Cathy’s guidebook, Things to do around Fairbanks
Sightseeing
Bird Sanctuary. A stopover for migratory birds in the Spring and Fall. A wide variety of birds gather here upon arriving in the north and departing in the fall to fly south. A beautiful restored farm house and barn from the original Creamer's Dairy. Many trails to walk or ride bikes on beyond the farmhouse.
6 locals recommend
Farmhouse Visitor Center at Creamer's Field
Creamer LaneBird Sanctuary. A stopover for migratory birds in the Spring and Fall. A wide variety of birds gather here upon arriving in the north and departing in the fall to fly south. A beautiful restored farm house and barn from the original Creamer's Dairy. Many trails to walk or ride bikes on beyond the farmhouse.
Botanical Garden located at UAF. A wide variety of plants and a nice place to have a picnic and stroll. Beautiful view on a clear day of the Alaska Range. Every Thursday evening all summer they offer a free concert put on by local musicians.
38 locals recommend
Georgeson Botanical Garden
2180 W Tanana DrBotanical Garden located at UAF. A wide variety of plants and a nice place to have a picnic and stroll. Beautiful view on a clear day of the Alaska Range. Every Thursday evening all summer they offer a free concert put on by local musicians.
Musk Ox and Reindeer viewing at the UAF Large Animal Research Station.
56 locals recommend
Large Animal Research Station
2220 Yankovich RdMusk Ox and Reindeer viewing at the UAF Large Animal Research Station.
3 hour ride on the Chena River in a modern Sternwheeler much like the Sternwheelers used to transport goods and people into interior Alaska in years gone by. A great tour with much history and cultural education. Popular for good reason.
72 locals recommend
Riverboat Discovery
1975 Discovery Dr3 hour ride on the Chena River in a modern Sternwheeler much like the Sternwheelers used to transport goods and people into interior Alaska in years gone by. A great tour with much history and cultural education. Popular for good reason.
A fun place to visit. Large gift shop and a few Reindeer as pets.
133 locals recommend
Santa Claus House
101 St Nicholas DrA fun place to visit. Large gift shop and a few Reindeer as pets.
A great place to hike or bike with miles of trails in the summer and Cross Country Skiing in the winter. A half a mile form the Berry Suite. Also they have disc golf set up on several trails in the summer months
18 locals recommend
Birch Hill Recreation Area
101 Wilderness DrA great place to hike or bike with miles of trails in the summer and Cross Country Skiing in the winter. A half a mile form the Berry Suite. Also they have disc golf set up on several trails in the summer months
A great hike on the way to Chena Hot Springs. Hilly and somewhat challenging terrain. Bring bear spray. Bears in the area.
52 locals recommend
Angel Rocks Trailhead
15450 Chena Hot Springs RdA great hike on the way to Chena Hot Springs. Hilly and somewhat challenging terrain. Bring bear spray. Bears in the area.
A really fun hike. Bring bear spray. Approximately 40 miles from Fairbanks. Not a flat trail.
10 locals recommend
Granite Tors Trailhead and Campground
A really fun hike. Bring bear spray. Approximately 40 miles from Fairbanks. Not a flat trail.
This is an Alpine trail for the serious hiker and backpacker. Beautiful above tree line. Likely to see caribou and wildlife.
Pinnell Mountain
This is an Alpine trail for the serious hiker and backpacker. Beautiful above tree line. Likely to see caribou and wildlife.
A very informative place to visit. Get info for all around the state visits.
114 locals recommend
Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
101 Dunkel StA very informative place to visit. Get info for all around the state visits.
Nice place for summer swimming, paddle boating, fishing and camping. Great place to view the Aurora!
46 locals recommend
Chena Lake Recreation Area
3780 Laurance RoadNice place for summer swimming, paddle boating, fishing and camping. Great place to view the Aurora!
About 60 miles from Fairbanks. Hot Springs pool outside and inside. Horse back riding. Hiking, snowshoeing and skiing in winter. Restaurant open year round. Lots of hiking.
221 locals recommend
Chena Hot Springs Resort
17600 Chena Hot Springs RdAbout 60 miles from Fairbanks. Hot Springs pool outside and inside. Horse back riding. Hiking, snowshoeing and skiing in winter. Restaurant open year round. Lots of hiking.
Favorite Fairbanks swimming hole. Sandy beach and campground.
