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Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly.

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Exterior
Property grounds
Property grounds
Dining
Interior

Reviews

9.4 out of 10
Exceptional

Entire home

4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 1090 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Kitchen
  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Outdoor space
  • Parking available

Explore the area

View map
Fairbanks, AK
  • Place, Chena River
    ‪1 min walk‬
  • Place, University of Alaska-Fairbanks
    ‪15 min walk‬
  • Place, University of Alaska Museum of the North
    ‪4 min drive‬
  • Airport, Fairbanks, AK (FAI-Fairbanks Intl.)
    ‪5 min drive‬

Room options

About the area

Fairbanks

This holiday home places you steps from Chena River and within a 15-minute stroll of University of Alaska-Fairbanks. Highlights at this holiday home include a kitchen, a washing machine and a balcony. .You can enjoy a TV with a DVD player, and home features a coffee/tea maker, a hairdryer and an iron/ironing board. In-room dining is easy with a kitchen that comes equipped with a fridge, a microwave and a stovetop. .This pet-friendly holiday home offers a garden and barbecues. Added amenities include laundry facilities. .With a stay at this College holiday home, you'll be 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from University of Alaska Museum of the North and 2.8 km (1.8 mi) from Georgeson Botanical Garden.
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What's nearby

  • Chena River - 1 min walk - 0.1 km
  • University of Alaska-Fairbanks - 15 min walk - 1.3 km
  • University of Alaska Museum of the North - 4 min drive - 2.4 km
  • Fairbanks Ice Museum - 8 min drive - 7.1 km
  • Fort Wainwright - 8 min drive - 11.5 km

Getting around

  • Fairbanks, AK (FAI-Fairbanks Intl.) - 8 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Starbucks - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Fred Meyer Fuel Center - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Sunrise Bagel & Espresso - ‬18 min walk
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬4 min drive

About this property

Entire place

You'll have the entire home to yourself and will only share it with other guests in your party.

Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly.

While the unit is advertised for a number of people, it is great for a couple as well. We bought a two bedroom log cabin in the 60's. In 1974 we built a two story addition to accommodate our six children. At the time we wired and plumbed one bedroom so it could someday be a kitchen. The downstairs of the addition consists of a double garage, sun room and dining room. The upstairs is where guests are welcome. It has four bedrooms, sitting area, kitchen and porch. We have rented it monthly for many years but this time it was vacated we decided to do it as a VRBO. We live in the cabin downstairs.

Also on the property is a cabin that the original owner built for his parents and a barn that we built for our children and converted to a house when they were grown. We did bed and breakfast in them in the 1990's. At the time we registered the name Riverside Retreat. After a few years we decided to rent them on a monthly basis to have more time to play and travel. We can no longer do some of the things we used to do so are doing VRBO in the cabin too. We enjoy marrying people. We also enjoy sharing the space we have taken for granted for so many years. It really is a special spot.

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Property amenities

Ski

  • Cross-country skiing nearby
  • Snowboarding nearby

Internet

  • Available in the house: Internet access

Parking and transport

  • Car recommended
  • Parking on site

Kitchen

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Cookware, dishware, and utensils
  • Hob
  • Microwave
  • Oven
  • Refrigerator
  • Spices
  • Toaster

Bedrooms

  • 4 bedrooms
  • Bedsheets provided

Bathroom

  • 1 bathroom
  • Bathtub or shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Towels provided

Living spaces

  • Living room

Entertainment

  • Books
  • DVD player
  • Games
  • TV with cable/satellite channels

Outdoor areas

  • Balcony
  • Barbecue grill
  • Garden

Laundry

  • Laundry facilities
  • Washing machine

Comfort

  • Heating

Pets

  • Pet friendly

Suitability/Accessibility

  • Designated smoking areas
  • Note from host: We ask that people smoke outside.

