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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Tourism Works for Fairbanks The success stories of your neighbors By Deb Hickok, President and CEO, Explore Fairbanks
Tourism is a bright spot in the Alaskan economy In these challenging times for the State of Alaska budget, tourism is strong. “And perhaps our greatest renewable resource is the majesty and allure of Alaska itself which draws nearly 2 million visitors annually. Our tourism industry creates nearly 50,000 jobs and has a direct economic impact of nearly $4 billion annually. This is a healthy and vital industry which showcases a dynamic partnership between private enterprise and state and local government, one that has the potential of limitless growth and contribution to our economic wellbeing.” Deb Hickok, President and CEO, Explore Fairbanks
- Governor Bill Walker, State of the State Address, Juneau, January 21, 2015
Entrepreneurialism is a entrepreneurs who originally en- a role in helping the community hallmark of the tourism industry. visioned a summer business have preserve its heritage for future All around Interior Alaska are expanded to showcase winter ofgenerations. Guests and locals families, friends and neighbors ferings and others are successful alike value impressive flower who make their living by hostas winter-only businesses. displays and are equally awed by ing highly-esteemed guests to ice sculptures in winter. communities from downtown Tourism contributes to FairFairbanks to Chena Hot Springs banksans’ quality of life Tourism operates in a comto Cleary Summit, North Pole to The successes of the local petitive and dynamic marketing Fox and Ester to Healy. tourism industry permeates the environment This issue of “Tourism Works fabric of life in the Fairbanks Explore Fairbanks works with for Fairbanks” features some of region. Local residents enjoy business partners locally, in the the businesses whose growth remore benefits because of visitor lower 48 and in key markets lies significantly from the tourism spending in the community— around the world to lure and industry as bring guests to well as local Fairbanks. As the “The future offers a few opportunities for residents. destination marketAlaska to sustain its economy. The tourism Whether a dog ing and manageindustry will continue to have a bright fumusher or tour ment organization ture as Alaska’s natural beauty will remain operator, for the region, with few parallels in the world. This is good restaurateur or Explore Fairbanks news for the hospitality industry.” store owner, plays an active role - Ashok K. Roy, vice president for finance and adtourism ministration/chief financial officer for the University in developing the provides System of Alaska and associate professor of business local economy. unparalleled administration at the University of Alaska at FairFrom marketing opportunities banks in a “Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Community to infrastructure Perspective,” January 11, 2015 for local development, entrepreneurs. results-driven A dream, a business plan and a activities—in tandem with those cultural activities and things to lot of sweat equity are all keys to of tour operators, cruise partners do, more options in air service, their successes. and many small businesses— more hotel meetings spaces are Tourism business owners, have contributed to on-going and just a few of perks of having an managers and employees demrecent successes. onstrate a passion for showcasing influx of guests in the commuExplore Fairbanks continues nity. Examples abound. Residents “Alaskan Grown” activities such to vigorously pursue internasavor restaurants and use meetas the Alaskan lifestyle, Alaska tional markets, including focus Native culture, live performances, ing and banquet spaces. Some on northern Europe, Germanpublicly-owned facilities, such as fine arts, products made from speaking Europe, United Pioneer Park, are supported by locally-harvested goods, or Kingdom, mainland China and tourists’ spending. Visitors’ apadventures from the Dalton to Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, New preciation of museums, historic hot springs. Over the years as Zealand and Australia. After sites and other attractions plays winter tourism has grown, some
receiving news of a significantly reduced charter flight schedule by Japan Airlines due to internal challenges, Explore Fairbanks is buoyed by recent airline announcements: China Airlines will bring three direct Taipei-to-Fairbanks charters in December; Alaska Airlines has new partnership agreements with China-based Hainan Airlines and European carrier Icelandair; Delta Airlines, which has an extensive network of connectivity to international markets, is now flying year-round Seattle to Fairbanks. It is important to note that market demand for Fairbanks is still strong in Japan and Explore Fairbanks is in discussions with other potential carriers. Other recent infrastructure improvements also benefit local residents. For example, capitalizing on the successes of marketing winter tourism to Fairbanks, the Alaska Railroad offered four mid-week arrival/ departures last March which has been increased to six in 2016. In other infrastructure development projects, Explore Fairbanks, in conjunction with FMATS and Festival Fairbanks, is helping to finalize plans for wayfinding signage on Cushman Street to be installed in spring 2016. This signage is hopefully the beginning of a coordinated communitywide signage system.
On-line and social media is becoming more and more important as travelers dream about, research, plan, book, experience and share their vacations. Explore Fairbanks destination video recently won two awards: the Silver Award in the Destination Videos category from the North American Travel Journalists Association and the 1st Place Award of Excellence for Video Material from the Public Relations Society of America–Alaska Chapter. Released in October 2014, the video has received high praise since it was uploaded to Explore Fairbanks’ You Tube and Facebook pages. To date, the video has more than 94,000 trackable views, additionally, it has been uploaded to more than 20 websites. With currently more than 102,000 “Likes,” the Explore Fairbanks Facebook page averages a growth of more than 1000 “Friends” per week. The www.explorefairbanks.com website annually hosts about ¼ million unique visitors. Explore Fairbanks anticipates a dramatic increase with the launch of a new responsive site planned for late 2016. Enjoy being a visitor in your own Town To help you to “buy local” as a visitor in your own backyard
and around Alaska, Explore Fairbanks’ information experts are available year-round to assist locals and visiting friends and relatives at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center in downtown Fairbanks. At the corner of Wendell and Dunkel streets, the center opens seven days a week with winter hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and summer from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Request a free copy of the 2016 Fairbanks Official Visitors Guide and 2015/2016 Winter Guide from Explore Fairbanks, by calling 1-800-327-5774 (voicemailonly available) or (907) 456-5774. Order or view the guides online and see a full schedule of events and activities at www.explorefairbanks.com. Explore Fairbanks is a nonprofit destination marketing and management organization whose mission is to be an economic driver in the Fairbanks region by marketing to potential visitors and optimizing the visitor experience. Explore Fairbanks markets Fairbanks as a year-round destination by promoting local events, attractions and activities to independent travelers, group tour operators, travel agents, meeting planners and the media.
Explore Fairbanks celebrates the 15th anniversary of Condor Airlines in Fairbanks which included a special welcome at the Fairbanks International Airport for arriving passengers on the July 16th Condor flight and a reception aboard the Riverboat Discovery II for Condor representatives and community members. Condor Airlines has expanded its summer 2016 season by adding two flights to Fairbanks for a total of 13 flights.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Explore the Fairbanks region—chockful of year-round fun from the comfort of a beautiful, well-appointed ship.
