Must See in Alaska?

<p>Time is growing close for my trip to Alaska.</p>

<p>On the 28th I will arrive in Anchorage where I will spend 3 days before heading up the Alaska Railway to Fairbanks for 5 days.<br>

If you know of MUST SEE places to go for beautiful photographs (remember it's late January!), please let me know! Finding tour companies that will take a single customer seems to be pretty much impossible at this time of year - therefore I look to you :)<br>

<br />Cheers,<br />Geoff</p>

<p>I would suggest a car rental when you get to Fairbanks and explore areas in and around the city. Depending on the weather, you could drive (carefully as roads can be frost/ice covered) early on morning go photograph Mt. McKinley ( http://cdwood.zenfolio.com/p176591700/h2a6d9145#h2a6d9145 ) at dawn. The short days will give you very warm light during daylight hours. The winter visitor center at Denali National Park is worth a stop. It's about a three hour drive from Fairbanks. With luck, you'll see wildlife along some of the stretches. Take a long lens and a sturdy tripod.</p>

<p>Most places will be covered with snow, so that either dampens various vistas or gives you plenty of opportunities for sunset and night shots. You could check out Alyeska and the 40 +mile stretch to Girdwood/Portage Lake. Personally, I'd probably hang out at Potter's Marsh or on any frozen pond and do some ice skating.</p>

<p>You might want to try something alternative like hiring someone w/vehicle on CL for X-amount of hours/day...if renting a car is not your thing (or too expensive). Also, local person will have more insight as to places to see or which businesses are in operation (many shut down for the cold season).</p>

<p>Also, don't forget to check what's happening art-wise in the community.</p>

<p>Enjoy.</p>

<p>Les</p>

<p>Beautiful drives out of Fairbanks, maybe the most beautiful is up the Steese Highway to Cleary Summit, Chatanika, Pinnell Mountain Trail. Take survival gear if you go past Chatanika, just in case. If the weather is too dangerous (check Alaska gov site on roads), an easy beautiful drive down Sheep Creek Road, up to the top of Ester Dome, then Murphy Dome Road, then Goldstream Road toward Fox, then the Old Steese back to town. </p>

Never been there but the Seward Highway running along the Turnagain Arm and over the mountains is supposed to be very scenic, probably worth a (short) day trip. Check sunrise and sunset times.

<p>First, I wasn't that impressed with Fairbanks--it seems to me to be "in-between" much better places (Denali, the hot springs, etc.). You can go to a place there call The Creamery (which is now a park)...some water, lovely stands of birth trees. There is also a summer amusement park with steamboats that is closed out of season (can't remember the name but it's about 2-3 miles from the Fairbanks Airport). I got some terrific shots of the steamboats moored and closed for the season as well as the deserted town front at the park.<br>

Second, at this time of year, what I'd be doing in Alaska (especially if it was a clear night and I was away from urban light) would be to shoot the Aurora Borealis. Fairfbanks should be good for that.<br>

Third, with Anchorage, you've got a gazillion options....water, mountains all very close by. When I was in Anchorage two years ago I saw a moose in a hotel parking lot. Only one person...then take a dog sledding tour and shoot the dogs and the sledding experience. </p>

<p>Hi Geoff,<br /><br />There is plenty of wonderful photographs to be made in Fairbanks this time of year and it just so happens we own and operate a small tour business that caters to photographers in small groups. We'd be happy to help you out with some trip planning. <br /><br />You can find our site, tour info and even a live aurora webcam at http://www.ronnmurrayphoto.com/<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Ronn</p>

<p>Thanks for the replies everyone! Ronn, I will email you right now!<br /><br />Cheers!</p>