Is it any good to visit Alaska in wintertime?

I was supposed to take a vacation to Asia from December to January, but obviously had to cancel it. I thought of just traveling domestically to somewhere I've never been to.

A google search came up with the Winter package from Alaska Rail Road. It's a 'daytime' train from Anchorage to Fairbanks. There's some 'day' tours I can take in either ANC or FAI, then I have to buy an air ticket from FAI back to ANC. I was told that in Winter, there's only about 6 hours of sunlight in AK. But the trains and tours operate through winter, so I guess there's demand (I suppose mostly for Aurora tours).

Any insights?

Guest Services

Alaska Railroad Corporation

(Phone): 1-907-265-2494 (Toll-Free): 1-800-544-0552

Summer Hours: Mon-Fri 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat-Sun 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Winter Hours: Mon-Fri 7 a.m. � 5 p.m. Sat 7 a.m. � 3 p.m. Sun - Closed

[email protected]

Thank you for your reply. I DID call them and spoke with an agent prior to posting above.

Perhaps my original post was not clear, I was asking about any experience or tips from those who have traveled to AK for a winter vacation.

Thank you in advance for any insights.

I booked a MR for February 2021. I have a 48 h tournaround a k a why I contacted Alaska Rail.
The last time I was there was in the summer. So I don't have direct winter experience. Sorry!

I was in Fairbanks a couple years ago for a long weekend around this time of the year. It was clearly shoulder or even low season and I liked that. Weather was crisp with pretty leaves and it was nice to walk around town, wearing a coat of course.

Why not either take the train in both directions (I'm not sure how frequently it operates in winter) or fly directly home from Fairbanks?

Train goes from Anchorage (morning) to Fairbanks (evening) on Saturdays in winter, and does the return with the same times on Sunday. I would have a less than 24H stop in Fairbanks. Not sure there is enough to do in Fairbanks for a whole week - I was thinking of only spending two or three nights there.

I think the main attraction of Alaska to me in winter is the aurora.

I have taken the winter train from FAI to ANC. It was beautiful scenery, although it is a long day. It was dark by the time we got to Wasilla, so probably the last hour or so of the trip. Presumably it will be similarly dark by the time you get to FAI from ANC as well, and that last stretch to FAI is actually quite pretty iirc.

Once there, you can always go to Chena Hot Springs (and have your hair freeze on your head!). We saw the aurora from town, but if out, it should be even better from Chena, worth staying overnight there maybe.

Not sure if there is one next year, but Fairbanks has an ice festival that ends around mid March or so. It was a fun thing to go do, if you are there around that time.

I have not been, but there is a reindeer farm that does tours and also has a cabin for rent, don�t recall the name. I don�t remember if that was seasonal or not, didn�t have time for it last time I was in Fairbanks, but it looked interesting.

It will be cold, bundle up!