Autumn begins in Fairbanks, Alaska, in August, and that means it's time for rain and the State Fair in town.
Visitors will have plenty to do on these long, warm summer days to watch the spectacular aurora borealis displays that color the night sky during the aurora season. The Northern Lights are visible on the clearest nights between September and April and are so spectacular that Fairbanks is one of the best places in the United States to see and photograph the natural phenomenon. Of course, there is no doubt that it is the perfect place for the aurora borealis, which can be seen from Alaska, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South America, Europe and the Middle East. It is seen an average of 243 nights a year, but the Northern Lights are most commonly seen in the first three months of October, November and December, according to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources.
But most people do not travel to Fairbanks for a day or even all the Northern Lights in one night, and most of them are on the road in the first three months of October, November, December and January.
You can rent a car in Fairbanks and drop it off in Anchorage, but usually there is a substantial surcharge. For rail transportation, we offer the option of booking a one-way train ride from Anchorage to the airport or a two-day train ride from Anchorage Airport. For more information, please visit this page and contact the Alaska Department of Transportation (Alaska Transit Authority) for a complete list of available trains.
If you visit Fairbanks from mid-May to late September, there are several tours that allow tourists to learn about the history and culture of Fairbanks.
If you visit Fairbanks from mid-May to late September, there are several tours that allow tourists to learn about the history and culture of Fairbanks. The University of Alaska Museum North is one of the best museums in the state, but you can't miss it.
The Northern Lights are particularly trippy and the area around Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to catch a glimpse of them. Before embarking on a hot night, check out the UAF Northern Lights forecast.
We recommend a tour from the Northern Alaska Tour Company, as your trip to the northern part of Alaska will not be complete without a trip through the Arctic. We also recommend the University of Anchorage Museum of the North, whose building is right next to a rushing line of northern lights in the sky.
This center houses the largest collection of Alaska artifacts in the United States, including the largest single museum in the state, the Alaska Museum of Natural History. These amazing artifacts, which have been created over 1,000 years by native American and Alaskan people, show the enormous size and diversity of the state. It features a museum with a variety of artifacts from Alaska's past, present and future, as well as artifacts from the current state.
The Museum of the North, located on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, is an important resource center for the public and scientists. This facility is a great visitor information center and also hosts other important agencies in Alaska, including the Alaska Department of Natural Resources, the Alaska State Police and the state Bureau of Land Management. This collection covers Alaska's history and culture, as well as the state of the state and local economy. The international airport serves as a hub for international flights to and from Anchorage, Anchorage International Airport, Fairbank Airport and other destinations in Alaska.
Prudhoe Bay, also known as Haul Road, starts in Fairbanks and is considered the gateway to the Arctic. The town's nickname, "Golden Heart," reflects the fact that the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is accessible by small plane.
Fairbanks is relatively scattered compared to other smaller communities in Alaska that you will visit, with about 30,000 residents living within the city limits. When the surrounding area is included, that number swells to nearly 100,000, making it Alaska's second-largest city. It is Alaska's third largest city after Anchorage and Fairbanks, the state's largest cities with more than 1.5 million residents.
Alaska Salmon Bake, which has served delicious Alaska salmon for over 40 years, is one of the most popular restaurants in Fairbanks and the only one in the state. Alaska Coffee Roasting Co. is also a small café that offers a small selection of food and a coffee bar, serving coffee, tea, pastries, pastries and more.
The first family-run dairy in Fairbanks and one of the state's first dairy farms was founded during the Alaska Gold Rush in the early 20th century, when it established a dairy farm on the site of a former railway station at the intersection of Main Street and Main Avenue.