mcfam's Passport
 | Been to 474 Attractions |
 | 388 Reviews |
 | 230 First to Review |
 | 1293 Photos |
 | 206 Helpful Votes |
Compliments
(11)
(4)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(2)
(3)
(22)
Send a Message 
Send a ComplimentAbout Me & My Family
My husband and I have 4 kids... 3 boys and then our girl. We homeschool them all and travel when possible. We just started letterboxing and are finding ourselves a little obsessed with it.
Our Family's Travel Personality
adventurous, curious, structured, relaxed, simple, independent, spontaneous, easy_going
We Just Got Back From
Zion and Bryce National Parks
Our Favorite Vacation Spot
Camping in Kings Canyon or Yosemite
A Place We'd Love To Visit
The Redwoods in Northern California
Favorite Vacation Memory
Walking the meadows of Yosemite with my family. The quiet, the sparkling water, the rustling grasses, and a dip in the river made for an amazing day.
Worst Travel Moment With My Kids:
Anytime throw up is involved. Especially when one kid triggers another. And when we are in the car. And when they choose to use the box that is holding all their library books and toys.
Websites I Like:
Family friendly summer activities in Fairbanks Alaska
With nearly 24 hours of daylight and moderate temperatures, summer in Fairbanks Alaska is the perfect place to take a family trip. Here is a list of some of our favorite family-friendly activities.
1.3 mile Elliott Hwy
Fairbanks, Alaska
Comment:
Take a train ride through an historic gold mine, watch a sluice demonstration and find gold flakes in your bag of dirt, guaranteed!
reviewed on: July 22 2010
"Great gold mine tour"
We loved taking this tour of a gold mine with our 4 kids and grandparents. My 1 and 3 year old loved riding the train and were contained and content for the 30 minute ride and presentation. My 7 and 9 year old also loved the train and were able to see and hear the presentations and actually learn about how gold was mined in the early 1900s. My husband and I enjoyed sitting down and relaxing and appreciated the live feed video in each train car, the professional actor who worked in the mine and explained important facts. I especially loved the conductor who played his fiddle and guitar and sang some good old country songs about "going north to Alaska". He was a pro!After the train ride, we got out and sat by the sluice boxes while Yukon Yolanda and her husband explained how gold is extracted from the dirt. Then several workers demonstrated how to use the gold pans to reveal the flecks of gold in every bag of dirt.
Then came the fun part... we got to pan our own gold! My kids really enjoyed swishing the dirt and rocks in the water, even though my 3 year old dashed himself with water. We found quite a few flakes! The workers guarantee each bag and will continue to give you new bags of pay dirt until you find gold.
Once we found our gold and stashed it in the provided plastic cups, we wandered into the large and beautiful gift shop where free cookies, water, hot chocolate and coffee were waiting. My kids were in heaven. We had our gold weighed and we had a combined total of $70 worth in gold between 6 people. Pretty cool!
This company, owned by the Binkley family, is an excellent and professional tour group. We felt welcomed and enjoyed each part of the tour... especially the cookies.
1300 College Rd.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Comment:
Miles of trails alongside a meadow and through the Boreal Forest.
reviewed on: July 23 2010
"Nature trails"
All our 4 kids and our nieces and nephews enjoyed exploring this large park and field with it's numerous walking trails and forest glades. We visited on a clear and glorious day in Fairbanks where the sky and clouds looked like paintings on a big large screen because of their deep colors. We started our walk next to the dairy where we parked and entered the trail and headed north. There we saw lots of sandhill cranes eating in the grasses. Then the trail wandered into the boreal forest and the kids loved walking the elevated boardwalks through the trees. About half a mile in, there was a look out tower where you could climb and see the forest and grassy plains beyond. It was a great way to see into the tops of the spruce trees and to see their purple cones.
We looped back around and found our car again and I wished for many more days to visit this beautiful field, forest and trails.
1975 Discovery Drive
Fairbanks, Alaska
Comment:
Take a 3 hour riverboat cruise and learn about the history of Alaska. See a float plane take off, watch a sled dog demonstration and visit a native Athabascan village.
reviewed on: July 23 2010
"Riverboat cruise and tour"
If I could give this riverboat cruise more stars, I would. It was definitely a highlight of all the tours or attractions that we visited while in the Fairbanks area.We boarded the huge 4 story riverboat on a cloudy noon day in Fairbanks and enjoyed sitting inside the cabin while our guide welcomed us to a great afternoon of cruising the Chena and Tenana Rivers. He was on a microphone and there was a live video feed on each level of the boat so that all could hear and see clearly. As we cruised, we got to witness and experience many things that were native Alaskan or unique to Alaska. Some of these included: watching a float plane take off and land right next to our boat on the Chena River; seeing the sled dog kennels of the Iditarod champion, Susan Butcher; watching these sled dogs pull a 4 wheeler with excitement; viewing a traditional fish camp and watching a guide prepare salmon for drying; visiting a traditional Athabascan Indian camp and learning about furs, hunting, clothing, and fishing; seeing reindeer come to the water's edge and feast on plants there; observing the many homes and buildings along the edge of the Chena River. Even as I list them, I am amazed at all the things we got to see and do.
My 7 year old's favorite thing was seeing the sled dogs in action from the deck of the boat and then getting to meet the dogs and pet them later on at the Indian Village. I enjoyed taking my boys upstairs on the boat while we were chugging back up the river to watch the paddlewheel churn up the water as the sun reflected off of the water. We laughed at everyone who stood on the shore and waved at us, but it felt so fun to wave back and smile.
Some good things to keep in mind if you want to take this cruise are:
*Call ahead for reservations. Spaces fill up with tour groups.
