It’s been my mission for quite some time to visit all 50 states. So, when the opportunity arose to visit Alaska, a state I never thought would be easy to cross off, I jumped at the opportunity! Even if it was mid-December, I was going to make the most of this trip.
I was honestly surprised to find that December is a great time to visit Alaska for prime-Northern light viewing, limited tourists, low hotel costs, and the magic of visiting the North Pole around Christmas-time. Below I’m highlighting a few things you can do on your trip to Fairbanks, especially if you find yourself also visiting in the snowy months!
1. Dog sledding – This is a must! While there are a ton of companies that host dog-sledding, few do in the winter months. We wanted to make sure whatever company we went with treated and loved the dogs well. We searched extensively and decided on the company Just Short of Magic. They were amazing and I cannot recommend this company enough! The mushers and staff could not have been more loving or kind and their customer service was through the roof. Allie and I rode with Eleanor, a professional musher, and watched her hand pick and harness up the eight dogs that would be giving us a 30-minute ride. Eleanor even called us beforehand and recommended we come earlier so that we would hit golden hour on the trails! Only one ride a day gets the sunshine-y views that we received and it was well worth it!
The whole experience was so unique and went above and beyond our expectations! We got to play with the dogs beforehand, suit up in Alaskan winter gear (provided by the company – thank God!), and sip on free hot cocoa post-ride. I never would have imagined being able to do something like this. Due to the cold weather, we opted in for the half hour ride ($65/person) but stayed on the property for probably 1.5 hours cuddling the dogs and chatting with the staff. Huge shoutout to Elke from Texas who answered all of our questions about mushing and dog-sledding and allowed us to overstay our welcome far longer than we had paid for.
2. Hunt down the Northern Lights – After visiting Iceland and having no luck spotting the Aurora Borealis due to cloudy skies, we were praying that we would catch a glimpse of them in Alaska. Fairbanks is actually voted the Best Place in the US to see them, so we were feeling lucky! We spent two of our three nights scouting them out and used this tracker to gauge when the best times to spot them would be. There are several locations you can seek out the Aurora in Alaska including the North Pole, Cleary Summit, and Chena River State Recreation Area. We, however, had the best luck at Murphy’s Dome which is located about 45 minutes from Fairbanks. Locals do not advise you to drive there if you do not have all-wheel drive or if it has recently snowed, as the road is uphill and can get slick. We got lucky with the road conditions and finally set our sights on the natural phenomenon. It was beautiful, inspiring but also kind of freaky! It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
3. Visit the North Pole and see Santa’s House – Perhaps the cutest town to exist, the North Pole is littered with candy cane light poles, real life reindeer and Santa’s house, where he and Mrs. Claus allegedly live. The house provides an opportunity to see all the letters that get sent to Santa throughout the year. I’m such a sucker for good ol’ snail mail so seeing different handwritten letters addressed to Santa from all over the world was so cool! Especially unique was the letters in different languages. There was such a magical feeling that surrounded Santa’s house and made you think about all the little ones who believe in Santa. From the U.S. to the Netherlands to China, there was no shortage of love and gratitude aimed at Saint Nick. For the most part, the actual house acts as a huge gift shop so its perfect for last minute Christmas gifts for your loved ones back home. I wanted to bring a reindeer home, but I opted for a postcard instead.
4. Aurora Ice Museum – Located at the Chena Hot Springs Resort, this museum is open year round and is definitely one you should look into when visiting Fairbanks. While there is another ice museum in Fairbanks, we were told by almost everyone that the Aurora Ice Museum is the one to see! It takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes to get to the resort from downtown but it is the easiest drive in the world since the highway ends at the resort. Plus, you have a great chance at seeing moose and other wildlife while on the two-lane highway. With more than 1,000 tons of ice and snow used, you won’t believe all the sculptures and other objects that have been made inside the museum by award-winning artists. Feast your eyes on the colorful lights, an ice chapel, three “hotel” rooms and a full bar all made out of, you guessed it, ice. Would you believe me if I said it was warmer in the museum (25° F) than it was outside? Alaska is chilly in December so it was a nice little escape from the weather!
