Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska: Enjoy the Snowy Festivities
If you have decided to spend this Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska, you will certainly toss about several ideas to get the best travel itinerary. However, not every piece of information you find on the internet is worth paying heed to. Surprisingly, there is lot of vague information that ends up misguiding the visitors.
However, we stand apart from our competitors because we believe in providing only worthwhile materials that would make your planning hassle-free and enjoyable.
The notable thing about us is that we dig deeper to explore every location so that we can provide our visitors with comprehensive knowledge about the places they love to visit. Additionally, we help them plan their regular activities, guide them to arrange transport, and pick up every festive accommodation they might need on their tour.
1. The packing requirements
Fairbanks changes into a glowing landscape during Christmas as it offers everyone a truly enchanted experience with its unique activities, snowy landscapes, and, of course, Northern Lights displays. However, to prepare yourself for Christmas in Fairbanks, you must pack layered and warm clothing like windproof and waterproof outer layers.
Thus, Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska begins with packing requirements. You must also be mindful to take strong and durable winter boots that provide sturdy traction. In the list, include accessories like scarves, gloves, warm socks, sunglasses, and hats, and don’t forget to bring a nice camera so that you don’t regret not capturing the winter scenery that engulfs this place.
2. Driving safely
The second step in Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska is driving responsibly. It is impossible to find a person who doesn’t want to drive in Fairbanks to get a magical feeling of its dreamlike surroundings. Nonetheless, it makes sense to remain fully prepared, particularly due to harsh winter conditions. On your way, you can expect to confront snowy and slippery roads.
Hence, hire a vehicle that is armed with good tires. To drive in Fairbanks, vehicles having studded tires are preferred, and be watchful of the conditions of the road beforehand.
Drive with extreme caution and slowly so that you give additional space between the vehicle that is driving in front of you and your vehicle. Again, you should be prepared to face probable skids too. Unfortunately, if you find that your vehicle has been skidding, take your foot off the accelerator and slam on the brakes.
3. The shortest daylight in Fairbanks
Spending Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska has another charm, as at this time, visitors get nearly three hours and forty-one minutes of daylight. It happens as the sun remains up for a very short time. Again, there are also extended periods of both dawn and dusk that leave people to get overall visible light for nearly six hours. Fairbanks goes through short daylight hours because of the tilting of the axis of Earth during this time.
4. Northern Lights
If you desire to view the Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska Northern Lights, you won’t find a better location than Fairbanks, particularly on Christmas Eve. Around the time of Christmas, Fairbanks, the winter solstice, provides an extended hour of darkness. You can go to different locations that can offer the best viewing, like outdoor viewing places, lodges, and hotels.
5. Dog Sledding Adventure
Don’t forget to indulge yourself in the dog sledding adventure that is a hugely popular activity in Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska. Here, you will come across several enticing experiences that will remain etched in your memories for good. If you want to hike, you can be a part of a dog team and observe the dogs’ summer training routine. This will give you an overview of the dedication of mushers for their canine friends.
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6. The Aurora Ice Museum
Another remarkable place to visit during Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska is the Aurora Ice Museum. This museum features various ice sculptures, like a bar where you can get the best signature cocktails in ice glasses. You will be spellbound visiting the museum, as it maintains a temperature of -7 °C throughout the year, and it made possible because of an absorption chiller.
An incredible feature of the museum is that it allows visitors to book an ice bedroom where they can immerse themselves in breathtaking views that surround them. If the fear of extreme cold in the Aurora Ice Museum is pulling you behind, don’t bother, as you will get parkas that can keep you warm and comfortable during your visit. You will also find guides along the way who will share unique and interesting facts about the sculptures in the museum.
7. Chena Hot Springs
No one returns celebrating Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska, without visiting Chena Hot Springs. The hot springs offer an innovative experience to visitors who go there to see the natural hot springs. You will get opportunities to get involved in winter activities, festive dining, and relaxation. Guests who go there enjoy indoor pools, hot tubs, and natural mineral hot springs. This allows them to stay warm even in the extreme cold winter weather.
8. The house of Santa
Who can forget the star of the show, Santa Claus, when they spend Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska? The North Pole is the home of Santa Claus, which becomes lively during this festive season. It is more popular with children, as the Christmas store remains stuffed with toys, unusual gifts, and unique products made in Alaska. When you visit this place, allow your kids to click pictures with Santa Claus.
Also, visit the workshop of Santa and get letters from Santa Claus that you can send to your close ones. You can also buy several specially designed decorative items from the store, like a big statue of Santa and various Christmas-themed treats.
9. The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center
Take out time to visit the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in Fairbanks, Alaska, when you go there on Christmas. This center remains open at Christmas time, though for only some hours. You don’t have to look for days when you can go there, as this center remains open daily.
However, from the 2nd of September to the 31st of December, the center opens at 8 am and closes at 5 pm in place of 6 pm, as during the summer hours, it closes at 6 pm. When you want to gain more information about the cultural exhibits, accommodations, activities you can enjoy, and dining options in Fairbanks, the center will be the best spot for you.
Even the physically challenged people will not face any issues in entering the center, as it is wheelchair accessible and provides an assistive hearing loop. You can access it by bus, taxi, or car.
10. Why not ice fishing?
Will you consider your trip to Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska complete if you don’t see ice fishing? You will come across many lakes close to Fairbanks, including Birch Lake, DeLong Lake, and Chena Lake, that remain stocked during Christmas and offer excellent fishing opportunities for several months.
It would be feasible for you to book guided tours of ice fishing tours. Alternatively, you can also venture out yourself. The best time for indulging in ice fishing is from the latter part of December through the first half of March.
You can see some popular fish species like Arctic grayling, walleye, rainbow trout, and Arctic char, and they are usually caught when people go fishing in winter. Meanwhile, you will find yourself trapped in splendid snow-covered landscapes. There is also a probability that you can view the Northern Lights from that area, which will add to the extravaganza of seeing ice fishing.
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Don’t miss the opportunity to explore Fairbanks
If you have been thinking of visiting Fairbanks for a long time, choose Christmas, as it will be the ideal time when you will find lots of things to do in this place. Expect to get involved in a chilled winter there, so pack as well as dress ideally. Celebrating Christmas in Fairbanks Alaska, will be like adding an extra feather to your cap, as you will find a long list of things to do there.
Visitors who love to experiment with varied things and see spectacular surroundings choose Fairbanks over other places to spend Christmas there. Once you go there, you will see Christmas in a new light, and it will be filled with different festive activities and celebrations.
