It would be easy to dismiss Soapy Smith's as a gold rush-dusted twist on the themed family restaurant. But while there's tons of Alaska kitsch on the walls, there's something that feels sincere about this restaurant's execution – it's as close as Fairbanks gets to a gold-miners' mess hall. Cuisine is burger-style grub, along with some Alaskan reindeer sausage and halibut.
Soapy Smith's Pioneer Restaurant
Fairbanks
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
University of Alaska Museum of the North
3.77 MILES
In an architecturally abstract, igloo- and aurora-inspired edifice sits one of Alaska’s finest museums, with artifact-rich exhibits on the geology,…
Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
1.53 MILES
Birds have been migrating through this idyllic little stretch of farmland for millennia, and when the local dairy finally shut its doors, the community…
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Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
0.27 MILES
There are a few contenders for 'best visitor center in Alaska' but this one, an ingenious mix of museum, info point and cultural center, has to be in the…
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4.92 MILES
If you can’t make a trip to the Arctic for a little wildlife observation, consider visiting this research station that tends herds of musk ox, reindeer…
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Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
1.29 MILES
For a state with so few highways, this is a surprisingly comprehensive collection of 70 working antique vehicles, highlighting the evolution of the…
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4.3 MILES
The severe Arctic and wild interior of Alaska are blessed with rainbows of wildflowers, which are all on display here. The Georgeson Botanical Garden is a…
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3.74 MILES
Gaze out over boreal forest to distant mountains (including Denali on a good day) from this high perch on the University of Alaska campus.
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1.64 MILES
Like many cities with little surviving history, Fairbanks attempts to recreate the 'old' days in a historical theme park. Suffice to say, it doesn't…
Nearby Fairbanks attractions
1. Fairbanks Community & Dog Mushing Museum
0.01 MILES
A small but packed museum that traces the city’s history through old photos, newspaper clippings and historical artifacts from daily life. One room…
0.07 MILES
This square is meant to serve as a natural nexus point for downtown activity in Fairbanks. Within the riverside square, you'll see a clock tower, winter…
0.19 MILES
The corporate headquarters for the Native-owned Doyon company has a lobby filled with indigenous art and artifacts. The 24-hour security guards on duty…
4. Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center
0.27 MILES
There are a few contenders for 'best visitor center in Alaska' but this one, an ingenious mix of museum, info point and cultural center, has to be in the…
5. Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum
1.29 MILES
For a state with so few highways, this is a surprisingly comprehensive collection of 70 working antique vehicles, highlighting the evolution of the…
6. Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge
1.53 MILES
Birds have been migrating through this idyllic little stretch of farmland for millennia, and when the local dairy finally shut its doors, the community…
7. Pioneer Air Transportation Museum
1.54 MILES
Only open in summer, this museum is full of olden planes and aviation history, with an obvious focus on the field as practiced in the Alaskan interior and…
1.64 MILES
Like many cities with little surviving history, Fairbanks attempts to recreate the 'old' days in a historical theme park. Suffice to say, it doesn't…