The 23 best parks and gardens in Fairbanks

We had a good time walking around the SS Nenana and the Harding Car. Very cool originals! We also enjoyed walking around and visiting the shops that were open - got a neat moose w/babies print at a shop (her original photography). Looks like they’re upgrading playground equipment for the kids. There’s also a very neat, older carousel. Got to also ride the little train twice around for a few bucks.

Original buildings rescued from around town were placed in this park along with a railcar and a steamboat. Local vendors sell local crafts, souvenirs and food. There is a museum that accepts donations. The other side of the park has rides suitable for young children. We enjoyed our visit.

Cute little park to take your family in Fairbanks. They have an amazing playground with a splash pad and swings. They have a old paddle boat you can take tours of, an art museum, lots of shopping and some wonderful food vendors. Would definitely go again.

Its a cute park that my friend and I visited. It has kind of old town architecture that makes it feel like old country times. The reason I gave 4 stars is because we rode the train but it broke down halfway into the ride so everyone that was on had to get off from a kinda steep hill. I didn't try to get a refund since it was only $3

It’s amazing! I’ll hand it to whoever must of thought to move all those houses years ago to save them. It great to see how each one is still being used in its own way. Loved it.

We were there at the end of the season so many of the attractions and shops were already closed. We did enjoy the shops that were open and walking around the grounds. We will visit again during the open season.

What a charming spot to wander around! Free to walk around, little shops and historical buildings to explore. Food reasonably priced too! We spent hours enjoying our visit.

With a cheap entry fee and lots of Alaskan aviation history, it's hard to pass this place up. There's an interactive helicopter exhibit for aviation enthusiasts of all sizes. If you need a place to get away from the big crowds, make a stop here.

This is located in pioneer park. It is a smaller museum but does display some interesting exhibitions.

Great place to just walk around and view the scenery. When available you can see some of Alaskas History or visit the shops.

They had some really good exhibits- but they completely left Joe Crosson out- Joe Crosson and Gilliam found Eilsens wrecked plane in Siberia - Joe was known as the Mercy Pilot for his role in settling Alaska- leaving him out was a blatant move - and we were not happy- my husbands father, Lon Dean Crosson, was Joes first cousin- we came all the way from Atlanta to follow Joes time here- very disappointed!! Joe Crosson’s archive collection is the largest at the Rasmussen Library- you need to spend some time researching!

First, visitors to Fairbanks should note that this is a seasonal museum; closed during the winter. This is a pretty small museum, but it the space is crammed full of interesting exhibits that are a thrill to aviation fans like myself. It does a good job of telling the story of flying in Alaska.

Interesting small museum of Alaskan aviation history. Recommend for aviation enthusiasts

Very worthwhile to attend while you are at the park. All kinds of planes, helicopters, and history. I saw and was able to sit in a Huey helicopter which was used during the Vietnam war. Very sobering experience looking at all of the past sorts of air flight, including a Hoovercraft. Lots of time was well spent setting this up. I was totally amazed. It's costs 4 bucks per person after 5:00pm. I was there before 5:00pm, but still my wife and I left a donation.

Really awesome museum offering free admission for rail and train lovers. I do wish they had better posted hours as it was closed when I went on a Thursday afternoon. Taking a peek through the doors seems to offer a variety of train full size as well as smaller memorabilia.

Guy working was a pleasure chatting with, train ride was closed but enjoy the small workshop.

Great place to know the history of the Railroads of the area. Gary was very informative about the museum and explained me so much. it was an interesting story to hear how the train head in the museum was shipped from Petersburg, Pennsylvania to St Michael, Alaska all around North and South America back in 1899 because there was no Panama canal and then on a Paddlewheel boat to Chena. Gary you are the best Thank you

This place is amazing! The work they do for the engine they have restored is exceptional! They are all volunteers and they donate hours of their own time and of their own money to be able to continue their efforts. They are always looking for volunteers! When they run their locomotive it is one of a kind!

Great museum to visit what's the information Tanana Valley Railroad great people to talk with can't wait for summer time Memorial Day to run the steam locomotive

Curator was very kind.

The park and museum are open from noon to 8 p.m. daily between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

This was a great location for us to use as a base camp while seeing some of the areas and going up to the Arctic Circle. We had a deluxe patio site that was fantastic. They have a great playground for kids, several dog areas, games on the deck by the Chena River, and swings you can sit on and enjoy the river. Bathrooms were very clean. Showers were great too. I did several loads of laundry. They have plenty of washing machines and dryers. It is $4.00 to wash and $3.25 to dry. There is a gift shop and food items in the office. I love that they keep you informed as to when they are closing for lunch and a reminder before they close at night so you can get those last minute items you might need. The staff is amazing and so very nice. I loved chatting with them. This is the Northernmost KOA. Hopefully we will get to visit Alaska again and we will definitely stay here. Thanks for a great stay!!

