North of Fairbanks is the White Mountains National Recreation center, which offers a river and trails, and further north is the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The interior offers expansive natural areas and large rivers.
The history of Fairbanks originates with its gold rush at the turn of the 20th century. In 1902, Felix Pedro, an Italian immigrant, struck gold. At the same time, Captain E.T. Barnette strove to make the area a trading post. The historic Gold Dredge #8, which was in use for 30 years, produced roughly 7 million ounces of gold.
According to ExploreFairbanks.com, Fairbanks is one of the best places on the planet for watching the northern lights. The yellow-green lights are most visible from the end of August through April, and the best time to watch them is late in the evening until the early morning hours.
