Fairbanks, Alaska is a city of approximately 33, 000 hardy souls who thrive in this Interior landscape that continues to impress those from Outside (anywhere not Alaska). Fairbanks is also home to the University of Alaska’s Fairbanks, a four-year institution offering everything from Arctic studies to mining for its 9,000 students. UAF is located atop a […]
Imagine this scenario: Tired from your flight, drive, or rail journey to Fairbanks, you finish the remaining 25 miles to Borealis Basecamp in relative silence, thinking only of a good meal and warm bed, never mind the promise of northern lights, thanks to alerts from your smartphone app. The vehicle makes a left turn from […]
Note: Yesterday, the Iditarod Trail Committee announced that due to low snow conditions on sections of the trail, the official start (or “Re-Start”) will be held in Fairbanks. This means, of course, families who travel to the Golden Heart City to watch the start of the Last Great Race may want to stay for a […]
by Jen Ostler Interior Alaska is a special place, unique from the coastal climates of Southcentral and Southeast. Trees are stunted from harsh weather and icy soils, and in the summer the famous Midnight Sun is a bit brighter than in the southern reaches of the state. Up at elevation, there are expansive views, with […]
by Jen Ostler Did you know that reindeer are not native to Alaska? Noted explorer and Presbyterian missionary Dr. Sheldon Jackson, with the aid of the United States Government, brought reindeer and several Laplander families (as educators) to the Seward Peninsula in 1892 to assist in what was assumed to be a starvation epidemic among St […]
by Jen Ostler It’s easy to feel a special kind of wonder when travelling through Alaska’s north country, and every time, I fall in love even more. Once the unpaved road begins and trees fade to tundra, I feel as if we are transported to another, beautiful planet. My favorite trip is along the Dalton […]
It’s nearly February, the time of year we finally start to see more sunshine peeking its shiny head out a bit earlier in the morning, and lingering a little longer on the frozen hills in the afternoon. If you’re a winter-loving snow enthusiast, or your kids are, don’t despair: December and January may not have […]
It’s all settled; the 2015 Iditarod Sled Dog Race will officially begin in Fairbanks, Alaska. Hotel reservations have been made, flights are booked, and now you can focus on what to do after the dogs depart the starting line on Monday, March 8. For Anchorage families, this is extremely convenient, as spring break will be […]
(sponsored) AKontheGO’ers know how much I rely upon my smartphone. It’s a tool of the travel trade that simply can’t let me down, especially in Alaska where I’m here, there, and everywhere in the best interest of future family travelers. A few years ago, Alaska Communications and AKontheGO began a partnership that has been a […]
It’s hard not to get caught up in squeals of discovery at Fairbanks Children’s Museum. Every second, it seems, is filled with a shout or giggle or exclamation from a young person, and that makes Brenda Riley very, very happy. Riley, executive director of the museum and a lifelong Alaskan, knows the value of dedicated […]
While friends lounge on a sandy beach, or pound their fists into well-worn baseball gloves at Spring Training games, you and your kids can be experiencing one of the best spring break destinations on the planet. Fairbanks is a pretty hot place for cool stuff involving the outdoors, and, thankfully, most of it is pretty […]