We have stayed here many times over the last four years, spending a week to two weeks as a base for traveling throughout the North Star Borough. Friendly folks always staff it, and the campground is in excellent condition. It's nice to sit by the Chena River as it slowly flows past the backside of this beautiful place. I highly recommend the Fairbanks/Chena KOA

Convenience to Fairbanks. Consistent services and cleanliness. Site backed into woods and was more private. I see they are now monetizing privacy levels which is smart. The showers are separate from the bathrooms but in same building. But the showers have no plug so after the shower if you want to sue a hair dryer you have to walk around the building to the bathrooms which is ok just need to plan for it. Having unisex showers individually has pros and cons. Privacy yes but if you need other things like an outlet or toilet not so convenient. There was a waste basket In the shower and I put the hair i removed from the drain there, but would have been nice to have something to grab it with like tissue paper. Plenty of hooks which is appreciated and a bench. The shelves in the shower stall were kinda small and narrow but held most of my products. Shower curtains had bears and moose which were fun. Bathrooms were also very clean and I thanked and complimented the cleaning woman on the cleanliness. She was working hard.

We usually boondock all summer, but being so late in the season, we opted to enjoy hookups and clean hot showers! We are so greatful we chose to stay here! The new owner was very friendly and helpful and we can tell he takes pride in the campground! We appreciate the wonderful stay and will be back if we find ourselves around Fairbanks again.

Very nice place. Just make sure you do not get sites 1-5… those are basically a parking lot behind a convenient store. The rest of the park is nice and they accommodated our changing schedule! Will be back! Beautiful area in back to site by the river too!

We are State/National/Provential Park people, so rarely stay at KOA or private parks. Have to say, this has been a GREAT place to stay for the last 4 nights! Very clean, well staffed, large property, full hookups. Clean (free) showers and restrooms. 2 places for the dogs to run off leash. Swings by the river. Outdoor game area. You get the picture. We were extremely pleased with the accomodations! Highly recommend!

We stayed here for 4 nights initially and extended 5 more nights. We joined the membership of KOA and received discounted rate only for a few nights, after that we were charged regular rate. We found out the KOA website showing $95 for non members, we asked them what was the members rate, the lady said $95. When we needed their clarification why members or non have the same rates? She said it depends on the day and season, well, didn’t their website factor all that into consideration? They simply charged the credit card on file without giving a receipt or invoice showing members benefits.

We just stayed there for two nights and it was very positive experience. The only issue is that only one sink functioned in the ladies room, but the gents was fine. It’s a small wooded campground with level sites and electric. Also make use of the dump/fresh water station. Staff was very friendly. Not for larger rigs such as Class A or fifth-wheels but that’s really the only caveat.

When camping locations are limited this place was better than nothing indeed. There was a nice camp host a the recently remodeled bathrooms still need some work. The don’t look pretty but they are indeed functional. They have washers and dryers that function. They also have a change machine if you don’t have quarters. There were a few people who showed up and camped and did not have vehicles. This seemed strange but the camp host addressed it and gave us a different spot. Yes there are some long-term campers but they were no problem at all. If your tent camping and can stay away from the t40s it more quiet. Best to reserve online and if walking up try to be there by 5.

Stay Away! That’s our experience, we’ve been full time RVing for five years. Transients using shower facilities and plugging phones into outlets. The road through looks like a bombing zone. Location to downtown Fairbanks was about the only good thing we have to say. The pictures speak for themselves. I hate to give bad reviews, but when I brought up the transient issue the lady staff members said they know and their location was hard to control the grounds.

Laurie was so nice, she was worried about us that we are fine because we reached there very late. we just camp there for 2 nights and we feel very safe. Bathroom was nice and clean.

this is a nicely wooded and well laid out campground next to the fair. the host was friendly, helpful and hard working - keeping the facilities clean and the campground well organized and quiet. electric hookups in the camp sites and a free dump station and free drinking water. my wife and I really enjoyed our time here.

Rooms=RV site. Wide sites in the woods. Water inside the laundry room delicious. From the outside hose- chlorine!!!! Yuck. Perfect location even during the Tanana Fair- trees helped mute the sounds some. Gentleman at the front is helpful and nice. Internet slow

Probably the worst place we have ever stayed. They have many spots that appear to be long term people. 11:00 p.m. and still outside yelling.

The place opens at 5pm. We spent some time exploring Pioneer Park before heading here to eat. Great selection of food and beverages. Both outdoor and indoor seating areas are available. I ordered fire grilled salmon with cauliflower rice. Lots of rice but the size of the salmon was a bit small given the price, in my opinion. It was flavorful, though. We went on a 80F day. Indoor seating had no AC. It was very hot but cold drinks helped!

