By Marcia Abramson
If you're the adventurous and outdoors-seeking type, then Fairbanks is your gateway to authentic Alaskan experience.I have fond memories of the spectacular white nights of the midnight sun in St. Petersburg but the incredible display of northern lights in Fairbanks is extraordinary. It is one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy almost 24 hours a day of daylight, an average of 243 days a year. The long daylight in the summer and 70-degree temperatures also give you great opportunity to not only experience the wonderful cultural and natural history displays of Alaska but to play baseball late into the evening, go mushing with a dog team on a wooded trail and enjoy wonderful fishing and hiking. Before Alaska became our nation's 49th state, Fairbanks was a bustling mining town in the middle of the largest territory in the United States. Felix Pedro, an Italian immigrant, is credited with the first discovery of gold in 1902. Captain E.T. Barnette had even greater luck by building a trading post on the banks of the Chena River at the same time as one of the key gold strikes north of town. You can try your own hand at gold panning and try to bring home a nugget of your own Alaskan gold. The largest public display of gold in the state can be seen at the University of Alaska Museum of the North.Prior to the discovery of gold, Fairbanks was and still is home to the Athabascan Indians, Eskimos and Aleuts, commonly referred to as Alaska Natives. They each represent different cultures, languages and beliefs. Athabascans are known for their decorative beadwork, birch bark baskets and skin sewed garments. I finally found a lovely skin stole that I had hoped my late husband Martin would bring back on one of his trips 40 years ago. Fairbanks is host city to the Festival of Native Arts. Make sure to experience the Althabascan Fiddler's Festival, the Midnight Sun Intertribal Powwow and the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics. The Midnight Sun Powwow is from July 2-4 so it's a wonderful way to usher in Independence Day.I found plenty of outdoor and adventure activities to keep all members of the family occupied. Children 12 and under can fish without a license. My granddaughter, Maris, had a ball at Pioneer Park visiting the mining valley and gold rush town and riding the railroad and carousel. Paved flat trails are wonderful for biking, as we did on Cape Cod many years ago. There are also water activities galore. Canoeing, surfing, whitewater rafting is all-available on the Chena and Nenana rivers. During Golden Days don't miss the Grand Parade.Since we must not forget that wildlife is one of Alaska's treasures, don't forget your binoculars (maybe my grandson will lend you a pair) to get close-up views of geese, ducks, cranes and swans at Creamer's Field. Creamer's Field is Alaska's premiere migratory bird refuge that is less than five minutes from downtown Fairbanks. Not far away is Denali National Park where you can view moose, caribou, Dall sheep and the grizzly bear.Fairbanks' first class River's Edge Resort would be a great choice to put you close to all of the city's terrific attractions while enjoying the luxury of your own cottage on a beautiful riverfront setting. The resort also features Chena's fine dining and deck. To enjoy Fairbanks' big-city style, you might consider the Westmark Hotel and Convention Center for easy access to convention and wildlife facilities.To arrange for your visit to the land of 24-hour daylight, contact your travel professional, the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-327-5774 or explore the guide on line at www.explorefairbanks.com.
Copyright © Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
