What to wear/do in Dec/Jan in Fairbanks

Hi,

I%26#39;m a single female traveling to Fairbanks and staying for 2 weeks starting Dec. 19 and am trying my best to decide what to wear and how to dress. I am aware that it is mostly casual and anything goes most anywhere, but I%26#39;m more concerned in the types of clothing and layering suggestions that anyone may have. I%26#39;m from MI originally and the cold doesn%26#39;t scare me, but I know I%26#39;m dealing with a very different kind of cold when I get to Fairbanks in the mid-winter.

Any help would be greatly appreciated - as well as perhaps some places to eat/hang out with locals.

What to wear/do in Dec/Jan in Fairbanks

Hi there and welcome to the Alaska forum! So what are you coming to Fairbanks for during the darkest time of year?? Hopefully, it won%26#39;t be too cold and you can enjoy the Northern Lights and other fun things. I am sure someone will be celebrating solstice! :)

You are correct - Alaska is very casual - warmth is the most important feature and layers really help . . . .I have found many stores/buildings tend to be overly warm, so then what I have on for the outside temps I then bake wandering in stores, so you need to be able to take some layers off. Hope this makes sense. Most folks will be in jeans/pants with turtlenecks and sweaters or thick flannel shirts and some folks choose to have on long underwear as well - the best is either silk or polypro. Depends on your body temperature. If you want a good idea of general style, look in an LLBean/Land%26#39;s End/REI fall/winter catalog . . . those are the types of clothes you will be seeing people wear - very basic/practical. Now there are dress up occasions, but this really varies with the attendees - you might read the recent post regarding what to wear at a wedding . . . you will truly see a wide spectrum. Not saying that some folks aren%26#39;t stylish, just simply that most Alaskans don%26#39;t care . . . you really are accepted for who you are up here, not what you wear - no matter what you income level.

As for outerwear, I would try to borrow stuff, since you don%26#39;t live in a cold climate - you will need boots, hats/mittens and a good coat/parka.

I hope our Fairbanks expert will mention the favorite hangouts for Fairbanks . . . I would think Gulliver%26#39;s Books/Cafe would be one. My favorite restaurants - for breakfast, the Cookie Jar. Lunches/dinners: Gambardella%26#39;s Pasta Bella, Lemongrass (Thai), Pike%26#39;s Landing, the Turtle Club, Geraldo%26#39;s for pizza, Lavelle%26#39;s, Cafe Alex . . . have a great time! :)

What to wear/do in Dec/Jan in Fairbanks

Thanks for the info - it does help.

And to answer your question about why I%26#39;m coming in the darkest time... well, partially, it just works out that way, partially to honor one of my father%26#39;s dying wishes to have some of his ashes spread in AK - the only state he never visited (and I thought the possibility of diong that under northern lights and on the anniversary of his passing would be pretty memorable). I know the lights aren%26#39;t a guarantee, but thought I%26#39;d take my chances.

And if it%26#39;s dark and cold, I can truly just relax and not worry about doing much more than throiwing back a beer or two with the locals and maybe catching up on seom reading and well deserved rest. :)

What a wonderful thing to do in your Father%26#39;s memory! I hope will enjoy your stay in Fairbanks . . . .the new Barnes %26amp; Noble also has a cozy fireplace as well - lots of book reading in Alaska . . .and plenty of beer drinking as well. Happy planning the rest of your time. :)

Lots of places to go for drinks and comraderie. As well as the places mentioned above you might like Pikes (on the river) and Chena Pumphouse. Both have resteraunts and bars/saloon and fun clientel. If you want something a little more casual there is The Diner for breakfast or lunch, real Alaskans, real ';diner'; food or the Red Fox, decent food, drinks, and construction workers lol. Do you know where you will be staying yet? Will you have a car? Good luck and hope you see ';the lights';.

Thanks so much for the responses so far.

I will not have a car - or at least haven%26#39;t planned on one yet. With it being the holidays, I%26#39;m being a little spontaneous. I am staying at the Westmark - seemed central enough and comfortable.

I%26#39;m looking into a couple of different Arctic Circle tours, so any advice there would be greatly appreciated as well. It doesn%26#39;t sound like I%26#39;ll have any problem finding something to do though. :)

Hi,

I happen to chance upon this post and it is indeed useful to me as I will be staying in Fairbanks for 2 weeks starting Dec 26. I am also rather troubled as to the type of clothes to wear when I go there during the coldest time of the year. I am from Singapore, a tropical country, so this trip to Fairbanks will be a totally new experience for me, especially the cold climate during that time.

I have yet to find a place to stay at right now. Could anyone give me any suggestions as to a reasonably priced hotel? I searched on the internet and I came across this motel, the Golden North Motel, and I wonder if this motel is a good place to stay at.

Please advise.

Thank you.

Hmmm, you probably would regret staying there unless you are a big burly guy. Here are a bunch of hotels and their prices. You might also call them and ask if they are having any winter specials when you are going to be here.

www.hotel-rates.com/us/alaska/fairbanks/

albanywebsites.com/ex/…hotels-city.htm

I have a plan to visit Alaska in January. One night Fairbanks, two nights Barrow, five nights Fairbanks. For the first night in Fairbanks I plan to stay at Pike%26#39;s Landing, because it%26#39;s closest to the airport. They say they offer transportation to and from the airport. I have no actual experience yet with this hotel.

For the second Fairbanks segment I plan to rent a car and stay at the Ranch Motel. I have stayed there in Oct 2005. It%26#39;s clean and economical, and it%26#39;s fine if one has a rental car and doesn%26#39;t mind that the room opens up directly to the freezing cold.