Outdoorcsalmon bake. Salad bar had great tasting sides. I enjoyed the salmon, fried cod, and prime rib. Had some mixed reviews from others in out party.

When you go to a seafood restaurant, you expect the fish to be the star of the show. Sadly, ours didn’t even make it past the audition. The salmon was so overcooked it could’ve been repurposed as a hockey puck, and the halibut? Let’s just say it was dry enough to qualify as a desert exhibit. The sides were so unseasoned, I started wondering if the chef had taken a vow against spices. Honestly, the only thing saving this meal from complete disaster was the prime rib egg rolls—those were the Beyoncé of the night while the seafood played backup vocals from a mile away. If you’re going for seafood, you might want to bring your own seasoning and a gallon of sauce. But hey, if you like prime rib egg rolls, you’re in luck—they’re the real catch here.

We were not expecting this to be on the park but it turned out to be great. The line moved quickly. There was seating in the dining room. The music level was fine for eating, it is only loud at the doorway. Surprisingly the salmon was very good

2025 This place is a lot more than the Pit-baked, fresh, delicious salmon. This place is a museum, it is a small park with lots of walking space to hang out, antique machines, and indoor and ourdoor eatry. Back to salmon: I have seen Salmon in lower 48 States, this salmon is the real deal. Simply fresh, pit-baked with love and care, juicy, flaky, and yummy. I thought I couldnt finish one steak, I ended up going for another one. You have to try it for yourself. For dessert, I tried the blueberry short cake. I thought I will try a spoon or two, I finished the whole thing. Delicious. Enjoy few pictures and a video with smiling staff and pit expert. Highly Highly Highly Recomended !!! 2023 Awesome experience. The best Salmon i had. Fresh no doubt, you dont find this kind of Salmon in Indiana. Sorry my plate do not much because i eat it all. I had grilled Salmon. Must try is fried potatoes.

This was an excellent experience, set in a super interesting setting with all the mining exhibits. You are treated to the smoky aroma of the wood fire cooking the food. Food was delicious. Prime rib and nice selection of fish. Of course the wife had to try the crab legs. Yum. Beer and wine drinks, the ladies had a wonderful pitcher of sangria. I drank both of the IPAs. Highly recommended

Had a great final meal in Fairbanks at this establishment! Staff members were very friendly. Arrived at 5pm on a Tuesday and it wasn’t crowded. Had the $30 salmon plate that came with the salad barn, potatoes, green beans, and rolls and was not disappointed at all. Received a huge pice of fish and had to turn down the second one he was trying to add to my plate. Cashier suggested a spoonful of the sweet marinade be added to the salmon and she was so right! Sat outside under the trees. Really enjoyed this dinner!

The snow laced monument gives the statue some character. With the snowman pulling up the rear drawing its own appeal.

Nice little park with a fountain and a statue of an unknown first family of settlers that founded Fairbanks. Dotted with benches, a nice park to sit and contemplate the peaceful river that flows through the heart of the city. The fountain is surrounded by numerous plaques including one describing the Alaska pipeline, the route we were to start on the following day.

There are a few places to sit around a large monument. If you go down a set of stairs you get great views of a river.

It is the center of town but it's a little shady There are a few good restaurants and a couple of gift shops but not much else. They really need to clean it up. Unfortunately, there are many homeless and at times it can feel unsafe.

Great set up and pretty area however there were alot of homeless people hanging out and was a bit sketchy

Full of potential, the plaza surrounding the "Unknown First Family' statue seems to be abandoned and ignored by the city. With some updates and cleaning this could be a really impactful, educational space that honors the real founders of the area. Loved the first family statue, but it felt weird to honor the exploitation of minerals from the land in plaques beneath the statue. I'd recommend stopping if already downtown.

Nice place in the summer, love the events they have here in the summer and winter. We definitely enjoy the Midnight Sun Festival, Iditarod, and much more.

It was AMAZING. We were there for ALL elementary runners race! They had plenty of people directing traffic for parking.

Fantastic outdoor recreational lighted trail system; xc skiing, snowshoeing (6+ months a year). Mountain biking, hiking, running, frisbee golf (4+ months a year). Large indoor banquet hall w/ kitchen available for rent.

Visited for the hiking trails in June, wish I could see this place in the winter with skis under my feet though! Pro tips: bring a can of bug spray for the skeeters and prepare yourself for wet feet (bring extra socks and shoes for the ride home) as some of the trail is very soft and saturated. Most of all though, enjoy!

Beautiful trails for running and in the winter cross country ski trails. Peaceful and serene.

Great place to ski and host events during the winter.

