Explore Fairbanks, Alaska
Planning a trip to Fairbanks? We've put together some of our favorite local restaurants, breweries, shops, attractions, and adventures to help you make the most of your time in Interior Alaska.
Whether you're visiting to see the Northern Lights, experience Alaska's midnight sun, explore Denali National Park, or simply enjoy everything Fairbanks has to offer, there's something here for every season.
As the owners of Aurora Ridge Cabin, we've gathered our personal favorites along with helpful recommendations for exploring Fairbanks and the surrounding area. We hope you enjoy discovering some of the places that make this part of Alaska so special!
Please take note of the following symbols while using this guide.
❄ Winter Only ☀ Summer Only Underlined Blue Text are clickable links.
Fairbanks Restaurants & Local Favorites
The Cookie Jar Restaurant - our FAVORITE spot for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Amazing food, pastries, and bread are made fresh. Cinnamon roles are HUGE and amazing! You must go here!
The Bakery - Diner w/ everything, opens @ 6am for breakfast, great skillets
Hot Spot Cafe - Local spot w/ great breakfast skillets
Friar Tucks Hoagie House - A nice low-key place to grab lunch or dinner, with a great selection of drinks. You will not be disappointed!
Food Factory - Casual dining, good food, good prices, a little bit of everything.
Pike's Waterfront Lodge- Popular bar and restaurant on the banks of the Chena. Wonderful seafood.
Red Fox Bar & Grill - Great bar and grill that is open late for those late arrivals. Best wings around and great pizza!
Jo's Oven - These cinnamon rolls are a must try - must have - you must go! Large GF selection!
Lemongrass Thai Restaurant - One of the best Thai restaurants locally
The Crepery - Sweet & Savory Crepes
Silver Gulch Brewing & Bottling Co - Fantastic food, local brewed beer (& rootbeer) - Cool Spot
The Pump House - Cool atmosphere, wonderful food, might need reservation.
Great Harvest Bread Company- Great Sandwiches, Soups, Baked Goods at a Great Price. Large GF selection!
Jam Jam's Spot in Cantwell - Jamaican inspired handcrafted sandwiches. Huge portions. Very Good!
☀ Rose's Cafe in Healy - Amazing breakfast, lunch and dinner in Healy
☀ 49th State Brewing Company in Healy- If you make the trip down to Denali, stop in Healy at 49th State Brewing Company. They brew their own beer in house, and their food is worth the drive.
Fairbanks Breweries, Bars & Distilleries
Red Fox Bar & Grill - local bar, great bar eats & open late
Lavelle's Taphouse & Bistro - lots of craft beer on tap
Lat 65 Brewing Company - Brewery and Cidery located just north of downtown Fairbanks off the Chena River.
HooDoo Brewing Company - Most popular micro brewery in Fairbanks, with a great outdoor firepit area. Some weeknights they have food trucks.
Silver Gulch Brewery - Brewery, full-service bar and restaurant
The Pump House Restaurant Fairbanks -Great food and also a popular place to get a cocktail
Hoarfrost Distilling - Hoarfrost Distilling makes world class vodka in Fairbanks, AK using barley and pure Alaskan water.
Fairbanks Distilling Company - Artisan distillery that uses all Alaskan sourced grains, berries, potatoes
Ursa Major Distilling - Small-batch distillery located just outside of Fairbanks. Serving handcrafted cocktails in a cozy tasting room. Outdoor seating with firepits year-round. Featuring vodka, rum (white and aged), gin, and Alaska's only Akavit.
☀ Howling Dog Saloon - Very Alaskan Bar with live music. Open in the summer. Closest bar to the cabin.
Fairbanks Coffee Shops & Cafés
Venue - Great atmosphere, delicious coffee, amazing art shows.
Mocha Dan's - Closest to the cabin. Breakfast food and coffee.
Bucko's Coffee - Good coffee & super friendly service. Serves breakfast & Brunch also
Glacier Grind Coffee - Great coffee, juice & smoothie bar, and sandwiches.
Starbucks - Closest Starbucks drive-thru to the cabin. There are multiple Starbucks locations in Fairbanks.
* But this is Fairbanks, there is a coffee hut on almost every corner.
Fairbanks Boutiques, Antiques & Thrifts
Fairbanks Shopping & Souvenirs
Fred Meyer - Best shopping around, fresh produce, well stocked, and a great souvenir shop. **Hint: If you go through self check-out ask the attendant what coupon they have.
Walmart Supercenter - This Walmart has a large souvenir shop with t-shirts, etc. They also carry the North Pole Coffee.
Roaming Root Cellar - Locally grown or made gifts, food
Two Street Gallery - A fine art gallery featuring Alaskan artists
The Great Alaskan Bowl Company - Sells and manufacturers handmade wooden bowls from Alaska Paper Birch trees.
Artic Travelers Gift Shop - Unique gift shop with a variety of Alaskan souvenirs.
Santa House @ North Pole - It's Christmas all year long at North Pole. You've got to go!
Twigs Gift Shop - Twigs is located inside the Fairbanks International Airport.
☀ Riverboat Discovery Store - You don't have to go on the Riverboat tours to stop by this MASSIVE souvenir store.
