Fairbanks is the only ‘city’ in the interior, and the largest settlement for hundreds of miles, but has the feeling of a small town as everyone seems to know everyone. But there are some truly fascinating characters – sled-dog breeders, crusading environmentalists, college students, gun nuts, military community, outdoor enthusiasts, bush pilots, and the rest of the usual Alaska cast of oddities.

The city sits at the nexus of some truly epic routes – north to the Arctic, east to Canada and south to Denali – so there is little time to get bored. One of Alaska’s finest museums is the Museum of the North which is shaped like an igloo and has over 2,000 exhibits. Separately, you cannot visit Fairbanks without visit long the best best visitor center in the state which provides an opportunity for guests to embrace Native culture through exhibit, daily movies and cultural performances. There is even the popular moose-antler arch where newlyweds frequently visit for their wedding. If you’re into history, you should visit the Antique Auto Museum which has a collection of over 70 cars that are operational and Pioneer Park which is a recreation of the “old days” where a city has been created with the original buildings. The state does not have many highways; however, it is best for travelers to rent a vehicle as attractions are not in a centralized location.