2 Best Hotels in Fairbanks, the Yukon, and the Interior, Alaska

Log columns and beams support the high ceiling in the lobby of this hotel and conference center designed to remind guests of the city's gold-rush past. More than 20,000 flowering plants grace the grounds, a ½-mile walk along the Chena River borders the property, and kids enjoy visiting the resident ducks at the Lucky Duck Hotel out back. Green touches include solar panels, carpets made from recycled materials, and a greenhouse that university students tend. The lodge contains several warm and cozy common areas, including a piano room and a fireplace lounge, as well as wet and dry saunas. There's a 24/7 shuttle for the airport and train station, a nightly ice cream social, a northern lights viewing area, and a small movie theater. Riverfront rooms cost a bit more but offer scenic views. If you're looking for a more Alaska experience, try one of the 28 rustic log cabins.

At the center of the commercial district's former heart, the SpringHill Suites has 148 very comfortable suites, each with a microwave, a refrigerator, and a well-lit work and sitting area. The hotel provides a complimentary continental breakfast buffet, and the in-house restaurant, Lavelle's, is among the city's top restaurants. Ask for a room facing the river, on the hotel's scenic side.