Oh man, was this the coolest experience? Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable as well and we…read morehad great conversations. Being able to have contact with such a majestical creature was so cool. They let you feed them as well. This definitely isn't one of those experiences where they are just trying to get you in and out. We didn't feel rushed whatsoever, and had such a great time. A heads up for any tourists out there like me. If you come closer to winter or in the break up season, there is a lot of hardened snow and ice on the roads. I would definitely recommend getting a rental car that has four-wheel-drive. It was my first time ever driving on snow/ice like that. It wasn't too scary. Other than a couple moments when I had to stop and turn around. I could definitely see myself getting stuck if I didn't have a car that had four-wheel-drive. So just be mindful of that. Overall, it was a really beautiful drive though. And if you're going in the summer, you shouldn't have any problem on the roads. You could always call ahead and ask the staff with the road conditions are ahead of booking. But you definitely need to book this! There is also a really cool building where you meet your instructor that has a really beautiful view. There are also a couple of walking trails nearby that you can go down. And there is a coffee shop inside that had a decent latte. I believe they also serve food, though we didn't end up ordering anything, I did see other people eating. When we were trying to find our way there, we did get a little bit lost. But there is signage on the road on the left-hand side if you're heading north. They are part of a larger event booking. You'll see something on the right hand side that looks like a bunch of viewing domes. Then right after that the turn is on the left.

This was a lovely experience. Highly recommend! I really enjoyed the educational aspect of the tour…read moreand learning about the reindeer, and I also really enjoyed being able to interact with the reindeer and watch them graze in the woods. The walk through the woods was leisurely. There were no kids on my tour, but this would be an excellent family experience. It was the perfect length for an activity.

My partner and I had an incredible experience with Ronn and Marketa at the Aurora Chasers in…read moreFebruary 2026. We met Ronn & Marketa for the night tour at an accessible & central meeting spot in Fairbanks, as we were staying ~20 min away. Ronn drove the comfortable van while Marketa analyzed satellite data for cloud coverage and predicted the best places to see the aurora. We saw brilliant aurora from the moment we arrived in our spot for the night! I brought my own DSLR and my partner rented a camera; we loved the guidance on how to photograph the sky. Marketa also took stunning portraits of us. From the get-go, their communication was outstanding. The Aurora Chasers website fully prepared us for what to buy/wear to stay warm in -40 to -20F weather. If you're interested in seeing the Northern Lights, I highly recommend taking a tour. My partner and I were not equipped to drive on icy, snowy roads late at night and to navigate weather data on our own - Ronn & Marketa made it possible for us to experience clear skies and thus vivid, magical aurora during our trip to Fairbanks.

After reading all the reviews on Trip Advisor/Viator, and Google, I chose to go with The Aurora…read moreChasers, owned and ran by Ron and Marketa. Having a little bit of DSLR experience, I needed a tour company that didn't just drop me off into a warm hut with hot chocolate, but someone with photography expertise to help me operate in the raw elements of Alaska. I did my research with ALL the local Aurora companies. The Aurora Chasers are the only ones with professional educational videos of Aurora photography on YouTube, have an Aurora cam on their own very easy to navigate informative website. You can also rent cameras and tripods in advance from them. While on the way to a remote area with a beautiful private view to catch the Aurora, they educated us on everything about the Aurora. They played videos on a big screen inside the tour bus, which they produced themselves. They provided us information about the Aurora, and very specific instructions adjusting settings on your specific DSLR and cell phone. They have thorough knowledge of canon, sony, and nikon, and cell phone settings, and I'm almost positive they could figure out any other branded cameras. It blew my mind and excited the inner tech nerd in me. I really liked how although they gave us the freedom to shoot as we chose, they always checked up on us if we needed any help with our camera settings, and even provided hot chocolate. There were various people shooting that night spread out on different locations and they managed to get to every single one of us to make sure we were happy and comfortable. Marketa took amazingly beautiful portraits of my wife and I with the Aurora in the background! She got deep in the snow just to get the right angle! Thank you Ron and Marketa!!! You made this our favorite vacation!!!

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".

Excellent tour, terrific step pack into history, and wonderful experience! Take the kids!read more

This place was assigned to me as part of a tour package. On my own, I am not sure if I would have…read morechosen to do this activity. I liked the history portion, but the actual panning of gold, I had limited patience. However, staff saw this and were available to lend a hand.

It was a great time learning about the animals. The tour started on time, with lots of good info…read morefrom the student guide. We were able to see and hear about the reindeer, muskox, and bison. They've got a small gift shop and a variety of artifacts inside to see up close. Enjoyable tour.