*Seating is first come, first served but every seat has a great view. The lower and 2nd decks are indoors so there is no need to worry about children going overboard. We explored the upper decks and found all the guard rails well protected to keep little ones safe.
*Dress in layers. The weather in Alaska changes often and it's good to be prepared for chilly skies.
*Water and coffee is always available but it costs money to purchase more food. We were glad we brought snacks on board to keep our kids happy for the long voyage. A small salmon dip and cracker snack is offered near the end of the cruise.
*Half way through the cruise, all the guests are ushered off the boat into groups to visit the Indian village. There is quite a bit of walking from one small amphitheater to another on gravel trails. We did not take a stroller because our youngest (20 months) is able to walk well, or we carried her. I don't know if strollers are allowed on board but it's good to know that an umbrella stroller would probably not be able to tackle the gravel paths.
We fully enjoyed this cruise and tour and would love to go again if we ever visit the Fairbanks area.
117 W. Tanana Drive
Fairbanks, Alaska
Comment:
Children's garden area located in this vegetable, flower and native plant garden run by the University of Alaska.
reviewed on: July 23 2010
"Beautiful gardens"
These gardens amazed us with their beautiful flowers and wide varieties of vegetables. Due to the midnight sun, the cabbages were huge and the sunflowers high. We wandered through the gardens with our 4 young kids (9-1) and our 8 nieces and nephews and we all enjoyed looking at the groupings of herbs for the bath, vegetables and raspberries, and the large flowers. We continued to the far side of the garden where the Babula Children's Garden was still under construction. The kids wandered through the hedge maze and had a hard time finding their way out, but since the hedges were only knee high, we could see them the whole time. The little ones played in the mini pioneer log cabin and then they all stuck their heads in the sluice box of flowing water to cool off. They climbed over the little bridges and we followed the wandering path back towards the parking lot.
Because the gardens are set on the hill of the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, the view south is beautiful. We could see many miles on a clear summer day and really enjoyed our visit.
6565 Richardson Hwy.
Mile 332 Fairbanks, Alaska
Comment:
More than a souvenir shop. Authentic Alaska made gifts, unique burl wood creations, mounted wildlife display, coffee, treats, and ice cream.
reviewed on: July 22 2010
"Ice cream and more"
This cleverly named shop is built with the knotty spruce pines that grow wild in Alaska. Knots and burls are everywhere inside and outside this shop. Our young kids and their cousins filled the front yard and laughed at all the animals shaped from the strange wood and pretended to get bitten by the huge mosquito while I took their picture.Inside is filled with souvenirs which were some of the best that I saw during our visit to the Fairbanks area. The back of the store hosts a wildlife display from taxidermied animals. The ice cream was amazing and we adults dreamed of more Mocha Mash Up scoops after we returned home.
While we ate our ice cream outside on the benches, we visited with a local Alaskan who has lived in the area for about 50 years. He said he always takes his family and visitors to the Knotty Shop because it's the best place in the area with the nicest souvenirs and the yummiest ice cream. We were glad we stopped too.
2300 Airport Way
Fairbanks, Alaska
Comment:
A free to enter park with a train ride, historical buildings, museums, and playgrounds.
reviewed on: July 21 2010
"Alaska history"
We spent our first afternoon in Fairbanks at this free park. It was a great start to our visit to Alaska. My young boys (9 and 7) quickly got to learn some important historical parts of Alaska that revolved around the gold rush and the sternwheelers that brought pioneers to Alaska. We stepped into the old Presbyterian church and quickly visited the museum next door that had old furnishing set in an old home. It was a quick stop because of our very young kids that have a tendency to break things.
We had to visit the -40 below room because I just could not comprehend what that would actually feel like. It was cold!! My 7 and 9 year old really enjoyed the experience, after being bundled up in warm winter jackets and hats. They sat in the ice chair, and we threw boiling water in the air to see it fall as ice crystals. My 1 and 3 year old stayed outside with my aunt which was a good decision. Despite the price ($8 per person) it was worth the experience for us Californians.
We all rode the train and learned more Alaskan history. The playground was a fun diversion especially after having some ice cream. The price of the ice cream was quite inflated from the price of ice cream that you can buy at any drive through shack at most intersections of Fairbanks, so if your kids can wait, I would advise it.
This park offered many diversions, places to play for young kids, and lots of history. Although it is free admission, there are many options inside that cost money. A carousel ride, -40 below room, train ride, ice cream, and an air museum are some examples of things that charge admission. It is a good idea to plan what you want to spend money on and what you can pass up, otherwise you may find the afternoon to be quite costly. It is well worth a visit if you are in the Fairbanks area.
101 Dunkel St.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Comment:
The Fairbanks Visitor Center has displays to see, interactive displays, movies, and lots of maps and pamphlets.
reviewed on: July 23 2010
"Fairbanks Visitor Center"
We happened upon this visitor center in downtown Fairbanks quite by accident. We were taking our kids and nieces and nephews out for a letterbox adventure and decided to check out the inside of this huge and beautiful building. We were impressed with the large displays of the seasonal changes in Alaska, wildlife and animals. The kids explored the large cabin in the middle of the hall and had fun seeing what supplies were needed by the early pioneers. We watched a 20 minute film in the theater and the kids were enthralled by the story of a man who built his own log cabin by hand.On our way out, I stopped at all of the pamphlets that were offered on all the amazing activities and adventures one can have in Alaska. I'm a sucker for all the travel ads, so I picked out a good handful. A map of Fairbanks was a great prize for me as well and I loved seeing all these things offered. The kids and I checked out the gift shop, always looking for good books on Alaska and found quite a good selection. Then we spent some time walking the trails next to the Chena River on a beautiful day.
