Apologies if this is the wrong forum - I really wasn’t sure if this was MPSIMS material or IMHO. I opted for this one, obviously, but if a mod thinks it should be moved, please do!
I am going to North Pole Alaska this June! I’m making a solo trip from Iowa, about 3,000 miles away, to visit someone very close to me. We’ve got a few things planned, including places to eat, the Santa house and the Summer Solstice festival. But if anyone else has been there or knows the area, are there any key places or activities you think should be on my list? Related, please share any traveling to Alaska stories you might have!
I am flying. Layover is about an hour in Denver. The flights were insanely annoying to book. I’m not fully, 100% convinced that the Fairbanks airport is even open before 7:30 PM, lol. All the available flights get me there about 11:30 PM. And I can’t leave until… Well, 11:30 PM. The only reason I know it’s open before 7:30 is because there was one flight I saw that had be get in at that time. Sadly, it was filled up sooner than I thought.
I’m originally from Alaska, and lived there for eleven years just before retiring to Oregon. You didn’t say how much time you’re spending there, but I can tell you that North Pole becomes boring after about an hour. If you’re renting a car, you can drive south about 2 hours to see Denali (Mt. McKinley) Park. On the way, you can stop at Skinny Dick’s Halfway Inn. Or drive about 200 miles north on the Dalton Highway to cross the Arctic Circle and take your photo standing in front of the sign. Just outside of Fairbanks is the old Gold Dredge #8, which is a tourist spot. You can tour the dredge and even pan for color.
First recommendation: mosquito juice. Lots of it. Inland, north Alaska (Fairbanks area) is horrible with mosquitos. I think it isn’t as bad in the city itself (as I recall), but just a few miles out, and you will find yourself in a cloud of these small vampires.
Head net would be recommended as well. They do affect your visibility, but if you’re going to spend any time outside (like just hanging out), well worth it.
IF you have the time, it is definitely worth the drive to go check out Denali. If you can, get a campground for at least a night (I believe if you line up early in the morning, they reserve some for “walk ins”). If not, I believe you can just ride the bus in/out. It is a long ride, but you cover a lot of ground and can see tons of wildlife from the bus. If there happens to be a good grizzly bear show right by the road, most of the drivers will stop so you can take pictures and enjoy (we sat and watched a mama nurse her 2 cubs for like 45 minutes !).
We attempted to drive the road (the part that is open to the public) north from Fairbanks up to the arctic circle. But we didn’t quite make it.
The road is not paved. It is gravel (not “dirt” per se), and very dusty because…
The road was made for the trucks heading up to Prudhoe Bay, and there are a LOT of these trucks on the road (and they don’t slow down for anything)
At the few stops we made for a break, the mosquitos were horrific. They even seemed to just laugh at the bug juice (full-on DEET, too)
You do get to see some nice scenery, and you get some good glimpses of the famous pipeline along the way. But it was not the most pleasant excursion.
Thanks so much for the suggestions! I apologize for not giving more details - I’m staying there for about 4 days (arriving and leaving at odd times, so that’s why I say ‘about’). It isn’t nearly the amount of time I’d LIKE to stay there, especially for what it costs to get there, but I started a new job this last October and don’t want to take a ton of time off my first summer there. Plus, hotel expenses really add up.
We were considering Denali, which sounds awesome - we’re just concerned about getting there, as his truck is fairly unreliable. I didn’t think about visiting the Arctic circle, nor did I even realize it was that close! I might have to bring that one up to him.
I also did NOT know about Skinny Dick’s… Holy shit, does that sound fun xD
Not that very many people have asked me, but I tend to recommend The Milepost. Even if you’re not traveling extensively, exploring the road maps around your home base may turn up a nugget or two worth looking into. In any case, I find the book fascinating in and of itself.
Thank you for the recommendation! Reminds me of two vacations - Disney World, and my first cruise - when I read books and articles about eeeeeverything I could possibly find out about my destinations. I’ve gotten out of that habit a bit as I’ve grown older, but it can be really, really helpful
With four days to kill, I’d make the bus ride into Denali a priority. You don’t have to go all the way in to Wonder Lake, but can take the shorter trip to the Eielson Visitors’ Center. It’s well worth the trip, especially if you have weather in your favor. I’d book the trip in advance, if possible. As for getting there, it’s a paved highway all the way from Fairbanks, with ample parking and shuttle service to the entrance center.
If the truck is in bad shape, you may want to skip the trip to the Arctic Circle. That road can be pretty rough. Parts of it are paved, but if you break down up there, getting your vehicle out can be ruinously expensive. Also, all the rental car companies forbid driving on that road (among others). I drove the entire road in a 28’ RV without any issues, but once you cross the Yukon River, there are no other services until you get to Prudhoe Bay.
Be aware that if you decide to visit Denali, your chances of actually seeing the mountain are not great. It is obscured by clouds a fair amount of the time. You will probably still have a great visit and see lots of wildlife (and plenty of spectacular scenery), but the peak itself is often covered in clouds. Here is an article on the subject.
That being said, on my only visit to the area we got lucky and the clouds had broken up by the time we got to Talkeetna. We were driving up from Wasilla and it was cloudy for most of the drive. Got some great photos and had a wonderful time.
Bummed to hear that road can be rough, but not super surprised. We might be able to borrow a friend and his truck, so if we do make the drive it’ll be in a reliable vehicle.
Thank you for the link! Glad to hear the clouds weren’t an issue for you! Lucky bastard, lol.
