Thanks. The purpose to go there in Nov is because there is the time I can get tickets using Delta Skymiles (the purpose is to burn my sky pesos in a worthwhile fashion.) My original plan is to walk around in town with all the winter gear. I am happy with doing nothing as I have zero expectation except 25000 skymiles poorer. Thanks again for your response.

I had booked a ticket in earlier April, but I had to cancel because of unexpected work came up. I will lose my delta platinum at the end of Feb, and with all my MRs, it is hard to find a weekend to go to Barrows (subject to my weekend without MR, and AS award space, and delta award rule -- 3 segments each way.)

I went to Fairbanks last Oct to see the aurora. Stayed 5 nights. Saw it 3 nights. Spectacular show on the last night when we took a tour to the Arctic Circle. Best viewing times according to what we were told is 10 pm to 2 am, but our best viewing was around 4 am.

Actually it is 3 connections (4 segments) each way. Wish you could come a different time - really not much to do in November. When I went in September I was able to see a Barrow HS football game (you can google it to see the story behind their field) and was able to find someone to bring me on an ATV to Point Barrow, which is inaccessible by vehicle (basically going over a sandy beach).

are you sure? I thought domestic is 3 segments, and international is 4 segments? special rule for Alaska?

is it 4 hours rule for connection?

walked around the town. got my feet wet at the arctic ocean (accidentally).
attended a talk at Arctic research center.
(they have a shuttle bus to ferry people from the library to the center which is half way between barrow and point barrow.)

Out of interest, did you stay at the Top of the World Hotel?

See post #44. It was only a day trip.

Facinating thread!
 

I just stumbled across this thread, and needless to say found it absolutely fascinating. Probably from a different perspective than most though! I've lived in Barrow for the past 15 years and just prior to that spent 2 decades in Fairbanks.

Since this thread clearly shows up on google searches (!) and gets resurrected every few months, I wanted to add some comments and recommendations. First, my email and website are listed in my profile, and I am comfortable answering questions about Barrow. I do not do commercial tours, but 1) I know everybody that does and 2) I often connect with people via email and then spend time with them when they get here. I'm a bit of a history and culture buff, and a photographer. It's pretty easy to keep a visitor very busy here for two or three days...

As for the aurora, Fairbanks offers greater potential to actually see it, because in February and March the sky is more likely to be cloud free. The auroral activity in Barrow is almost exactly the same as Fairbanks. Barrow is on the northern edge of the activity band, and Fairbanks is on the southern edge. Neither is particularly good in the fall, as that is the "rainy season" in Fairbanks. September on the average in Barrow has perhaps 25 days with cloudy skies, and in October it is 30 days! In either location February through March is the best time, but by the end of March the days in Barrow are getting too long. In either location the temperatures in February and March are cold, though Fairbanks can be significantly colder than Barrow. There is no wind on a cold day in Fairbanks, while in Barrow the wind is always blowing.

Otherwise, Barrow is a vastly more interesting place to spend a few days... if you are into adventure. Alaska is an adventurous place, and Barrow is the most adventurous place in Alaska. Barrow does not have fancy restaurants (just good ones) or fancy hotels, no bars or nightclubs, and there are no tourist traps of any kind. There are no signs telling you where to be entertained, or how. All of the hotels are good enough. All of the taxis are too. The worst restaurant isn't bad, but if you want more food at better prices and a chance to see some photography and get good advice on what's to do, go straight to Sam & Lee's. Ask any cab driver, and they'll get you there.

Fairbanks is a nice bit of "small town America". If that is what you want, you will not be disappointed. But frankly the Lower-48 is loaded with towns just about the same, and it is a waste of good money to come to Alaska to see what you've got 100 miles down the road.

Barrow is not like anything in the Lower-48. The population is very international, with a large number Filipino, Thai, Samoan, Tongan, Korean, Hawaiian, Mexican and Americans mixed in with the predominant Inupiat people. You cannot do anything without interacting with at least 4 or 5 different cultures and languages. But make no mistake, the predominant culture is Inupiat Eskimo. All politics and most of the social life here surrounds the Inupiat value system. That includes schools, the city and Borough governments, the stores, the museums, the library, the college... everything.

