Doughboy Family Readiness

Fort Wainwright Information
About Fairbanks
Events in Fairbanks
Winter Preparation

Fort Wainwright Information

Ft. Wainwright has a wide variety of services for soldiers and their families. To get on post, start at the Visitor Center next to the main gate off Airport Way. From there, head to the Welcome Center; it has all the information you'll need to get around. The Welcome Center is in Bldg. 3401 – (907) 353-2253. Ft. Wainwright also has an Outdoor Recreation Center, which offers gear and equipment for rent. They have everything from tents and boats to skis and snow machines. The Outdoor Recreation Center is in Bldg. 4050 – (907) 361-2175. During the winter months, Ft. Wainwright opens a ski lodge at Birch Hill. They provide ski lessons and rentals for adults and children – a great way to beat the long winter days! The Birch Hill Ski Lodge is in Bldg. 1172 – (907) 353-6795.

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About Fairbanks

Fairbanks is Alaska's Golden Heart City, the Gateway to the Interior, the Land of the Midnight Sun. During the summer, Fairbanks enjoys up to 22 hours of continuous sunlight, but during the winter, daylight dwindles to less than 4 hours. Temperatures can soar above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and plummet to 65 degrees below zero.

Fairbanks is one of the best places in Alaska to enjoy the great summer months. There are opportunities for camping, fishing, hiking, hunting, boating, and more. Denali Park is open year-round, but most services are only available from May through September. A Farmer's Market opens on College Road every Wednesday and Saturday during the summer months. Frequent festivals and open-air concerts offer entertainment, but the largest celebrations center around June 21, the longest day of the year. Festivities include the Midnight Sun Run, a 10-k run and costume competition, and the Midnight Sun Classic, an annual baseball game hosted by the Fairbanks Goldpanners; the game usually starts around 10 pm and is played entirely without artificial lighting.

Winters in Fairbanks can be harsh, but don't let that keep you inside. Fairbanks has a lot to offer in the winter months as well. Fireworks and the spectacular Northern Lights brighten the long nights. Both downhill and cross-country skiing are available, as well as snow boarding. Hockey fans can cheer on the local Fairbanks Ice Dogs and the UAF Nanooks. Dog mushing and skijoring competitions occur regularly throughout the winter, culminating in the Yukon Quest in early February. Ice carvers from around the world meet in March for the annual World Ice Art Championships. And be sure to check out Santa's Workshop in North Pole during the holiday season!

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Events in Fairbanks

Winter Preparation

Winter driving is perhaps the most dangerous transition families moving to Fairbanks need to make. Early snowfalls melt during the day and refreeze at night, suddenly coating the roads with a slick black ice. As the winter months progress, even the busiest roads in Fairbanks may go unplowed, and many roads often lie buried beneath over an inch of ice. Four-wheel drive vehicles are preferred in these conditions, although experienced drivers do just as well with front-wheel drive. Vehicles with rear-wheel drive often get stuck and have an increased tendency to slide.

In these dangerous driving conditions, even the best drivers must be prepared for anything. An unexpected accident only a few miles outside of Fairbanks could leave you stranded, beyond cell phone range, and with no immediate help. Sub-zero temperatures can make such a situation miserable for the toughest "Sourdough," but for the unprepared it could be fatal. Ensure that your vehicle has emergency winter gear, such as extra clothing, blankets, jumper cables, flashlights, food, and matches.

Before you can even get on the road, however, your vehicle must be properly prepared. The cold temperatures can quickly drain batteries or freeze fluids if your vehicle isn't properly winterized. It usually costs several hundred dollars to install a battery blanket and an oil pan heater, but these are necessary expenses for most Fairbanks' residents. Check with local dealerships and repair shops for exact information about what you need.

Remember that you are stationed in a great place: America's Final Frontier! There are many things to see and do in Alaska, just waiting for you to explore. If you have any questions or concerns about anything please contact me here.

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