We get it, Alaska can be a daunting place to visit in the winter. Especially if you are looking at visiting the interior! Up here, life is a little more intense during the winter season with temperatures commonly well below 0°F and only 3 hours of sunlight (give or take) in the thick of the winter months. Don’t forget the ice and snow that sticks around from October-April and it doesn’t necessarily scream “winter getaway destination”. Have we hyped it up enough? Haha all the doom and gloom aside, winter in interior Alaska is a magical time. Who are we kidding? Alaska in general is a magical time! We commonly get asked when is the best time to visit and we always follow up with, “What do you want to do?” If you're one not afraid to brave the elements for some extreme winter activities, the best time to visit Fairbanks is FEBRUARY! I won’t lie, winter as a local is pretty rough. It’s cold and dark and many locals tend to hunker down into their homes during those rough months. Many tourist companies and restaurants are hit or miss and there aren’t a lot of activities going on. But by the time February comes around, the sun is staying out noticeably longer, even long enough to raise the temperatures (if only a little bit). Locals are getting antsy for Spring being just around the corner and the Fairbanks area starts to come alive again. So without further ado here are 8 reasons to visit Fairbanks in February: 1) Dog sled racesEvery first weekend in February kicks off the Yukon Quest! The Yukon Quest is a 1,000 mile race between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, Yukon. Unlike the Iditarod, the Yukon Quest starts on schedule regardless of conditions, which can be quite unpredictable still this time of year. They alternate starting points between Fairbanks and Whitehorse, with even-numbered years starting in Fairbanks. There’s always a big hustle and bustle at the starting line, where you can watch teams get ready and take off one-by-one, but we enjoy catching them a few miles into the race and cheering teams on as they cruise down the frozen Chena River. You may even get a high five as the mushers come racing through! Such an incredible way to be part of the action. If after an inspiring view of the world's toughest mushers you're inspired to take a ride for yourself, there are multiple companies in the area, but on multiple occasions, we've actually run into locals who have offered to take us for rides! 2) Northern LightsCan you see the Northern lights in other winter months? You definitely can! But in our experience, the later winter months (like February and even March) has given us the highest chance of clearer skies than other months and we’ve gotten some pretty great shows that would’ve otherwise been hidden by clouds. 3) Glacier HikesYou can visit glaciers any time of the year, but some of them are just easier to visit when things are a bit more…frozen. We thoroughly enjoyed our hike to Castner Glacier on a relatively warm day in February. The river that flows into the cave was completely solid and there was little to no risk of falling through or even having rocks fall from the glacier cave while we were visiting, which can be a hazard in warmer months. The sun was also up longer, giving us ample time for travel and exploring. 4) Ice SculpturesFebruary kicks off ice sculpture season! And Fairbanks is home to the annual World Ice Art Championships! Every February, ice sculptors from around the world travel to Fairbanks to compete in the prestigious competition and it is just incredible to wander through the different sculptures and sometimes catch an artist at work! 5) Hockey GamesThe Fairbanks Ice Dogs are a Junior ice hockey team in the NAHL. Their home games are held at the Big Dipper ice arena in Fairbanks. We have enjoyed a few of their games and love to watch them. In February, amateur hockey teams in the area are in full swing. Being a military family, our favorite game to catch in February is the Army vs Air Force game! GO ICEMEN!! 6) Ice FishingWhile you’re here catching the northern lights and dog sled races, you can also rent out a hut (or a tent and auger) and do a little ice fishing! Chena Lakes Recreation Area is stocked with Rainbow Trout, Silver Salmon, Arctic Char and grayling and they rent out ice houses by the day. Ice house come with a wood burning stove and one bundle of wood (we recommend bringing extra), chairs, and drilled holes. You can rent fishing gear at Alaska Outdoor Gear Rental in Fairbanks. 7) Hot SpringsChena Hot Springs is open year round but going in the winter can be fun for multiple reasons. One, we've heard it's a great place to view the northern lights! And two...well...just google "hot springs frozen hair". 8) Winter SportsWe're talking ALL the winter sports: XC skiing, downhill skiing, snowboarding, tubing, snowshoeing, fat biking, snow machining, ice skating...we have it all! Chena Lakes also rents out snow machines and other sporting gear can be found at Outdoor Gear Rental. We get asked a lot about what there is to do in the winter. The cold temps definitely keep most tourists away but with the right gear, winter can be super fun, especially with some of the great events that happen in February! It's truly a winter wonderland. So what do you think? Could you brave Fairbanks in the winter? If we gave you some ideas, make sure to save this guide to Pinterest! If you have been, how was your experience? We'd love to know! If you're interested in a one-on-one chat to help plan a custom trip to Alaska, check out our options here! Don't forget to join us on Instagram to come with us on our day-to-day adventures! And as always, make sure to get out and enjoy where YOU live!
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWe're just a military family enjoying where we live, one PCS at a time. Follow us as we explore our current home, South Carolina, and beyond. The world is our backyard. Archives
June 2024
Categories
All
|