This Large Animal Research Station was a pleasant visit while spending the day in Fairbanks,…read moreAlaska. I came here back in the middle of June 2021, and they opened at 10am for a 1 hour guided tour. When I walked inside the research station, I was able to purchase a ticket at the gift shop. From my memory it was $10. We waited a few minutes to see if anyone else would join me on the tour, but I was the only one. Cool! I got my very own personalized tour! And...this Large Animal Research Station is run by students from the University of Alaska - Fairbanks so yes, a student gave me a tour of the grounds and provided insightful information on everything about the two primary animals they house...the musk ox and caribou (or more commonly known as reindeer). In general, I'd say we spent about 35 of the 60 minutes hanging out and talking about the musk ox...a very interesting animal that I had never even heard about prior to coming to Alaska. The other 25 minutes were spent by the caribou (reindeer). Btw...lol, I know the difference between caribou and reindeer.... A caribou is a reindeer set out in the wild, and a reindeer is one that has been domesticated. Obviously, the reindeer were pretty cute, and it would've been fun to have had a chance to make nice with or possibly pet them. Unfortunately, they were behind a fence though they did approach us when the guide handed them some tree branch leaves to munch on. And same thing with the musk ox. They were exclusively behind the fence as well though just like the reindeer, they happily approached us when they spotted tree branch leaves being set beside their fence. I will say that the musk ox are dangerous to the point where they cannot be allowed to interact with humans and or tourists, but the reindeer are a different story. And that sort of leads me to my next point... Okay so here at the Large Animal Research Station you have featured these musk ox and reindeer. But actually, during my itinerary through Alaska I was visiting two specific farms solely dedicated to both the musk ox and reindeer. These farms were located in Palmer, Alaska...about 330 miles south from here in Fairbanks. Though, they fit in well with my entire journey, so I kind of felt like here at the Research Station it was a good introduction and "preview" to the main events out on the farms in Palmer, AK. Just briefly mentioning them, the Reindeer Farm in Palmer is totally hands on for the 1-hour tour where you can feed, pet and cuddle with all the reindeer. It was an absolutely beautiful and memorable experience for me! Meanwhile the Musk Ox Farm in Palmer was 1 hour as well but once again the animals are enclosed behind fencing due to safety reasons. And so, the Musk Ox Farm wasn't nearly as good as the Reindeer Farm, but I highly recommend both in Palmer. Finally, getting back to here at the Large Animal Research Station, it was still a worthwhile 1-hour tour where I definitely took away a lot of good info about the animals. And plus getting to speak with the tour guide and have their full undivided attention was great. I felt like a VIP and got to be as close to the musk ox and reindeer as possible without actually touching them. As the tour ended, I returned to the gift shop hoping to buy a souvenir but unfortunately when looking around inside never found anything that piqued my interest. Though...I did sign the Visitor Logbook saying that I officially made it here, lol. Regardless that I didn't get an opportunity to pet/feed the musk ox or reindeer, I still enjoyed my 1-hour tour on the grounds of this the Large Animal Research Station. For those tourists visiting Fairbanks, I'd certainly recommend making a stop here and getting a chance to learn more about these two distinct animals commonly found in Alaska. And for $10 it's also good to help fund students and their research here at the University of Alaska - Fairbanks.

Mary Shields, you are a saint!! This very sweet woman is a…read moregem to be around! Not only is she a sweet woman, she is a tough survivor with deep knowledge of everything Mushing related. We were greeted with hot drinks and home made brownies as she shared with us her story, which is beautiful. Her love for dogs surpasses anything I have ever experienced, to include each night before she goes to bed, howling to her pups from her wheelchair and listening to them respond from the outdoor kennel. We had tears in our eyes as she got choked up numerous times about her sheer passion for these beautiful animals. The first ever woman finisher of the Iditarod!! What an honor it was to meet you, spoil your furry children with love, and listen to your life story. I highly recommend anyone to spend this amazing experience with Mary and her dogs.

We called this morning to go for the 10AM tour. When we got there we met one of the most…read morefascinating people I have ever met. We enjoyed playing with the dogs very much!! They are sweet, precious dogs. Mary was so personable!! She let us play with the dogs and then brought us into her house for coffee, cookies and questions. The house was absolutely adorable. Mary is well spoken, kind and gentle soul. I do hope she will write a biography.

