Pier 1 Imports

If you are visiting Alaska, one thing that will strike you about the whole experience is how genuine both the people and the surroundings are. So, if you are thinking of purchasing a souvenir for yourself or a friend, you want to make sure that the item is just as genuine as the place it comes from. That is what makes the Knotty Shop so special. Not only do they offer an extensive selection of all-Alaskan made gifts, it is also a wildlife museum, a gun collection and ice cream shop all in one convenient and very entertaining place.

The World Ice Art Championships take place in Fairbanks every March. The competition is held over the course of eleven very dramatic and excitement-filled days. The event attracts the best ice sculptors in the world as they display their considerable talents in various competitive classes. Among the many categories, two of the most popular are abstract and realistic ice sculptures. The public is invited to watch the sculptures being created during the first two weeks in March and then to view the finished work during the last two weeks of the month. The festival is held at Ice Alaska's Ice Park which not only features the competition but also offers a kids' park with rides and other attractions.

Some of the best attractions in Alaska are the natural kind, and you can see them up close when you take time to visit the Large Animal Research Station in Fairbanks. This is actually one of the more popular attractions in the area, as the facility has thousands of visitors each year. The large number of people who walk through the doors of the Large Animal Research Station is understandable as they all look forward to seeing such indigenous creatures as muskoxen and caribou at a dramatically close distance.