The recreation area was wonderful for trail running. Short and up and down. We attended a wedding at the facility on site and it was a perfect setup. With lights and linens, the place was jazzed up. The outside deck made for a great dance floor and lawn games on the grass.

Great place for a walk and run, with different lenght you want. The birch trees are beatiful.

Beautiful lights! I really liked how they had the names of different countries worldwide. I didn't give it 5 stars because the lights on many of the countries were off/dead, but definitely great to go see while listening to christmas music. We were able to go around more than once and that was nice because we took pictures and retook the ones that didn't turn out good on the first drive.

Overall it was ok. It was a long drive through the park which was nice and lots of lights most of which synced up with Christmas music. One area was so slick many people couldn't get up an incline and needed to be pushed up. Lots of lights weren't lit up, many lights covered with snow. It was strange as there were many abandoned vehicles, planes and out buildings with lights that appeared to be just thrown on. The kids enjoyed it though.

We enjoyed the music and Dancing Christmas Lights. Definitely made our holiday more merry and Bright. Well worth the $20 entrance fee🎄😊

It’s a nice park for both kids and adults to do a lot of activities. We visited during the day time and it was snowing so couldn’t enjoy much as the lights were also not on. So I would suggest to plan to visit this after the lights are on around sunset so you get to see the structures with and without lights. There are big slides and lots of ice curved structures which are amazingly done.

Definitely recommend this place if you're in town during the winter. Lots of interesting ice sculptures made by folks from all over the world. Worth checking out during the day and at night. Ticket is fairly inexpensive.

Spent an hour and a half here with 3 adults and 4 children age 4 and under. We were the only ones there during the day. They weren't done yet, so we saw multiple artists working on sculptures, but they had about 15 ice slides already done that we enjoyed. The kids loved all the fun slides. Wished we had brought or bought a sled. The largest slide on the hill had snow on it, so our slides down weren't as fast as they could be. Some of the smaller slides were surprisingly decently fast for a kiddie slide. Cool ice sculptures. Staff members were very friendly and let us test out a new sled for free, but I would look for a sled that minimizes your contact with the ice. Friction from snowpants, boots and coats slows down your slide speed.

There are a bunch of great slides for the kids! We're having fun, for sure.

The comments on the smell are valid, maybe switch cleaning products, it is pretty overpowering. The front desk staff was pretty unaccommodating. I asked for an early check in, she said it'd be an extra $54, but then barked that no rooms were available anyway. She said though check in is at 4, come back at 3 (it was 1). OK, came back at 3, another lady 'scoured her system' but said rooms aren't ready. Luckily her boss was right there and had her 'look again'. She seemed irritated to relent and give me a key a moment early. All that said, it's a great place, nice location, decent on site restaurant. I personally prefer to have the apartment style rooms rather than a fancy 'bedroom' style hotel room. If you want fancy and modern with a pool and free breakfast, Sophie Station is not for you. But especially if you're traveling with a small family, you've got lots of space and a kitchen so you can save on restaurant food. Pretty hard to beat this place and Wedgewood, both owned by Fountainhead.

Kinda middle of the road on this one. Exterior was beautiful with gorgeous flowers! Room was ample sized but could use a refresh. Smell was a bit off-putting. Carpet cleaning would go a long way. Beds were comfortable! Bedspread, meh. Always nice to have a kitchenette. People were courteous and friendly.

Room was clean and spacious. I enjoyed a very quiet nights sleep. I would definitely recommend for families.

What a beautiful hotel to stay. Nice ambience and friendly staff, free ride to airport. Room had all the state of art facilities with kitchen. We can't ask for more. When we come to fair banks next, we will definitely try this hotel again.

Great place to stay with a reasonable rent. I had a studio and was happy with it. I wouldn't not recommend the stay.

Warning – Poorly Managed & Disappointing Experience... We had such a bad experience at Sophie Station Suites in Fairbanks that we ended up canceling our reservation on arrival. Even after calling ahead and confirming our train arrival time, we waited for a pickup that was late. When we finally arrived at 9:30 pm, two young front desk attendants (without any management present) informed us that our room was not ready. We weren’t the only ones — we witnessed three other guests being told the same thing. We were advised to wait in their lounge, but every table was dirty and only one overworked girl was running the bar, the restaurant, and the kitchen by herself. At that point, it was clear this was not going to be a good stay. We canceled on the spot and moved to Bear Lodge at Wedgewood Resort, where the staff was friendly, welcoming, and had rooms available. The contrast was night and day — Bear Lodge was beautiful inside and out, with a coffee shop, a nice restaurant, the incredible Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum, and a peaceful nature trail around Wander Lake where we even saw sandhill cranes, Canadian geese, and a mama moose with her calf at sunset. Sophie Station clearly suffers from poor management and staffing issues. Save yourself the hassle and disappointment — stay at Bear Lodge instead.

