How can you go to Fairbanks and not take a drive up to the Arctic Circle? You can't! Or at least, you shouldn't. The northern lights don't always cooperate but the particular winter beauty and desolation of the road out of Fairbanks and the Dalton Highway along the pipeline, along with artisan Dorothy and her cabin on the Yukon River shore yes!, and the photo ops duh make this tour a must. Our guide's name escapes me, but he was a refugee from New Jersey, Michigan, and Los Angeles who lives for fishing, quotes Robert Service, and makes extra money driving first-time, only-time visitors up to the Arctic Circle and back - quintessential Alaska.
The tour was long, but thanks to Ricky’s (the guide) humor and talkativeness, I didn’t feel bored and tired at all. Ricky had so many secret and beautiful places for us to enjoy the auroras, and I had a great time to travel with him.