Fairbanks, Alaska

Fairbanks is located fairly close to the center of the state, about 360 miles north of Anchorage. At approximately 82,000 people, Fairbanks is a smaller city which is known for its cosmopolitan hustle and bustle and rustic charm.

Fairbanks' history as a city started in 1902 when it was founded as a trading post for gold miners. The city then became known as "The Golden Heart of Alaska." The city was also a stopover point for World War II planes traveling to Russia.

Tourists will be interested in visiting Fairbank's museums, the trans-Alaska pipeline, riverboats, and, on a very clear day, Denali. Unfortunately, the northern lights are not visible in summer as the sky is never quite dark enough. The summers are very long, and midnight baseball and midnight golf are popular summer recreation activities for tourists and locals alike. Every year, the city holds a World Ice Art Championship.

Fairbanks' unique location 190 miles south of the Arctic Circle means that, the city has very long summer days, some of which can be over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact, the longest summer day is nearly 22 hours long (the "Midnight Sun"). Also, the shortest winter day of the year has less than 3 hours of sunlight. Weather-wise, the city is extremely moody. Rapid temperature changes are common, and winters are very long, lasting from September to mid-April.

Fans of the Aurora Borealis will be very happy in Fairbanks; the light display can reportedly be seen about 200 days per year in and around the city.

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