3 days in Fairbanks: museums, Thai eats & Gold Rush history

More than a stopover, Fairbanks shines with gold-rush history, quirky downtown finds, world-class museums, and river life. Follow this 3-day plan: stroll downtown to the Morris Thompson Center and Antler Arch; cruise the Chena on Riverboat Discovery (Trail Breaker Kennel + Chena Village) then explore Pioneer Park; finish with the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum and the University of Alaska Museum of the North—plus Creamer’s Field at golden hour and favorite eats like Lemongrass Thai and The Library Bar & Bites.