Fairbanks is a land of unparalleled natural beauty and cultural heritage, unlike anywhere else on the planet. Whether you are a visitor or a sourdough, the list of possibilities is never ending. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to enchant your mind and engage your senses. Get up, get out and explore the Fairbanks region. the year, with tours available in the summertime. Photo by Sherman Hogue/ Explore Fairbanks
t %VSJOH i"VSPSB 4FBTPOw GSPN August 21 through April 21 in Fairbanks, look up often to the evening sky for a chance to see mesmerizing, expansive curtains of light. t 'SFF CSPDIVSFT WJTJUPS BEWJDF films and an outstanding exhibit hall—all await you at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, your first stop for all things Interior and Arctic Alaska. While you are at the center ask about Alaska Native cultural programs. t /PSUIFSO "MBTLB 5PVS $PNpany offers extraordinary trips to extraordinary places. Cross the Arctic Circle, experience the wilderness, see the aurora borealis and go where few people have gone before. t ćF 6OJWFSTJUZ PG "MBTLB Fairbanks, founded in 1917, is the flagship campus of the University of Alaska system. UAF offers events and activities open during
t "XBLFO ZPVS JOOFS BSUJTU BU UIF Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. A multifaceted, week long, ode to arts of all kinds. Athabascan beading, jazz ensembles, Indian cuisine, Salsa dancing and more. The festival offers many workshops, classes and concerts. t *NBHJOF B RVFFO PO IFS UISPOF carved out of ice as dog teams race down the frozen Chena River. Since the 1930s, Fairbanks celebrates Winter Carnival via the arts, dog mushing and ice sculpting events.
t (FU VQ DMPTF BOE QFSTPOBM XJUI majestic northern animals. At Running Reindeer Ranch, you can stroll along with reindeer through the boreal forest.
the Chena, biking Farmers Loop or hiking Angel Rocks, Beaver Sports can outfit you for any adventure any time of the year.
t 'BJSCBOLT FNFSHFOU GPPE TDFOF is rife with international cuisine, home-grown produce and local flavors.
t 'BJSCBOLT FOE PG UIF SPBE location lures artists of all kinds. Paintings, ceramics and more are showcased the First Friday of every month when galleries and other hip places exhibit local artworks.
t "MM "CPBSE 5BLF B SJEF PO UIF first-rate Alaska Railroad. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the exceptional scenery. With added trains between Fairbanks and Anchorage in February and March, it’s easy to take a quick trip to discover all the shopping, entertainment and culture that Anchorage has to offer.
t .BEF JO "MBTLB QSPEVDUT BSF a specialty of the Alaska Feed Company where you can also stock up with the things you need to let your garden grow beneath the midnight sun.
t 4VNNPO UIF TQJSJUT BU 6STB Major, a new distillery just down the road in Ester. Ursa Major, the name means “great bear,� uses barley from Delta Junction to craft exceptionally smooth libations.
t #BOHLPL PS $IBOH .BJ Fairbanks is home to some of the best Thai food on the planet. Lemongrass, a local favorite, features delicious, often organic cuisine in a lovely venue.
t 5SZ GPS B IPMF JO POF‰BU POF a.m. Fairbanks’ midnight sun allows for ‘round-the-clock golf at local courses where fox are known to steal balls and moose sightings are common.
t &OKPZ UIF CFBVUZ PG JDF BU BO JDF museum, at a local ice sculpting competition or an artistic outdoor display.
t (FU PVU BOE FOKPZ UIF HSFBU PVUdoors! Whether you are floating
t ćF CFTU LFQU TFDSFU PG "MBTLBO fishing is the Arctic grayling. Throughout the Interior, fly in to a close-yet-remote lake or head to a local fishing hole.
t 7JTJU UIF DJUZ PG /PSUI 1PMF XIFSF the spirit of Christmas lives year ‘round. t ćF BSDIJUFDUVSF PG UIF 6OJWFSTJUZ of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks drew its inspiration from the far north landscape, reminiscent of glaciers, whales and mountain crevasses. t ćF FWFSMBTUJOH OPSUIFSO TVOshine creates amazing growth in summer. Find succulent produce along with local arts, crafts, jewelry, gifts and more at Fairbanks’ farmers markets.
t "MBTLB DSVJTF WBDBUJPOT PÄŒFS both remarkable scenery and indulgent relaxation. Inside Passage cruises afford picturesque views
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head out of town to enjoy a delicious meal. Excellent restaurants like The Turtle Club in Fox offer a great way to take a little vacation without going too far. t $ZDMJTUT PG BMM BHFT BOE BCJMJUJFT can find a mixture of great rides in Alaska. Many areas have convenient bike paths around town and great trails in the surrounding areas. t "MBTLB JT XJME TDFOJD BOE BDDFTsible. Whether sleeping under the stars or parking a RV for the night, private and public campgrounds accommodate outdoor enthusiasts. t 8IP MFU UIF EPHT PVU *O *OUFSJPS Alaska, the sport of dog mushing reigns supreme. Watch as a spectator or mush your own team at Paws for Adventure, one of several local operators. t 'BJSCBOLT IBT TPNF PG UIF CFTU trails and conditions for crosscountry skiing in the world. Or, you can hit the slopes at one of three downhill ski options. t 'BJSCBOLT IJTUPSJD UIFNFE 1JPneer Park has museums, shopping, food, picnic areas, playgrounds, train rides, an art gallery, a salmon bake and evening entertainment. t 8JUI NBOZ PQUJPOT GSPN UPVS operators, flightseeing in Alaska gives you a bird’s eye view of incredible natural surroundings. t &OKPZ B SFMBYJOH TPBL JO B IPU spring. Just 60 scenic miles from Fairbanks, the beautiful yet rustic Chena Hot Springs is easily accessible and sure to please. t /PU POMZ DBS BĕDJPOBEPT SFWFM JO the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum’s more than 70 histor-
ically-significant, meticulouslypreserved automobiles produced in the U.S. prior to World War II. t %JTDPWFS HPME CZ WJTJUJOH UIF university museum’s gold display, visiting a local jeweler or try striking it rich by gold panning with the Gold Daughters off the Old Steese Highway on the way to Fox. Warning: the only cure for gold fever is more gold. t 4QFOE RVBMJUZ UJNF XJUI ZPVS children by taking them to a local museum or enjoy one of the many entertaining and educational youth activities around town. t %VSJOH UIF i5BTUF PG "MBTLB Program,â€? Athabascan artist and chef Dixie Alexander says, “While my guests are enjoying their soup, I explain to them how we show respect for the animal by using all of its parts.â€? t 5BLF UIF USFL OPSUI BCPWF UIF Arctic Circle to experience a solitude and starkness that stirs the soul. As the night sky advances, watch for the aurora borealis. Phew. Go explore the Golden Heart City‌. the never ending list of amazing Alaskan adventures awaits you.
Photo by Karen Clautice/Ice Alaska
Fairbanks Tourism At-A-Glance Summer tourism is the mainstay of the Fairbanks area
s s s s s s
&AIRBANKS RANKS TH IN !LASKA WITH VISITORS &AIRBANKS RANKS RD IN OVERNIGHT VISITATION FOLLOWING !NCHORAGE AND $ENALI ARE ON CRUISE LAND TOURS ARE NON CRUISE WITH TRAVELING BY AIR AND BY HIGHWAY FERRY ARE INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS 4HE MOST POPULAR ACTIVITIES AMONG &AIRBANKS VISITORS WERE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES WITH PARTICIPATING IN COMPARISON WITH STATEWIDE
4HESE VISITORS IN &AIRBANKS SPENT AN AVERAGE PER PERSON IN THE COMMUNITY FOR A TOTAL OF MILLION IN DIRECT EXPENDITURES THIS lGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE INDIRECT SPENDING OR MULTIPLIERS Source: Alaska Visitor Statistics Program, Summer 2011*
7INTER TOURISM ALSO KNOWN AS THE hOPPORTUNITY SEASON v SHOWS STEADY GROWTH PRE DURING AND POST RECESSION
s s s s s s
&AIRBANKS RANKS ND IN !LASKA WITH OF THE TOTAL OVERNIGHT VISITORS &AIRBANKS HAD A GAIN IN VACATION PLEASURE TRAVELERS THE LARGEST GAIN OF VACATION PLEASURE TRAVELERS IN !LASKA 6ACATION PLEASURE TRAVELERS WERE MUCH MORE LIKELY TO VISIT THE )NTERIOR AND &AIRBANKS CAME BY AIR &AIRBANKS WAS THE MOST VISITED COMMUNITY AMONG FALL WINTER INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
ATTRACTING OF THE TOTAL INTERNATIONAL MARKET AND OF THE *APANESE MARKET !VERAGE EXPENDITURES PER PERSON PER TRIP IS WITH INTERNATIONAL VISITORS SPENDING AND *APANESE SPECIlCALLY SPENDING
4HESE VISITORS IN &AIRBANKS TOTALED NEARLY MILLION IN DIRECT EXPENDITURES THIS lGURE DOES NOT INCLUDE INDIRECT SPENDING OR MULTIPLIERS
Source: Alaska Visitor Statistics Program,Winter 2011-2012* *Alaska Visitor Statistics Program is prepared by the McDowell Group for the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Look what’s HOT at Chena Hot Springs Resort visitors from all over the world and driving the dog sled), or the Ice Sculpting Extravaganza with World Champion and Winter Olympics ice carvers. Lessons are provided yearround inside the Aurora Ice Museum, which stays frozen at 25F degrees from using the hot springs. Have your own work of ice art left in the ice museum for others to enjoy after you leave. Thirty miles off the grid, the entire resort is powered by its hot springs technology. Free energy tours are provided daily starting at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. inside the Activity Center. Be sure to sign up at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the tour at the desk. You will learn
how the resort keeps the heat and lights on. It also includes a visit to the year-round 75F degree greenhouse. Fresh lettuce and tomatoes are grown for use in the restaurant and provide the 55 year-round employees with delicious, fresh salads daily. Alaska Residents and Military ID holders can enjoy a special rate throughout the year (some restrictions apply). Since the resort is slower in the summer check the website for discount specials starting in April. The resort includes 80 lodge rooms, a full service restaurant and bar, and the Activity Center where you can book additional activities during your stay. Relax in the Aurora CafĂŠ
The aurora shines brightly over Chena Hot Springs Resort.
