Search hotels in Fairbanks

Fairbanks is a great place to see the Northern Lights. We went on February 29 for five nights and saw the Aurora four of the five nights. I even saw it the first night from our Lodging at Pikes Waterfront Lodging. You can even rent clothing from Alaska Elements that will keep you warm in 40 below weather. I'm a sunny California girl and have never been in weather below 20 and I was toasty warm in the gear they supplied. It was so convenient. They dropped the clothes at our hotel and picked them up at the end. They cost less than if we had bought the necessary shoes alone. It included the parka, mittens , bib pants, and snow shoes. So don't let the weather discourage you from going. It was a once in a lifetime experience I am so glad I did. I went with two girlfriends and we are all over 65 and had the best time ever. I recommend staying at Pikes Waterfront Lodge. You can book evening tours that takes you to special places to see the Aurora that include a nice warm place to view them from as well as being able to go out on decks to view them. The clothes will keep you warm. I laid in the snow for an hour viewing the the Northern Lights and was as warm as could be. Also my iPhone 15 took great pictures. If doing a dog sled ride is on your bucket list, Rod's Alaska guide tour is great. Again, the gear will keep you warm. Also another fun thing to do is Running Reindeer Ranch which lets you walk through a forest interacting with 13 reindeer that let you pet them and walk around you. It is an unreal experience. You should do both activities. If you go in March, you can also see the World Championship Ice Sculptures. And they are "out of this world". Have fun-I hope I had encouraged many people to have these lifetime experiences.

Great friendly town with polite helpful people and loads of interest for tourists. We found it's also got a great bus service - the locals don't use it because they have cars, but we used it because there were no hire cars available - book ahead.

Fairbanks has lots of winter activities to enjoy if you tent a car like dog sledding, snowmobiling, ice sculptures at the Fairgrounds. The North Pole is only a 20 minute drive from Fairbanks and Chena Hot Springs an hour drive. The roads are maintained and the people are friendly. There are many delicious restaurants. We especially liked The Cookie Jar for breakfast. We enjoyed the University of Fairbanks Museum and the Aurora Borealis movie in the museum. We liked seeing the Alaska Pipeline off the highway and made a couple of stops to read about it. Definitely visit the Aurora Ice Museum in Chena Hot Springs. It is a fun experience and there is a free tour of the resort’s self sustainable power plant and green houses where they grow their own fresh vegetables. There are several Northern Light viewing areas near Fairbanks (Cleary Summit, Murthy’s Dome and Chena Hot Springs). To view the Northern Lights we suggest booking a tour to be with knowledgeable guides if it’s your first time. Also, rental cars are not allowed to drive to the Arctic Circle, so it’s best to book a tour if you plan to go there. The weather is very chilly, but it’s worth bundling up in layers to enjoy all Fairbanks has to offer. We definitely want to return to Fairbanks in the very near future during the months of February or March.

Fairbanks is a beautiful city. We traveled there to see the northern lights and was not disappointed. Lots of activities. Snowmobiles, dog sledding, Hot Springs. It’s a really nice place. Anyone who loves nature I would highly recommend them to visit.

The breakfast was essentially the same. Scrambled eggs, that were usually cold although placed on a warmer, potatoes, and saug/bacon. Oatmeal. Poor overall appearance for cost. The shower had hair long obvious strand. The toilet seats were stained or just old. The fitness room, 3 machines for entire hotel. The clerks unable to answer basic questions and/or unable explain charges at checkout

Fairbanks is little more than a large, run down Alaskan village. Summer visits are best because of the increased activities available for visitors. Unless there is a specific reason to visit in winter, ie viewing the Northern Lights, there are other, much more desirable places to go.