Fairbanks Travel Forum

We are planning a trip to Fairbanks to view the Aurora. This has been a long-time wish for my wife, and we want it to be memorable, if possible. We are focusing on the new moon phase in February or March next year. I have looked at the Bettles Lodge web site and was interested in any comments someone might have about that location, or others, that would give us the best viewing opportunity. We have reviewed the Fairbanks/Alaska brochures, but we would also like your first-hand opinion on events in the Fairbanks area that time of year. Should we try to visit Anchorage, for example? We are thinking about staying for ten days to two weeks.
Thanks for your help!

Am flying into Anchorage tomorrow night and was planning on heading north to Fairbanks. Am very concerned about all of the wildfires. Any advice would certainly be greatly appreciated. Thanks all. Linda

Museum web site needs to post an actual address so you can get driving directions from mapquest. The PO Box does not help me any. Suggest to put mailing address and location of museum on web page

My daughter will be in Juneau on April 1. I'm thinking of flying my wife to Fairbanks(not permanantly)and having my daughter fly from Juneau to meet her. Both have never been to Alaska before, and will have 5 days to sightsee. First, is Fairbanks best "home base" for their excursions? Second, they are not interested in "Indian" things, but "nature". My daughter is a ecological biologist. They want to see mountains and wildlife.
Suggestions for itineraries are welcome. Any part of Denali open in April?
Thanks for your responses.

hey there, a friend and I are planning a visit to fairbanks, and we'll be there in summer. (actually early may to late august) how cold is it in summer?

Hi I am in Alaska next year, but on June 21 & June 22 I will be in Fairbanks.
I have bee looking for a tour "Artic Circle Tours" most of them leave at 06:30am arriving back at around midnight, (arriving back is not the problem) its the departure time, I am looking for something that leaves mid afternoon drive.
OR
Fly up and drive back, leaving mid afternoon.
Would it be possible for to drive ourselves up and back?
But idealy we would like a tour.
Any help or ideas please.
John Robert McNally
(John Mac)
Monday September 4, 2006
@ 19:35 hrs GMT

Can the northern lights be seen in July? ..advise on how to see. Will be in Fairbanks July 15.

Hi, I am based in Fairbanks for the next two months, if anyone is traveling and needs an extra person to reduce costs or just to travel with I am open to meeting you.

I am especially interested in visiting/bakcpacking in the Artic refuge and Denali. I would love to go on a fishing expedition, backpacking or any other exciting outdoor journey that you can find in AK.

Hi !

I will be arriving in Fairbanks on march 17th to try to see the northern lights. If I choose a downtown hotel, how easy is it to get to the university campus to watch the show ? Are buses available or taxis are the only way to get to it at that time ? In the case taxi is the only option what would be the approximate fare ? Do you have any suggestion of hotel/hostel within walking distance of the campus ? I thank you all in advance.

Marcos

hi

Myself and 2 friends are arriving in Fairbanks airport at lunchtime and we are staying in the Tanana Valley, so we wanted to go into town first, wander around, grab some evening dinner etc before heading out to Grandview B&B for the night. Thing is we want to store our luggage somewhere so we don't have to drag it around with us all day - I couldn't find anything at the bus depot and we didn't really want to head back out to the airport. Is there anywhere in town we can store it for about 5-6-7 hours?!?!

Has anyone got any suggestions? or will it be easier to go from airport to our B&B (they will pick us up from the airport or somewhere in town - we just got to tell them) and then get a taxi into town and back again (which doesn't bother us - just looking for the most effective way of doing this).

Thanks in advance
Tam

opinions wanted on Ranch Motel vs Best Western. Ranch has great weekly rate but no postings on traveller's reviews...
My desire is to see the Northern Lights. For daytime activities looks like I will take in the Gold Run sledding, an ice hockey game, U of Alaska, Ice sculpting... I haven't a clue how to drive in snow/ice/freeze so plan to make use of public transportation.
My concept of cold is august in San Francisco, so, what might be a good idea in terms of sitting/standing around in the dead of night, looking for auroras and "being warm enough" while doing so?
Also, considering a side-trip to the arctic... Like overnight?

I would like to find a low cost, maybe last-minute, round trip from fairbanks to Point Barrow for 1-2 days.
Where can I find low cost, maybe last-minute, air tickets?
(office / hut / desk, dealing with low cost /last-minute air tickets)
where can I find it?
Thanks!!!

I see a lot of jobs available in Fairbanks (esp. in hospitals where I'd like to work). But what about housings? What are the costs & availabilities of efficiencies & 1-bdrm apts?

Hi,

Myself and 2 friends will be heading to Fairbanks March 2006 to see the Northern Lights. Yes I know it will be very cold, we are prepared for that. Hence the reason we are only staying 3 days in Fairbanks - hopefully we will get at least one nights viewing.

The question I have is whether we should go and do a night tour to see the lights, or find (from a local) the best location to see them. I am not really sure what is the best option. We wont have a car (we will be flying into Fairbanks) so we need to be able to easily get around (I guess).

Any assistance or helpful hints anyone can provide would be GREATLY appreciated.

Also I need to find a good place to stay for the 3 of us. Nice and warm - yet not 5 star hotel prices. I guess cheap as you can get but nice - we will be on a budget which we have to start saving for now.

Thanks in advance.
Tam

we are traveling to Faribanks next week. Where is smoke coming from?

thanks

I am starting to plan a trip to Fairbanks for this winter. I want to see the aurora, and photograph them. My question is when is the best time to travel to Fairbanks for aurora watching? I'm planning a 6 day stay, what’s the odd that I will even see them?

I also need some local help in finding a good place to stay. They all look good on the net, but experience has taut me that what you see in the brochures is not what you see when you get there.

I would love to make a local contact, some one to show me around a little one day that I'm there.
Thanks ..... Joe

My husband and I and our friends are going to Fairbanks in June for 5 days. Leaving on cruise for 7 days and then ending in Vancouver BC for 2 days.

Can anyone give us any tips on the must see's in both of these places? What will the weather be like this time of year?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hi, I'll be working in Fairbanks this summer (from mid-June to mid-August). Does anyone know of sublets, rentals or rooms available for that time period -- I've tried online searches through rental offices, but it's tough going.
If you have any good tips, I'd love to hear them - thank you...

Hi. What can I expect to find in terms of weather if I will be camping around Fairbanks in late September and early October? Any suggestions about hikes to do, sights to see, places to camp, etc. We will have our own truck (giant road trip), getting around isn't a problem. We've never been to Alaska, and as Vermonter's, we probably won't be able to be back very soon. We want to take as much in as possible!

I will be at the Chena Hot Springs February 22-23, if anyone from Fairbanks or vicinity wants to meet, please contact me.

Nick

Hi!
Can anyone tell me how much damage was wreaked on Fairbanks during the earthquake on November 5th? My brother and his family live there, and we haven't been able to get in touch with them!
We are worried sick! I'd appreciate anyone with any info to contact me here, and hopefully ease our fears a bit!
Thanks a lot, and Happy Thanksgiving!!
Migisi

Any restaurant suggestions for a vegetarian in Fairbanks?
Thanks.

Hi, all! Yes, I'm moving the last part of January. Should I try to get as much outerwear as possible prior to arrival from REI or Patagonia, etc. or should I wait and shop in Fairbanks? Any clothing suggestions will be GREATLY appreciated!