Shopping

Fairbanks has a few good shops downtown. New Horizons Gallery, at 519 1st Ave. (tel. 907/456-2063; www.newhorizonsgallery.com), occupies a large space with originals, prints, and sculptures from some of the best Alaskan artists, and also carries gifts. It is open every day, except Sundays in late winter. The Arctic Travelers Gift Shop, at 201 Cushman St. (tel. 907/456-7080), specializes in Native art and crafts, carrying both valuable art and affordable but authentically Alaskan gifts. The staff is knowledgeable about what they sell. Right next door, at 215 Cushman, If Only . . . (tel. 907/457-6659) is a charming gift and stationary shop with items to hold locals' as well as visitors' interest -- not just tourist stuff.

Near the airport, at 4630 Old Airport Rd., the Great Alaskan Bowl Company (tel. 800/770-4222 or 907/474-9663; www.woodbowl.com) makes and sells bowls of native birch -- salad bowls, of course, but also bowls for many other purposes. Some of these bowls are simply amazing. They can carve up to eight nested bowls from one piece of wood and even laser-engrave a photo inside one. Through a glass wall looking into the shop, you can see workers cutting the bowls from raw logs. It's hard to depart without buying a bowl. The shop is open daily all year.