Location might be convenient for some purposes but it does not offset the smell of smoke in each room. Carpets are old and need to be replaced. Rooms reek of smoke.

The service at this place is excellent. The shuttle was at the train station when we arrived and was available when we needed it for the riverboat and airport. They held our luggage for us as we had an evening flight. Accommodations were modest but comfortable. We were walking distance to a grocery store and coffee/bagel shop. It was a unique cottage experience if you are looking for something different instead of a hotel. They also had a nice RV park next door. We did not est on the property but they have a breakfast buffet and a restaurant open for dinner.

Nice little mini house to stay in. Nice and quiet even though it's close to the airport. Beds were comfy and the entire area was clean. I utilized the free airport shuttle service which was great and a nice way to save some money

Unaccommodating, extremely rude staff. I typically don’t write reviews, but had to share my experience at Rivers Edge. We are here because of an excursion with the Norwegian cruise line. After a day of touring the area, I asked to fill my water bottle with the filtered water from the dining area at Rivers Edge where we are staying. I was informed by a lady at the front desk that I could not get water from there and my alternative was the sink water in my room or the sink water in the kitchen, leaving no option for filtered water. The machine sounded like it was actively running. Apparently this lady is a rotating “fixer” of issues at any of this company’s 25 locations. I feel that she is encouraging horrible customer service. Also, this “resort” is dirty, musty, and outdated. I wish that Norwegian would choose another hotel in the area to partner with. I will not be recommending this excursion to others. The tour guides and tour itself were fantastic. I loved seeing Fairbanks.

We were part of a 24 RV caravan (Newmar Kountry Klub) and really enjoyed the RV park. We stayed several nights and did a lot of touring during the day. Our charter bus had no issues picking us up or dropping us off. Great location to see all of Fairbanks!

Staff was wonderful and the food was absolutely delicious. We loved the cute cottages and the selection at the two gift shops on site. Lots of amenities within walking distance and such a convenient shuttle to the train and airport. Will definitely return. The manager Tye was so friendly and knowledgeable. Constantine as our favorite server at Chenas as well.

We had a wonderful stay at River's Edge. Comfortable rooms. Polite and helpful desk staff. Beautifully decorated inn (I only saw the first floor). Great breakfast buffet.

The staff was very unwelcoming, almost rude. Our door keys deactivated every day we were there and they seemed very annoyed to reset them for us. The breakfast was not great. Soggy potatoes and stinky sausages. Room was clean but it stunk like mildew and sewer. Get your staff some training! We were happy to leave!

Overall a great experience. Sights are a little tight but very scenic. We stayed here for 4 days and would definitely come back. We had full (50 amp) hookups.

Beautiful campsites with full hookups (WES) and wifi. Conveniently close to the airport. Right off the Chena river and we saw an otter in the river. Beautiful flowers with bumble bees and Birch trees everywhere. Would definitely recommend to anyone and looking forward to stay here again.

Some serious bucks. 70 plus but I guess compared to motels in town that is cheap. Has all necessary amenities including laundry ($4 wash, $4 dry), an RV wash station, showers (included). Spots are quite tight but there are still a few trees between sites.

I would stay there again and again. This says everything right! Spotless! From he grounds to shower and laundry facilities. Linda is one of the nicest ladies you will ever meet. Beautiful lady too. River’s edge restaurant is a perfect addition. Location is perfect since it’s on the grounds of the RV camp and food is beyond delicious. We went twice. Kids loved too. Here you go.

We stayed here for 2 nights during a very busy time w a reservation made months in advance. The sites seemed close but there are some trees instead of just a parking lot. They have some pretty spots by the river. The system they use for first come first serve is flawed. If you arrive after hours without a reservation there is a map of the park with reserved sites blacked out, and instructions to choose a highlighted site. It seems to be confusing if you cannot read the instructions provided. We had our river side site taken and had to move around and find another site . No office staff present and the people at the site couldn’t understand what we were telling them. If the sites were marked AT THE SITE with a cone or a name as occupied this would not happen. The men’s bathroom was flooded and there was feces floating on the floor. The women’s bathroom was fine, four or five showers w a curtain and an anteroom and a plastic chair. They do have a washer dryer room and a car washing station. The do not allow fires of any kind and even say they do not allow solo stoves etc on the property.

Our items were stolen and the campground did not warn us that theft is common here, although a quick search of the surrounding crime groups reflects this is an ongoing issue and very common. The campground was unhelpful and apathetic when we asked for their help, and refused to allow us to view footage to see who stole our valuables. Nice campground but we won’t be back.

