Named after an agricultural professor who arrived in Alaska during the gold rush, the Georgeson Botanical Garden is a great place to relax between Fairbanks sightseeing tours. Visitors are welcome to wander the gardens, and scavenger hunt worksheets are available to help keep children entertained. The garden hosts a variety of workshops, summer educational programs for kids, garden games, and picnic events.
A must-see for flower lovers, peonies thrive here thanks to long summer days.
There is no fee to visit the gardens, but a small donation is suggested.
Free maps of the site are available at the garden entrance.
Visiting the garden involves navigating dirt and grassy paths, so not all of the grounds are wheelchair accessible.
The Georgeson Botanical Garden is located at 117 W Tanana Drive on the campus of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, about 15 minutes from downtown. To get there, take the blue line bus from the downtown transit center or park at the garden.
The garden is open daily from the end of May through Labor Day for self-guided visits. Guided tours may be available if requested in advance. Be sure to check the live music schedule—bands sometimes perform in the gardens on select evenings during the summer months.
Also on the University of Alaska Fairbanks campus is the Large Animal Research Station, a research park dedicated to studying large Arctic mammals, including muskox, caribou, and reindeer. Visitors can view the animals up close and learn about them through guided tours. The Museum of the North is also found on campus, and features exhibits on Alaskan wildlife, geology, and cultural history.