A Weekend Getaway to Fairbanks, Alaska

From Anchorage to Fairbanks

Drive up to Fairbanks to see Alaska's 3rd largest city, and with hopes of seeing the Northern Lights (aurora borealis).

On the open road to Fairbanks, Alaska

On the drive up, the view of the mountains in the Talkeetna Mountain Range and the Alaska Range (Denali National Park) are amazing. Stop at the Alaska War Memorial and get some great drone footage. About an hour later, stop for gas and drinks. 

Seems no one else is going to Fairbanks and only a few people are going the opposite direction to Anchorage (maybe 30 other cars during the entire 360 mile trip). Most resorts, hotels, and restaurants are already closed for winter. Even some rest stop bathrooms closed.

Arrive in Fairbanks just before dark and check in the hotel. Then go out to eat at a Hibachi restaurant. The food is delicious and we eat with a nice couple from the area who give us the lowdown on living in Fairbanks; -30ºF in the winter??? No thank you! A cloudy night prevents us from seeing the Northern Lights.

Lookout at every angle

I should win a photography award for this one

Dronin' in action

Resort towns completely boarded up for winter

The majestic mountains of the Alaska Range

Visiting the North Pole

Really gray day. Breakfast in the hotel and then head to North Pole. Not the one on top of the planet, but rather a local city near Fairbanks that draws tourists with its "north pole" theme and decorated city. We go to Santa Claus house, which is a large gift shop that has everything Christmas related that you could think of, and that you wouldn't think of. Flying my drone around Antler Academy (where the reindeer are) and outside Santa Claus house, is attracting the attention of kids and the reindeer.

After leaving Santa Claus house, find the actual "North Pole" that they were supposed to take to the real north pole, but I guess it never made it... and it's not much to look at. Grab lunch and then go to hotel to relax a bit before a TRX workout. For dinner, I eat some reindeer sausage wrapped in bacon, which is amazing, and my dad orders an elk burger, which is pretty good. Tonight is even cloudier than last night, so no Northern Lights.

Anyone think of a good caption?

While Santa is away, it's time to be naughty!

Hey Rudolph, smile!

That's a big Santa

Merry Christmas! (So what if we're a few months early)

Rain, rain, go away

Breakfast at the hotel and then hit the road back to Anchorage. Rainy the whole day, and so many missed drone opportunities. Stop at Nenana Canyon for a brief walk in the rain, and then Denali National Park and Preserve.

Despite awful weather, the Murie Science and Learning Center (Denali's winter visitor center) has cool interactive areas to learn about local wildlife, plus a 20-minute video about the national park. 15 Chinese tourists are in the center with us, so I practice a bit of Chinese - successfully I might add! (All I said was "thank you" and "goodbye"). Wendy at the center is super helpful, go talk to her. 

Leaving the park, we see nice views of, now snow-covered, mountains. Stop at Denali View South (a rest stop) for spectacular views of clouds and overcastiness. About double the amount of cars on the road today from the first day. I see my first moose on the side of the highway, eating leaves. Ah, good times!

Rain won't stop us from checking out the park

Just moosin' my hair. No, nothing? Tough crowd. Anyway, it's a reindeer antler.

Nenana Canyon bridge, which I imagine normally offers great views of Denali

"Can you see it?"

Reality is harsh sometimes