Visitor Information
The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center, downtown at the corner of Wendell and Dunkel streets, houses the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau (tel. 800/327-5774 or 907/456-5774; fax 907/459-3787; www.explorefairbanks.com) and the Alaska Public Lands Information Center (tel. 907/459-3730; www.alaskacenters.gov), as well as a nonprofit Alaska Geographic book and gift store (tel. 907/459-3710; www.alaskageographic.org), and cultural and educational programs. The center has information kiosks in the main lobby, as well as a video nook featuring films about the area and Alaska. The visitor bureau's staff and volunteers answer questions and provide useful maps, driving tour pamphlets, and walking tour audio players, and can help you find a room with their daily vacancy listing (weekly in winter). The building has free Wi-Fi, and several computers are set up for free e-mail access or to look up travel information. Visitor bureau hours are May to mid-September daily 8am to 9pm; the rest of the year the bureau is open daily 8am to 5pm, with shorter hours on holidays. The organization also has information desks at the airport and train depot, staffed summer only, and at Pioneer Park, closed entirely off season.
The Alaska Public Lands Information Center (tel. 907/459-3730; www.alaskacenters.gov) staffs an information counter at the Morris Thompson Center, as well as tables where you can spread out maps and computers to gather trip-planning information. This is an indispensable stop for anyone planning to spend time in the outdoors. The staff is remarkably knowledgeable and can tell you about trips and activities based on first-hand experience. The counter operates in summer daily 9am to 6pm, in winter Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm.
The Morris Thompson Center as a whole also is worth visiting, with impressive exhibits, naturalist programs, a theater that features daily free films, and summertime classes, workshops, and demonstrations teaching about Athabascan culture put on by local Native organizations. Parking is free and plentiful.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