with a variety of snacks and specialty coffees and a great place to wait for your next activity to start. The Pool House is open daily from 7 a.m. to
Photo by Yasuo Takeda
midnight to enjoy a soak in the natural outdoor Rock Lake (adults 18+) or the indoor family pool and hot tubs. For more information
about the resort, check out chenahotsprings.com. See you soon at Chena Hot Springs Resort.
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Located 60 scenic miles northeast from downtown Fairbanks, it’s easy to bring family and visitors or enjoy a quiet romantic getaway at Alaska’s only yearround 100+ year-old rustic hot springs resort. Over 1940 acres of beautiful wilderness enhance your overnight or day trip experience. A variety of packages (most include van service to/from the Fairbanks airport) are available to pre-book by calling (907) 451-8104. Some of the best sellers are the Aurora Odyssey bringing you Northern Lights viewing with snow coach tours, the Dog Musher’s Apprentice (learn everything from scooping poop, caring for the dogs, greeting
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Bringing home the meeting Meeting attendees are an important piece of the total visitor industry economic impact in the Fairbanks region. The peak months for meetings in Fairbanks generally occur in March and October, helping to supplement the summer and winter visitor seasons and encouraging year-round visitation to Fairbanks. According to Explore Fairbanks Director of Meetings and Conventions Helen Renfrew, the Estimated Direct Attendee Spending for meeting attendees in Fairbanks during the last three-and-ahalf years has exceeded $27.5 million. Those are new dollars injected into the Fairbanks economy by meeting attendees from out of town. More than $15.4 million of those new dollars were the result of meetings that were invited to Fairbanks by a local resident—a Golden Heart Meeting Ambassador. These meeting ambassadors are com-
munity members who persuade their association or organization to have a meeting or event in Fairbanks. They often work with a locally-based volunteer planning committee in order to make sure that the meeting is a success. The Explore Fairbanks Meetings and Conventions Department works with community members who become Golden Heart Meeting Ambassadors by bringing their meetings home. Assistance is provided from the beginning of the request for proposal (RFP) stage to all the way through to the meeting’s conclusion. The experienced and professional staff can make inviting your group to meet in Fairbanks easier by contacting accommodations providers and meeting facilities, preparing bid documents and presentations, helping to promote the Fairbanks-based meeting, and providing volunteers to help with bag stuffing, registration
and an information table during the meeting or event. They are also available to answer questions and provide planning suggestions. The department also enlists the support of Explore Fairbanks Golden Heart Greeter volunteers, a cadre of dedicated individuals who donate their time to assist the meeting ambassador in preparing for, greeting and providing in-person information to meeting attendees. Over the next year Fairbanks will host a number of statewide, national, and international meetings. The Alaska Fire Chiefs Association, Pioneers of Alaska, Alaska School Nurses Association, Republican Party of Alaska, Alaska Library Association, and Alaska Miners Association are all statewide meetings that will be rotating back to Fairbanks in 2016. In February we will welcome the U.S. Women’s Curling National Bonspiel. Over spring break in March, Arctic Summit Science week and the Arctic Council’s Senior Arctic Officials meeting
The Explore Fairbanks Annual Golden Heart Gala honors Golden Heart Meeting Ambassadors and Golden Heart Greeter volunteers. In February, the 24 meeting ambassadors accounted for more than 3,100 room nights and brought more than $4.67 million in Estimated Economic Impact—which includes Arctic Winter Games—to the Fairbanks economy in 2014. Pictured is the volunteer greeters who assisted with 18 conventions, community events, and personal greets to rack up 179 hours of donated service in 2014.
will occur for the first time ever in the same location, bringing more than 700 arctic scientists and policymakers together to share information and dialogue. In October, Fairbanks will once again host the First Alaskans Institute Elders and Youth Conference and the Alaska Federation of Natives Annual Convention. Meetings already booked for Fairbanks in 2016 will contribute almost $8 million to our local economy. Meeting infrastructure in Fairbanks includes hotels, resorts
and lodges providing experiences from urban to rustic, formal to casual. Within the Fairbanks metropolitan area, the four largest venues with accommodations have almost 39,000 square feet of combined meeting space and more than 1,000 guest rooms. These spaces serve as examples of the meeting and event facilities in Fairbanks. Fairbanks also offers professional conference services, a variety of local cuisine options and extraordinary activities like aurora viewing, and cultural
and artistic offerings. A full listing of local facilities and services are found in the “Explore Fairbanks Meeting Planner Guide.“ The Meetings and Conventions team at Explore Fairbanks offers an array of resources to support meeting planners. Call 459-3765 or 459-3768 to request assistance and a complimentary meeting planner guide or visit www. meetfairbanks.com to view an electronic copy of the guide and an online meeting Request for Proposal form.
Thank you 2014 Golden Heart Meeting Ambassadors!
www.meetfairbanks.com
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Explore Fairbanks honored 24 community members who brought 19 meetings with an estimated economic impact of more than $4.6 million home to Fairbanks in 2014. Conferences, conventions and meetings are economic generators for our community. Call Explore Fairbanks at 459-3765 and learn how you can become a Golden Heart Meeting Ambassador.
