THINGS TO DO:
There are dozens of FREE and 'for pay' activities DAILY in the Fairbanks area.
Many are located within walking distance of the Hostel or will pick you up at our door.
Listed here are just a few of the more popular activities.
For more options, visit the Fairbanks Visitor Centeror look at the Fairbanks Daily New-Miner (daily local paper) for a local view on current events, movies, activities, classifieds, etc....
Local Adventures
1st ALASKA Outdoor Adventures
As a HOSTEL GUEST, you recieve 5% off many local excursions including:
Riverboat Discovery, Arctic Circle, Northern Lights, Fairbanks City Tour, Chena Hot Springs,
Wilderness Hostel and other Adventures. PICK UP is from our door!
Reservations: 907-590-5900
Chena Dog Sled Adventures
PO Box 16037, Two Rivers Ak 99716(907) 488-5845. Located on 160 acres of an original homestead within the Chena River State Recreation Area about 40 miles from Fairbanks. Offer a full range of summer and winter activities including Ice Fishing, Dog Sled Rides, Snowmachine Rides, and rustic Cabin rentals.
Tolovana Hot Springs
Located approximately 50 air miles northwest of Fairbanks. A trip to Tolovana Hot Springs is a wilderness trip. Accessible only by trail or bush plane, there is no emergency communication or on-site personnel. The accommodations are rustic and simple. The landscape beautiful.
White Mountain Nat'l Recreation Area
30 miles north of Fairbanks, offers a wide variety of outstanding opportunities for year-round recreation. Summer hiking, camping and float trips, & winter system of trails and public recreation cabins for snowmobiling, dog mushing and cross-country skiing.
Activities Within Easy Distance from the Hostel
(walk or very short bus or bike ride):
Creamer's Field (20 minute walk from Hostel)
Originally a dairy (from 1928-1966), now a migratory waterfowl refuge with excellent bird watching and hiking trails. Guided Nature Walks in summer!
Farmers Market (5 minute walk)
Just blocks from the hostel. Local produce, products, crafts, food. Summer only.
Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival (15 minute walk to UAF campus)
July 18 thru August 1, 2010
Started as a Jazz Festival, this very popular cultural event offers much more! From Dance to Theatre to Ice Skating to Music. A MUST SEE if you are here during this time!
University of Alaska - Fairbanks (UAF) (15 minute walk from the hostel)
Est 1917 the main campus in the state.
MUST SEE Museum, Botanical Gardens, Musk Ox Farm, Geophysical Bldg, trails, seasonal events and much more.
Musk Ox Farm (short bus ride from hostel to far side of UAF Campus)
Est in 1979, you can tour, view and learn about Musk Ox and domestic Reindeer.
University of Alaska Museum (bus or 15 minute walk from hostel)
The only research and teaching museum in Alaska. From the ancient to the modern, this exhibit is a definite 'must see'.
Pioneer Park (aka locally as "AlaskaLand") (walk 25min, bike or the RED line)
Open Year Round. Alaska's only Historic Theme Park. FREE FREE FREE. Huge park with shops, food, riverboat (2nd largest wooden vessel in existence), museum of old time fairbanks, original fairbanks cabins relocated here. This is a MUST!
Tanana Valley Fairgrounds (15 minute walk from hostel)
Founded in 1924, the Tanana Valley State Fair is the oldest fair in the state.
State Fair is usually the first 2 weeks in August. Check for current information.
World Ice Art (bus or 25 minute walk from hostel)
2009 World Ice Art Championship. If your here in winter, make sure you check this out!
Fairbanks Ice Museum (15 minute bus ride into city center)
Experience Fairbanks' winter during the summer.&; Downtown Fairbanks
A Little Further Away
(needing the use of car, bus, taxi, bike to get to)
Arctic Circle (will pick you up from the hostel)
One and multi day adventures to the Arctic Circle, Prudhoe Bay, Hot Springs, or river adventures and camping on the Chatanika.
Chatankia Gold Camp (need a car for this one...but it is DEFINTELY worth it!! )
A wonderfully scenic 28 miles from the hostel on the Steese Hwy. Non-touristy and little visited area outside Fairbanks with lots of history. Try to visit this recently re-opened historic gold camp, including hotel, restaurant and saloon. Lots of trails, historic artifacts and history from the early pioneer days. Excellent old time restaurant and bar. The drive alone makes this a great trip. See the Chatanika Dredge nearby.
Chena Hot Springs (60 miles on Chena Hot Springs Rd - via Steese Hwy)
Discovered in 1905 and used year round. Beautiful grounds, soothing waters.. most popular during winter months.
Trans-Alaska Pipeline (8 miles from hostel directly on the Steese Hwy).
Excellent walk-up viewpoint and information center.
Santa Claus House (Located in North Polek 12 miles from Fairbanks)
Open Year Round for all things Christmas
Poker Flat Rocket Range (30 miles just off the Steese Hwy)
30 miles north of Fairbanks the world's only scientific rocket launching facility owned by a university. Home to many scientific instruments designed to study the arctic atmosphere and ionosphere.
Alaskan Tails of the Trail with Mary Shields (20 minutes by car)
Share a personal home visit with Mary Shields, celebrated Alaskan musher and author, and her sled dogs.
