Fairbanks is known as The Golden Heart of Alaska. While there are many reasons to visit Fairbanks, perhaps the number one reason people come to the city is to view the world-famous northern lights.
You’re used to seeing blue, grey or clear skies during the day and black skies at night. How about seeing red, purple, green and white lights illuminating the skies? The northern lights are celestial pyrotechnic displays in the sky that visitors to Fairbanks regard as beautiful, mysterious and awesome. Typically visible from the end of August through early April, you’re likely to see northern lights in yellow and green hovering in the sky over Fairbanks. Indeed, the lights are there year-round, but the “midnight sun” keeps the skies too bright to see them in the summer months.
Speaking of midnight sun, in the summertime in Fairbanks you can experience daylight nearly 24 hours a day! Try getting that in New York or Los Angeles.
Fairbanks originally grew because of the great Alaskan gold rush of yesteryear. By 1905, the city was well-established, complete with a power plant, electricity and sewer services, a school, police and fire protection, a hospital and a three-story building. Today, the city has grown to house tens of thousands of people who work at area military bases, mining operations, oil fields (and the trans-Alaska oil pipeline), and the University of Alaska.
If you’re thinking of visiting Fairbanks, take guided tours of the area and all it has to offer. The 1st Alaska Outdoor School of Fairbanks has trained guides to show you the city’s highlights and the city’s northern lights.
Posted by: Ralf Dobrovolny
FAQs
Fairbanks is known as The Golden Heart of Alaska. While there are many reasons to visit Fairbanks, perhaps the number one reason people come to the city is to view the world-famous northern lights. You're used to seeing blue, grey or clear skies during the day and black skies at night.
Why do people visit Fairbanks Alaska? ›
Fairbanks is known as The Golden Heart of Alaska. While there are many reasons to visit Fairbanks, perhaps the number one reason people come to the city is to view the world-famous northern lights. You're used to seeing blue, grey or clear skies during the day and black skies at night.
Is Fairbanks worth visiting in Alaska? ›
Fairbanks is one of Alaska's best year-round destinations and visitors will find plenty to do whether they come for the long, warm summer days or to watch spectacular northern lights coloring the night sky during Aurora Season.
What are some interesting facts about Fairbanks Alaska? ›
The site was originally inhabited by nomadic Athabaskan Indians. The city was founded in 1902 during a gold strike and was named for Indiana Senator (later U.S. Vice President) Charles Warren Fairbanks. It soon became Alaska's largest city, though it has since been surpassed by Anchorage.
Why would you want to go to Alaska? ›
A Nature Lovers Paradise
Visitors can take in stunning views of mountains and glaciers, spot wildlife like moose and bears, and explore the state's rich natural history. With over 60,000 miles of coastline, Alaska is also an excellent destination for those looking to fish, kayak, and even go whale watching.
What is the best time of year to go to Fairbanks, Alaska? ›
The best time to visit Fairbanks is from July to August. Shoulder seasons, including May to June and August through September, are also ideal.
Why is Fairbanks called the Golden Heart of Alaska? ›
Fairbanks Alaska has a deep and rich gold history, and is commonly referred to as the Golden Heart of the Interior. In 1902 Felix Pedro discovered gold, leading many adventurers “North to Alaska” for decades to come to find their fortune.
How many days do you need to visit Fairbanks Alaska? ›
Three days give you ample time to immerse yourself in the local culture, explore natural wonders, and even tackle some adventures. However, if you find yourself with more time, consider it a bonus. Fairbanks is an underrated gem with many attractions in and around the city.
What is the number one tourist attraction in Alaska? ›
By many accounts, Denali National Park and Preserve is the number one attraction in Alaska—it usually receives around 500,000 visitors a year, and it's by far the most popular Alaska national park by the numbers.
How do you spend a day in Fairbanks? ›
- Dalton Highway.
- Chena Hot Springs Resort.
- Trans-Alaska Pipeline Viewpoint.
- University of Alaska Museum of the North.
- Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center.
- Aurora Ice Museum.
- Pioneer Park.
- Tolovana River.
Fairbanks offers a wide variety of restaurants from elegant cuisine to ethnic dining to Alaskan- style home cooking. Many restaurants use local produce, meat and fish in their recipes. Try reindeer sausage or grilled Alaskan salmon alongside home-grown Yukon gold potatoes and sweet baby carrots.
Can you walk around Fairbanks Alaska? ›
In fact, many of Fairbanks' best opportunities to explore fall within city limits. Trails traversing historic sites allow visitors to connect with the past, including Creamer's Field (on site at a historic dairy).
Why is Alaska a tourist attraction? ›
Come and see for yourself the larger-than-life immensity and wonder of nature at its most wild. Alaska has the highest mountains, the most glaciers, the biggest moose and the longest days. There are over 3,000 river and 3 million lakes here! There are more than 6,600 miles of coastline to discover.
What is the best way to visit Alaska for the first time? ›
What's the Best Way to See Alaska? Try These 6 Tips
- Choose a Small Ship Cruise.
- If You Travel by Land, Don't Miss the Coast.
- Get Outside—in Any Weather.
- Enjoy the Solitude.
- Relax, You Will See Wildlife.
- Don't Keep the Great Land to Yourself.
Fairbanks runs along the Chena River at the northern end of the Alaska Railroad. Overall, Fairbanks is known as a military town plus an educational center (largely because of the University of Alaska-Fairbanks) and a healthcare region. When moving to Fairbanks, Alaska, you'll be relocating to a beautiful region.
Why is Fairbanks the best place to see northern lights? ›
1. Location, Location, Location. Fairbanks is a world-famous aurora viewing destination because of its location directly under the “Auroral Oval,” where northern lights activity is concentrated.
What unusual things happen in Fairbanks, Alaska every summer? ›
Annually on June 21st
With Fairbanks a mere 150 miles south of the Arctic Circle, the sun is just beginning to set in the North as the game of baseball gets underway and, at its conclusion some three hours later, the sun begins to rise again - also in the North. It is a phenomenon ever so rare.