20 locals recommend
Tanana Lakes Recreation Area
4400 S Cushman St ExdFavorite Fairbanks swimming hole. Sandy beach and campground.
A 44 acre park with lots to offer for all ages. Playground for the kids. Restored Merry-Go-Round still operational. Historic restored cabins from early Fairbanks in which local vendors sell their wares. A notable operational narrow gauge train that operates in the summer months. Bear Art Gallery located in Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts is open year round. Starting in June and going through August musicians and singers perform for free at "Gazebo Nights" located near the front entrance of the park. Also the Alaska Salmon Bake is located in the park.
126 locals recommend
Pioneer Park
2300 Airport Way A 44 acre park with lots to offer for all ages. Playground for the kids. Restored Merry-Go-Round still operational. Historic restored cabins from early Fairbanks in which local vendors sell their wares. A notable operational narrow gauge train that operates in the summer months. Bear Art Gallery located in Alaska Centennial Center for the Arts is open year round. Starting in June and going through August musicians and singers perform for free at "Gazebo Nights" located near the front entrance of the park. Also the Alaska Salmon Bake is located in the park.
A very large open pit Gold mine very close to Fairbanks. A very scenic about 25 minutes from Fairbanks. Reservations required.
Fort Knox Gold Mine
1 Fort Knox RdA very large open pit Gold mine very close to Fairbanks. A very scenic about 25 minutes from Fairbanks. Reservations required.
Moose Mountain Ski and Snowboard Resort
3450 Moose Mountain RdDown hill skiing.
Arctic Traveler's Gift Shop
201 Cushman StA very Nice gift shop downtown.
If you're interested in antique cars and Fairbanks Auto history, this is the place. One of the best Antique car collections around!
75 locals recommend
Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
212 Wedgewood DrIf you're interested in antique cars and Fairbanks Auto history, this is the place. One of the best Antique car collections around!
World Class Ice Carving and carvers come from around the world to participate.
16 locals recommend
World Ice Art Championships - Ice Alaska
1800 College RdWorld Class Ice Carving and carvers come from around the world to participate.
Pioneer Park
2300 Airport WayFull of Alaska Aviation history. Fun for the whole family!
Just Short of Magic
5157 Chena Hot Springs RdRunning Reindeer Ranch
1470 Ivans AlleyGreat interaction with pet reindeer.
Leslie runs a great a great dog mushing business. She's one of our neighbors, but her business is about 5 miles from our Suite.
21 locals recommend
Paws for Adventure
Herning RoadLeslie runs a great a great dog mushing business. She's one of our neighbors, but her business is about 5 miles from our Suite.
Rod's Alaskan Guide Service Dog Sledding
3355 Repp RdFairbanks Children's Museum
302 Cushman StAlaska Feed Co
1600 College RdPerfect place to pick up stuff for your pets!
A great adventure down the Chena River. Visit a replication of an Alaska village. They also stop at local dog musher kennel and put on a demonstration from the sternwheeler. A pilot also does a demonstration of a float plane landing in the river. Worth every penny and extremely enjoyable even for locals who've lived here forever.
72 locals recommend
Riverboat Discovery
1975 Discovery DrA great adventure down the Chena River. Visit a replication of an Alaska village. They also stop at local dog musher kennel and put on a demonstration from the sternwheeler. A pilot also does a demonstration of a float plane landing in the river. Worth every penny and extremely enjoyable even for locals who've lived here forever.
Beaver Sports
3480 College RdA locally owned sporting goods store.
REI
19 College RdClothing, sporting goods.
For gun enthusiasts, but this store has something for everyone. The Wooly Rhino has clothing etc, and downstairs is a huge hardware store. A fun place to visit.
Frontier Outfitters
250 3rd StFor gun enthusiasts, but this store has something for everyone. The Wooly Rhino has clothing etc, and downstairs is a huge hardware store. A fun place to visit.
A metal tripod put out on the ice on the Tanana River in the spring. It is tied off with a cable and set to a timer for the exact time the ice goes out and the tripod falls into the river. The closest guessed time is the winner or winners, as usually several people pick the same times. It has a very large cash prize for the winner. It will be divided if more than 1 person picks the same time.
Nenana Ice Classic
723 A StreetA metal tripod put out on the ice on the Tanana River in the spring. It is tied off with a cable and set to a timer for the exact time the ice goes out and the tripod falls into the river. The closest guessed time is the winner or winners, as usually several people pick the same times. It has a very large cash prize for the winner. It will be divided if more than 1 person picks the same time.
programs@aksongbird.org
907-888-2121
Dedicated to research and conservation of Alaska's birds.
Visitors welcome.
Alaska Songbird Institute
1300 College Roadprograms@aksongbird.org
907-888-2121
Dedicated to research and conservation of Alaska's birds.
Visitors welcome.
Great place to hike in and see a Glacier. About a 2 hr drive from Fairbanks in the Alaska Range.
