Fairbanks, Alaska
Population: 32,156
Located in Fairbanks North Star Borough
Fairbanks, AlaskaA product of the Gold Rush, Fairbanks has grown into a bustling trade and transportation center for Interior and Far North Alaska. Alaska's second largest city (population 32,156) is home to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Fairbanks enjoys more than 20 hours of daylight from mid-May through July. Popular regional activities include cruising the Chena and Tanana rivers on an authentic sternwheeler, canoe, or raft; observing musk oxen, caribou, and reindeer at the university's Large Animal Research Station; and visiting Alaskaland, a frontier theme park. For astronomy buffs the famous Northern Lights are at their most magnificent in Fairbanks, as this area is famous for being one of the world's best vantage points for this spectacular light show. You can also drive to bubbling mineral waters at Manley, Circle, and Chena Hot Springs; view a portion of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline; and visit the community of North Pole, where the U.S. Post Office traditionally sends Santa's mail to be answered by his elves. A fly-in excursion to Fort Yukon on the Arctic Circle gives you a sampling of life on the Yukon River, in Alaska's largest Athabascan village. Things to do and see in Fairbanks: Midnight Sun Events - With the sun's constant presence the only limit is the energy to participate in the round-the-clock activities. The Midnight Sun Festival is held June 21, and features late night shopping and entertainment in downtown Fairbanks adjacent to the Chena River. Also on June 21 is the Midnight Sun Baseball Game. The game features the Fairbanks semi-pro baseball team, the Goldpanners, who play a night game starting at 10:30 p.m. without any artificial lights. Such baseball greats such as Jason Giambi and Tom Seaver have played with the Goldpanners. For running enthusiasts, casual strollers and spectators, Interior Alaska's largest race, the 10K Midnight Sun Run that starts at 10 p.m. on June 17th, and has divisions for runners and walkers as well as a colorful costumed division. Riverboat Discovery - Your three-and-a half hour cruise will take you into the heart of Alaska and the heart of a family who has made the rivers of Alaska a way of life for four generations. You will see a bush plane taking off from a "bush" style runway, meet four time Iditarod winner Susan Butcher, witness the "wedding of the rivers," and gain insight into the ancient Athabascan Indian culture. Alaskan Native guides who have worked and lived in Alaska will take you on a personalized tour of the Chena Indian Village. Creamer’s Field - At Creamer's Refuge, wildlife and people share the forest, wetlands, ponds, and open fields. Creamer's Refuge protects and enhances quality habitat for a diversity of wildlife, especially waterfowl and other migratory birds, while also providing for compatible public uses, such as wildlife viewing, research, and nature education. Boreal Forest Trail – Wander through forest typical of Interior Alaska. Highlights include wildlife viewing from the observation tower and a self-guiding brochure that describes many features along the way. World Eskimo-Indian Olympics (otherwise known as W.E.I.O.) - The first World Eskimo-Indian Olympics was held in Fairbanks in 1961 drawing contestants and dance teams from Barrow, Unalakleet, Tanana, Fort Yukon, Noorvik and Nome. The event was a big success and has been held annually ever since. Throughout its 44-year history, the organizers of W.E.I.O. has seen photojournalistic crews from all over the globe. Tabloids such as Cosmopolitan, People, and USA Today, have offered articles on the Olympics as best they could. W.E.I.O was also featured on ESPN in 2005. The Yukon Quest – At the top of the world, in the Yukon-Alaskan interior, an epic event takes place every year that few people from “down south” have experienced. Covering 1000 miles between Whitehorse, Yukon Territory and Fairbanks, Alaska during the depths of the arctic winter, the Yukon Quest is the “Toughest Sled Dog Race in the World”. Trans-Alaska Pipeline - While visiting Fairbanks, you have the chance to view one of the most difficult and remarkable engineering feats of modern time: the Trans-Alaska Pipeline. This is one of the largest pipeline systems in the world and the only way to get crude oil from Alaska's North Slope fields to tankers waiting in Valdez.
Rivers, Lakes and Hot Springs - The Chena River is a clear water stream running from the hills east of Fairbanks, through the middle of Fairbanks and emptying into the Tanana River near Fairbanks. Chena River recreation includes canoeing, kayaking, swimming and the Riverboat Discovery. Most of the water in the Tanana River is silty (light brown with sediment) from glaciers feeding the water. The river flows to the north of the Wrangell Mountains and the Alaska Range. Fairbanks is the largest and oldest community in the Tanana River Valley. A popular summer destination is the Chena Lakes Recreation Area which is located in the North Pole area and has a swimming and boating area for Chena Lakes. Chena River provides the perfect spot for a quiet day of fishing under the fabulous midnight sun. Chena Hot Springs Resort located 56.5 miles dow Find homes for sale in Fairbanks Alaska
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