Renting a car in Fairbanks Alaska

[Fluffy Terry]

We are booked on cruise #13 Jully 2013. As the flights go late from Canada - it looks like we wont be coming in till around 10-11pm we are thinking of coming in a day early and renting a car to check out the sights for the day - especially want to go see North Pole Alaska (corny or what)

Can anyone suggest who we should/could rent a car from?

[HaleyBop]

There's several auto rentals located within/near the airport. Just checkout auto rentals and Fairbanks for specifics. Since we didn't need transport from the airport we booked with Alaska Auto Rental. They're located within the city and provide shuttle service with advanced notice.

[Budget Queen]

It is worthwhile to come into Fairbanks early. More days the better. Plenty to see and do. There are all the major rental cars at the airport. Find one with the cars and rates you want.

[Northern Aurora]

All of the major car rental companies have desks at Fairbanks International Airport. The desks are across from the baggage carousels. Since we live in Fairbanks we don't rent cars here, but I believe that the rental cars are also actually at the airport.

Regarding North Pole, we had out of state family visit last summer. They have visited Alaska and Fairbanks several times before. They had some requests of attractions and sites they wanted to revisit, and visiting North Pole wasn't on the list.

[donaldsc]

Originally Posted by Fluffy Terry

especially want to go see North Pole Alaska (corny or what)

Totally corny and not worth it. Think total tourist trap, at best. There are many better things to do in Fairbanks that the town of North Pole.

DON

[Budget Queen]

Originally Posted by Northern Aurora

All of the major car rental companies have desks at Fairbanks International Airport. The desks are across from the baggage carousels. Since we live in Fairbanks we don't rent cars here, but I believe that the rental cars are also actually at the airport.

Regarding North Pole, we had out of state family visit last summer. They have visited Alaska and Fairbanks several times before. They had some requests of attractions and sites they wanted to revisit, and visiting North Pole wasn't on the list.

Yes the cars are physically at the airport. Sign the contract, walk to the car.

[bearbait]

Originally Posted by donaldsc

Totally corny and not worth it. Think total tourist trap, at best. There are many better things to do in Fairbanks that the town of North Pole.

DON

Visiting North Pole is well worth it. I always encourage people to visit whatever they want to see. Drive a bit further down the highway past the air force base and visit the Knotty Shop. Just from personal experience I'd much rather visit North Pole, Alaska then Las Vegas. I never saw anything in Las Vegas that would ever make me want to come back.

http://www.alaskaknottyshop.com/

[Budget Queen]

Originally Posted by bearbait

Visiting North Pole is well worth it. I always encourage people to visit whatever they want to see. Drive a bit further down the highway past the air force base and visit the Knotty Shop. Just from personal experience I'd much rather visit North Pole, Alaska then Las Vegas. I never saw anything in Las Vegas that would ever make me want to come back.

http://www.alaskaknottyshop.com/

And keep going and stop at RiKa's Roadhouse. Good pipeline view as well.

[AKman2495]

Don't forget to say HI to Santa for me

[indigosails]

North Pole is basically an intersection with a sign and a convenience store.

[Northern Aurora]

Originally Posted by indigosails

North Pole is basically an intersection with a sign and a convenience store.

North Pole, Alaska is actually an incorporated town with a mayor, city council, police department and so forth.

Even though the town was incorporated in the late 1940s or early 1950s there is some debate as to how the name was selected. Some residents think that someone was trying to develop a small toy factory and thought it would be cute if the toys were manufactured in North Pole. The other possible source for the name is the fact that it is generally quite a bit colder in North Pole than in Fairbanks during the winter (there are quite a number of micro-climates around Fairbanks), and the name acknowledged that situation.

[bearbait]

Originally Posted by indigosails

North Pole is basically an intersection with a sign and a convenience store.

??????????? There's a lot more to it then that. It's a town of independent spirit and hardy souls. If you'd taken the time to explore it you'd have seen more then the stop sign.

http://www.northpolealaska.com/?page_id=84

[Fluffy Terry]

Yes I agree from what I have rsearched there is quite a few things in the town to see.

Originally Posted by bearbait

??????????? There's a lot more to it then that. It's a town of independent spirit and hardy souls. If you'd taken the time to explore it you'd have seen more then the stop sign.

http://www.northpolealaska.com/?page_id=84

[mapleleaves]

Different things interest different people.
Your cruise tour probably includes the Riverboat, gold mine tour and pipeline exhibit. In addition to those activities, if you have a car I recommend a visit to: the Museum of the North at the UofA, Morris Thompson Culture Center, and Pioneer Park. I've heard the antique car museum is well done if that's of interest.

[Northern Aurora]

Originally Posted by mapleleaves

Different things interest different people.
Your cruise tour probably includes the Riverboat, gold mine tour and pipeline exhibit. In addition to those activities, if you have a car I recommend a visit to: the Museum of the North at the UofA, Morris Thompson Culture Center, and Pioneer Park. I've heard the antique car museum is well done if that's of interest.

Since the original poster stated they were considering visiting North Pole, the posts veered off onto the topic of whether a visit to the community of North Pole was worthwhile. For clarification, the Museum of the North (located on the University of Alaska campus), the Morris Thompson Cultural Center, Pioneer Park and the Fountainhead Antique Auto Museum are not in North Pole, but are located in either Fairbanks, or in the case of the Museum of the North, on the outskirts of Fairbanks.