Helen Hatzis
As an avid traveller and reader, I’ve always packed books for the journey—whether it’s a plane ride, lounging on a lanai with an ocean view, or finding shade under a palm tree. Before embracing audiobooks, I would lug around physical books, filling my carry-on with five or more titles for long holidays. For some time […]
A one-week, copy-and-go list—aurora hunting, gold-rush fun, hot springs, museums, an Arctic Circle adventure, and a festive detour to North Pole’s Santa Claus House. 1) Watch the Aurora A purpose-built viewing venue just outside town with indoor warmth, hot drinks, and guides who keep an eye on the skies—transport is DIY, reservations required.Tip: Arrive late […]
In a city that has a short, intense summer with long daylight and lots of colour, the Tanana Valley Farmers Market is where Fairbanks tastes its season—local food grown under long northern days, artisan work rooted in place, and a building designed to keep it all fresh without fuss. It’s the oldest established farmers market […]
Give this place time—and it will give you wonder. Why Denali Rewards the Unhurried I arrived early on purpose. Too many travellers skim Denali and leave with the “commercial” version. The real Denali reveals itself slowly: weather rolls in and out, wildlife keeps its own schedule, and vast valleys open as the single park road […]
A Town That Lives Christmas Every Day Just 20 minutes outside of Fairbanks lies North Pole, Alaska — not the geographic North Pole, but a small town that has fully committed to Christmas magic year-round. Driving in, I was greeted by festive street names like Santa Claus Lane, Kris Kringle Drive, Snowman Lane, Mistletoe Lane, Donner, Blitzen, Holiday […]
Flying North into Alaska’s Wild Heart The day began with a breathtaking flight from Fairbanks with the Northern Alaskan Tour Company, tracing the path of the Dalton Highway and the Trans-Alaska Pipeline from above. From the air, the vast wilderness stretched endlessly—miles of spruce forest, braided rivers, and tundra. Cutting through it all were two human-made lines: a narrow […]
A Day of Passion Projects Fairbanks often surprises me with the depth of its community spirit. My day unfolded around places built not just for business, but for love—for craft, culture, and history. From locally made wooden bowls to cultural storytelling to a museum filled with antique cars and couture, everything I visited today carried […]
A Warm Welcome in Alaska Fairbanks isn’t always as cold as outsiders imagine. On this early September day, the air held steady at 53°F—a comfortable contrast to the steam rising from the geothermal pools at Chena Hot Springs Resort, about 60 miles northeast of the city. The drive itself is simple: follow Chena Hot Springs […]
A Holiday in the Golden Heart Labour Day in Fairbanks felt unhurried. While elsewhere the holiday was marked by parades and barbeques, Alaska’s interior sets its own pace. The day unfolded through history at Pioneer Park, reflection at the Museum of the North, a walk with reindeer in the forest, and the quiet welcome of […]
Golden Beginnings Fairbanks is no stranger to the glitter of gold. This northern city was built on the dreams of prospectors who rushed here in the early 1900s, forever shaping its history and identity. Today, travellers can still step back into that world of grit and fortune-seeking. My morning began aboard a replica of the […]
A Warm Alaskan Welcome Fairbanks is a city shaped by resilience, gold, and the great outdoors. Founded in 1901 during Alaska’s gold rush, it quickly became known as the “Golden Heart City”—a nickname that still fits, thanks to the warmth of its people and its role as a gateway to Alaska’s interior. Today, Fairbanks blends […]
In 2025, minimalist landscapes and ancient rituals are redefining luxury—inviting travellers to slow down, turn inward, and reconnect with the rhythms of the earth. Forget infinity pools and infinity itineraries. Today’s most transformative wellness escapes are happening far from the coastline, tucked within the world’s arid heartlands. From the shifting dunes of Morocco to the […]