Make us your first stop in Fairbanks

The Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau's Log Cabin Visitor Information Center was built in 1958 from white spruce with a sod roof. In the heart of downtown adjoining Golden Heart Plaza, the cabin is located near the Unknown First Family sculpture, the Milepost, Immaculate Conception Church, the Bridge of Flags and the Carillon.

The "Cabin" serves as the regional visitor center for Fairbanks and Interior Alaska and has for 27 years provided quality customer service and travel information to visitors and potential visitors.

You’ll find knowledgeable staff and volunteers, racks of informative brochures, daily vacancy listings, local walking and driving tours, telephone and internet access, and answers to all of your questions. Satellite stations can also be found at the Fairbanks International Airport and Alaska Railroad Depot.

Open 7 Days a Week Year-Round

September 30, 2006 to May 6, 2007
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

May 7, 2007 to September 16, 2007
8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Closed
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day

Call toll-free 1-800-327-5774 to request information including a free Visitor or Winter Guide.

Call (907) 456-5774 for travel information and daily vacancy listings.

Call (907) 456-INFO to reach the events hotline.

You may also visit www.explorefairbanks.com or e-mail info@explorefairbanks.com.

Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau

Log Cabin Visitor Information Center
550 First Avenue
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

Administrative and Marketing Offices
100 Cushman, Suite 205A&B
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

Fairbanks is in central Alaska, 358 miles north of Anchorage on the George Parks Highway. It is located at Mile 1486 on the Alaska Highway, 206 miles from the Tok Cutoff. Several commercial airlines provide service from the Lower 48. While there is no train service from the Lower 48, the Alaska Railroad does run between Anchorage and Fairbanks daily during the summer and on weekends during the winter.

Fairbanks' weather is semi-arid with very little wind. In January highs are around 2 degrees F and lows average -18 degrees F. Average snowfall is 10" per month from October through March.

In summer, we can have highs of 85 degrees F and lows of 40 degrees F. Average high and low temperatures in July are 72 and 52 respectively.

Be sure and check the current and forecast weather conditions for Fairbanks on the day of your trip.

Latest Estimates from the US Census Bureau

Fairbanks - 30,970 (Alaska's 2nd largest city)
Fairbanks North Star Borough - 87,560
State of Alaska - 663,661 (42% reside in Anchorage)

First known as "Barnette's Cache," the name was changed in 1902 to honor Charles Warren Fairbanks, a U.S. Senator from Indiana and later Vice-President under Theodore Roosevelt. Sen. Fairbanks was also the political patron of Judge James Wickersham who suggested the name to E.T. Barnette, the city founder.

Most of Alaska is on Alaska Standard Time, which is one hour behind Seattle and rest of the West Coast. The far reaches of the Aleutian Islands and St. Lawrence Island are in the next time zone; Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time. Alaska participates in Daylight Savings Time.

You will find this six million acre natural wonder less than 125 miles from Fairbanks. Most will discover its beauty well worth the two hour drive! Visit the Denali Park homepage or their directions page to get more detailed information about getting there.

The aurora can be seen late August through April after dark when the skies are clear. Check today's Aurora Forecast from the UAF Geophysical Institute.

The Arctic Circle is 198 miles from Fairbanks on the Dalton Highway. If you travel to the Arctic Circle, make certain you stop by the Visitor's Center and get your Arctic Circle Certificate!

Fairbanks is the gateway to Alaska and a great place to orient oneself to a far north vacation! Allow at least 2 full days to experience some of what Fairbanks has to offer, from river trips to museums, gold mining to Flightseeing, sightseeing to shopping. You could also take a dip in one of the hot springs close to town, visit Santa Claus at his home in North Pole, walk around Pioneer Park and learn about the history of the area.

We feel your best option would be to spend 3 or 4 days in Fairbanks. There's plenty to see and do!

Fort Wainwright is located at the east end of Airport Way about four miles from Fairbanks International Airport. For information, call: (907) 353-1110. Eielson Air Force Base is 26 miles south of Fairbanks on the Richardson Highway. For information, call 377-2116.

