Fairbanks
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Distance between Fairbanks and:
Anchorage = 358 mi / 576 km
Denali Park = 121 mi / 194 km
Dawson City= 393 mi / 631 km
Valdez = 364 mi / 586 km
Prudhoe Bay = 489 mi / 793 km
Population = 84,380
Elevation = 436 ft / 133 m
Visit
the Fairbanks Visitor Center Webpage for current Calendar of Events &
Happenings,
| My time at
Billie's was a time for reflection on all I had seen and done. In my
last hours here I went for a last walk. Just a few hundred yards from
the hostel, I found a small path and followed it to a creek. There I found a hidden glade, filled with wild blue bells, roses, butterflies, a squirrel and birds. I have fulfilled a lifelong dream by coming to Alaska. I have traveled through the inside passage, seeing wondrous things like calving glaciers, wildlife and towering mountains, the magnificent Isolation of the Yukon and the tundra North of the Arctic Circle. I have had adventures I never dreamed I would have. Everything has just been so much more than I thought it could ever be, and of course the best part are the people you meet. I NEVER Imagined Kayaking up the Columbia Glacier with NASA scientists, or drinking Alaska Amber with WHALE researchers. We had some terrific conversations and shared moments that will stay with us forever. Just traveling comrades all searching for our souls and finding them all here at Billie's I leave tomorrow and already I am homesick for this vast land they call ALASKA. Barbara Ann McClure Perth, Australia 2002 |
Centrally located in the heart of Alaska, Fairbanks is a great place to begin
your exploration of interior Alaska. Alaska's second largest city sits on
the banks of the Chena River in the Tanana Valley. Travel in any direction
out of town and you will find yourself in wilderness within a matter of minutes.
From Fairbanks you may make connections with ground or air transportation
companies to such places as Anchorage, Deanli, Dawson City, Prudhoe Bay, the
Arctic Circle, Circle Hot Springs, Skagway, Whitehorse, Haines or any community
en-route. Several small commuter flights operate out of the Fairbanks
International Airport, allowing for easy access to even the most remote villages
and wilderness areas.
Located at the historical end of the Alaska Highway, Fairbanks is rich in
history and tradition. The city (named for a senator from Indiana) was founded in 1901 after the discovery of gold caused a rush of thousands to flood into the
Tanana Valley. Fairbanks soon became Alaska's vibrant cultural and economic center. For almost 100 years, Fairbanks has played a vital role in Alaska's economic, educational and
military history.
Alaska's second largest city is the gateway to the vast interior and arctic regions of Alaska and Canada's Yukon Territory. From Fairbanks, you can hike the Pinnell Mt. Trail, finishing with a relaxing soak at Arctic Circle Hot Springs. Be sure to visit the main campus of the University of Alaska (UAF). Established in 1917 it is located only 4 miles from the city center (and only a 10 minute walk from the hostel) on 2,250 acres. UAF is home to the Geophysical Institute, the Large Animal Research station, and the Agricultural and Forestry Experimental Station. It also offers the states top Natural History Museum.
With its International Airport, excellent geographic location, and easy highway access, Fairbanks is the natural place to begin any exploration of the vast interior regions of Alaska including the Gates of the Arctic, a float trip down the Yukon River or a journey into the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Of course, Fairbanks is a destination in its own right with many activities in the area, and incredibly
warm, sunny, summer days.
Whether you wish to explore on your own, or let a local show you around, you will want to begin your search of the many opportunities that the Fairbanks area has to offer by visiting the Fairbanks Visitor Center.
With summer temperatures reaching into the 90's and dropping to the negative 40's in the depths of winter, Fairbanks offers endless opportunities for the adventurous traveler. For additional information on camping, hiking, trails, obtaining topography maps, advice, or general information about visiting any part of Alaska's interior you will want to visit the Fairbanks Visitor Center and Alaska Public Lands Information Center (907)456-0527 located at 250 Cushman St. in downtown Fairbanks.