Summer is the major tourist season in Alaska, and rightfully so. The midnight sun is a mind-blowing experience for people who aren't from here and there are so many outdoor activities to partake in while the temperatures are enjoyable and everything is green and lush. The seasonal salmon runs and wildlife viewing are also a huge draw.
Tourist season in Alaska starts winding down in August and ends around Labor Day so a lot of things are really shut down by then as locals being preparing for the winter season. It's this reason that not many people realize that Fall in Fairbanks offers it's own seasonal activities. We don't exaggerate when we say Fall really only lasts a few weeks in this part of the world, but we truly believe that it is one of Fairbanks' best kept secrets. So if you find yourself seeking an Alaskan adventure in the Fall, here are our top 8 activities we recommend checking out in Fairbanks this time of year: 8. Visit Denali National Park
Only about a 2 hour drive outside of Fairbanks, Denali National Park is home to the highest peak in North America. During the summer season, the road into the park is only open to Mile 15 to private vehicles. Unless you're lucky enough to snag one of the limited number of passes they release, visitors have to book a bus tour to go past that mile marker. But once the crowds leave and the visitor's center closes for the season in mid-September, the road is open (while road conditions allow) to mile 30. We love visiting the park in the off-season. Hiking trails are still open and obviously, wildlife is still roaming. But there's just something about being surrounded by the beauty of this national park while it's seemingly deserted.
7. Walk with Reindeer
We are all about unique experiences and Alaska in full of them. What's more unique and Alaskan than playing some good, old fashioned reindeer games with the reindeer themselves? Running Reindeer Ranch is open year round, offering tours in the winter-season by appointment. Learn all about these fascinating arctic creatures as you take a guided walk with them through the forest in an intimate and interactive experience.
6. Visit Santa Claus
We can't talk about reindeer without mentioning the Big Guy, himself! The city of North Pole is about 20 minutes outside of Fairbanks and yes, Santa does indeed live here! You can visit the Santa Claus House year round and even chat with Santa himself Wednesday-Sunday. After putting in a good word with Mr. Claus, get yourself a unique souvenir (and some delicious fudge) and then go visit with his reindeer, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen...(Cupid is our favorite).
5. Visit a distillery
Also in North Pole, you can visit a true farm-to-bottle distillery located on Arctic Harvest Farm. The distillery is a pretty cool place to get a drink if the tasting room is open, but it's the setting that keeps us coming back. In September, there's a fun corn maze with food trucks and sometimes a little petting zoo on the weekends, but as the weather turns snowy, they keep trails groomed for walking, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and even kick-sledding! They also host local artist shows every once in awhile so we recommend checking out their social media for upcoming events.
4. Dip into some Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs Resort is about an hour outside of Fairbanks and is a beautiful drive on an equally beautiful property, especially in the Fall! In all honesty, having spent some time here, we can't recommend the resort's accommodations or their restaurant, but the grounds, hot springs and extra activities are definitely worth the visit. Chena Hot Springs Resort hosts a great sled dog kennel where you can take a tour - or a ride! - and learn all about sled dog training. The resort is also home to the world's largest year-round ice environment, the Aurora Ice Museum. This museum stays a cool 25 degrees Fahrenheit while you roam around different ice carved rooms and even enjoy an appletini served in their famous ice glass.
3. Learn about the history of Fairbanks
Exploring Pioneer Park, located in Fairbanks, is always an activity we recommend to visitors. Part of the park, known as Gold Rush Town, has been built into a living museum, bringing visitors back in time to the early days that put Fairbanks on the map. This little street includes original cabins and homes from the first settlers, as well as larger buildings that served the community as a variety of businesses. The park and some of the museums are open year round. All of the buildings have outdoor plaques that give a little history but we've found the businesses hit-or-miss whether they're open or not. We do know, however, that the train usually does it's last run of the year around Halloween, during the community's trick-or-treat event.
2. Explore the Museum of the North
Speaking of museums, the University of Alaska - Fairbanks' Museum of the North is a great museum if you're interested in learning even more of the history of Alaska. Beyond learning about the gold rush days, they also have a variety of exhibits showing Native history and local animals, including The Blue Babe, a 36,000 year old mummified Steppe Bison found in the area. If that doesn't entice you enough, the University also sits on one of the few hills in town, offering stunning views of Fairbanks.
1. View the Northern Lights
Saving the best for last, we often get asked when's the best time to visit for Northern Lights viewing. While the lights can be seen anytime the sky is dark enough, in our experience the end of September through October is a great time to view them. Clear skies are a little more common during this time of year and it's finally getting dark enough that sometimes there are great shows as early as 11:00pm! While there are a variety of tour companies you can book, we simply like watching them at Chena Lakes Recreation Area because it's close to our home. There are also a lot of places to see them outside of Fairbanks away from light pollution - we've even heard the Hot Springs Resort is a great viewing place as well!
Honorable Mentions
If you make it to Fairbanks in late-August or September, it's wild blueberry season! Wild Alaskan blueberries are actually a super food, that have extremely high antioxidant levels even compared to other blueberries. Also in September, right after the first frost, low-bush cranberries are at their prime. It's a great time for nature hikes even if just to seek out nature's candy.
Another place we like to take visitors to experience is the Alaska Raw Fur Co. This is actually the show room/store front of a company that acts as a trading post for Alaska's fur trappers. It's pretty fascinating to compare the different furs of arctic animals as you wander the show room and you can even get your own as a souvenir. This is a cool place to visit any time of year. Fall also brings hockey season! The Ice Dogs are Fairbanks junior ice hockey team and their games are so fun! If you're looking for something to do, we highly recommend a hockey game while you're here! One of our favorite activities we did our first fall here was attend an event at the Fairbanks curling club. They had a free clinic with local curlers teach groups how to play this olympic sport! It sure gave us an appreciation for this winter olympic event and it was fun learning how to play! Due to Covid, a lot of their events were cut back last year but they did mention they were happy to schedule private lessons. We truly love Fall in interior Alaska. Keep in mind, this season encompasses a wide variety of weather here from the cool temps of September to snow and below freezing in October. But there's always something to do depending on how you let the outside temperature affect your activities. Have you visited Fairbanks in the fall? Is there anything you would add to the list? Let us know in the comments! If you haven't already been, we hope this list inspires you to visit! If you're interested in a one-on-one chat to help to plan a trip to Alaska check out our options! Comments or questions? We'd love to hear them! Make sure to pin so you can come back to this post! We'd love to have you join us on Instagram to come with us on our day-to-day adventures! And until next time, get out and explore where YOU live!
2 Comments
Alaskan Bears
10/9/2021 10:49:12 am
I am glad I checked out your blog, I think of them as an Era past. I quit following many because I ran out of time to read. You have so many great ideas and such a positive outlook on things, I love it ❤
Reply
Our Big Backyard
10/9/2021 11:31:20 am
Aw, thank you for your kind words! It does seem like blogging isn't as popular as it used to be but I love reading about people's experiences when I find a good post :)
Reply
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
|