Checked in late. Easy process for road traveling. Friendly, understanding and awesome front desk staff at cabins to help us get to RV park and check in. Full service. Would definitely stay again!

Awesome experience! I purchased for my husband and our neighbor. They had a great time floating the river. I would highly recommend. Made the reservation online, super easy. The staff were very friendly and already had everything set up when we got there.

We were in the area, and the wife took a stroll on Chena River walk and saw people floating the river. Looked for options and stumbled upon this place. Walked up a bit after 11 AM on a Monday morning in mid (ish) June. Rented a kayak, two canoes, and a paddle board for $300 for the two-hour float. Cloudy and cool day perfect for the casual ride down the river. Enjoyable time for all, especially the wife.

We rented the 6 person paddleboard for three adults and two kids and had lots of fun. It took us a little less than 3 hours to get to the Pumphouse. We saw a couple of bald eagles and lots of ducks and even got a peak at the Riverboat Discovery's pontoon plane demonstration.

We had a beautiful mid-week float. The folks at Canoe Alaska were fantastic! Super simple to rent and the shuttle back to their main location was extremely convenient.

My 13 year old son and I had a blast paddle boarding to the pump house. They made our experience so easy to enjoy. Thanks!

Fun, relaxing, incredible value. Truly enjoyed this leisurely float down the winding Chena river on a summer afternoon. You won't encounter any rapids or rough waters (though a few passing speedboats made some waves). The scenery is quaint, for the most part. Bring the kids! They'll love exploring some derelict riverboats along the way. Best of all, your trip is curated from launch to landing. We were chauffeured back to the starting point by one of Alaska's native sons who regaled us with tales of his adventures in the Last Frontier.

Wonderful day on the water! It was easy to book online & everything was ready when we arrived. Boats and life jackets were in excellent condition. The river was calm the whole way with very little motorboat traffic. It was a great experience!

Good for sports Not Karens or Kevins stereotypes Applies to all that match description as well as disrupting, insecure children no matter age All are welcome at the CABIN

An actual good sized ballpark to see some good baseball games. The food line could be shorter though. I never saw the bathrooms.

Awesome little park. Only complaint is the Pavillion is so far from the playground.

Bring your own seating if you go to this playground (there is not near enough). But it is a good playground that caters to a wide variety of ages.

It's a magical place in the world, I spent the 89 summer there, it's heaven on earth

Awesome vibes for getting the local experience. We’ve been to over a hundred sporting events and this stadium has THE BEST playlist we’ve heard. A must do when you’re in Fairbanks.

Best part of a midnight sun game is watching the Alaska Gold Panners win!

We took a self guided tour through the museum. The person on staff was friendly and interactive with the children in the group. I can't remember her name, but she was knowledgeable and provided a welcoming environment. It was about an hour before the park closed, so some exhibits were closed. On our next trip to Alaska I will try to tour the river boat exhibit. This is a free museum/park. There are shops where you can purchase items as well.

A nice museum in Fairbanks located right within Pioneer Park. Free entry with a recommended donation. Jenny was working and she’s a real gem. Her bright energy was refreshing and her knowledge and enthusiasm about the content of the museum was evident!

This is a great volunteer run local museum with many artifacts. Admission is by donation. It is not a good museum for small children as many of the items are not behind glass cases and could be damaged by inquisitive kids. However, if your children are older (8+) or just adults are visiting, I highly recommend it. There are sections on gold mining, communication, farming, clothing, etc. If you are interested in what life in Alaska was like in the early 1900s, this is the place to visit.

Great little museum focused on the early days of the fairbanks area. I wish more of the building were open when we stopped.

Really a neat place to go. Free or donation.

Great place! Alot of interesting history.

(Translated by Google) Nice museum, the opportunity to take photos in costume was particularly funny. Image is printed out trimmed to old. (Original) Nettes Museum, besonders witzig war die Möglichkeit, Aufnahmen in Verkleidung zu machen. Bild wird auf alt getrimmt ausgedruckt.

Amazing day on the water! Each and every experience was well thought out. The young workers are preserving their heritage and it’s wonderful to see. This is a great stop!

Such a cool piece of history inside pioneer park. My friends stumbled upon the boat and had a great time walking around and finding little details in the displays. The woman working was so kind and informative-there was even live music inside the boat when we went!

What a fabulous piece of history. Pioneer Park is great to learn about history in the area. We enjoyed our time learning about the S.S. Nenana!

Beautiful riverboat smack dab in the middle of pioneer park. A bit dilapidated but grounds surrounding are well maintained.

This lovely old Steerwheeler is the last of its kind in Alaska. It's one beautiful lady.

This is in pioneer Park, its definitely worth checking out

Great presentation and hear they are working on fixing it up. Needs a paint job REAL BAD.