Pictured: Back row - Meeting Ambassadors Mark Huffington, Amanda Huff, Presenter Mayor John Eberhart (City of Fairbanks), Meeting Ambassadors Melissa Prince, Steve Seefeldt, Jason Avery, Pat Thayer, Karen Lane, Jeff Jacobson, Will Peterson. Front row – Meeting Ambassadors Barbara Nore, Brooke Zellweger, Cherie Solie, Linda Witt (accepting on behalf of Meeting Ambassador Jennifer Schmidt), Meeting Ambassador Heidi Collins. Not pictured: Mike Bork, Rene Broker, Paul Ewers, Karl Gohlke, Carmen Kloepfer, Denise Newman, Yumi McCulloch, Nanette Pineault, Amy Samuel, Jennifer Schmidt, Sherry Witt.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
UA Museum of the North offers year-round attraction
Visitors explore the museum’s special exhibit “Expedition Alaska: Dinosaurs” during Homeschool Day, an annual event in October sponsored by Flint Hills Resources Alaska. Photo by Theresa Bakker
Like many attractions in Alaska, the University of Alaska Museum of the North receives most of its visitors in the summer. More than 80% of the 85,000+ people who come to the museum each year visit during the tight window between June 1 and August 31. But now, more people are discovering the museum is a place to explore year round, whether you are visiting Fairbanks in the “off
season” or are lucky enough to live here. There are a variety of ways to experience the museum’s 1.5 million artifacts, specimens and other treasures. Thousands of school children take a docentled Directed Discovery field trip each year to learn about the art, culture, history and wildlife of Alaska, thanks to support from Flint Hills Resources Alaska. Hundreds
of families also participate in hands-on activities celebrating a different theme each month, including Early Explorer and Junior Curator programs, as well as the popular Family Day series supported by Saltchuk. The University of Alaska Fairbanks campus and other community members have recently discovered the public lobby space, where you can grab coffee, snacks and salads at the Alaska Coffee Roasting Co.’s Museum Café, shop in the Museum Store or enjoy a view of the Alaska Range at window-front seating. Another exciting opportunity is coming this winter as part of the special exhibit “Expedition Alaska: Dinosaurs,” which tells the story of Alaska during the Age of Dinosaurs, featuring actual fossils and activities designed to help visitors experience the science of paleontology. The museum is finalizing
the design and installation of several life-sized dinosaur skeletons, a trio of juvenile hadrosaurs known as Ugrunaaluk kukpikensis. These mounts will be a first for the state, dinosaur skeletons on display depicting species that actually lived in Alaska. This brand new species was recently discovered by scientists studying thousands of dinosaur bones from the museum’s collection. The mounts will be arranged in front of “Arctic Hadrosaurs,” an original painting by James Havens that covers an entire wall and illustrates a herd of the giant plant-eaters grazing during the Cretaceous Period more than 69 million years ago. The museum also plays an important role in the mission of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, teaching college students in eight academic departments across four schools and colleges.
Curators hold joint faculty appointments with UAF academic units. They advise undergraduate and graduate students, as well as postdoctoral researchers. And the museum employs scores of students in its education, exhibits, research and visitor services departments. Another opportunity is a military appreciation program
sponsored by Wells Fargo. For the third year in a row, active duty Alaska-based military personnel and their families get free admission to the museum. That, along with a membership program, is helping to expand the reach of its mission to preserve the state’s artifacts, offer research opportunities and educate the public.
This original painting by James Havens of Ugrunaaluk kuukpikensis, a new species of duck-billed dinosaur, illustrates a scene from ancient Alaska during the Cretaceous Period. Graphic by James Havens
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
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Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival – awaken your inner artist this July The Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival offers workshops for adults and concerts for all from July 17 through 31, 2016. These workshops, in all art forms, range from two hours to two weeks long. All skill levels welcome, especially absolute beginners. Festival encourages personal growth and art appreciation regardless of the level of accomplishment. The Festival presents everyone an outlet to awaken their inner artist and give voice to their passions. You are invited to enjoy Festival with over 220 workshops and 100 performances held at more than 20 locations all over Fairbanks in music, visual arts, dance, writing, theatre, healing arts and culinary arts. There is sure to be something for everyone. Festival provides opportunities to study and perform with
internationally acclaimed artists in various settings at free lunchtime concerts and full evening performances. Participants can stay for one concert, a mini-workshop or for the full two weeks. FSAF offers a variety of Wilderness Workshops, intensives in poetry, comedy, watercolor, and more, for registrants to study in unique and beautiful places in nature such as Tonglen Lake Lodge in Healy, Chena Hot Springs, or a floating camp outside of Ketchikan. FSAF also offers a two-week composing intensive, Composing in the Wilderness, in collaboration with Alaska Geographic, culminating in the “Sounds of Nature” performance, where the FSAF New Music Ensemble debuts the composers’ pieces at Denali Visitors’ Center on
July 27 and the Davis Concert Hall, UAF on Monday, July 25 at 8 p.m. The Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival is truly a “one of a kind” event, named as one of the “Top 100 Events in North America for 2015” by the American Bus Association. “The attractiveness of the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival as a don’t-miss entertainment value is only part of why its selection this year is such a distinction for Fairbanks, Alaska,” said Peter J. Pantuso, CTIS, ABA’s president and CEO. Visitors might catch FSAF artists in other communities around the state including Denali National Park, Kenny Lake, Delta, Ketchikan, Skagway, Cantwell, Anderson, Fox, Hooper Bay, Tanana, Trapper Creek, and Healy, awakening inner artists throughout the state by bringing artists to
Members of New Music Ensemble perform at UAF Georgeson Botanical Garden during the 2015 Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival. Photo by Todd Paris
geographically underserved communities. Local events have included Festival artists at Silver Gulch, Pioneer Park, The Blue Loon Venue, Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center and the Pump House, as well as some slightly
more unusual locations like the Large Animal Research Station and Fairbanks International Airport. Join Festival this winter for an unforgettable evening of music and dancing at the Motown Cabaret Fundraiser
on February 26 at 8 p.m. and Festival’s Gospel Choir Concert on February 28 at 4 p.m. For more information contact the Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival at (907)-474-8869, info@fsaf.org or visit the website www.fsaf.org.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Visitor industry sponsored walk raises money for local charities
Be a Golden Heart Greeter 4HE %XPLORE &AIRBANKS 'OLDEN (EART 'REETER VOLUNTEER PROGRAM ENLISTS A CADRE OF DEDICATED INDIVIDUALS WHO DONATE THEIR TIME TO HELP MAKE GUESTS TO &AIRBANKS FEEL AT HOME 4HEY EMBODY THE RENOWNED h'OLDEN (EART #ITYv HOSPITALITY OF THE &AIRBANKS AREA 'REETERS SOMETIMES SIT DOWN WITH A VISITOR FOR A ONE ON ONE CHAT ABOUT THE INTERESTS AND HOB BIES THEY HAVE IN COMMON AND HOW THEY RELATE TO &AIRBANKS 'REETERS PARTICIPATE IN MANY WELCOMING ACTIVITIES 4HEY OFTEN SHARE INFORMATION AT CONVENTIONS AND SPORT TOURNAMENTS OFFER A HELPING HAND TO ORGANIZATIONS DURING MEETING REGISTRA TIONS OR A SMILING FACE TO CONVENTIONEERS ENTERING AN EVENT STUFF DELEGATE BAGS AND TAKE TICKETS FROM EVENT ATTENDEES 7ITH &AIRBANKS HOSTING MORE THAN ARCTIC SCIENTISTS AND POLICYMAKERS IN -ARCH AND THE TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE !LASKA &EDERATION OF .ATIVES #ONVENTION IN /CTOBER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES ARE PLENTIFUL IN AT THESE AND OTHER EVENTS AND CONFERENCES 4HE ONLY REQUIREMENTS TO BE A GREETER ARE A PASSION FOR &AIRBANKS WILLINGNESS TO DONATE TIME AND PARTICIPATION IN TRAINING PROVIDED BY THE PROGRAM )NTERESTED IN BECOMING A 'OLDEN (EART 'REETER #ONTACT %XPLORE &AIRBANKS AT
The local visitor industry plans, promotes and executes the Fairbanks Visitor Industry Charity Walk to benefit Alaska-based nonprofit 501(c) (3) charitable organizations. Also known as the “Graze to Raise,� a distinguishing feature of the walk is that participants leisurely stroll while enjoying visitor industry sponsored food and entertainment along the way. The walk winds through downtown, starting in the parking lot next to the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and ending at the “Celebration Station� at the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Coordinated by Explore Fairbanks and the ATIAFairbanks Chapter, the 13th Visitor Industry Walk for Charity was held in Fairbanks on Friday, May 8. Hosting more than 600 walkers, this 2015 event raised more than $19,000 for 44 charities. Since
its inception, the Fairbanks walks have generated a total of nearly $315,000 for local nonprofits in the Fairbanks region, including Denali. The Alaska Visitor Industry Charity Walk began in 2000 in Anchorage under the auspices of Alaska Travel Industry Association, the local ATIA chapter and Visit Anchorage. ATIA took the leadership in forming this event to raise monies for charities as another way for the travel industry to give back to Alaskan communities. The first walk in Fairbanks followed in 2001. In Anchorage, the 2015 event drew a crowd of 1,405 people who raised in excess of $46,000 for almost 60 local nonprofits. The Anchorage walk winds through downtown and ends with a carnival-like finish at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center. Each year in both Fairbanks
The 13th Annual Fairbanks Visitor Industry Walk for Charity held in May raises money for local charities while participants graze along the way. Since its inception, the Charity Walk has raised nearly $315,000.
