Soapy Smith’s Pioneer Restaurant

Some of the best attractions in Alaska are the natural kind, and you can see them up close when you take time to visit the Large Animal Research Station in Fairbanks. This is actually one of the more popular attractions in the area, as the facility has thousands of visitors each year. The large number of people who walk through the doors of the Large Animal Research Station is understandable as they all look forward to seeing such indigenous creatures as muskoxen and caribou at a dramatically close distance.

The chill in the air is nearly palpable when you set out to explore the Gates of the Arctic National Park and Reserve. The park is either accessible by foot, car or airplane, and depending on your sense of adventure, there are many ways to experience this unique outdoor area of wilderness. You will encounter craggy ridges, glacier-carved valleys and fragile flowers as you make your way through this amazing park. It should be noted that dogs must be kept on leashes and are only allowed in the backcountry of the park.

Whoever says that history isn't dramatic has never set foot in the Pioneer Museum and The Big Stampede in Fairbanks. This is a truly unique venue that spotlights various aspects of life in what was once frontier Alaska. See where Sourdoughs carved their means of livelihood in unexpected places throughout the cold wilderness. In addition to seeing genuine tools and articles used to accomplish daily activities, there is also the Big Stampede Show that displays the dramas and victories of what life was like on the Gold Rush trails.