Alaska Vacation Tours to Fairbanks

Fairbanks is one of Alaska’s best year-round vacation destinations. Located in the Interior region of Alaska, Fairbanks gets hotter, and more summer-like conditions than other Alaska destinations. Visitors will find plenty to do whether they plan their trip during the summer months or come during Aurora Season to see the Northern Lights dance across the arctic sky. Fairbanks is famous for the  Northern Lights, the midnight sun, and sunsets and sunrises that seem to last forever! It’s also the perfect basecamp for trips to Denali National Park & Preserve, the interior region of the state, and the Arctic Circle.

What Is The Best Time To Visit Alaska?

Many people wonder when they should visit Alaska. The most frequent answer is that it depends on what you want to see and what you want to do during your trip! However, that does not hold true for Fairbanks. With the summer sun shining up to 24 hours a day from April 22 to August 20, the subarctic summer in the Fairbanks region is filled with activities for tourists. In fact, from mid-May through mid-July, Fairbanks experiences 70 days of daylight. That makes it a great time to plan a trip to Fairbanks, Alaska.

As the second-largest city in Alaska, Fairbanks is well known for world-class accommodations and the finest restaurants. It’s also home to various museums and historical sites and is filled with picturesque locations. Popular local attractions include the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, the Museum of the North, and the iconic Pioneer Park. Visitors to Fairbanks can also explore the breathtaking natural beauty of the surrounding area, including the Northern Lights and the stunning wilderness of Denali National Park.

Planning Your Trip To Fairbanks, Alaska

Now that you’ve decided on your destination, what are some of the must-do Alaska vacation tours to Fairbanks that you should book during your trip? Here are a few of the best tours in Fairbanks that will ensure you witness the majestic wildlife and breathtaking landscapes of Alaska:

Alaska Vacation Tour #1

Take a riverboat cruise on the Chena River! During your cruise, you can learn all about the city’s history. Some cruises even stop to take visitors on a tour of an Iditarod champion’s dog kennel and an Athabascan Village. If you’re not the riverboat cruise type, you can rent a kayak or canoe and explore the river on your own. Or, you can simply relax by the riverside, enjoying a picnic or reading a book while taking in the serene ambiance of the flowing waters.

Alaska Vacation Tour #2

Visit Pioneer Park! Located just a couple of miles away from downtown Fairbanks is Alaska's only historic theme park. This 44-acre, family-friendly park brings the area's history to life through museums, art galleries, a historical sternwheeler, an operational train and carousel, and buildings that date back to the Gold Rush era. The park also features interactive exhibits and reenactments that allow visitors to immerse themselves in the rich heritage of the region.

Alaska Vacation Tour #3

Spend a day exploring downtown Fairbanks’ many museums. Fairbanks is home to a wide variety of museums. There’s something for everyone! Take a day to explore the Morris Thomson Cultural & Visitor Center, which houses the Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Alaska Public Lands Information Center. Or, head over to the University of Alaska at Fairbanks’ campus for a tour of the University of Alaska Museum of the North. This museum is home to the Gallery of Alaska, which examines the geology, history, and unusual aspects of each region of the state. If you like art, The Rose Berry Alaska Art Gallery houses northern artwork ranging from ancient ivory carvings to contemporary photographs. Fairbanks Community Museum traces the city's history through a collection of exhibits displaying mining artifacts from the past, sled dog racing equipment, and a complete trapper's cabin. To get another look at the past, visitors can wander through the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum to view an impressive collection of vintage automobiles and vintage fashion.

Alaska Vacation Tour #4

Enjoy a gold panning tour. Hop aboard a narrow-gauge train and stake your claim to gold on this two-hour tour of Gold Dredge 8. Along the way, you’ll learn how 100,000 gold rushers fought the permafrost in their quest to get rich—then grab some gold of your own! You’ll visit the historic dredge (a giant machine used to scoop pay dirt), explore the old mining site, and pan for gold, just like the pioneers did. You might even stumble upon remnants of the past, such as old tools or abandoned mining equipment, nestled among the rugged landscape.

Alaska Vacation Tour #5

Take a drive to the Aurora Ice Museum and Chena Hot Springs. From May 1 – September 30, you can visit the Aurora Ice Museum. The museum features ice sculptures that depict Alaska’s history, culture, and wildlife. You can even have a drink at the museum’s ice bar! Then, head next door to the Chena Hot Springs, where you can soak in the soothing hot springs pools. The Chena Hot Springs Resort is open year-round, and features indoor and outdoor pools, luxury accommodations, and offers visitors a chance to see the Northern Lights while soaking in a natural hot spring on a dark winter night.