and Anchorage, numerous visitor industry businesses provide both cash and in-kind support such as food booths, door prizes, entertainment as well as volunteers in the planning for and hosting the evening walk. The 2014 and 2015 walks in both cities were financially sponsored by the
Alaska Cruise Association/ Cruise Lines International Association-Alaska Chapter and the Alaska Travel Industry Association Foundation. The next walks in Fairbanks and Anchorage will be held on the evening of Friday, May 13, 2016.
Recent shout outs about Fairbanks from the travel media “Enjoying Fairbanks need not be a solitary pursuit and my winter excursion to the hot springs revealed a social enclave in which casual conversation invariably turned to the sky above, lined by greenish wisps that waved across the Milky Way like sheer curtains – the aurora borealis, an effect of electrically charged solar particles striking gases in the farnorthern atmosphere.â€? n %RIC ,UCAS !LASKA !IRLINES -AGAZINE /CTOBER “It helps Fairbanks has an extensive history with the sport. The 1000-mile Yukon Quest International Sled Dog Race, considered by some to be even more rugged than the Iditarod, alternates its start and ďŹ nish each year between Fairbanks and Whitehorse,Yukon Territory, Canada. Fairbanks also plays host to many sled dog sprint races throughout the year, and hosted the Iditarod start in 2003, another lowsnow year. ‘Fairbanks is dog mushing. It’s more than a sport here, it’s a lifestyle,’ said Deb Hickok, president of Explore Fairbanks.â€? n -ARK 4HIESSEN !SSOCIATED 0RESS h&AIRBANKS PROVIDES SNOWY BACKGROUND FOR START OF THE )DITARODv IN 5 3 .EWS AND 7ORLD 2EPORT -ARCH
“This month’s visitors to Fairbanks will want to view ice sculptures that have been carved for the World Ice Art Championships. More than 70 ice sculptors from around the world are participating.â€? n *AY *ONES h!LASKA 3PARSE SNOW FORCES START TO )DITAROD TO &AIRBANKSv IN ,OS !NGELES 4IMES -ARCH “I was beyond wowed by its grand and intimate beauty. I saw the northern lights for the ďŹ rst time and literally teared up – huge green and violet curtains pulsating and swirling across the sky. I couldn’t believe how vibrant and fast they were. Saw three moose, endless tracts of golden forest, and then this, the alpine tundra alive with color during the slim window of fall. In love.â€? n +ATE 3IBER 4RAVEL 7RITER "LOG 3EPTEMBER “A huge thank you to the wonderful people of Fairbanks for their incredible hospitality. I had an amazing adventure there, discovering one of the most beautiful parts of the world. I am deďŹ nitely putting Alaska on my list of places to visit in the near future.â€? n 2EUBEN -OURAD !USTRALIAN 4RAVEL 7RITER 4ELEVISION 0ERSONALITY -ARCH
Photo by Angie Cerny/Explore Fairbanks “Uninhabited wilderness has a unique pull on human beings, particularly today in a world where we seem to be never truly alone.Wild Jack London fantasies itted through my head as we encroached further onto the desolate bush.â€? n *O 0IAZZA 9AHOO 4RAVEL &EBRUARY “A mind-boggling array of exhibits helps tell Alaska’s story – its culture, its history and its wildlife. Photos, artefacts, wood and ivory carvings help visitors discover 2,000 years of Alaskan art. â€? n -ARK .ICHOLS !IRPORTS OF THE 7ORLD
3EPTEMBER /CTOBER
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Turtle Club is a popular dining spot for locals and visitors
Greta Lindley, Owner, Turtle Club Photo courtesy of Daily News-Miner
The Turtle Club, located just outside of Fairbanks in the community of Fox, is known for its exceptional food, great service and relaxed ambiance. Their “rustic fine dining” has never been a secret to locals, but newcomers and visitors are also discovering this hidden gem just off the beaten path. Fox is home to just over 400 people and has a rich
mining history that is reflected in the décor of the restaurant and menu which offers a Gold Nugget Plate, featuring delicious prawns, and the famous Miner’s Cut of prime rib. Many people come out primarily to see Greta Lindley, owner of the Turtle Club for over 35 years. Known as the Matriarch of Fox, she graciously welcomes everyone. Greta recently received the Alaska Cabaret, Hotel, Restaurant and Retailers Association Lifetime Achievement Award—only the second recipient ever. Greta says, “When a customer walks into our restaurant, we expect them to get the very best service, the very best food and a friendly atmosphere.” Intricately and
painstakingly created by their world-class chef, the Turtle Club menu reflects a variety of flavors and ensures that your dining experience is first-class every time. That explains why they’ve been a staple in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner Reader’s Choice for Best Steak/Prime Rib, Seafood, Salad Bar & Desserts since 2003. There are many excellent appetizer options to start off your evening. How about coconut shrimp, escargot, halibut or maybe their famous Turtle Tails—cream cheese stuffed jalapenos fried in beer batter. Next up is your main course with choices including lobster, Alaskan king crab legs or sautéed prawns. Of course, the Turtle Club is famous for their prime rib and offer
everything from a 10 to 12 ounce Foxy Cut all the way up to the afore mentioned Miner’s Cut, weighing in at a hefty 20 to 24 ounces of mouthwatering prime rib. All dinners include a “feast of freshness” salad bar, baked potato or rice pilaf and a
zinfandels and chardonnay house wines, as well as a variety of wine by the glass or bottle, a full selection of cocktails and an assortment of beer. Whether you’re looking for a romantic night out, celebrating a milestone,
Fox is home to just over 400 people and has a rich mining history that is reflected in the décor of the restaurant and menu which offers a Gold Nugget Plate, featuring delicious prawns, and the famous Miner’s Cut of prime rib. delicious loaf of homemade bread. As for libations to complement your dining experience, the Turtle Club proudly offers cabernets,
entertaining out of town guests, hanging out with old friends or making new ones, the Turtle Club specializes in making your dining experience unforgettable.
Their chef serves up only the best and freshest dishes and their staff makes sure it reaches your table in style. Open seven days a week for your pleasure, with seating starting at 6, 7:30, and 9 p.m. Parties of any size are always welcome, especially during the holidays. In addition to the gold pans and pick axes, be sure to notice the eclectic turtle collection—showcasing turtles from all over the world! Reservations are requested, particularly in summer. Call now to reserve your table at (907) 457-3883. Let them give you a night you won’t soon forget.
