The Santa Claus House in North Pole, Alaska, is cool! If you love the Christmas, this is an…read moreabsolute dream because it is Christmas year-round! There is an actual Santa Claus sitting inside the shop year-round ready to greet Inside is a Santa's workshop display, a dedicated place where kids can write letters to Santa, and a massive selection of ornaments and Christmas toys. The magic continues outside with a giant Christmas tree and a towering, iconic Santa Claus statue. Pro tip: While it's open all year, visiting in March is perfect. There's still winter snow covering the ground, which adds a genuine, magical "North Pole" atmosphere that you just can't replicate in the summer months. And it's not as cold as December. The giant Santa statue is American road-trip history. Towering at nearly 50 feet tall and weighing roughly 9000 pounds, it is supposedly the world's largest three-dimensional Santa Claus statue. Whether you are traveling with kids or just want to feel like a kid again, this is a fun stop.

If you're looking for year-round Christmas magic, the Santa Claus House in North Pole delivers pure…read moreholiday charm. From the moment you arrive, the festive decorations and towering Santa statue set the tone for a joyful, family-friendly experience. Inside, the shop is packed with ornaments, personalized gifts, and Christmas keepsakes from around the world. Watching letters to Santa arrive and seeing them postmarked from North Pole adds a nostalgic touch that both kids and adults will love. Outside, you can even visit the resident reindeer, making the stop feel straight out of a holiday storybook. It's a cheerful, unique destination that captures the spirit of Christmas no matter the season -- a must-visit if you're traveling through Alaska or simply want to feel like a kid again.

Late Post Sept 23' This is a really cute souvenir store at…read morethe airport, but after spending so much time at different locations in Alaska I was definitely souvenired out, bought way too much. But if you randomly thought of someone you forgot about, I'm sure this store has something for them, shoot you can even buy that person a rock! Lol Missing star kinda pricey!

I normally have low expectations regarding Airport Gift Shops, and usually only take them seriously…read morewhen I need to buy a gift for a friend or family member. This time, I had some extra time on my hands and decided to do a deeper dive into Twigs at FAI. Of course I ended up focusing on the nice stuff under the "lock and key" displays, some of it running into several hundred dollars. I happily ended up with a more modestly priced walrus ivory Billiken (a mythical good-luck figure who represents "things as they ought to be."). This is a favorite carving figure in Alaska, even though the original idea came from a Missouri art teacher. This time, the gift was for me. The good folks at Twigs wrapped it up nicely for the journey home.

Great gift shop so much to choose from and a very friendly staff. Glad I came across this place.read more

Arctic Travels Gift Shop in Fairbanks is a charming stop for anyone looking for unique Alaskan…read moresouvenirs. The shop offers a wide variety of locally made crafts, jewelry, apparel, and keepsakes that make perfect gifts or mementos. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, eager to share the story behind the products, which adds a personal touch to every purchase. Whether you're hunting for handmade items, fun trinkets, or authentic Alaskan-themed gifts, this shop provides a pleasant, relaxed shopping experience with something special for everyone.

Craft Market Gift Shop in Fairbanks is a charming destination for anyone looking for unique,…read morelocally made gifts. The shop offers a wide variety of handmade crafts, jewelry, artwork, and souvenirs that perfectly capture the spirit of Alaska. The staff are friendly and knowledgeable, always willing to share the story behind the products, which makes shopping feel personal and enjoyable. Whether you're hunting for a special keepsake, a thoughtful gift, or something truly one-of-a-kind, this shop delivers a delightful, relaxed shopping experience with plenty of options for every taste.

This place has it all. Lots of cool stuff from minerals to mammoth tusks. Old knickknacks and…read moremiscellaneous items abound. The service is friendly too! It's a little crammed but an interesting place with reasonable prices on lots and lots of stuff.

This was a fun quick stop as I was checking out the town. The people are here friendly and helpful…read more The gift shop has cute and useful items that cannot be found anywhere else. A some of the items that can be found are: clothing, decorations, local and unique books, and several other hand made household items. Everything in the gift shop is made by the local seniors, and a good portion of the money goes directly back to them directly. If you have a few minutes while in town, check out this gift shop, support the local seniors, and sign their guest book!

