If you are planning some pre or post activities, you may want to consider the Alaska Railroad. Flying into Anchorage gives you more options in flight times and carriers, but is also the best way to access the train. The trip from Anchorage north or Fairbanks south takes twelve (12) hours and departs in each direction at 8am. You can split the travel up with an overnight in Denali National Park and Preserve.

Coming north, the train arrives at Denali Park late in the afternoon. The next day, you can take the early morning wildlife bus tour and catch the northbound train at 4pm. The most popular tour doesn't go all the way to Wonder Lake, but it still affords viewing of wildlife and the mountain if it is out. Going south, you can take the afternoon wildlife tour the same day as you arrive in the park.

If you are thinking of taking the Alaska Marine Highway ferry, the best routing is between Bellingham, WA, and Juneau, then flying to Anchorage or eventually Fairbanks. You can only travel in or out of Alaska's capital city by boat or plane, and sometimes not even plane if the weather is bad. The joke is that when Pan Am used to fly in, the pilots landed on a clear day and quit once they saw the mountains they had been avoiding.

If you are traveling the Alaska Highway, allow for five to seven days and expensive gas. The road is mostly paved, the lodges are quaint past Dawson Creek, British Columbia, but the people are very friendly. Passports and proof of insurance are required. You also have to promise you won't be working your way through the country.

We will have limited shuttle service between your hotel and the university, before and after session agendas listed, to get you back and forth to the university, a distance of approximately three miles. If you plan to rent a car, reserve those early. Most of the 1.2 million tourists that visit each summer are in major tour operator buses. But more and more independent travelers are finding Alaska safer and cheaper than Europe.

The weather is hard to predict. It can be as warm at 85 degrees in Fairbanks, with an occasional thundercloud rolling through for a few minutes each afternoon at 4pm. With the warm weather comes smoke from remote forest fires. If it rains, it will be 45 degrees. We doubt it will snow. But there are five major climate zones across the state. So definitely bring a rain jacket. Dress comfortably. Layers work the best, comfortable walking shoes optimal.

We have no dress code in Fairbanks. In fact, if you dress fancy, people will think you are odd. And there are already plenty of those here. Characters are welcome. But be sure to pack bug repellent and sun screen, not so much for while you are in town, but if you plan to tour outside of Fairbanks or Anchorage.

More information on Fairbanks is available through the local visitors bureau.