If you only have a few hours to spend in Fairbanks, be sure your visit includes a trip to the University of Alaska Museum of the North, which is considered to be the best museum in the state. Or walk around Pioneer Park and learn about the fascinating history of the area. Better yet, change your itinerary and stay a few days!

Layer, layer, layer! Temperatures may vary, even in a day, so bring sweaters, vests and jackets that may be added or removed for comfort. Fairbanks is a casual town so jeans, sweatshirts and tennis shoes are considered appropriate in Fairbanks on most occasions.

Schedule at least a fifteen minute drive from the airport to most locations in downtown. You will find many of the major rental car providers represented in the terminal and taxi service should also be available. Some hotels have shuttle service, which you may want to schedule before you arrive.

Download a copy of our School Packet on Fairbanks and Alaska for K-12 students. Or have one sent in the mail by calling 1-800-327-5774 or e-mailing info@explorefairbanks.com.

For additional information or photos, visit the state's Alaska Kids homepage, or go to www.travelalaska.com.

Yes. A marriage license is required and there is a three-day waiting period. For more detailed information please consult the Alaska Bureau of Vital Statistics website.

Write:
The Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau
550 First Avenue
Fairbanks, AK 99701

Call:
1-800-327-5774

Or Click:
Online Request

Fairbanks, North Pole and the Fairbanks North Star Borough are home to 87,560 residents and attract around 400,000 visitors annually. The borough is approximately the size of the state of New Jersey. Learn more about our three local governing bodies - the City of Fairbanks at www.ci.fairbanks.ak.us, the City of North Pole at www.northpolealaska.com and the Fairbanks North Star Borough at www.co.fairbanks.ak.us.

Fairbanks, Alaska's "Golden Heart City," is located in Alaska's Interior north of Denali National National Park and south of the Arctic Circle, bordered by the Alaska Range to the south and the Brooks Range to the north. It is Alaska's second largest city located in a broad lowland known as the Tanana Valley, which is crisscrossed by the Chena and Tanana rivers.

Because of its northern latitude, Fairbanks enjoys the summer's midnight sun and the winter's northern lights. The Brooks Range keeps the harsh Arctic winds at bay and the Alaska Range keeps the wet, coastal weather to the south. Our location makes for dry weather, little wind and warm summers. Winter brings consistent snow conditions from November through March. Winter temperatures average 8 degrees F to -19 degrees F; summer temperatures rise into the 70s and 80s. Click here for updated weather conditions.

The State of Alaska is located in the Alaska Standard Time Zone (AST), four hours behind Eastern Standard Time, and makes adjustments for daylight savings.

Fairbanksans dress for the season at hand. Casual, comfortable clothing and shoes are acceptable for most occasions. Summer wear includes shorts, sandals, windbreakers, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Winter wear should include parkas, boots, snow pants, caps, sunglasses and mittens. Dressing in layers year-round is recommended, as weather systems at Latitude 64 can change rapidly winter and summer.

The Carlson Community Activity Center is located close to downtown Fairbanks (2010 2nd Avenue) and is home to many cultural activities, sporting events, concerts and conventions throughout the year. For more information on the great facilities available visit: www.carlson-center.com or call (907) 451-7800.

Over 3,000 rooms are available in a variety of locations and price ranges. Whether you prefer a luxurious hotel suite, rustic log cabin, hostel, downtown inn, scenic bed and breakfast or wilderness lodge, you'll find it here. Reservations are highly recommended year-round for lodging and activities. Most of our activities are weather-contingent so best to check with suppliers and operators to ensure availability. Summer activities begin in mid-May and winter activities start in mid-October.

Fairbanks has churches of all denominations and the "farthest north" synagogue. Many of the congregations maintain websites, and all should have phone numbers and addresses listed in the ACS Yellow Pages online at www.acsyellowpages.com.

The University of Alaska Fairbanks is home to the statewide university system administrative offices, the Geophysical Institute, the UA Museum of the North, the Robert G. White Large Animal Research Station and the International Arctic Research Center.

