 8 Drink 9 Sleep 9.1 Hotels 10 Get out 11 External links

Understand

Fairbanks proper may be like a lot of towns in the lower 48. There's a Wal-Mart, a Home Depot and a McDonald's. Don't let this fool you. The greater Fairbanks area is a strange place. There are plenty of Alaskan originals here.

Get in

By air

Fairbanks international airport serves both remote destinations in Alaska's interior and international cities.

By car

If you are driving up from Achorage, the George Parks Highway is a beautiful trip. Plan plenty of time in your schedule for sight-seeing, meals and photographs. During the summer, when the roads are clear, the trip can easily be made in 7 or 8 hours, with stops for snacks and bathroom breaks - depending on road construction and motorhome-convoy-slowdowns. You will pass through Denali National Park on your way which is a popular attraction. However, if you plan to stay the night have reservations well in advance. By "lower-48" standards, accommodation near the park is either "4-star" or "rustic". Both can be pricey, but worth every penny, especially if you spend a day in the park.

Though many think Denali Park is the highlight of the trip there are long stretches of breath-taking beauty. It is not uncommon to see moose, caribou, doll sheep, bear, and other wildlife along the road - have your camera ready. There are plenty of gas stations scattered along the route, but as expected, the prices are much higher than in Anchorage or Fairbanks. Fill up before you leave.

There are several good places to eat along the way as well. Most places will have specialties like reindeer or buffalo on the menu as well as more traditional fare.

All in all, you should make the drive at least once. It's worth it.

By train

During the summer the Alaska Railroad provides daily service between Anchorage and Fairbanks, stopping in Denali National Park and other spots along the way. Trains depart Fairbanks at 8:15 AM, and arrive from Anchorage at 8:15 PM. Fares vary throughout the season, with rates between $143 and $179 for a one-way ticket between Fairbanks and Anchorage. Rail tickets can be booked at www.alaskarailroad.com (http://www.alaskarailroad.com/passenger/index.html).

Get around

See

• Creamer's Field, 1 (http://www.creamersfield.org/). Located in the northern part of town off of College Road, Creamer's Field Wildlife Refuge is a former dairy that is now a migratory stopover point for countless numbers of Canada geese, sandhill cranes, ducks, and other bird species. Numerous trails lead through the refuge and there is a visitor center located within the old farmhouse.
• University of Alaska Museum, University of Alaska Campus, 2 (http://www.uaf.edu/museum/). An excellent collection of exhibits about the nature, history and cultures of Alaska; the displays on the Northern Lights are particularly trippy. Open 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM during the summer (May 15 - September 15) with shorter hours during the rest of the year. $5 per adult, $3 for youths age 7 - 17, children 6 and under are free.

Do

Buy

For those who have been camping extensively, one of the first things to look for in Fairbanks is a shower. Due to the fact that many local residents do not have running water, practically every laundromat in town also offers showers for between $3 and $7. Most will provide a towel and liquid soap, but be prepared for a quick cleaning as nearly all will utilize timers that turn the water off after only a few minutes.

Eat

• Alaskaland Salmon Bake, 2300 Airport Way (in Alaskaland), 3 (http://www.akvisit.com/salmon.html). Alaskaland is the mother of all cheesy tourist stops and is heavily trafficked by tour buses filled with foreigners and senior citizens, but for the hungry budget traveller the salmon bake probably provides the best value in Fairbanks. This all-you-can-eat smorgasbord of grilled salmon, halibut, ribs, lemonade, and blueberry dessert can be had for $28 per person (2005 price), which by Alaska standards is a bargain. Summer only, 5:00 PM until 9:30 PM, seven nights a week.

Drink

• College Coffeehouse, 3677 College Road Unit 4, Tel: (907) 374-0468, Fax: (907) 374-4442, 4 (http://www.collegecoffeehousefairbanks.com/). Coffee and snacks served in an environment perfectly suited for broke college students. Great for studying, chatting, or listening to the frequent musical guests. Internet access (wireless & LAN) is available, with fifteen minutes free with any purchase, and prices of $2 per fifteen minutes thereafter.

Sleep

Hotels

• Super 8 Motel, 1909 Airport Road, PH: (907) 451-8888, Fax: (907) 451-6690, 5 (http://www.super8.com/Super8/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=03053&brandInfo=SE). Very much like every other Super 8 Motel in America. Rates average about $130 per night in the summer, and about $70 per night in the winter.
• Comfort Inn, 1908 Chena Landings Loop, PH: (907) 479-8080, Fax: (907) 479-8063, 6 (http://www.choicehotels.com/ires/en-us/html/HotelInfo?hotel=AK009). Another national chain, this hotel offers an indoor pool and free breakfast. Rates around $160 per night in the summer, $80 per night in winter.

Get out

• Denali National Park. Located 120 miles south of Fairbanks on the George Parks Highway, Denali is vast wilderness preserve that is the home of North America's tallest mountain, the 20,320 foot Mt. McKinley.

External links

• Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau (http://www.explorefairbanks.com/)
• City of Fairbanks Official Site (http://www.ci.fairbanks.ak.us/)

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