Beaver Sports is a Fairbanks tradition When vacationing here in our beautiful Golden Heart City, sometimes you just need “stuff.” Whether you are a tourist here to see the Northern Lights, a sportsman on the hunt of a lifetime, or an athlete looking to take things to the next extreme, Beaver Sports has the clothing and equipment to make your visit comfortable and enjoyable. Beaver Sports is a Fairbanks tradition. Even if you remembered to bring every single little thing from home (and got it successfully on the plane through TSA), a stop here at the store is worth it. Beaver Sports has unique brands and colors you won’t find anywhere else, in true Fairbanksan style. According to Greg Whisenhant, the store’s
owner, “We found the burliest cold-weather technical gear you usually can’t even get in the lower 48 and gathered it all in one place for easy outfitting.” He added, “We live here. We know the climate. We play outside. We’re active in our vibrant community. We know where to send you for the best hiking, skiing, borealis viewing, racing, scenic photography, you name it. And we have rental equipment if you’d like to sample a little bit of the fun. We’ll get you outfitted properly to enjoy whatever you’re here to experience.” Beaver Sports is a locally owned and operated sporting goods business, established and growing since 1972. The store is housed in an interesting
loft-style building on College Road, near the University (and north of Santa), that was designed and built by the business’ founder, Jim Whisenhant, a former coach of the Lathrop High School Cross Country Team. Jim’s son, Greg, carries on the tradition, managing the business and coaching cross country and track for another local team, West Valley High School. The staff is composed of active folks who truly appreciate a good frigid winter and the long, sunlight-filled days of summer. They bike year round. According to Lee Petersen, Manager of the Camping, Climbing, and Travel Department, “We live and breathe the gear and apparel we sell. You’ll
Photo by Lee Petersen www.lwpetersen.com
find us in the National Parks, Recreation Areas, and local trails right behind the store in all seasons, hiking, climbing, skiing, hunting, fishing. And we’re passionate
about sharing our love for this place so that you can have the best experience possible for as long as you’re here.” Whisenhant extended an invitation on behalf of the staff, “Come
in for a visit and leave an insider in the know. Welcome to the great outdoors in Fairbanks. Welcome to Beaver Sports.”
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Gather moments, rather than things— get out and play with the Paws crew
Lemongrass bringing authentic cuisine from Chiang Mai,Thailand, to Fairbanks
Leslie Goodwin-Williams and her husband Dave Williams have lived in Fairbanks for over 20 years and own Paws for Adventure Sled Dog Kennel and Tolovana Roadhouse. Paws for Adventure tour options include 30-minute and one-hour dogsled rides. For the more adventurous, learn to drive a team in the threehour Mushing School or on one of the Multi-Day Expeditions to Tolovana Roadhouse. Goodwin-Williams said, “Sled dogs became part of my life soon after I moved to Alaska in 1993. After teaching elementary school in the bush and learning about a life very different from southwestern Virginia where I grew up, I was hooked on living out of the mainstream in beautiful Alaska and on a lifestyle where I relied more on myself rather than modern convenience.” She added, “If your life endeavor is guided by a desire to gather moments, rather than things, possibilities
The Navachai family has been dedicated to serving Fairbanks with fresh, healthy and authentic Thai cuisine since 1996. Family member Natt Navachai said, “We welcome you to Lemongrass with our extensive menu that we hope offers something to satisfy everyone’s tastes.” He added that harmony is the guiding principle behind each dish and advised that a diner should indicate to the waitserver what spicy level he or she desires. “We use wild caught Alaskan halibut, scallops and other Alaskan seafood, such as snow crab and side-stripe shrimp, whenever available which helps support the state economy,” noted Navachai. “Alaskan seafood is also pure and natural. Whether with red curry or stir-fry with fresh ginger, Alaskan seafood when combined with our Thai cooking style is a must try.”
The crew at Paws for Adventure, with nearly 20 years of experience in mushing and winter adventure, shares special moments with many hometown, domestic, and international visitors.
become endless and sometimes that fever is contagious.” The dog musher was quick to note that Paws for Adventure’s success is also due to their professional Alaskan guides who “have their own stories of adventure, race experience and business ownership plus dedication to guest safety, education and entertainment.” She also credited their “beautiful, hard-working but sweet canine athletes with
determination and grit beyond your average ‘tour’ team.” She added, “We honestly ‘do what we love and love what we do’ which sounds way more cliché today than when I chose the saying as my advertising slogan many years ago, but I still can’t find any better expression.” For more information on Paws for Adventure, go to www. pawsforadventure.com or call (907) 378-3630.
Alaska Feed specializes in Made in Alaska
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The Navachai family serves up authentic Thai dishes with an Alaskan flair at Lemongrass restaurant.
Another signature feature of Lemongrass is an exotic blend of Thai cuisine made with the freshest ingredients, hand selected by their chefs from Alaska Grown, local organic farms. Navachai further explained, “Our vegetarian dishes are robust with amazing flavors and sure to please. Just mention vegan only to our servers
and enjoy the freshness and crunchiness.” The restaurant’s seasonal menus include Pumpkin, Alaskan Summer and New Year specialties. Lemongrass, near the intersection of Old Chena Pump and Chena Ridge roads, is open Monday through Saturday for lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and dinner from 5 to 10 p.m.
Alaska Feed Company is a local business that was founded in 1959 and has been owned and operated by the Underwood family since 1979. As the owners of this multigenerational store, Jon and David Underwood understand the challenges of becoming and staying successful in Alaska’s business environment. They have long been supporters of the Made in Alaska and Alaska Grown programs and for many years they’ve held a strong interest in featuring Alaska Made products in their store. About six years ago this endeavor grew large enough to earn the creation of its own department within Alaska Feed now known as the Alaska Made Market. Jon said, “What we look for and specialize in are edible products for people and pets, ideal for everyday consumption or as gifts. We actively search out new product opportunities through customer suggestions and periodic review of the Made in
Alaska website listing on new businesses.” David added, “Made in Alaska Program Manager Michael Hanzuk contacted us earlier this year to say thank you for supporting the Made in Alaska program and to offer assistance in seeking out new vendors.” The store also supports the Alaska Grown program and sells some locally grown produce when available. Some notable product lines that have had tremendous success and that Alaska Feed carries are Alaska Flour Company barley flour and mixes, Basically Basil vinaigrettes, Delta Meat & Sausage Company meat sticks and sausage, Diving Duck coffee, Kahiltna Birchworks syrups, Moosetard Mustards, Sample Alaska birch syrups, Taco Loco chips & salsa, Sipping Streams teas and many others. Alaska Feed Company’s Alaska Made Market is the largest showcase of Alaska Made food’s in the Interior. Stop in and check it out.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Walk amongst the reindeer When you arrive at Running Reindeer Ranch, a few miles north of Fairbanks, drive slowly as you may be greeted enthusiastically by Candy, the family dog, and a few wandering reindeer. Jane will give you a quick safety briefing and an introduction to each of the unique personalities in her seven reindeer. It quickly becomes apparent how well she knows and loves her reindeer. Reindeer first came to Running Reindeer Ranch as Jane’s middle school daughter Robin’s passion and project. After a few years Robin grew up and Jane inherited the growing herd. Prior to getting the reindeer, Robin spent a few years researching and fundraising. What they learned as a family, made them realize that reindeer
were the ideal pet for living in the harsh arctic. Once you start heading up the trail it is time to release your inner reindeer as you and the herd become one. Ruby, the Queen Reindeer, will lead the way as the rest of her herd follows and intermingles with you and the other reindeer. Jane will help introduce you to the boreal forest and the natural history of the reindeer. A winter walk is a time to reflect on the subtle beauty and colors of the snow, sky and forest while seeing the reindeer in their full winter coat and hard antlers. Winter is their favorite time of year. Running Reindeer Ranch was started by husband and wife, Jane Atkinson and Doug Toelle, as a way to share their love of Alaska and their
“This is a must see, what a wonderful experience. It is fun and also very informative. Jane and her husband really know all there is to know about these beautiful creatures. They treat the reindeer just like family and also invite you into their home to share homemade cookies and a hot drink. This is definitely a bucket list experience.” from TripAdvisor
reindeer with visitors from all over the world. It was not their intention to start a business with their reindeer but they were encouraged by friends who would bring their visiting friends and relatives over to join Jane on her regular walks with the reindeer. When Jane began nursing school she thought it would be a good source of supplemental income to help support the reindeer. Now Jane works as a school nurse and offers walks on the weekends and during summer break. Visitors will be outside with the reindeer until guests get cold. At that point everyone retreats inside Jane and Doug’s home to be warmed by the wood stove, hot beverages and delicious homemade cookies. Once snuggled inside guests learn about the annual cycle
Photo by Troy Bouffard
of the reindeer as it pertains to their antlers (never call them horns and find out why). Jane and Doug share stories of their herd and how the reindeer have changed their lives and their attitude about living in Interior Alaska. Running Reindeer Ranch is
open by appointment only. No drop-in visitors are accepted. Same day reservations are sometimes available but booking early will secure your spot on this one of a kind tour. You can book on their website www.runningreindeer.com or Facebook. Confirmation
and directions to the ranch will be emailed back to you. For more information contact Jane and Doug at info@ runningreindeer.com or 907-455-4998.