Enjoyable stroll along the river.

Beautiful! Great place to take the family!

I liked it, nice walk in the evenings in the summer, the smell of the flowers and the wildlife on the river, boats on their rides other walkers and bike riders.

Beautiful place

On my visit September 4, 2025 it was late in the year and not very much in bloom. There were some flowers but not many. It is a very nice property and well laid out. Not too large but a nice simple walk. I’m sure it is stunning in season and full bloom. Also Google maps got me close but I missed the sign as the garden is smaller print under the “Fairbanks Experiment Farm” that’s the spot. I would suggest a visit but during a better time of year.

Amazing garden to lose yourself in. Oh and they even have a Hedge Maze which was an Eagle Scout project for Boy Scouts. Beautiful paths, wheelchair accessible, lots of shade. Bring a picnic and really enjoy this beautiful setting

Very nice walk. Well maintained. We were there in mid Sept 25, weather was warm. Some comments were that it was too late to see the flowers/blooms but we found it a nice walk and interesting layout.

This was a very nice surprise. Went to see what the gardens looked like and there was multiple parts to walk through and enjoy. They have areas to sit so you can relax and enjoy the gardens. They have a qr code you can scan to make a suggested donation easier for everyone. I would encourage people to go and enjoy a casual walk.

This is a small but very interesting. Botanical garden in Fairbanks, Alaska. Although I was there after the garden had started to close for the season, there were still a number of flowers blooming and it was nice to be able to see the research projects that they have ongoing. There were lots of informative signs around the gardens and based on the vegetation that I saw, I'm sure it is beautiful in the summertime

It's a pretty botanical garden with a good variety of plants. There is a $8 suggested donation and it can be paid by cash or card via a QR code. This is a great spot for a nice stroll when the weather is nice.

This place is soo beautiful. Well maintained. Peaceful. Children and all ages love it. Well marked. Plants identified places to sit take it all in, meditate just relax. Love the water. Just a few pictures . More to see

Great place for a stroll. I enjoyed sitting on the benches and listening to the geese in the fields and the pond. Having been living in Las Vegas for the last 11 years it was great hearing geese again.

Although it was a little difficult to find with Google directions once there it is a very nice and well kept trails. In early September we only saw a handful of wildlife to include birds and squirrels. It was a very pleasant experience and would go again for the peace and views.

It's absolutely beautiful in the fall, and the 0.7 mile Taiga trail was very nice and had a variety of trees to see as well as the lake. I didn't see any animals but it was still worth the visit. There are a couple of trail entrances, but if you use Google maps look for the Taiga conference center and there is a trail to the right of it.

Go past the apartments and near the car museum. Nice easy trail to do a run or walk around late. Very calm and serene. There are several lookout points to stop and enjoy mostly birds, ducks, or swans. The chances of seeing a moose are very slim. There are also a lot of interesting fungi that grow here. In the middle of the hustle and bustle, it’s calm and quiet.(here and there you will hear an airplane land as you are close to the airport.)

Wonderful path, clearly marked, beautiful trees. Saw a trumpet swan, some ducks & squirrels.

We enjoyed the Wander Lake Trail here which is about a 1.4 mile loop. It is really easy to access from behind the auto museum. It was a really beautiful and peaceful walk. So much so that we took a second loop, and then came back again a couple of days later. There's great informational signs along the way. There is an option along the trail near the end where you can take it over to Creamer's field.

This place was really beautiful. I came here for a little afternoon hike and it's a quick and easy loop that you can do multiple times for a great workout. Some good spots along the way to stop and take in the scenery like benches , decks and even a cool blind. I can't wait to come back in the spring and walk around here again

It's a nice looking park and there's walking trails that are fun to walk along. Had a blast walking around with my brother.

Free boat launch, playground, portable toilets, nice green grassy area. It’s adjacent to a walking path or road. I love walking here with my dog and picnic or lounge and watch the boats go by.

Nice park by the Chena River. This park uses the rubber flooring instead of the ubiquitous pea gravel. Equipment is relatively new and the only damage thus far is to a bongo drum. Also, there's a lot of grassy areas to picnic, relax or let the kiddos run free. There has been a sani-can style bathroom here over the years.

Awesome playground with Healthy amount of boat parking especially for an in town Launch not much of. A beach area but a great place for an afternoon picnic.