People typically spend 45 minutes in the museum but you must book tickets in advance. You can buy them here. The tours are scheduled daily for 11 am, 1 pm, 3 pm, 5 pm and 7 pm. If you are 21, you can also purchase an Appletini with your ticket, which is served in an ice glass. After you’ve downed it, you can walk outside the museum, make a wish and smash it on the ground. All in all, it’s a really great experience and the artistry will blow your mind.
5. Soak in the Chena Hot Springs – Located at the same resort as the Aurora Ice Museum, the Hot Springs should not be missed while visiting Alaska in the wintertime. It is the only time during the trip that I was actually relieved to remove layers of clothing while climbing in the 106° F temperatures. The Hot Springs are rumored to have healing powers so it was the perfect way to relax the muscles and spend the morning before sitting on a red eye flight. The $15 admission fee gives you access to the hot springs, outdoor hot tub and indoor pool/hot tubs. While super relaxing, be prepared that all the hair on your body will freeze over. It was funny to see all the men looking like human icicles with their iced over facial hair.
6. Dive into Fairbanks’ history at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center – Open daily from 8-5pm in the wintertime, the MTCVC is a great place to learn all about Alaskan history and culture, such as the Northern Lights, dog sledding, ice fishing, and more! The tiny museum inside is entirely free, donations accepted, and was super interactive to guests. It’s the perfect place to wander while warming your hands and toes. Before leaving, make sure to check out the Antler Arch outdoors. If you ever Pinterest Fairbanks, you will likely see people standing by this arch. The Morris Visitor’s Center is where you can find it!
7. Take your photo by the “Love Alaska” sign – This can only be done in the wintertime, so take advantage! Located across the river (which freezes over!) from Pike’s Landing is a sign that reads LOVE ALASKA. I randomly saw it while driving past the first night we arrived in Fairbanks and knew I wanted to snag a photo! Allie and I braved walking across the river since the ice appeared to be super thick and it was negative temperatures out. We took our photo, struck up a conversation with some other visitors, and made new friends! This sign led to one of my favorite memories.
8. Visit the Northernmost Starbucks – Calling all coffee lovers! The northernmost Starbucks in the United States is located in Fairbanks, AK! This is a super simple, quick thing you can do during your trip! It was fun to walk inside and see that in reality it was just another Starbucks. Nothing special but I still can brag about it, okay?
9. Walk along the Trans-Alaska Pipeline – Though controversial, the world’s largest pipeline system is located along a highway in Fairbanks. It is super simple to pull off on the road and walk along it if you so choose. I wasn’t very educated on the Pipeline but there were signs everywhere with different facts, maps and the history of the pipeline. Even if you don’t support it, it is still very interesting to see and understand the purpose of it. It reminded me of a big waterslide!
10. Stay cozy, eat some warm breakfast, and stay at the Clarion Hotel & Suites – I’m all about staying on a comfortable budget when I travel so staying with Choice Hotels, in this case the Clarion, was a no-brainer for me. Their free breakfast is a major perk since it starts at 6am and we would stay out until then watching the Northern Lights. Getting back to the hotel, eating breakfast and climbing under the warm covers was the best feeling in the world. The staff was amazing offering all sorts of local tips and tricks. I couldn’t recommend this place enough. If you’re traveling to Fairbanks, look no further and book your room here.
Don’t let the winter weather (negative temps) stray you away from visiting Fairbanks or Alaska in general. We had an absolute blast and feel so lucky to have been able to experience the Northern Lights and dog sledding in one trip. If you’ve visited, let me know in the comments below! Or if you are planning a trip, have questions or just want to share your experiences feel free to tag me on Instagram or shoot over a DM at @kayliericks12