Things To Do In Fairbanks

Quality of Life | Summer Activities | Winter Activities

Quality of Life

Quality of life is still the main reason why people choose to live in Alaska.  If you enjoy the view of glaciers from your window, or long for a life without traffic jams and congestion, then Alaska is the place for you.  This state is ideal for those who want to combine their business ambitions with their desire to explore the wild outdoors, and to raise a family in a safe and friendly community.  Every Alaskan has a hobby—whether it’s fishing, hunting, dog mushing, snowmobiling, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, paragliding or native crafts.  Despite such a close connection to nature, Alaskans are also exposed to world class arts which are nourished by numerous creative and independent outlets.

Here in Alaska’s Great Interior, the majesty of Denali captures the horizon, thousands of caribou migrate across the tundra and Northern Lights dance above.  Whether you are visiting in winter or summer, for a day or for a week, Fairbanks and Alaska’s Interior offers you a variety of activities.

Summer Activities

• Catch gold fever as you pan for gold.  Learn about the history of mining at one of our local mining camps.
• Need exercise?  Try a 5K or10K run or maybe a midnight tee-time at the golf course.  Take a late evening hike or stroll.  You have almost 24 hours of daylight – enjoy it!
• Float down the historic Chena River on a riverboat, kayak or canoe.
• How about a Hot Air Balloon Ride over the Tanana Valley?  Watch the sun...not set! Celebrate the midnight sun at a downtown street fair.
• Fly into or boat a wilderness lake or stream and experience the finest fishing anywhere!
• Take a bus, train or car down to Denali National Park and see the largest mountain in North America and an abundance of wildlife.
• Take a flightseeing trip around Denali, raft a whitewater river, hike trails, see dog mushing demonstrations (yes, even in summer!) or take a daylong interpretive park tour.
• Take a Hike!  Fairbanks, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Denali National Park and all points in between contain miles of scenic trails, where wildlife outnumbers the hikers.
• Visit a museum.  The University of Alaska Museum houses an extensive collection of Alaska Native artifacts and the fist-sized gold nuggets.  The museum also is home to Blue Babe, a 36,000-year-old mummified Alaska steppe bison discovered by gold miners in 1979.  The Fairbanks Community Museum downtown highlights the history of gold mining in Alaska and the Yukon.

Winter Activities

• See larger-than-life-sized ice sculptures created by artists from around the world.  Amateurs can try their hand with a chisel and a block of crystal blue ice.  Are you ready to sculpt?
• Cross country ski miles of forested trails and over frozen rivers and lakes.  Combine skiing and dog sports and try skijoring as a dog pulls you on skis at speeds up to twenty miles per hour.  You can also hit the slopes and downhill ski or snowboard.
• “Hike!” “Whoa!” “Gee!” “Haw!” Take a dog mushing lesson and see why it is our official state sport.  Imagine calling out these commands as a team of Alaskan sled dogs pulls you through a winter paradise under Northern Lights.
• Look up! Experience what we think is the greatest show on earth as the Northern Lights dance across the sky above.  No admission fees, no lines and the show runs an average of 240 days per year!
• Catch a local hockey game!  The University of Alaska Fairbanks Nanooks, a NCAA Division I member team, hit the ice each winter and provide a great show for hockey lovers.  Alaskans are serious about their ice!
• Take a flight seeing trip and see an Arctic winter!  Planes are equipped with skis for winter landings on glaciers, frozen lakes and rivers.  Visit an Alaskan Native village above the Arctic Circle on a guided tour!
• Take an overnight dog mushing trip and try winter camping at its best!  You supply the sense of adventure and your dog team and guide will provide the gear, training and excitement.
• Melt away your cares!  Visit one of our area hot spring resorts.  Ski surrounding trails, snowshoe, and snowmachine, then relax in the warm waters as the Northern Lights dance above. These resorts feature varied accommodations, restaurants, and guided activities.
• Fish on!  Drill a hole in the ice and fish for burbot or rainbow trout.  Bring your camp stove along to cook up your catch.