3 Reasons to Visit Fairbanks, Alaska, This Fall

If you’re looking for a reason to visit Fairbanks, you certainly won’t be in short supply, especially as we head into the fall season. The city is set deep in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, known for wild adventures and stunning wilderness. Here are three reasons to visit the city this fall:

Aurora Season Has Officially Started
Fairbanks is one of the best places to see Aurora Borealis, also known as the northern lights. Not only does aurora-viewing season officially start in August, but Fairbanks also lies within the auroral oval, meaning it is perfectly located to experience the most aurora activity. In fall, the city is headed toward something known as polar night, a period when the sun doesn’t come out at all. While this won’t start for a few more months, it means there are already more hours of darkness to increase your chances of easily seeing the phenomenon.

It’s the Perfect Time to Visit Museums
Fairbanks may get a bit cold in the fall, and snowfall is a very real possibility, so take advantage of the opportunity to experience some of the city’s great museums to learn about Alaskan culture and history. Fairbanks Children’s Museum is a great place for little ones to learn through play, while Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum takes you through time with an enormous collection of antique cars, including vehicles unique to Alaska. Each vehicle is paired with perfectly preserved clothing specific to the car’s era so you get a deeper connection to the cars’ places in history.

The Weather is Still Ideal for Enjoying Nature
While the season can definitely bring a chill with it and winter is right around the corner, fall is a great time to experience the transition of nature from one season to the next. Leaves are changing quickly, and the heavy veil of winter hasn’t sunk in quite yet, so enjoy the crisp fresh air while you still can at places like Chena Hot Springs, which makes the most of the beautiful landscape. Soak in the hot springs even when the temperature does drop, and participate in the many outdoor activities the resort offers like dog mushing in an ATV (they hook up their adorable team of sled dogs to an ATV so the dogs get their exercise but don’t have to do any of the heavy lifting by pulling humans around). The resort is open year-round and offers unique experiences like an ice museum and a tour of the geothermal greenhouse tour, so you can see first-hand what goes into supporting a full-scale, fully sustainable hot spring resort off of geothermal energy.