To sum up Christmas 2025 I have an analogy befitting of Yelp - It was like the most beautiful,…read moredecadent feast laid out before me, complete with all my favorite dishes. Each one was expertly prepared to be the best it's ever been. I dug in, fully expecting to enjoy every single bite. But, for some strange reason, it was tasteless. In an attempt to find flavor somewhere I ate more, yet it made no difference. My discontent and frustration eventually dissolved into relief once the meal was over. The issue definitely wasn't for a lack of trying. I did what I've always done on the same schedule, such as putting up decorations and shopping for gifts. I drove around to look at other people's decorations. I listened to Christmas music and watched Christmas movies every chance I got. I attended events like my town's annual Christmas parade and tree lighting ceremony, my son's school Christmas pageant, and Christmas Eve church service. Still, no matter what I did, the Christmas spirit eluded me. I actually entertained the idea that the alignment of the stars could have been to blame. Now, I'm no expert in astrology so I can't say whether some planet entered or exited one house or another. Or, maybe something else was or wasn't in retrograde. Who knows? I only know that this season's energy felt off. Despite my disappointment, I remain optimistic that future Christmases will embody all the same magic and joy as ones from the past. So I'm throwing in an extra star because haven't given up hope.

Christmas to me is not just December 25th but an entire season that begins at Thanksgiving and ends…read morewith New Years. To me it's a celebration of the beginning of the winter season and a lead up to new beginnings in the year ahead. Thanksgiving is the best holiday in terms of food. However, Christmas is the winner when it comes to music. Not only that but Christmas has carolers! Now that's something special that no other holiday has. Oh gosh, I love those carolers!! When it comes to music it is hard to pick a favorite. I like the classic songs like Irving Berlin's White Christmas but I also love Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You! and Taylor Swift's Christmas Tree Farm is a great new song as well. I think Christmas music should continue until New Years Eve but the radio always stops it right at Christmas. There are only a few New Years songs anyways and they don't really get played. Christmas is a time for feel good movies. My personal favorites are It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol. And also, the Hallmark Channel has a great selection every year. Honorable mention are those ugly Christmas sweaters although I think they are rather cute! Winter coats, wreaths, Santa, hot cocoa, gingerbread houses, candy canes, kissing under the mistletoe, presents, the pine cone/cinnamon/cloves smell, and Christmas cookies definitely warm my heart. And of course, it's not Christmas without the beautiful decorations and lights everywhere. An uplifting sight at the darkest time of the year. And, of course, the beautiful Christmas trees in people's houses and offices. I love decorations and people and stores go all out with the Christmas decorations more than any other holiday! While Christmas might not be at the top of my list in terms of my favorite holiday of all time, it sure is a nice time of year that is so "merry and bright" and filled with "holiday cheer"!

Visiting the Alaska museum was an unforgettable experience that beautifully showcases the state's…read morerich history and culture. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, featuring everything from Native Alaskan artifacts and traditional crafts to fascinating displays on wildlife and natural history. The museum layout is easy to follow, and each exhibit includes informative descriptions that make learning engaging for both adults and children. Staff and docents are friendly and eager to share insights, which adds a personal touch to the visit. Whether you're a history buff, nature enthusiast, or just looking for an enriching day out, this museum provides a comprehensive, immersive look at Alaska's heritage. It's educational, visually engaging, and leaves you with a deeper appreciation for the state's unique culture and landscapes.

Beautiful museum inside and out. Although not huge, depending on how much you like to read the…read moreexhibit info you could spend a couple hours. We spent about 45 minutes wandering through. Lovely art, lots of local history and animal education exhibits. Paid (cheap) parking, a gift shop, and a small serve-yourself "cafe".

The shop was locked, but we followed the instructions and rang the doorbell. Theresa came and let…read moreus in. She's very friendly, and they have a great selection of photos her husband took. Great prices. We're glad we happened to follow that random sign out of the Silver Gulch parking lot.

In Sept 2017 we stumbled into Fox AK and your lovely Northern Lights items. I bought several items…read moreincluding tee shirts and note cards. I use the cards for very special thank you notes. I wish I had bought more . Loved the visit in your yard and green houses...still have some of the dill you gave us. If I get back to your area again, I will visit your Gift Shop. Jonesboro, GA

I've visited twice and literally everyone who works here that I've met is the absolute nicest (I…read morewas there 4/13 and 4/14 (so kudos to the folks working in the afternoon/evening those days). Go Great Alaskan Bowl Co.! Really great selection of local goods, and the perfect bowl for everyone. I loved combining g through all the bowls to find the perfect bowl for our home. I picked up a beautiful bowl, some beautiful handcrafted tiny wooden spoons, spruce tip syrup, and Birch syrup.

It was a nice shopping experience! Lots of interesting items to discover a beautiful wooden bowls,…read moretrays, and miscellaneous pieces to chooses from. We were not there during a time when they had the shop and craftsman working, so I can't speak to that, but I'm certain it's very cool. I did find out that they do ship if you're concerned about taking your items or being overweight in your luggage.