Running Reindeer Ranch “Magical Setting, Amazing Reindeer”
Four Time TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Five Star Attraction 2015 Fodor’s Choice Attraction
2014 featured in TravelAgeWest, Magazine 2013 winner of the Fairbanks Visitors Bureau Jim and Mary Binkley Award for its creativity, innovation, courage and entrepreneurialism.
BOOK ONLINE - Reservations Required www.runningreindeer.com
907-455-4998 info@runningreindeer.com
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Fall of 2015 featured on the Travel Channels 50/50 show and Animal Planet’s Dr. Dee: Alaska Vet show. Featured in the November/December 2015 issue of Texas Journey Magazine.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
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Sharing the story of Alaska’s Arctic Fairbanks-based Northern Alaska Tour Company began operating excursions of Alaska’s Arctic in 1987. Today, the company offers dozens of different one-day and multiday itineraries and operates year-round. Destinations include the Yukon River, the Arctic Circle, Anaktuvuk Pass, Beaver, Ft. Yukon, Coldfoot, Wiseman, Deadhorse, Barrow, Kaktovik, and Denali National Park. Activities vary from Aurora viewing to Polar Bear viewing on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. Alaska’s Arctic Alaska’s Arctic comprises of the vast stretch of area extending north from the Yukon River, encompassing the Brooks Mountain Range, and reaching the shores of the Arctic Ocean. This position near the top of the globe bestows upon it extended periods of 24-hour light in the summer and extended twilight
in the winter. These extreme seasonal climate changes have powerfully impacted the natural and cultural landscape of Alaska’s Arctic. The story of Alaska’s Arctic includes the Inupiat and Athabascan people’s ability to adapt to the extremes resulting in a sustainable culture that is thousands of years old and still exists today. The story continues to the flora and fauna that owe their thriving existence to their amazing ability to adapt biologically to the ever changing extremes of the Arctic environment and the unique geologic and periglacial forces that have shaped the physical environment of Alaska’s Arctic. Our guests learn of early day miners who came to Alaska’s Arctic at the turn of the century in a desperate search for gold, and also the discovery of oil on the North Slope and the construction of the Dalton
Highway that remains today as the only highway traversing Alaska’s Arctic. Winter is a magical time in Alaska’s Arctic. The low light on the horizon, frost-caked trees, and the shifting shapes of wind-carved snow creates a wonderland of sights and experiences. These powerful images of Alaska’s Arctic draws travelers to the Far North and serve to add allure to an Alaskan itinerary. Adventures in Alaska’s Arctic Northern Alaska Tour Company operates one-day and multi-day excursions. Most excursions involve some element of touring on the Dalton Highway. Some excursions combine ground touring on the Dalton Highway with flightseeing, air visits to remote villages, or flightseeing near the summit of Denali. All of Northern Alaska Tour
Company’s excursions focus on creating an experience with our guests that result in each guest coming away with a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural history and cultural heritage of the region. The type of equipment used for each excursion varies, of course, with the transportation mode. Twenty-five passenger coaches and fifteen passenger vans are used on the ground. Nine-passenger, twin-engine Piper Navajo Chieftain Aircraft, along with the occasional jet, or other charter aircraft, are used in the air. The variety of tour modes allows our guests to experience Alaska’s Arctic and Denali National Park by land and air. With dozens of itineraries to choose from, Northern Alaska Tour Company offers an appropriate experience in Alaska’s Arctic for every time constraint and budget.
Guests of Northern Alaska Tour Company savor breathtaking views of the northern Brooks Mountain Range and the northern half of the Dalton Highway.
Tourism provides many perks to Alaskans "Y *ULIE 3AUPE 0RESIDENT AND #%/ 6ISIT !NCHORAGE
Julie Saupe, President and CEO, Visit Anchorage
As we cozy in for the next several months of winter, Alaskans often take comfort in a warm cup of coffee. And thanks to the nearly two million visitors who come to our state annually, we can also take comfort in the fact that visitors spend nearly $2 billion in Alaska yearly. Let’s deconstruct that $2 billion for a little different perspective: t 5PVSJTN CSJOHT BO BWFSBHF of $330 million to Alaska’s
food service industry: that’s equal to 66 million lattes! t 5PVSJTN CSJOHT BO BWFSBHF of $360 million to Alaska’s lodging industry: that’s equal to more than two million summer night stays in a Denali hotel. t 5PVSJTN CSJOHT BO BWFSBHF of $339 million to Alaska’s tours and activities industry: that’s equal to 1,356,000 fishing charters. t 5PVSJTN CSJOHT BO BWFSBHF of $347 million to Alaska’s gifts/souvenirs industry: that’s equal to 24 million ulu knives. As the conversation in our state turns toward financial sustainability, the visitor industry plays a vital role in many of Alaska’s local economies as we look to diversify income sources. Last year tourism generated a combined $174 million for state and municipal governments statewide through sales and lodging
taxes, cruise passenger taxes, and other programs. It also provides for one in 11 jobs, holding an important place in the state’s workforce portfolio. Chances are you have friends, neighbors or perhaps a family member employed in Alaska’s tourism industry. So how do we ensure visitors keep coming to "MBTLB *U TUBSUT XJUI attracting visitors well before their arrival. While 85 percent of visitors come to Alaska during the summer season, now is the time when the bulk of tourism’s behind-the-scenes work is done. Businesses start booking next year’s guests, visitors guides are sent to prospective travelers, and organizations like ours are educating travel agents, tour operators, meeting planners as well as consumer travel media about what our state has to offer. Making Alaska
an attractive place also means working collaboratively with airlines, cruise ship companies, neighboring destinations as well as meeting and convention planners to ensure a steady flow of visitors year-round. Economics aside, the personal benefits of travel can improve our wellbeing, our finances and our relationships. The U.S. Travel Association’s Project Time Off shows travelers are significantly more satisfied in their overall outlook on life when compared to nontravelers. Strong majorities say travel improves their mood, decreases stress levels and improves friendships. Regardless of socioeconomic class, 57 percent of people who traveled as kids went to college, and kids who went on educational trips earn 12 percent more when they grow up.
