Stephanie And Tim's Guidebook
Food Scene
Recently remodeled, this place is always busy, and for good reason! They serve the best food in large portions with a lot of variety. You can search their menu online, but they have everything from Calzones and Pizzas, to
Chicken Cordon Bleu and seafood offerings. There's a bar and plenty on tap. A modern digital jukebox, and pool table.
Elf's Den Restaurant & Lounge
2556 Mistletoe DrRecently remodeled, this place is always busy, and for good reason! They serve the best food in large portions with a lot of variety. You can search their menu online, but they have everything from Calzones and Pizzas, to
Chicken Cordon Bleu and seafood offerings. There's a bar and plenty on tap. A modern digital jukebox, and pool table.
Chosen and visited by Guy Fieri for his tv show, this place is best Chinese in the interior. A huge local favorite. Make a reservation just to be sure you get in!
Includes a full bar side of the restaurant as well.
68 locals recommend
Pagoda Chinese Restaurant & Bar
431 N Santa Claus LnChosen and visited by Guy Fieri for his tv show, this place is best Chinese in the interior. A huge local favorite. Make a reservation just to be sure you get in!
Includes a full bar side of the restaurant as well.
Our favorite place for date night hands down. Located in Fairbanks, it is THE best Italian food in town. A full selection of pizzas, pastas, and the best salad bar in town. If you're trying to eat healthier, they have a wonderful section of main dishes with veggies, served carb-free.
Call ahead to check availability as they are popular!
15 locals recommend
Geraldo's Italian Restaurant
701 College RdOur favorite place for date night hands down. Located in Fairbanks, it is THE best Italian food in town. A full selection of pizzas, pastas, and the best salad bar in town. If you're trying to eat healthier, they have a wonderful section of main dishes with veggies, served carb-free.
Call ahead to check availability as they are popular!
Fairbanks has a lot of sushi joints, but this is one of the best in town for flavor and if you're looking for a nice sit-down atmosphere.
Also includes a bar.
fushimi Japanese
Fairbanks has a lot of sushi joints, but this is one of the best in town for flavor and if you're looking for a nice sit-down atmosphere.
Also includes a bar.
This is a little "Mom & Pop" shop few in Fairbanks know about but we hate getting sushi anywhere else (Except may Fushimi).
It's especially best for those date nights we are in a hurry to get to other things, we call ahead and pick up our favorite dishes, The Phoenix roll and The Las Vegas roll, and head out.
Also try their Seaweed Salad!
Tokyo Express
516 Old Steese HighwayThis is a little "Mom & Pop" shop few in Fairbanks know about but we hate getting sushi anywhere else (Except may Fushimi).
It's especially best for those date nights we are in a hurry to get to other things, we call ahead and pick up our favorite dishes, The Phoenix roll and The Las Vegas roll, and head out.
Also try their Seaweed Salad!
Sightseeing
You can't visit North Pole and not see Santa! Choose a special Christmas keepsake for yourself to take home also. Much of their inventory is very unique and sourced from many places to offer the most unique pieces.
They also have a huge variety of fudges made right there in store, as well as unique soda blends to try.
Get free photos with Santa using your own phone, any time they are open.
In the summer you can schedule to go inside the reindeer pen and feed them.
133 locals recommend
Santa Claus House
101 St Nicholas DrYou can't visit North Pole and not see Santa! Choose a special Christmas keepsake for yourself to take home also. Much of their inventory is very unique and sourced from many places to offer the most unique pieces.
They also have a huge variety of fudges made right there in store, as well as unique soda blends to try.
Get free photos with Santa using your own phone, any time they are open.
In the summer you can schedule to go inside the reindeer pen and feed them.
Even the locals visit this gift shop for the animal exhibit, but mostly for their famous ice cream!
A locally owned gift shop, don't miss stopping here for unique Alaskan foods and clothing, and of course to take a picture with the giant wooden animals on the front lawn carved from knotty wood.
37 locals recommend
The Knotty Shop
6565 Richardson HwyEven the locals visit this gift shop for the animal exhibit, but mostly for their famous ice cream!
A locally owned gift shop, don't miss stopping here for unique Alaskan foods and clothing, and of course to take a picture with the giant wooden animals on the front lawn carved from knotty wood.
Take a tour and get up close with MuskOx, Reindeer, and occasionally other animals.
56 locals recommend
Large Animal Research Station
2220 Yankovich RdTake a tour and get up close with MuskOx, Reindeer, and occasionally other animals.
Fairbanks' favorite and most affordable place to gold pan! Then go across the street and view the Alyeska Pipeline!
18 locals recommend
Gold Daughters
1671 Steese HwyFairbanks' favorite and most affordable place to gold pan! Then go across the street and view the Alyeska Pipeline!
Recreation/Exploring
Chena Lake Recreation Area
3780 Laurance RoadChena Hot Springs Resort
17600 Chena Hot Springs RdMoose creek bluff
3746-3748 Richardson HwyMoose Creek Dam
This is a lesser known and less crowded lake than Chena Lake Rec area. It is filled directly from the river so we never get swimmers itch here like we so in the standing water lakes.
Moose Creek Lake
This is a lesser known and less crowded lake than Chena Lake Rec area. It is filled directly from the river so we never get swimmers itch here like we so in the standing water lakes.
If you're looking for a little more travel and more strenuous hike, this is it! 1.25 hours away, you can see the pipeline crossing the valley from the top.
Donnelly Dome
If you're looking for a little more travel and more strenuous hike, this is it! 1.25 hours away, you can see the pipeline crossing the valley from the top.
Easy hike (people bring babies) after a 3 or so hour drive and you can be inside a glacial cave! Bring the proper clothing and footwear for the time of year!
7 locals recommend
Castner Glacier
Easy hike (people bring babies) after a 3 or so hour drive and you can be inside a glacial cave! Bring the proper clothing and footwear for the time of year!
Religious
Looking for a church during your visit? Come to ours! Meeting times are at 9am, 11:30am, and 2pm. Take your pick!
If you're looking for a different denomination, we have no shortage of faiths, religions and churches around North Pole and Fairbanks. Just search the internet for the faith you're looking for and you're bound to find one very close to you!
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Looking for a church during your visit? Come to ours! Meeting times are at 9am, 11:30am, and 2pm. Take your pick!
If you're looking for a different denomination, we have no shortage of faiths, religions and churches around North Pole and Fairbanks. Just search the internet for the faith you're looking for and you're bound to find one very close to you!