I will have about a day and a half of free time on a work trip out to AK later this month. Any must do/see things? Never been to Alaska before. Thanks!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/At..._Springs_Alaska.html

I’d try to go to the hot springs, if not too far.


https://www.tripadvisor.com/Se...kRedirect=true&geo=1

Will you have transportation? What kind?

Tourist season pretty much ended last week, many tourist attractions and parks are now closed for the season.

Fairbanks has Lift, so getting around isn't too bad, but you aren't going out to Chena Hot Springs via Lift.

IN-TOWN stuff:

https://www.fountainheadmuseum.com/ (pretty good)
https://www.uaf.edu/museum/ (meh, was good with kids or if you're into AK native history. Exhibits vary and change)
https://pioneerair.museum/ (good, but small)

SEE ANIMALS:
https://www.alaska.org/detail/...mal-research-station
https://www.alaska.org/detail/...d-wildlife-sanctuary (If you're a photographer, this and the car museum are usually good for photos)

NORTH POLE stuff (if you have a car):
http://www.pagodanorthpole.com/ (1 of the top 3 Asian restaurants in Alaska.)
https://www.santaclaushouse.com/default.asp (tourists like this place)

NORTH of Fairbanks (if you have a car):
You're here during moose season, so keep that in mind. Also, we've already had our first touch of snow, and its sticking above 3,500' right now.

https://chenahotsprings.com/ (It takes 1- 1.5 hours to drive the the resort, depending on the time of year and type of vehicle. BIG frost heaves) The resort is overrated, the springs are gross, and everything costs a fortune. The food isn't good.
https://www.manleylodge.com/ (the drive is real, several hours. It's moose season, so there's going to be people everywhere. Don't just go hiking.
https://turtleclubfairbanks.com/ (my favorite place to eat near Fairbanks. DO make reservations)
https://www.alaska.org/detail/...a-pipeline-viewpoint (If you're driving, this is worth stopping by to see. It's close to town)

Big Daddy's BBQ. "The Northernmost Southern BBQ."

My brother and I went up to Fairbanks 9 years ago. He had heard about this place on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, so we had dinner there one night. It was excellent.

I lived in Anchorage for 5 years and the following 2 years went back to Alaska quarterly for business. Spent a bunch of time in Fairbanks at the oil & gas fab shops as well as for oil & gas project permitting.

Late September could be pretty wintery.

AKSuperDually's list is very good. Here two quick adders:

If you dine at Turtle Club (I'd recommend it), might as well take a 15 minute stop and see the world famous TransAlaska Pipeline. There is a viewing point 2.4 miles before you get to Turtle Club. 1671 Steese Hwy, Fairbanks, AK 99712

If you dine at Pagoda (I'd recommend it), might as well take a 2 minute stop and see the "candy canes" at Universal Welding and Fabrication. This is an oil & gas fab shop, and in the spirit of being in the North Pole they fabricated their gate entrance and parking spot markers from steel pipe painted like candy canes.

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Ego is the anesthesia that deadens the pain of stupidity

DISCLAIMER: These are the author's own personal views and do not represent the views of the author's employer.

Depending on when you're here and how the weather is, Denali National Park. Tourist season ends there September 14th. The buses will not be running and you drive your own vehicle to about mile 37 on the road inside the park. The fun stops with the first snowfall. If you go, stop at 49th State Brewery in Heely for dinner.

Lavelle's is downtown in Fairbanks and it is good, as in one of the best steaks I've ever had. Pumphouse is also good for food.

Chena Hot Springs is about an hour to hour and a half drive. They have a shuttle but it is ungodly expensive. Like the hot spring pool but the facilities are definitely lacking, Motel 6 level at best. But the drive back there is beautiful.

Northern Lights might be visible. There's several lodges around Fairbanks that specialize in Aurora viewing.

Excellent brewpub (Silver Gulch Brewing) in Fox, just north of Fairbanks.

Wish I could give better options but left the Fairbanks area in the fall of 1979 after 5 + years in the area.... Am sure that so many things have changed and hopefully for the better... If you have personal transportation and you have small children then I offer "Santa Clause House" , North Pole, Alaska..... Enjoy your time and try not to get overwhelmed about things to see and do.......drill sgt.

Thanks for the info everyone. I will have a rental vehicle so the drives shouldn’t present an issue depending on weather. As of right now temps are still pretty mild but I don’t really trust that more than a couple days out so I’ll pack something a bit warm. Would definitely like to see the Northern Lights if possible. The worksite is about 30 mins north of town so it should have a good dark sky for viewing if I can stay there late.

Weather is actually really nice this time of year, mosquitos should be at acceptable/tollerable levels, AKSuperDually can comment on that. His list things to do is pretty spot on. The attire in Squarebanks is Carhartt Casual.

Make sure your company's car insurance fully covers windshield replacements. Plenty of stones from road gravel get kicked-up and ruin windshields.

Most everyone goes shopping for household stuff, food stuff and damn near everything else including lunch at Fred Meyer.
I always stopped off at Prospector Outfitters and Big Ray's just to browse all the unique workwear, usually picked up a souvenir t-shirt/hat.

Solid places I'd eat at include, The Pump House for traditional AK food, Oasis for breakfast, DW Grill for best burgers, Bun of the Run for epic sandwiches and breakfast buns, and Lavelle's if you've got an expense account.

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Most everyone goes shopping for household stuff, food stuff and damn near everything else including lunch at Fred Meyer.

Not sure if the gun counter still exists, but when I lived in Anchorage you could buy a steak, a box of .44 magnum, and a dress shirt at Fred Meyer. Yes, I actually purchased that on a Friday night on the way home from work.

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Originally posted by triplebarrel:
Excellent brewpub (Silver Gulch Brewing) in Fox, just north of Fairbanks.

Covid kind of killed them off. They haven't been open the last couple of times I've been up there. Their location inside the Anchorage airport is still open, but they haven't been brewing their own beer.

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Originally posted by tatortodd:

quote:

Most everyone goes shopping for household stuff, food stuff and damn near everything else including lunch at Fred Meyer.

Not sure if the gun counter still exists, but when I lived in Anchorage you could buy a steak, a box of .44 magnum, and a dress shirt at Fred Meyer. Yes, I actually purchased that on a Friday night on the way home from work.

Fred Meyer no longer sells firearms. We do still have 3 Bears; the Alaska version of the ATF it's a convenience store not a government agency, a bottle of Jack, pack of smokes, loaf of bread and an AR-15 all in one stop.

Almost forgot, the Cookie Jar for breakfast absolutely rocks!

We appraised a proposed indoor shooting range last year up there, but I'm not sure they're open yet. We were up doing g a hotel and an assisted living home last month and it still wasn't opened. Silvergulch didn't survive COVID. There isn't a three bears in Fairbanks yet. Late September should see night Temps below freezing.

Mosquitos are nearly all gone, and black flies are over. Especially by late September. I've had good food at levelles and the cookie jar. I can't say the same for pump house, 2 bad experiences there out of 2. Cookie jar is just good in a place where good everywhere else is excellent. Service is rough because it's always a long wait and crowded. A bunch of the Fairbanks staple restaurants have seriously declined during and since chinaflu1. We used to love the food factory but it's awful now. Country Cafe in North Pole is a hidden gem.