Fairbanks Alaska in February, chasing the aurora✨🌌
Arival :
You will have to fly into Fairbanks international Airport (6450 Airport Way ,Fairbanks AK) .
There are some direct flights but not many depending on where you are flying out of .
I flew from Ohio in Cleveland and had a layover in Seattle Tacoma international airport and then from Seattle to Fairbanks .
It is a small airport but big enough to get the job done. They take most recognizable airlines in and out of the airport.
My arrival was late at night after 12am , keep in mind there is not much in the airport food wise when you get off the plane so plan ahead if you arrive late !
After arrival you will need to acquire transportation. This of course will be booked ahead of time. (Try to never book on arrival ... booking ahead saves chances of inconvenience)
I had booked a car through the app called Turo . With this app you can rent local peoples car to drive . It is very similar to regular rental companies . In this case I had booked through Turo for the money aspect . For some reason it was a lot cheaper through Turo rather a rental like Enterprise or Hertz. Insurance and many more options are available with this company as well .
For renting in Fairbanks in the winter I would highly suggest renting a SUV type of car. Depending on your personal driving abilities it is quite easy driving around in the wintertime. When I had arrived, we had just missed a large snowstorm. I had concerns about driving in the aftermath of a storm, yet the snowplows came to the rescue out there.
Keep in mind you are taking that risk of different weather outcomes on your trip in the winter. Weather is unpredictable and you can either make the most out of it or try to plan according to weekly weather reports.
Accommodation:
My favorite type of accommodations while traveling is Airbnb's. They provide a more local and connected stay when arriving in a foreign location.
I had stayed in this Airbnb:
I believe with true luck I had booked the best accommodation in the best location! If you are able to book this exact Airbnb or any others within this area, please do. It was in perfect distance from airport, Chena Hot Springs, The North Pole and many more spots. The best part about this was we only had to drive 6 minutes through the roads to see the Auroa with clear viewing! There are always chances (not guaranteed) but you could see them from this Airbnb's personal hot tub as well!
A side note : If you are trying to view the Auroa , download this app
With this app you can see many web cams from all over the world including Fairbanks Alaska ! One of the webcams on the app are actually located right down the road from this Airbnb !You will have the best live web cam to keep track of the aurora activity on your trip ! There are many other benefits from this app that you will learn how to use over time .
Some tips for seeing the lights are :
- stay hopeful, it really is luck of the draw with kp predictions, weather, solar activity and more
- pay attention to weather, don’t waste a good nights sleep trying to search the sky’s when the cloud coverage is all night and kp predictions are low
- dress warm while hunting for the lights, I ran out the door so quick when I saw activity on a web cam and forgot my gloves and hat with all my excitement…. My lips turned purple and my ears burned with icy touch!!!
- once they appear really try to take it in and not focus so much on the picture taking aspect of it all, it happens so quickly and I have watched many forget why they were freezing their butts off staring at the sky for besides a cool picture or video!
- follow Facebook groups about the northern lights especially ones specifically for Alaska, the groups usually have tons of info and insight on what’s going on in the region and can give you current information on the lights activity
- turn on the location and notifications for the aurora app!!!!
Things to do:
This is a 7-day list of activities. In all honesty if you are not into winter sports activities you could possibly cut the number of days down. While there are plenty of things to do in the Fairbanks area, I found myself searching and being quite bored on the last two days of the trip for that I am not into winter sports and the temperatures were stooping extremely low for me to be walking comfortably in nearby parks.
* This list of activities includes a large amount of driving. If you are not comfortable with this amount of driving in the winter this dream trip may have to be reconsidered for a different season but to have less of a chance to see the Auroa Borealis.
-Viewing the Auroa Borealis aka the Northern Lights
Seeing the Auroa is never guaranteed! Be hopeful but do not expect the lights to always pop out. The colder it is outside the better and the later in the night the better! I saw them at full blast at 1 am.
Make the most out of your waiting game, pack snacks, hot drinks, blankets, games, and set alarms if you are too sleepy to stay awake all night.
- A Trip to Chena Hot Springs
This road trip is well worth the drive. With stunning views, the entire way there and back. Mountains start to become more visible and the surrounding snowy landscapes within the pine trees is worth the trip alone!
While this is a resort there is availability to go to the hot springs despite not being a guest at the hotel for the night .
*If you are more interested in staying in a hotel type of accommodation this is a pricy yet well worth the experience stay. Prices vary depending on time of year of stay and how long for the resort. It is a great option if you are looking to have everything planned out right then and there for you on your trip to Alaska in the winter. They provide a large number of activities. You also can have great viewing of the aurora if you are lucky!
Upon arrival you will park your vehicle in the parking lot available, In the winter they have outlets to plug your car battery into. Thats how cold it really gets up there!
- Hot Springs, Ice fishing, Ice Museum, Auroa viewing tours, Dog kennel tours, snowmobile, and dog sledding are a few options for activities. The prices for these activities range from $15-190 USD.
Book ahead of time to save any inconvenience upon arrival:
-Dog Mushing Tours
There are many options for this activity in the Fairbanks area. Depending on your price range and what you are looking for out of the experience that is up to you.
I booked with:
Prices vary $90-175USD (This is the going rate for a good experience with dog mushing tours. In the end the price goes to helping the dogs and maintain them throughout the season!)
Beautiful interactive experience with the employees and the dogs. In the distance of the facility, you can view the Denali Mountain formations. I suggest booking the later tours for the sunset is absolutely stunning in the winter landscapes.
- A Trip to The North Pole
You can visit Santas workshop for free! There are reindeer stalls where you can give a visit to them and possibly feed them. There is no entrance fee for the workshop. There are many goodies and souvenirs to buy within the building. Great experience if you are bringing little ones and great for keeping the magic alive for the adults too!
- A Road Trip to Denali National Park
Do not anticipate many activities once you arrive to the actual grounds of the park. Majority of the town at the base of the mountains will be closed due to it being the off season. The park is open year-round but from the months September - April facilities and other accommodations will be closed or limited.
The views the entire way to the park are stunning and well worth the road trip. Keep in mind the weather, try to aim for no snow or rain on the day you take your road trip for that the roads are winding for some parts of the way. Better safe than sorry!
- Winter Hikes
If you are up for the chilly hike, these are a few spots to check out to occupy yourself during the day. Walking around for just a few minutes in the right gear will be worth it! Alaska is truly something else in the winter. I definitely recommend doing it at least once in your time of travels one day!
There is always room for more activities depending on interests.
Prices vary on the everchanging prices: for accommodation ($920), flights ($500-600 roundtrip at the time), activities ($200-300) car rental ($680 including insurance), gas ($200), food ($200-300 depending on going out and cooking at accommodation). All prices are in USD.
You can view my Instagram page to see my posts from my trip for more credibility and inspiration! You can always shoot me a PM on the app for more details, packing list, and more suggestions!
More itinerates to come stay tuned!
Thanks for reading!
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