Page 70 - Parks Highway Bearfoot

FAIRBANKS
DOWNTOWN FAIRBANKS
along the Chena River.
LONG, WARM FAIRBANKS DAYS
Fairbanks is often the warmest town in Alaska during the summer. Fairbanks is north of the Alaska Range, and the east-to-west mountains block cool ocean air from the south. The daylight hours in Fairbanks are also significant- ly longer than in Anchorage. So when you head up north to Fairbanks on the Parks Highway, the summer daylight hours will lengthen. For example, on July 19th, the sun is up for 19 hours, 40 minutes, and 20 seconds – in Fairbanks. But in Anchorage on the same day the sun is up for only 18 hours and 4 minutes.
Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year, is June 21st. In Fairbanks, the sun sets at 12:47 am, and promptly comes up again two hours later, at 2:57 am. You’ll notice that those two hours of “darkness” aren’t dark at all, but a twi- light, in which you’ll be able to walk around, drive, work, and even read outdoors without a flashlight. On June 21st, Fairbanks holds a traditional midnight sun baseball game. Without lights. In the winter, of course, it’s the other way round. Nights are long and days are short.
Hitting The Right Notes
Fairbanks musicians play all over town and most of their concerts are free. One great place to hear music is Pioneer Park, where musicians play regularly in the gazebo. There’s even classical music and jazz played in Fairbanks. Ask at the Morris Thompson Cultural Center. There’s a tradition of holding noon-time recitals and evening concerts in the University’s Fine Arts Building. Sometimes there’s Athabas- can fiddle music at the Cultural Center, too.
FIDDLING CLASS at the Cultural Center.
ACTIVE PLACES
MUSEUMS & ATTRACTIONS
Fairbanks Community Museum 535 Second Avenue #215 Sleds, posters, displays of historic Fairbanks life.
Pioneer Park 2300 Airport Way Free historic park. Cabins, shops, histor- ic homes, carousel. Great for families.
Pioneer Air Museum Located at Pioneer Park Lots of old planes & equipment. Must see for airplane buffs. Great volunteers.
Pioneer Museum Located at Pioneer Park Great place to meet “Pioneers.” Very interesting. Artifacts. Film. Paintings.
WIckersham House Located At Pioneer Park Restored home of Judge Wickersham of Alaska. First house in Fairbanks.
Riverboat Discovery 1975 Discovery Dr Fairbanks’ links to the Gold Rush & Yukon River come to life.
University of Alaska Fairbanks 907 Yukon Dr Cultural and music events, a museum and major science university.
Antique Auto Museum 212 Wedgewood Dr Museum of meticulously renovated an- tique cars. Large historic photos of cars on Alaska’s early roads.
Botanical Garden University of Alaska The Georgeson Garden at UAF shows what 22 hours of daylight can do for a cabbage.
Morris Thompson Information & Cultural Center, 101 Dunkel St This is where to go to get information about parks, public lands, & where to eat, sleep & have adventures while you are in Fairbanks.
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