I went on an air tour of Gates of the Arctic National Park with Northern Alaska Tour Company. I had…read moreto be there by 6 and we left around 7. We flew to the town of Coldfoot, about an hour away and 60 miles north of the Arctic Circle. We landed, a guide picked us up and showed us around town then took us to the restaurant/general store. We got our preordered food, ate, visited the national park visitor center, then returned to the airport. At that point, we got back on the plane, did our air tour of the park, landed briefly at Coldfoot to let people off the plane, then returned to Fairbanks around midnight. This was a really cool experience and I'm glad I went. NATC did a great job lining everything up and making sure things went smoothly. The flight(s) were good and enjoyable. The park was beautiful and flying was a great way to see it - I'm sure I saw far more than those who trek in on foot. Surprisingly, I really enjoyed our stop in Coldfoot. It was interesting to see how people lived in the Arctic and I even saw one of the places we went on an episode of Ice Road Truckers since I got back, which was cool. I was happy with the whole experience and I would recommend them.

Started this tour in the rain. We were told if we had to land plane at another stop our lunch money…read morewould be refunded. We'll we had to stop at beetles lodge. Still sitting here. There will be no ground tour from here. That was never mentioned so here we sit in a dumpy restaurant til it's time to take off again. For almost $1,200 definitely not worth it. Added note Matt the owner? Refunded a part of our money.

Eleanor was VERY pleasant when we arrived!…read more We filled out our waivers, had to use their outhouse which was an experience and not of the good variety lol Jimmy was my musher OH MAN! That was MY GUY! He was VERY passionate about his dogs. He told me alllll about them, mushing, Alaska etc you name it, we chatted about it during our ride. Loved the trail, nice scenery and the dogs go at a nice pace so you can talk and chat. They gave me a sleeping bag for my feet so I wasn't cold at all minus my face. Would for sure do it if it's your first time in Fairbanks or haven't done it ever.

Wow, wow, wow!!!!! YES, we loved the experience!!! Eleanor is incredible with the children, and…read moregrown ups too:). Her dogs are definitely her children, and she should get parenting awards! I had no idea how peaceful and connected the experience would be for our family. Yes, yes and yes.

What an amazing experience hosted by Alaska Aurora photographers Frank & Miriam Stelges! One of…read moretheir employees, Lindsay came and picked us up at our Fairbanks VRBO at 8:30am and got us back home again around 4am. It was nice having their home to duck back into, de-thaw and enjoy some of the fresh soup, bread and beverages offered. They have the sweetest dogs and were very friendly! Aurora Bear Experience: Frank & Miriam Stelges were such a wonderful couple and opened their home to our group on New Year's Day 2025 for a basic Aurora photography course. Their 144 acre property is in a super dark and nice location with sweeping northern views of beautiful Alaskan forest and of course an epic spot to watch and capture the Aurora borealis on film. Frank and his assistant, Lindsay, were packed with knowledge and tips to capture good nighttime photography. I am an absolute brand new beginner and Frank, Miriam & Lindsay quickly got me up to speed and capturing stellar Aurora photos the whole evening. Frank uses easy to understand analogies to foster better understanding of your camera so you really begin to understand why you set up the camera the way you do and what to change as the Aurora's brightness fades and rallies again! Lindsay was the one who picked us up and dropped us off at our VRBO. She had great local knowledge and tips and was willing to find dark roads off to the side to capture the Aurora when we were en route or on our way back. I cannot say enough good things about these beautiful folks. I'm definitely coming back and definitely sharing their website with other friends and family.

From the owner: We do not offer any tours in 2025/2026read more

I was skeptical but $180ish (after $20 fishing license and tip) for a half-day fishing trip down…read morethe Chena River turned out to be worth it. For us, it included floating at a brisk pace 5 miles down a river that was in places only a few inches deep, surrounded by spruce and birch trees, with occasional stops to fish in the arctic grayling hotspots (and Joe knew well where they were), with glimpses of several duck species and ravens chasing bald eagles and other things you just don't get to see in the lower 48. Joe has an impressive knowledge of the flora, fauna, and geology of the area. He's also one of the few guides "with it" enough to have an online presence. He's a quiet and likeable guy. Hard to imagine you'd be disappointed with this trip. Caution/disclaimer: I cannot say how the other guided trips compare to the one we did (half-day arctic grayling on the Chena River in early May), or how other Wilderness Enterprises guides compare to Joe, or how the other guided fishing or hunting companies compare to Wilderness Enterprises. (But I can say that I had a good time. And I suspect you would, too.)

Wilderness Enterprisess is top notch! Hunted with Master Guide Joe Letarte in 2010 and had a 5…read morestar experience. Shot my first black bear and had the trip if a lifetime! Thank you Joe!!!