And you cannot even begin to find out what is here in a one day stay. Three or four is a good number, if (and only if) you do some homework and pick the right times to come.

http://apaflo.com/gallery3/d4a_0282.s.jpg

Last August about four miles southwest of Barrow on the beach. A couple of young fellows visiting Barrow got an unexpected treat. The bear is munching on a walrus carcass that had washed up.

http://apaflo.com/gallery3/d8a_6860.s.jpg

A youngster ripples the baleen on a Bowhead whale harvested by his father's crew.

It's been closed since August 31, when Pepe's North of the Border burned to the ground. The fire significantly damaged the hotel. Not too much structural damage, but extensive smoke damage. It is not going to be reopened either, as construction of its replacement had already begun and has now been put on the fast track for completion next spring.

My wife and I spent a day in Barrow in December 2011, and it was the highlight of our 8 day trip to Alaska. We got a nice tour of the town from a local resident that we befriended on the flight up - toured the Iñupiat Heritage Center, had lunch at Pepe's, and spent some time at the Qitik (Christmas) Games. Our only regret was that we could not spend more time there.

It is everything that apaflo says - a truly unique cultural experience.

-JimG

I wondered about what they will do about the hotel because I stayed there on the night the restaurant burned down. Fortunately my stuff were not smoke damaged when I went to collect from my room in the morning after.

Were you by any chance in the group they took to Sam & Lee's for breakfast at about 6 or 7 that morning? If so, we've met! I watched the fire for awhile and then went to Sam & Lee's for coffee. When the group of "refugees" started showing up I called Mrs Kim, the owner, to let her know the cook needed some help. She literally burst into tears at hearing about the fire. She and Fran Tate have been friends for 30 years; and she has had her restaurant catch fire twice in those 30 years, so she knows...

The original plan was that the new hotel would be finished either next fall or the spring of 2015, I can't remember which now. The pilings had been put in and the modules were on the barge. The plan was that the old hotel would be converted to office space when the new hotel came on line.

After the fire they determined they could put the new hotel on the fast track and have it open just about as soon as they'd be able to re-open the old one. Hence there is just no point in rebuilding the old one as a hotel.

At this time the space where Pepe's was has been cleared and is functioning as a much needed parking lot for the bank and Savat Center right next to it and for ASRC across the road in one direction and the police station across the other road.

No, we stayed at some ex military/scientific base out near the school that morning until around 10am then straight to the airport.

Thanks for the summary of what has happened since, fascinating to know. ^^

I am thinking of a trip to Fairbanks in February with my son. Want to knock off a bucket item and book a return with an overnight in Barrow. At that time of year will I be able to get a tour guide to take us to Point Barrow for a photo with the bones? Will I be able to walk out on the Arctic Ocean? Any chance to see polar bears? Thanks.

February should be a great time... if you can deal with cold. The sun starts coming up on January 23rd, and by February 15th there is light (including twilight) from 9AM until 6:30PM. But there is no way to predict the weather, and that is usually the coldest time of the year. It would be typical to expect -30F, though it might be anything from -20F to -45F.

Cold won't stop the tour guides though. But that's a soap opera anyway! There is no point in trying to get reservations, as it just depends on who is in town, has a working vehicle, and isn't tied up with something else. I like Nathaniel Rexford with Arriga Tours, Mike Shults, and Mike Toovak. They are all great people who know what they are doing. The best way to do it is try calling them a couple days in advance, then get off the plane and immediately start checking to see what is going to work. You can ask at the hotels, and Mrs Kim at Sam & Lee's restaurant will also help track down a tour guide (she knows everybody).

Frankly, your chances of seeing a bear are none. Unless you do! Sometimes there are bears everywhere, other times they just aren't here. On the average, tourists don't see them. But if you don't go look it isn't possible, and if you do see one it's fantastic!-