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Jump on the Alaska Railroad
A relaxing way to take in the beauty of fall foliage is from the comfort of a rail car. The Alaska Railroad has two excellent “event trains” in September that shouldn’t be missed.
- Fairbanks Family Fun Train: With two departures on Friday, September 28, 2018 the two-and-a-half hour round-trip journey south features family-friendly games, crafts and snacks. For booking and details, click here.
- The HooDoo Choo Choo: For those 21-years old and up, here’s a train with a funny name but has seriously good views and brews. Each year in late September, a leisurely roundtrip journey to Nenana serves as the backdrop for sampling HooDoo Brewing Company’s finest craft beer, accompanied by delicious light fare courtesy of Lavelle’s Bistro. This Oktoberfest celebration on rails sells out every year. Click here to join the fun!
Find a gourd-ous pumpkin
While Alaskan gardeners are known for their huge cabbages that grow under the midnight sun, a great crop of pumpkins and gourds come into season in September. For a picture-perfect fall setting, head out to Arctic Harvest where they have u-pick Alaska grown pumpkins growing right alongside the barley for their craft whiskey. Their pumpkins are available every Saturday from 4-8pm. If the weather is pleasant, hang out on straw bales, enjoy a hand-crafted cocktail and snag a totally instagrammable fall picture. Also, fun fact - Fairbanks is home to four distilleries, each making their own unique spirits. So if picking pumpkins aren't your thing, and neither are pumpkin spice lattes, head to one of our local distilleries for a cocktail that will warm you right up!
Driving, hiking, geocaching
Hit The Road
Taking a drive around the Fairbanks region is a must during fall. It’s one of the best ways to take in the beauty of this quick change of season. Favorite drives include:
- Drive south on the Parks Highway about 8 miles past the small town of Ester to the George Parks Highway memorial lookout for spectacular views of the Tanana Valley and the Alaska range (even Denali on a clear day!) [map]
- Take a drive north on the Elliott Highway and grab a slice of their famous pie at the Hilltop Truck Stop.
- Head out on the Steese Highway to the Chatanika Lodge for lunch and check out the historic Chatanika gold dredge.
Hit The Trail
And while you're out and about, maybe tie in a day hike or two. Here are some favorite easy-going local hikes to help stretch your legs:
- Creamers Field Nature Hike: An easy boardwalk trail, this family-friendly hike will bring you close to wildlife like ducks and geese, as well as small plants surrounded by a birch forest. (Distance: 2 miles and shorter)
- The Wildlife Sanctuary: Located at the Wedgewood Resort and Bear Lodge and next to Creamer's Field, this 75-acre wildlife sanctuary features a pristine boreal forest with easy walking nature trails leading around Wander Lake. Several self-guided Discovery signs inform visitors about the flora & fauna at the sanctuary.
- Chena Riverwalk: This paved walk parallels the winding river through downtown Fairbanks. Walk the entire 3.5 miles or just a small portion of it for a relaxing afternoon. (Distance: Up to 3.5 miles)
- Table Top Mountain: Take this trail for panoramic views of the White Mountains and surrounding area. It is also considered “one of the most scenic drives in the area” according to Alaska.org. (Distance: 3 miles) [directions]
- Angel Rocks Trail: A short or long day hike awaits at Angel Rocks, a scenic drive out Chena Hot Springs Road and within easy range of the rejuvenating waters of Chena Hot Springs that have drawn travelers for over a century. The best option for a short day trip in this area is the 3.5-mile loop that begins on even ground along the north fork of the Chena River and then sharply climbs up to 900ft. [map]
- Trails at Chena Lake Recreation Area: Located in North Pole and consisting of two parks, the Lake Park and the River Park, this rec area is open year-round. There’s bike paths and nature trails within, as well as camping, fishing and picnic sites. [map]
- UAF Trail System: One of the ways in which the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) distinguishes itself is through an institution-wide affinity for the outdoors. Fittingly, their slogan is “Naturally Inspiring.” UAF maintains an in-town trail network for skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, biking, and running that is directly accessible from campus (also very popular with dog walkers).
Find Small Treasures
For geocaching fans, you’re in luck. There are quite a few locations around Fairbanks for this family-friendly activity. The Fairbanks caching community is active and rapidly growing with more than 100 caches within a 30-mile radius, according to geocaching.com. From “drive-up” caches to longer hikes and lookouts, it’s a choose your own adventure! Here are some lists to get you started:
Stay up late
Fall weather AND the aurora? Yep! Many people think that watching the northern lights are a cold-weather-dead-of-winter activity. This is just simply untrue. Fall is the perfect time to chase the aurora without having to worry about bundling up in multiple layers of clothing. It also gives aurora chasers the opportunity to see early evening twilight auroras that are truly beautiful and unique. Whether you go with a guide or head out on your own, the possibility of catching a light show can be predicted using our real-time Aurora Tracker tool.
Take in live performances and art
In autumn, local arts and entertainment kicks into high-gear. The Fairbanks Drama Association, now in its 56th season, begins their season each September to the delight of local and visiting theatre buffs. The Fairbanks Concert Association kicks off their season each October and features high-energy shows in a wide range of genres, from comedy, to Grammy award-winning artists and contemporary dance. And after perhaps taking a hiatus during the busy summer months, people flock to First Fridays once again at local galleries and art spaces. Check our community event calendar for October artist openings.