Photo by Rebecca Coolidge
As Alaskans, we should never forget that our backyard is a world class destination. We live in a special place, one that others dream of visiting during their lifetime. We should recognize the value of tourism – both economically and intrinsically. Tourism works for Alaska; support tourism marketing in Fairbanks and in communities across Alaska. Your friends
and neighbors working in the industry will thank you and your support can preserve the quality of life benefits a robust tourism economy provides all of us. Now pour another cup of joe with a new perspective and cast your thoughts toward that next travel adventure, whether it’s across the globe or just down the road.
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
BREAK NEW TRAIL. MAKE TRACKS TO ANCHORAGE. BigWildLife.com
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Cruising to Alaska It’s clean, green – and a growing part of our economy. For more than 100 years, visitors have stepped aboard passenger ships for the journey of a lifetime. Those early ships were a far cry from the ships we greet today. Modern cruise ships still deliver the grandeur, diverse cultures and natural beauty of Alaska – but they do it with cutting-edge technologies designed to keep our air, water and land as pristine as it’s always been. Cruise ships are visitors’ preferred mode of travel, delivering about 60 percent of our summer tourists. Many travel north to Interior Alaska, where they help support 2,500 jobs and hundreds of local businesses. Let’s all keep working together to help ensure Alaska continues to be a competitive destination that lures the ships of summer back each year.
www.cliaalaska.org
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Cruise visitors important part of life in Interior Alaska Alaska welcomed more than 470 ships this season, carrying almost 1 million visitors. Some called a single time, while seven made 20 or more trips. They ranged in size from the 240-passenger luxury yachts L’Boreal and L’Austral to the Ruby Princess, which carries 3,082 guests. Their itineraries spanned thousands of miles, stretching from Ketchikan to Barrow to Nome to Dutch Harbor.
Fourteen of the 32 ships that called on Alaska in 2015 crossed the Gulf of Alaska. About 22 percent of all crossgulf passengers extend their visits to include excursions into the Interior. Cruise lines do business with 575 Interior businesses and support 2,500 jobs with a payroll of $95 million. The visitor industry accounts for 10 percent of employment and 6 percent of labor income in the Interior.
2015 season by the numbers Almost 1 million cruise passengers 18,938 cruise-supported jobs for Alaskans $866 million in wages $993,000 in direct expenditures with 2,000+ Alaska businesses* *Source: Business Research and Economic Advisors
Bed taxes provide for 65 percent of the Denali Borough’s revenue.
Keeping Alaska’s air and water clean and pristine Cruise lines have been recognized and awarded for their dedication to and achievements in marine environmental protection and stewardship. Their commitment to the environment goes well beyond compliance with industrial and regulatory standards. Improving emissions With an investment of half a billion dollars, the lines are developing and installing new exhaust-gas scrubbers to significantly improve emissions. This new generation of scrubbers removes 98 percent of sulfur and reduces particulate matter and carbon. Comprehensive recycling Cruise ships are some of the world’s most comprehensive recyclers. All waste materials aboard the ships are recycled, incinerated or offloaded. Materials to be recycled are compacted, crushed or baled and stored on the ships until they are turned over to an approved vendor for disposal. Wastewater treatment Cruise lines have invested in and installed advanced wastewater treatment systems on their ships. These systems are far superior to most municipal systems and discharge near drinking-water quality that is treated to some of the world’s most stringent standards.
Cruise lines do business with 575 Interior businesses and support 2,500 jobs.
Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
The Gold Rush continues... When Felix Pedro struck gold in 1902, just eight miles north of Gold Daughters, he created more than just a gold rush—he developed a legacy that continues to thrive. Visitors at Gold Daughters experience that same overwhelming, heartpumping, jaw-dropping, eyebulging thrill of discovering gold that founded Fairbanks. Gold Daughters’ owners Jordan and Ilaura Reeves spread their passion for finding gold. The Reeves sisters were raised in Fox and grew up panning for gold on family mining claims. “The best part about Gold Daughters,� Ilaura says, “is that our guests are not only guaranteed to find gold but can continue to pan all day from rich paydirt hauled in from mining claims. Several people have left our place with gold, woolly mammoth ivory or other Ice Age fossils which adds a level of adventure that
Ursa Major Distilling opens its doors to Fairbanks Already known for its premium handmade spirits like Summer Harvest Gin and Longwinter Vodka, Ursa Major Distilling, Fairbanks’ first and only distillery, now boasts a beautiful Tasting Room where visitors and locals alike can sample the spirits and enjoy traditional cocktails with a unique, Alaskan twist. Ursa Major is a small, independent distillery that distills its products from local barley grown in Delta Junction. Their newest product, Fairbanks Sourdough Rum, is made with 60-yearold Alaskan sourdough starter. It was featured in Playboy Magazine, who said, “The resulting spirit is funky and unique, appropriate to the frontier ethos of Alaska.�
The Reeves sisters teach visitors and locals alike to pan for gold at Gold Daughters, just north of Fairbanks along the Steese Highway.
most gold panning attractions can’t offer.� Whether teaching panning to cheechakos or giving tips to members of the Gold Prospecting Association of America, the sisters agree that the excitement of finding gold never gets old. “We help people find gold and also recommend local activities and restaurants that travelers are searching to experience. In this
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small community, we’ve learned that word-of-mouth recommendations have an impact on travelers,� Jordan said. “Our work wouldn’t be possible anywhere else,� Ilaura added. “Thank you to Fairbanks for liking us on Facebook, honking at us as you drive the highway, and of course bringing your friends and relatives to Gold Daughters.�
The frontier ethos extends to the custom, handmadeequipment, small batches, and the local, custom woodwork throughout. A visit to the Tasting Room will introduce you to the distiller-owner and his passion for high-quality, locally-made spirits. “We try to stay as local as we can,� said owner and distiller Rob Borland. “Our cocktails are handmade, authentic, and true to their roots, down to the smallest detail. We use fresh-squeezed citrus, seasonal, locally-harvested ingredients, and the highest quality mixers such as tonic water, ginger beers, and house made syrups.� The Tasting Room, located at 2922 Parks Highway, is open from Wednesday through Friday from 5 to
8 p.m. and Saturdays from 2 to 8 p.m. for tours, tastings and product sales. The distillery boasts an extensive, build-your-own Bloody Mary Bar during Saturday hours. Be sure not to miss this truly unique and Alaskan experience.
Ursa Major owner and distiller Rob Borland pours.
Be prepared to pan your heart out! Upon admission, you will receive a poke of quality Alaskan pay dirt with guaranteed gold! You will also have access to unlimited pay dirt brought in from local gold-bearing creeks. Pan all day or cure your gold fever with our Secret Menu Gold Pokes, for those seeking the big one! Learn to pan and catch #GoldFever! Find us across from the Alyeska Pipeline Visitor Center on the Steese Highway.
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Hours: 10am-6pm Daily. Memorial Day through Labor Day. Instagram & Twitter: @golddaughters Facebook: www.Facebook.com/GoldDaughters
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GOLD DAUGHTERS • 1671 Steese Highway • Fairbanks, AK 99712 907-347-4749 • golddaughters@gmail.com • golddaughters.com
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Fairbanks Daily News-Miner
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Be a visitor in your own town! Some of Alaska’s best adventures of a lifetime are right outside your door. Explore your own back yard. Experience everything from hiking trails that are just off the beaten path to journeys along the Chena River and larger-than-life-sized ice sculptures to performing arts in all shapes and sizes. Interior Alaska has the adventure you’re looking for at your fingertips. The information experts at Explore Fairbanks are available year-round to help guide you to new adventures and experiences. Visit the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center to talk with the specialists or pick up your free copy of the Fairbanks Visitors Guide and Winter Guide today. Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center 101 Dunkel Street • Downtown Fairbanks • 8 am – 5 pm Winter • 8 am – 9 pm Summer
www.explorefairbanks.com (907) 456-5774 info@explorefairbanks.com