Fairbanks is Alaska’s second largest city, combining modern amenities and technology with a frontier atmosphere. Recognized as the “gateway to the Arctic,” Fairbanks has a long and colorful history dating back to the Alaska Gold Rush of the late 1800s and early 1900s. The historic downtown corridor, on the banks of the Chena River, offers a great educational opportunity to learn about life in Alaska’s great interior at the Morris Thompson Center. The Trans-Alaska oil pipeline, a remarkable engineering feat bringing Arctic oil to the port of Valdez, is located just outside of Fairbanks and can be seen on a guided city tour. Fairbanks area tour options range from crossing the Arctic Circle, experiencing Iñupiaq culture, touring a working placer gold mine, or a riverboat tour aboard a classic sternwheeler.
Begin your visit to Fairbanks, Alaska, here: