Must See and Do in Fairbanks/Denali?

In August %26#39;07 I%26#39;ll be in Fairbanks for a day and then Denali for about 2.5. Can someone please help me with the things I must see and do?

Thanks

Must See and Do in Fairbanks/Denali?

Well, you didn%26#39;t mention your own interests, but I%26#39;ll tell you what many tourists like to do . . . in Fairbanks, I would suggest the museum at the University, perhaps a trip on the Riverboat Discovery, some time at Pioneer Park, a walk near Creamer%26#39;s Field.

For Denali, I would recommend you to take a shuttle bus ride in to the Park, at least as far as Fish Creek or Wonder Lake. You also might want to take in the doggie demo%26#39;s at the Park kennel. Anything park related, check out www.nps.gov/dena. You also might want to go on a raft trip (Denali Outdoor Center) or do a flight see of Mt. McKinley, as well as hike on numerous trails. Just depends on your interests. There are also a few evening shows as well. Hope that helps get you started on your summer plans - good luck! :)

Must See and Do in Fairbanks/Denali?

Fairbanks for a day... too short for a visit to the hot springs with so many other worthwhile things to do, though a scenic drive is nice. Starting at the University as Coal Miner pointed out, there is the Museum. Then behind that (on Yankovich road, I believe) is what used to be called The Musk Ox Farm and goes under some generic name like %26#39;big animal farm%26#39; now. It is worth a visit from reports I have received, having expanded from just musk oxen to other large animals as well.

As you are driving out toward the farm, look to the right side of Farmer鈥檚 Loop road as you are going out, and as you go down the hill with a small lake to the left, look at the two 1960%26#39;s ranch style houses on the right. They are victims of permafrost melting. Currently one is abandoned due to the settlement.

From the Musk Ox Farm go out Goldstream Road to the Goldstream Valley and on to Fox. Along the way you will drive across one of the richest gold fields in America. When you get to Fox there is the Gold Dredge #8 where you can take a tour, or you can continue up the valley toward Chatanika and go to the gold mine tours riding a narrow gauge railroad and learning of the history. Your gold panning is likely to be most profitable at one of these places, unless you are much better at picking your creeks and deposits than I am! Next to Gold Dredge #8 is a place you can get up close to the pipeline, but there is even a better spot with interpretive signs as you head south along the Steese Highway back toward Fairbanks. On the left side is the pipeline, and along the right side is a large melting ice lens in the vertical loess cliff behind some construction equipment. This area has had some great examples of permafrost and earth ice (here it looks dark black in the brown earth face), and you are lucky to be coming up as this one is so easy to find.

There is a lot of nature over all, and there is the historic downtown area that is wroth a walk along the river front. The historic Federal Building now has a great display on the nature and land and animals of the area and should be a stop as well.

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