Why Winter is the Right Time to Visit Fairbanks, Alaska

Winter vacations fall into two categories — warm-weather hot spots for escaping the cold temperatures of winter and chilly destinations embracing the beauty of the season. Fairbanks, Alaska, falls into the latter, with plenty of snow and cold-weather fun to go around. But if you are worried Northern Alaska is a bit too extreme for a family vacation, think again.

Fairbanks is beautiful year-round, with an impressive range of activities that change with the seasons, but during the winter months, the city is truly magical. Fairbanks is one of the best places in the world to view the Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, and wintertime gives you the best chance of seeing this spectacular phenomenon. Fairbanks lies within the Aurora Oval, and has incredibly clear skies and more than its fair share of hours of darkness in the winter, so seeing the Aurora is pretty likely if you visit for more than a few days.

While you and the fam are waiting for your chance to see the Northern Lights, there are plenty of great ways to pass the time in Fairbanks. Frolicking with the reindeer at Running Reindeer Ranch is a family favorite, not just for the little ones but also for parents, too. One of the most popular experiences they offer is a nature walk through the boreal forest with reindeer, where you get to learn about the native landscape along with what makes these beautiful creatures so unique.

Every winter, Fairbanks capitalizes on its resources by welcoming the world’s most talented ice sculptures to let their imaginations run wild, and visitors have a unique opportunity to witness this magic. In winter, you can find unique ice sculptures all around town, but if you plan your visit sometime from mid-February through March, you and the family can witness the World Ice Art Championships. You don’t get to just see the results of the artists’ hard work, but you can also see their masterpieces take shape from start to finish.

No trip in the wintertime is complete without a trip to the North Pole, a charming town just about 10 minutes from Fairbanks. Take your picture with Santa, meet some reindeer or simply enjoy the holiday decorations just about everywhere around this town that embraces Christmas year-round. If you time your visit just right in December, you can catch the annual North Pole Winterfest on Dec. 14 and 15, when the whole town celebrates with fireworks, a tree-lighting ceremony, and the crowning of the North Pole King and Queen.