Outdoor Gear & Equipment in Fairbanks
Things to Do in Fairbanks, Alaska
Visit Pioneer Park - Carousel, train, mining valley, disc golf course, kayak, shopping, art gallery, food. In the winter, you can kick-sled around the park.
☀ Gold Daughters (locally owned & better price) or Gold Dredge #8
☀ Antler Academy @ Santa Claus House
Aurora Ice Museum - Largest year-round ice environment
Pike’s Reindeer Experience - Affordable reindeer meet & greet all year
Alaska's Large Animal Research Station - Muskoxen, caribou, reindeer on 134-acre site
Alaska Camera - This is not just any camera store, Alaska Camera Shop also has an art gallery full of photographs taken by local photographers.
Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
☀ Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
☀ Tanana Valley Farmers Market - It is the oldest established farmers market in Alaska and the only one located in its own permanent building.
Angel Rocks Trailhead - Very scenic three-mile hiking loop. There is some hill climbing but the difficulty isn't too tough.
Granite Tors Trailhead & Campground - There are 15-mile and 2-mile loop trails, which provide access to unusual rock outcroppings called tors, alpine tundra, and views of both the Alaska Range and the Chena River Valley.
Denali National Park- The park is opened year-round, and always worth visiting. Services available during seasons vary, see links below:
More Fairbanks Activities & Winter Adventures
❄ Ski Land Ski & Snowboard - Close to the cabin, great and inexpensive day pass and gear rental.
❄ Chena Hot Springs - Natural hot springs. $20/person + $5/person towel service. This is a must-experience in the winter!
Santa Claus House in the North Pole - Visit with Santa year-round. Mail a letter from the North Pole.
❄ Ice Fishing/Dog Sledding/Snow Mobiling - There are multiple outfitters in the area, but we highly recommend Rod's Alaskan for ice fishing & snow mobiling. For dog sledding, Trail Breaker Kennel is the best - hands down.
❄ World Ice Art Championships - Beginning mid-February, tickets are around $17 USD for adults.
Running Reindeer Ranch - By reservation only. Guided walking tours of the boreal forest with reindeer, year-round.
❄ Check out the Dog Mushing Races - The Fairbanks Alaska Dog Mushers Association holds races in the winter.
❄ Moose Mountain Ski & Snowboard Resort
Visit Pioneer Park - While the shops and restaurants are closed for the season, you can get a glimpse of Alaska's early years. It is also a great place to get into the holiday spirit, with holiday lights up through March. And you can kick-sled around the park.
❄ Ice Skate on a Lake! - Rent skates from Big Dipper Ice Arena and head over to the Tanana Lake Recreation area for some ice skating!
❄ Fireside Tea & Reindeer Tour! -Adults (or very well-behaved teens) only. Black spruce trails illuminated holiday lights, surrounded by reindeer.
❄ And of course, see the Aurora Borealis. Visit our Aurora Viewing Page for insight.
Fairbanks Museums & Cultural Attractions
Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center - Exhibits here are free, educational, interesting and opened year-round. This is also where the Antler Arch is for photos.
Fountain Head Antique Auto Museum
Fairbanks Ice Museum - year-round ice slides
Visiting Denali National Park in Winter (Late September thru Early May)
National Park Info
- Denali NP is open year-round, however in the winter the park road is only open to mile-3. It’s still worth visiting!
- ProTip: After the DNP busses stop running BUT before the snow flies (in early October) you can drive your own car to Teklanika River at mile 30!
Activities
- Denali National Park Sled Dog Kennels open Sat. & Sun. 1pm - 4pm
- Snowshoeing in Denali National Park - snowshoes are loaned for free at the winter visitor’s center
- Outer Range Dogsled Tours
- Squid Acre Kennels
- Denali Dogsled Expeditions (mid-Nov. - early April)
- Denali Horseback Tours
- Denali Fat Truck Tours
- Aurora Winter Train: Alaska Railroad
Food/Grocery
- Three Bears Grocery 7A-9P (Grocery, Sporting Goods, Gas Station, Hot Food, Beer/Liquor)
- Totem Restaurant (Mile 248.8 Parks Hwy) 12-9PM
- The Alaska Coffee Bean (Mile 249.2 Parks Hwy)
- M-F 7A-2P, Sat. 8A-2p, Sun. Closed
- Jam Jam’s has opened this winter, facebook for hours
- Healy Best Asian Food to Go (Coal Street, Healy) 11A-10P
- Indoor Picnic Area at Denali NP - next door to the Winter Visitor’s Center is the Murie Hall (open daily in winter for a warm place to eat, plan adventures & watch park films)
Driving Tour to Denali from Fairbanks: Denali Winter Drive Adventure
Lodging If you want to stay in Denali we recommend:
Aurora Denali Lodge or Earthsong Lodge
OTHER GREAT LINKS
Discover Denali Winter Visitation
Denali Chamber of Commerce Winter
Make Aurora Ridge Cabin Your Fairbanks Home Base
After a day exploring Fairbanks and Interior Alaska, come back to your own private cabin surrounded by Alaska's beautiful scenery.
Aurora Ridge Cabin offers three bedrooms, comfortable accommodations for up to six guests, and our AuroraCams to help you keep an eye on the Northern Lights during aurora season.
Planning your Fairbanks adventure? Check availability and book your stay directly with us.