Hotel at a Glance: River’s Edge Resort

When the sunshine hits Alaska in summer, River’s Edge Resort is at its best: Fairbanks sees more than 20 hours of sunlight every June and July. All year long, the innkeepers prep for summertime, opening the resort’s doors in May. While you’re there, you’ll settle into homey little clapboard cottages that line the shores of the Chena River and are tucked amid pine trees and fragrant flower gardens. With the long days, you’ll have ample lighting to take walks and go fishing on the river before the sun disappears for a few hours.

• Start your day with a hearty buffet breakfast that may include scrambled eggs, pancakes, and sausages.
• Garden cottages: Make yourself at home with such amenities as cable TV and a private patio that looks out on the water.
• Waterfront Grill: Grab a seat at the dockside restaurant, Chena’s, and dine on wild-caught Alaskan halibut or peppercorn-crusted sea scallops. Vegetarian entrees are also available.
• Awards: TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence in 2014

Fairbanks, Alaska: Outdoor Adventure in Alaska’s Second-Largest City

Fairbanks is one of the biggest cities in Alaska’s seemingly endless interior. To be sure, though, most people visit Fairbanks less for its urban offerings and more for the abundant outdoor adventures that surround it. The city’s setting amid wilderness means that there are plenty of places to observe the native plants and wildlife. At Georgeson Botanical Garden, you can see wetlands, peonies and perennials. Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge––a former dairy farm–– is home to more than 100 types of birds. Visit in August to see thousands of migrating sandhill cranes take over the territory.

Tourists who come during the summer will have no shortage of sunshine; in June and July the sun is out for as many as 21 hours at a time. The sun hides away during the winter, when Fairbanks is mostly bathed in darkness––the perfect backdrop for glimpsing the colorful aurora borealis, or northern lights.

Though nature is its strong suit, Fairbanks has some up-and-coming parts in its downtown. There are a handful of historical buildings and art museums, and they’re down the street from craft breweries such as Hoodoo Brewing Co.

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