24 locals recommend
Castner Glacier Ice Cave
Richardson HighwayGreat place to hike in and see a Glacier. About a 2 hr drive from Fairbanks in the Alaska Range.
Food scene
Offering Salmon, Crab and all the fixings. Right in Pioneer Park. Only open in the summer.
30 locals recommend
Alaska Salmon Bake
2300 Airport WayOffering Salmon, Crab and all the fixings. Right in Pioneer Park. Only open in the summer.
Lat 65 Brewing Co.
150 Eagle AvenueA craft brewery about 5 miles from the Suite.
HooDoo Brewing Company
1951 Fox AveA brewery that is a popular and close to the suite.
A good grocery store close to our Suite that offers just about everything.
98 locals recommend
Fred Meyer
3755 Airport WayA good grocery store close to our Suite that offers just about everything.
Tanana Valley Fair runs the first weekend of August.
21 locals recommend
Tanana Valley State Fair Association
1800 College RdTanana Valley Fair runs the first weekend of August.
Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co.
5000 W International Airport RdA great little market for all kinds of organic foods and others things as well. Local produce in summer.
21 locals recommend
Co-op Market Grocery & Deli
526 Gaffney RdA great little market for all kinds of organic foods and others things as well. Local produce in summer.
A local favorite for a wonderful salad bar and really yummy prime rib dinner.
86 locals recommend
Turtle Club
2098 Old Steese Hwy NA local favorite for a wonderful salad bar and really yummy prime rib dinner.
Bobbys Downtown
609 2nd AveDefinitely a local favorite, right on the Chena River.
135 locals recommend
The Pump House Restaurant Fairbanks
796 Chena Pump RdDefinitely a local favorite, right on the Chena River.
Lavelle's Bistro
575 1st AveFine Dining.
Lavelle's Taphouse
412 2nd AveBlack Spruce Brewing Company
3290 Peger RdLocal Favorite
Pike's Landing
4438 Airport WayRight on the Chena River.
Great Harvest Bread Co.
1990 College RdA great little hamburger place in Healy near Denali Park. Open year round.
8 locals recommend
Totem Inn
7 Parks HwyA great little hamburger place in Healy near Denali Park. Open year round.
Bahn Thai Rama Restaurant
338 Old Steese HighwayA local favorite for Thai food.
Seasonal, opens in May and closes at the end of summer. Sit on the deck overlooking the Chena River.
River's Edge Resort
4200 Boat StreetSeasonal, opens in May and closes at the end of summer. Sit on the deck overlooking the Chena River.
A local favorite with some pretty mean homemade pies in a huge variety served fresh daily. Burgers and such as well. About 12 miles out from Fairbanks. A very pleasant drive as well.
14 locals recommend
Hilltop Restaurant & Marketplace
3711 Elliott HighwayA local favorite with some pretty mean homemade pies in a huge variety served fresh daily. Burgers and such as well. About 12 miles out from Fairbanks. A very pleasant drive as well.
A locally owned family business for decades. Good food, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, nice atmosphere, family friendly, all around good place to eat. Famous for all their home baked cookies, pastries, cinnamon rolls and homemade rolls and breads.
60 locals recommend
The Cookie Jar Restaurant
1006 Cadillac CtA locally owned family business for decades. Good food, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, nice atmosphere, family friendly, all around good place to eat. Famous for all their home baked cookies, pastries, cinnamon rolls and homemade rolls and breads.
Lemongrass Thai Restaurant
388 Old Chena Pump RdThai food, local favorite!!
The Banks Alehouse
1243 Old Steese HwyThe Crepery
523 2nd AveEveryone love this place. Many varieties of crepes.
The Hungry Robot
910 Old Steese HwyGreat Pizza.
In Healy just before you get to Denali Park. This is such a great store in the middle of practically nowhere that has just about everything. Really fun to visit and get a snack or browse at all the cool things they carry .
16 locals recommend
Three Bears Healy
248.5 Parks HwyIn Healy just before you get to Denali Park. This is such a great store in the middle of practically nowhere that has just about everything. Really fun to visit and get a snack or browse at all the cool things they carry .
A great place to eat (call ahead and make a reservation). Beautiful surroundings just past Delta Junction (about a 2.5 hr drive from Fairbanks). Go to Castner Glacier then stop for fine dining at Black Rapids Lodge. Excellent food!
The Lodge at Black Rapids
A great place to eat (call ahead and make a reservation). Beautiful surroundings just past Delta Junction (about a 2.5 hr drive from Fairbanks). Go to Castner Glacier then stop for fine dining at Black Rapids Lodge. Excellent food!