Originally founded in 1917, when Alaska was still a territory, UAF is America's northernmost Land, Sea and Space Grant institution. Enrollment in the Fall of 2005 was 9,380 students. UAF is part of a statewide university system with other major administrative units in Anchorage and Juneau. Learn more about the university, its excellent programs, sporting teams and more at: www.uaf.edu.

Modern medical facilities are available through private clinics and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital, (907) 452-8181, including emergency health care and air evacuation services.

U.S. dollars are the currency in Fairbanks. Major credit cards and travelers checks are widely accepted. ATMs are also readily available for cash withdrawals.

A good web based currency converter can be found at: www.xe.com/ucc/.

Some favorite local fishing holes, and what you may catch there.

Chena River (Arctic grayling); along the Steese Highway (northern pike, grayling, burbot, sheefish, king and chum salmon); along the Elliott Highway (grayling, pike, sheefish, whitefish, king and chum salmon); along the Dalton Highway (Arctic grayling, Dolly Varden, lake trout, burbot and northern pike); Moose Creek and Piledriver Slough (rainbow trout, Arctic grayling, northern pike and burbot); Little Salcha and Salcha Rivers (Arctic grayling, rainbow trout, Arctic char and silver and king salmon).

Harding Lake (Arctic char, lake trout, burbot, northern pike and salmon); Chena Lakes (rainbow trout and silver salmon); Birch Lake (rainbow trout and silver salmon); Quartz Lake (rainbow trout, silver salmon and Arctic Char).

Find out more from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game website, where you can even buy your fishing license online!

The Alaska Public Lands Information Center, (907) 456-0527 is a good source of information about hiking and camping. Their offices are located downtown near the Log Cabin Visitor Information Center at 250 Cushman Street, Suite 1A (lower level of Courthouse Square).

Here's a list of a few local favorites.

(h = hiking, c = camping)

Birch Hill Trail System (h); Creamer's Nature Path (h); Skarland Trails (h); Angel Rocks Trail (h); Granite Tors Trail (h/c); Chena Dome (h/c); White Mountains Summit Trail (h/c); Pinnell Mountain Trail (h/c); Wickersham Creek Trail to Lee's Cabin (h/c).

Most visitors come to Alaska in hopes of seeing wildlife. Here are seven animals on the favorites list; all can be found in this region.

• Bald Eagle - did you know they can weigh up to 15 pounds and have seven-foot wingspan? Their eyesight is so good they can spot a single fish from a mile away.
• Brown and Black Bear - did you know that black bear have a range of colors and that brown bear may grow as large as 1,500 pounds?
• Caribou - did you know that Alaska is home to nearly a million caribou in 32 herds that travel distances up to 3,000 miles?
• Dall Sheep - did you know that male sheep have skulls an inch thick to protect their brain during combat?
• Moose - did you know that moose are the largest deer in the world and that they can run at speeds of up to 35 mph?
• Muskox - did you know that when muskox are threatened, they form a fortress-like circle around their young?
• Wolf - did you know that wolves might eat 20 pounds of meat at a time, and then go for a week without food?

For viewing tips and locations visit: wildlife.alaska.gov.

Many will want to make Fairbanks their central point for traveling to other parts of the state. Great information on statewide excursions can be found at: www.travelalaska.com. That's where you can order a state vacation planner, find community links, get more statewide weather information and find out about special interests such as sport-fishing, winter adventures, history, culture, adventure and ecotourism.

Caribou and moose are two different animals, though they are both members of the "deer" family.

While there are dozens of moons in our solar system, only one (Luna) orbits earth.

To which we inquired, "With or without snow?"

The more common (and easy to answer) question is "How high?": to which we answer 20,320 feet.

The first man to reach the summit was Alaska Native Walter Harper in 1913. Highly experienced climbers regularly summit the mountain today, but only 50% of attempts are successful.

The best time of year to view the Aurora Borealis is Spring, when there is a higher probability of clear skies. Other frequently asked aurora questions can be answered here.