Fairbanks Official Visitors Guide 2008

“For those of us who reside in rural Alaska, friends become like family. Nowhere is that more true than at Denali National Park, where we live on the edge of millions of acres of pristine wilderness. Our home is smack dab in the middle of the Alaska Range and our neighbors include the wildlife that also calls Denali home – bears, moose, caribou and wolves. No street lights detract from spectacular northern lights during winter months. Mountains and rivers become our playgrounds during the never-ending daylight every summer. Where else could I walk out my back door and instantly find endless trails to use every season, whether I’m hiking, skiing or mushing. Where else could I watch owls and fox from my living room window? An involved and active community keeps things hopping all times of year and ensures that our children appreciate the wonder of this place. When people ask, ‘What do you DO there all year?’ I just invite them to visit and see for themselves.” Kris Capps, longtime Alaska journalist and river runner Look no further to find it. Look no further to explore the great outdoors just minutes from town for a wide range of hiking trails for a casual stroll or a challenging hike. Explore a bit further and you can join the action with mountain biking, whitewater rafting, canoeing, kayaking, snowmobiling, dog mushing, skiing, camping, fishing, hunting and backpacking. Cast a line for the voracious Arctic grayling, a species nearly extinct today in the rest of the United States. Wildlife is one of Alaska’s greatest treasures with many species that inhabit St. Elias National Park and Preserve reached from Fairbanks via the Richardson Highway south. Small images left to right: UAF photo by Sabra McCracken, Sheila Romero/FCVB, Mok Kumagai/FCVB. • Mt. St. Elias at 18,008 feet is the second highest peak in the United States, discovered during the 1741 Bering Expedition. © Fred Hirschmann the land, the lakes, rivers and endless sky. Remember your binoculars to get those closeup views of geese, ducks, cranes and swans at Creamer’s Field, a migratory bird refuge less than five minutes from downtown. Binoculars are also a good tip for Denali National Park and other wilderness areas to bring into view moose, caribou, Dall sheep and grizzly bear. Whatever the season, whatever your interests, Fairbanks as a destination offers activities from mild to wild. • Mt. Wrangell at 14,163 feet is the highest active volcano in Alaska and the northernmost in the Pacific Rim. 9 11 Tina Graham

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Fairbanks Official Visitors Guide 2008

Contents Fairbanks Native Culture Gold Last Frontier Winter Lifestyles Tours Gateway to the Interior & the Arctic Art Around Town Itineraries Family Fun Calendar of Events Fairbanks Denali Neighbors Interior Neighbors "Into the Wild" Alaskan Neighbors Arctic Neighbors Travel Tips Mapping It Out Business Index Who To Call

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