It's a beautiful clean little park. We've been a few times this summer and even after the 3rd rainiest August the boat ramp is still perfectly usable. Parking has been easy; we went on a weekend and a week day in the afternoon in perfect weather and there were plenty of spaces. It looks like a great place to bring well behaved, especially water loving dogs. That said, we saw everyone taking care to pick up after their dogs, but do keep an eye out just in case something was missed; I'm originally from New York City, we learned to look out for those little urban Shiitakes even before we learned how to avoid busses and cars. There is a spot to borrow lifejackets for your offspring, and there is a sign that gently reminds you "children do not float". This is a good idea even if you aren't boating because that grass runs straight on into that water, something you don't see in New York, probably because the water is too dirty and if you stuck a part in there your part might turn green or dissolve, or get infected with something that can kill you. Everyone seemed nice and friendly, and quick to smile. We saw no creepy lurkers (another New Yorker-ism that will never completely go away). There is a Port-O-Potty, but I hadn't worked up the courage to investigate it because I didn't have to go *that* badly the times we were there. There's a lovely collection of flowers, a few swings and other apparatus for those young enough to fall and not worry about breaking a pelvis just yet, and all structures appear to be in good repair. It might be my new coffee spot. So if you see a person in an SUV with Starbucks, yes, I'm the from-out-of-town jerkbird who still loves my Starbucks, that's probably me. I'm not a park-lurker, I just like to sit on a cushion in an artificially controlled environment and listen to music when I'm in the out-of-doors.

Best summer park for enjoying the river, launching your watercraft, picnicking, and a newer playground.

Missed opportunity Fairbanks we have an enormous amount of sand around. Even if it was washed away every few years what a wonderful idea to make a large Sandy Beach along the riverfront

Awesome playground and excellent place to host events. The playground has used toys brought by the community that all the kids can share. I had an excellent time there with my kids during the mushroom festival.

Awesome community park with a huge field that is perfect for a picnic or throwing the frisbee around. The playground is perfect for younger kids and everyone in between. There is a basketball court and there is a stage where festivals are held. I love ester park. Very quaint.

The best park ever in the whole world 🌎🌍 it's amazing kids having fun and parents are taking a break and talking and joying the sunshine

It's the best park in the Interior! A privately owned community park operated and maintained entirely by volunteers, it features a playground, a large paved surface, ADA accessible outhouse, and electrified Picnic Pavillion. The Ester Community Park hosts several summer music festivals utilizing a 40' x 40' prow-fronted stage at one end of the full sized athletic field.

Nice park. Has good facilities and was quite popular with the locals.

Excellent disabled friendly well maintained clean park.

Great playground. An asphalt pad for kids to practice biking safely off a road. Typically a dozen or more loaner bikes sitting there that kids can borrow. The whole playground is very clean and includes activities for toddlers and up. The park also features some fields for playing sports. One of my 6 year old's favorite parks to visit.

This is such a fun and beautiful park! I wish there was one like it in my neighborhood. Great place for a BBQ or a picnic.

Beautiful little park. There's some things to do if you have little ones or if you're just a kid at heart.

Really nice park, still has a fun and dangerous metal merry-go-round

Playground, pick nick areas, restroom, oj the river, pavilion.Well kept park.

Lovely park- free, big green grassy area, some shaded picnic tables and some sunny picnic tables, a basketball court, two playgrounds (one for little kids and one for bigger kids), and a portapotty. One thing to know is that the river goes right behind the park and there's no fence so kids can run off and get into the river without supervision.

So nice and clean. Dogs running around everywhere barbecues to use everywhere lunch tables play yard for the kiddos. A nice place for a family gathering loved it the housing area was beautiful. Will go back many times. We all had fun!

This is our family’s favorite park. There never seem to be any mosquitos, the river is nearby but not close enough for the kids to fall in. There is enough open space that, even when crowded, this park feels spacious and open. There are BBQs, a gazebo, trash cans, a porta potty, big and little kid sections, and large stone “ovens” for cooking more elaborate park fare. On busy days, there is sometimes a lack of parking, but that’s because this is the best park in town!

Beautiful setting in Fairbanks, perfect spot to take pictures or enjoy a walk around with friends.

Bobby and I... Had a great time walking and seeing the sights in Full Day Light.

Beautiful setting, downtown Fairbanks! Calm and peaceful.

Good cover band. Great location. Midnight sun with Wham. We enjoyed it.

Last bastion for the merry go around. Lol. Good clean bathroom, still had hand sanitizer.

Great place to chill after a long day of exploring Fairbanks.

Well. Whenever my friends and I have come here, it is USUALLY peaceful and quiet where we sit. We get to enjoy our time playing games and sitting in the sun. It is kept clean and anyone enjoying their time usually keeps to themselves. BUT. There are a lot of agitated and obviously strung-out homeless people or people doing drugs when they think they're the only ones there. Our most recent interaction while sitting in our normal spot at a bench involved a couple screaming at each other and then squatting and shitting next to the sidewalk about 30ft away from away. So just be weary when you come - if it's little to no people, chances are everything will be peaceful.