72 hours in Fairbanks, Alaska

Posted by TravelKorner on March 19, 2015 in Destination - USA, English | Leave a comment

by Rod Raycroft

You’ve 72 hours. That’s right just 72 hours in experience Fairbanks, Alaska, a town that grew from the years following the 1897 Klondike gold rush.

The First Night

As its summer time you’ll enjoy long days of sunlight, so there really isn’t any good reason for an early night. Checking-in and grab a refreshing shower at Wedgewood Resort ($159 per night) in downtown Fairbanks or Pikes Lodge near the airport ($109 per night). Cab ride from the airport to downtown is around $15 but check with your hotel as most have shuttles.

After a quick bite in the hotel, check out the Palace Theatre, it’s a short walk from the downtown or quick cab ride from other hotels. Here’s where one can relive the rowdy days of the gold rush with honky-tonk music and vaudeville skits show time is 20:15 ($20 pp).

The First Day

Grab an early cup of java at the Alaska Coffee Roasting Company at 4001 Geist Road, before heading over to the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum ($8 pp). There you’ll discover a remarkable collection of rare antique cars, vintage clothing, large Alaska historical photos, streaming videos, memorabilia and a roadhouse exhibit.

After a morning at the museum, it’s time to experience lunch. Head back downtown to Big Daddy’s Restaurant on 107 Wickersham Street, try the St. Louis Spareribs ($17.95). Slow smoked over hickory, and lightly glazed with sweet and spicy BBQ sauce, hmm this is the bomb!

After this big lunchtime energy revival, you’ll need a walk. Sure a stroll through the downtown or amble along the trails of ‪the Migratory Waterfowl Refuge is nice, but take home some bragging rights.

The North Star Golf Club is the northernmost course in the USA and perhaps the only one with an ‘Animal Checklist’ on its scorecard. Hawks, owls, eagles, red fox, cranes and even a Moose has been seen on the course. Their visitor specials 9 or 18 holes ($78/89), includes cart, clubs, balls, gift towel or hat, and certificate from the Northernmost USGA course. Golf is a pricy habit so too will be the cab at around $40 round trip to the course.

Perhaps you’re the type that would rather be pampered by two hours including a lavender cool down, Swedish massage and foot detox for $290 at Pure Essentials Day Spa at 1716 University Ave S.

For dinner treat yourself to the Alaskan King Crab ($46) at Lavelle’s Bistro at 575 First Avenue, its one pound of crab legs.

Day Two

Get your java buzz on early before heading to the Museum of the North, 907 Yukon Drive, packed with over 1.4 million artifacts, representing the biological diversity and cultural traditions of Alaska. Highlights include a 2,000-year spectrum of Alaska art, from ancient ivory carvings to contemporary paintings and sculpture. Also the state’s largest public display of gold and ‘Blue Babe’, a 36,000-year-old mummified steppe bison.

For lunch grab a cab to Steamboat Landing at 1975 Discovery Drive, as afterwards you’ll board the Riverboat Discovery and buy your tickets in advance ($60pp). Be there at 1:30 pm for the three-hour tour into Alaska’s heartland. You’ll experience a family who has made the river their way of life for five generations, a guided Indian village walking tour and visit Iditarod Race champion Susan Butcher’s kennels for her insight on developing a winning dogsled team. Keep your camera ready as a floatplane will takeoff and land right next to the boat!

At the Landing remember to shop for family and friends, souvenirs such as the ubiquitous T-shirt but if you looking for something unique try on a pair of native moccasins or something really special Alaska gold nugget jewelry.

For your last night, kick up your heels on the mechanical bull at Kodiak Jack’s at 537 Gaffney Road. Live music solid drinks in the best places to experience some of Fairbanks’ midnightsun-nightlife ($3 cover). Once there try Big Al’s Restaurant for a Chicago Stuffed Fairbank’s best pizza.

The Final Day

Sleep-in and take a late lunch; don’t settle for the ordinary; try something of an Alaskan culinary flair and heritage – Salmon. This northern treat is now served as a fusion using all types of ingredients, so can be difficult to choose your salmon dish. Salmon sushi, salmon with fries, salmon burger… this list goes on, best choice is the grilled salmon with mango salsa ($25), at Pump House on 796 Chena Pump Road. Enjoy, as this is your last stop after 72 hours in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Info Box:

Travel info: Fairbanks Convention & Visitors Bureau, 101 Dunkel Street, Suite 111, Fairbanks, Alaska; T: (907) 457-3282; www.explorefairbanks.com 

Accommodations: Wedgewood Resort, 212 Wedgewood Drive, T: (907) 456-3642, http://www.fountainheadhotels.com; Pikes Waterfront Lodge, 4438 Airport Way, T: 1-877-774-2400, http://www.pikeslodge.com;

Transportation: Go North Taxi – T: (907) 452-9999, http://www.gonorth-alaska.com;

Entertainment: Palace Theatre, 2300 Airport Way, T: (907) 452-7274, http://www.akvisit.com; Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, 212 Wedgewood Drive, T: (907) 450-2100, http://www.fountainheadmuseum.com; North Star Golf Club, 330 Golf Club Drive, T: (907) 457-4653, http://www.northstargolf.com, Pure Essentials Day Spa, 1716 University Ave S., T: (907) 457-7873; Museum of the North, 907 Yukon Drive, T: (907) 474-7505, http://www.uaf.edu/museum; Riverboat Discovery & Steamboat Landing, 1975 Discovery Drive, T: (907) 479-6673, http://www.riverboatdiscovery.com; 

Food: Alaska Coffee Roasting Company, 4001 Geist Road, T: (907) 457-5282, http://www.alaskacoffeeroasting.com; Big Daddy’s, 107 Wickersham Street, T: (907) 452-2501, http://www.bigdaddysbarb-q.com; Lavelle’s Bistro, 575 First Avenue, T: (907) 450-0555, http://www.lavellesbistro.com; Kodiak Jack’s, 537 Gaffney Road, T: (907) 374-3373, http://www.kodiakjacks.alaskansavvy.com; Pump House, 796 Chena Pump Road, T: (907) 479-8452, http://www.pumphouse.com