Alaska Vacation Tour #6

Book a trip on a bush plane above the Arctic Circle to get a feel for the “real Alaska.” Fairbanks is an ideal jumping-off point to venture north of the Arctic Circle and take in the landscapes and lifestyles of the far north. Fly to communities like Anaktuvak Pass, where you’ll learn about the village lifestyle in rural Alaska. Or fly to Coldfoot, Gates of the Arctic National Park, or the Arctic Ocean. Exploring the Arctic Circle provides a unique opportunity to witness the mesmerizing beauty of untouched nature and immerse yourself in the rich indigenous cultures that call these remote lands home.

Alaska Vacation Tour #7

Visit Denali National Park! Denali National Park is Alaska’s best-known attraction, and it should be on your list of things to do in Fairbanks. Denali National Park and Preserve encompasses a large area of land around Mount Denali, the tallest peak in North America at 20,320 feet above sea level. Once there, you can hike the trails that wind throughout Denali National Park, so packing your hiking gear is a must. If you aren’t up to hiking, though, there are plenty of other activities for visitors including an excursion into nearby Talkeetna by way of the Alaska Railroad and the “Denali Star” passenger service. From Talkeetna, you can take a helicopter tour of Denali, which is an unbelievable experience.

Alaska Vacation Tour #8

Plan a Northern Lights Tour. Fairbanks is arguably the most popular destination for visitors who want to see the Northern Lights. It's situated underneath the Aurora Oval, so visitors can view the Northern Lights from town! It’s also a great basecamp for Aurora Viewing Tours beyond the Arctic Circle. Peak viewing season is in the dead of winter, when the weather is the coldest and when it is the darkest. It's also a great time for a winter vacation that includes dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and more.

Alaska Vacation Tour #9

See the Trans-Alaska Pipeline! You can’t afford to miss this marvel of engineering if you visit Fairbanks. The pipeline runs 800 miles from Alaska’s Arctic coast to Prudhoe Bay, and then to the port of Valdez. This iconic feature of the Alaska landscape is a big part of the Alaska economy and is worth the trip just to see. Don't forget to take in the breathtaking views of the Alaskan wilderness surrounding this amazing feat of engineering!

Alaska Vacation Tour #10

Visit the North Pole. A trip to Fairbanks, Alaska just wouldn’t be the same without a trip to the North Pole to see the Santa Clause House. Decorated with all things Christmas, this short side trip is a must for visitors. And, of course, you can even visit Santa Claus while you are in the neighborhood. Enjoy a day exploring the enchanting winter wonderland of this Far North village, where the spirit of Christmas comes alive with twinkling lights and festive decorations.

Wildlife Viewing On Your Trip To Fairbanks, Alaska

The Interior of Alaska is teeming with abundant wildlife and viewing opportunities are plentiful, even around cities like Fairbanks. Visitors can learn about muskoxen and reindeer at the University of Alaska’s Large Animal Research Station (LARS), which offers daily tours year-round. Or, you can learn about reindeer from the owners of Running Reindeer Ranch. A one-hour tour gives you time to walk with, pet, and take pictures with a small reindeer herd.

Once you’ve learned all you can about reindeer, head over to the Fountainhead Wedgewood Wildlife Sanctuary or Creamer’s Field where more than 100 species of mammals and birds have been identified. The two are joined by miles of trails that take you through a variety of habitats. Watch for foxes, beavers, flying squirrels, snowshoe hares, and moose. Bird lovers will enjoy seeing sandhill cranes, tundra swans, kingfishers, owls, mallards, and many more species of birds.

A Whirlwind Of An Adventure In Fairbanks

Whether you plan on going on a nature hike, watching the Northern Lights dance across the sky, or floating down the Chena River in a canoe, Alaska vacation tours to Fairbanks offer something for everyone. And while many people wonder what is the best time to visit Alaska, Fairbanks is teeming with activity year-round! There are museums for the city dwellers; adventures in Denali National Park for the outdoors types; and skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, and dog sledding for those who love the winter months. No matter what you want to do, there’s something to hold your interest in Fairbanks. So what are you waiting for? Let’s go!