Traveling anywhere is extremely special, as each place is so unique and has its own culture. Fairbanks, Alaska was definitely a special trip to see a true winter wonderland. Check out fun facts about the city and pictures of my trip below to know why you need to travel to Fairbanks, Alaska!
Fun Facts about Fairbanks
- In January, Fairbanks receives about 4 hours of sunlight per day and the sun barely extends above the skyline! As spring approaches, Fairbanks gains an average of 7 minutes of daylight per day, so around 49 minutes per week meaning that in the fall, each week they lose an hour of daylight a week. In the summer, daylight can last up to 21 hours, with the sun setting at its latest at 12:47am!
- The snow in Fairbanks is powdery because of the lack of moisture and because it is so cold. The snow can be so deep that if you walk into a field that has not been packed down, you will drop multiple feet down into the snow. When I was walking on a trail, I stepped off the path and my foot sank down to my hip.
- Fairbanks has very little to no wind. First, not having wind in the winter makes the temperature more bearable as it is naturally very cold. Fairbanks actually feels warmer than Michigan at times due to the lack of windchill.
- The northern lights is a common phenomenon in the winter and they occur because of collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere. It is a unique experience to witness and is something you have to be patient for, but it is worth it!
- Dog mushing races are very popular in Fairbanks, and one of the longest races, the Yukon Quest, originates in Fairbanks. It is a 1,000 mile race that takes around 10-16 days to complete.
- You can find moose anywhere in Fairbanks, even in the downtown park. The moose are not to be messed with as they do whatever they please and can be known to charge people and vehicles if they feel threatened.
- Sun dogs occur when the sun reflects off tiny crystals in the atmosphere that create a half circle rainbow around the sun. They can occur in all seasons but are most common during the winter.
- The World Ice Art Championships occurs in February to March every year in Fairbanks. It hosts over 100 ice artists that create beautiful and detailed ice sculptures.
What I did in Fairbanks
Aurora Viewing
To try and see the northern lights, you have to be very patient, stay up late and get ready to be cold! It was a once in a lifetime experience to see the northern lights come and go, each time getting stronger and brighter. When they would start to form I would excitedly jump out of the car to take many pictures.
Dog Mushing
Dog mushing is a must if you visit Fairbanks! It was so fun to interact with the dogs, get them harnessed to the snow sled, and be pulled by them. There are 10 dogs per team and these dogs just LOVE what they do. The dogs began howling and jumping up and down in excitement in the snow prior to taking off. All these dogs had the cutest personalities and were extremely sensitive. It was my favorite part of the trip!
World Ice Art Championships
The World Ice Art Championships was amazing! I went during the opening week meaning that not everything was completed. The first week of the competition consisted of contestants using multiple blocks to create their design, while the following weeks consisted of artists creating their designs out of 1-2 blocks of ice. The ice sculptures I did see were unbelievable! They had games made out of ice (ping pong, putt-putt, chess, checkers, and air hockey), in addition to slides made out of ice that I slid down using a sled.
Chena Hot Springs
Chena Hot Springs is a little resort about 1.5-2 hours drive outside of Fairbanks that is home to natural hot springs which the average temperature is around 106 degrees F. The hot springs were relaxing and perfect for star gazing and the aurora (if present). Since it was so cold outside (-8 degrees) my hair and eyelashes froze from the steam coming off the spring! It was definitely a unique experience to be in a bathing suit in that temperature.
Cross Country Skiing
During cross country skiing we were surrounded by scenic snow covered trees. We skied over narrow paths, wide open fields, and over frozen lakes. We went on a path throughout the University in Fairbanks which was an easier trail, but we were still sweating by the end of 2 hours!
Downtown Fairbanks
I went to downtown Fairbanks and one of my first stops was the Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitor Center. Directly behind the visitor center there is a small park that contains an antler arch that is made up of more than 100 moose and caribou antlers and skulls collected from all over Alaska that have been combined together to create this amazing arch. Right next to the park there is the Chena river that runs through the heart of downtown that freezes over in the winter. On my way to the visitor center I passed many cute stores, restaurants and bars. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience to just walk around downtown and experience daily life in this city!
I would love to travel to Fairbanks again in the summer to see what new experiences are there in a different season! Hopefully this brought in a new perspective of Alaska in the winter and made you interested in putting Fairbanks on your travel destination bucket list!
If you want more information about Fairbanks, Alaska check out their website here!
What I Want to do Next Time I Visit
- Go hiking throughout Denali Mountain to see the mountain ranges and wildlife
- Visit glaciers south of Fairbanks as they are known to be beautiful
- Explore some of the many historical museums across the city
