Extended Stay America

While visiting Alaska is a truly unmatched experience, hearing a perspective from one of the state's most highly regarded residents will shed a new light on various aspects of the area that you might have missed. Fortunately for tourists, that person is Mary Shields. The popular Alaskan Tails of the Trail with Mary Shields is an opportunity to share a personal home visit with this celebrated Alaskan musher and author. Her insights focus on her famous sled dogs, but Shields also is a splendid storyteller and her accounts of various events of Alaska's past are quite entertaining.

The Howling Dog Saloon in Fairbanks is one of those nightlife places where comfort is the rule. This charmingly casual watering hole frequently features live music as well as an always enthusiastic crowd. There's also an excellent beer selection and an inviting menu of appetizers, sandwiches and more. Plus, you can also enjoy the big game on one of the many flat screen televisions that are placed throughout the bar.

Of all the traditions that are still honored in Alaska, the Yukon Quest Dog Sled Race is one that is as challenging as it is enduring. This is a 1,000 mile international trek that takes place “at the top of the world” in the Yukon and Alaska wilderness of northwestern North America. Held every February, the race runs its course starting from either Whitehorse, Yukon, or Fairbanks, Alaska. To say that undertaking this race is a test of skill and fortitude is an understatement. Despite the bitterly cold conditions, participants and spectators alike respectfully acknowledge Alaska's time-tested tradition of traveling by dog sled.

The Fairbanks Ice Dogs is a Tier II Junior A ice hockey team with the North American Hockey League's West Division. The sports team plays its home games in the 2,200-seat Big Dipper Ice Arena in Fairbanks. The team's main rival is the Wenatchee Wild.