Services and conveniences

  • Iron/ironing board

Location highlights

  • Near a hospital
  • On the waterfront

Things to do

  • Kayak
  • Basketball nearby
  • Birdwatching nearby
  • Ecotours nearby
  • Fishing nearby
  • Golfing nearby
  • Hiking/biking trails nearby
  • Horseback riding nearby
  • Hunting nearby
  • Ice skating nearby
  • Jet skiing nearby
  • Kayaking nearby
  • Motor boating nearby
  • Mountain biking nearby
  • Rafting nearby
  • Sledding nearby
  • Snowmobiling nearby
  • Swimming nearby
  • Water skiing nearby
  • Water tubing nearby
  • Wildlife walks nearby

Safety features

  • Carbon monoxide detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector)
  • Smoke detector not reported (host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property)

General

  • Garden
  • Unit size: 970 square feet

Policies

Check-out

Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)

Special check-in instructions

The front desk hours vary at this property
Guests must contact the property for check-in information
To make arrangements for check-in please contact the property ahead of time using the information on the booking confirmation
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Information provided by the property may be translated using automated translation tools

Pets

  • Pets are welcome
  • Restrictions apply
  • For more information, you can reach out to the property at the number on the booking confirmation
    • Service animals are exempt from fees.

Children and extra beds

  • Children are welcome.

Events

Events allowed

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
We ask that people smoke outside.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property
This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children; if you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary according to property policy.
A cash deposit, credit card or debit card for incidental charges and government-issued photo identification may be required upon check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in. Special requests can't be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.
    This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business. This property has outdoor spaces, such as balconies, patios and terraces, which may not be suitable for children. If you have any concerns, we recommend contacting the property prior to your arrival to confirm that they can accommodate you in a suitable room. Parties and events are allowed on site. 

We should mention

  • To make arrangements for your pet, contact the property directly using the information on your booking confirmation.

Property is also known as

Comfortable House Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly Fairbanks
Comfortable House Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly
Comfortable Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly Fairbanks
Comfortable Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly
Comfortable House Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly Fairbanks
Comfortable House Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly
Comfortable Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly Fairbanks
Comfortable House Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly Fairbanks
Comfortable House Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly
Comfortable Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly Fairbanks
Comfortable Kitchen Chena River. Family Friendly

Frequently asked questions

Does Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly. have a pool?

No, this holiday home doesn't have a pool.

Is there a free airport shuttle available at Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly.?

No, Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly. does not offer an airport shuttle service.

Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly. Reviews

Reviews

9.4

Exceptional

Rating 10 - Excellent. 162 out of 210 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 36 out of 210 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 9 out of 210 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 210 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 2 out of 210 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Amenities

8.6/10

Property conditions & facilities

Reviews

8/10 Good

Lindsey S.

Liked: Cleanliness
This was a very fun property for our family to stay at. It was within 10 to 15 minutes of everything we wanted to take our children to for our trip. The kitchen was well stocked with all of the pans we needed to cook with at the property. The bathroom had plenty of towels. There was a lot of space for everyone to relax in. The home had a very rustic, outdoors, Alaskan feel. It was fun to see all of the history of the area through maps, newspaper articles, and books that the host had at the property. The check in process was super smooth. We ended up arriving several hours later due to a snow storm and the hostess had our rooms nice and toasty for us and left the door unlocked. She was quick to respond to my questions. The only reason I docked one star for cleanliness, was the whole unit could use a good deep clean, especially the kitchen, and I did vacuum the full unit before we unpacked our things because dogs are permitted on the property and my children are very sensitive to pet hair and there was some in the carpet of the unit. In addition, the unit has had smokers in it at some point and my family is very sensitive to that. I know smoking is allowed on the property outside, but some of that did permeate in the unit. The unit has a beautiful view. We were able to enjoy the gorgeous frozen view from inside the unit. It was well stocked with games and things for the kids to look at. Thanks for a fun stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Mar 2026

6/10 Okay

Jo W.

Host was very accommodating!
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026

10/10 Excellent

Jed M.

Liked: Cleanliness
Very accommodating and easy going.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2026

8/10 Good

Michael & Victoria R.

A very spacious, very Alaskan home away from home with all you need to self-cater and recreate. The location is special- a quiet neighborhood on the Chena River, with lovely birch trees all around. Cigarette smoke regularly comes up into the unit as the lower unit (where the host lives) is not fully divided. Ventilation is a challenge for guests if this is of concern. Although we didn't meet Mardee, she was responsive via messages and left some charming news clippings and local history articles in the unit to learn more about her family's history.
Stayed 2 nights in Feb 2026

8/10 Good

Kathryn P.

Liked: Cleanliness
It was exactly like pictured. True Alaskan charm complete experience even saw The Lights on a great tour!
That’s a moose!
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026

10/10 Excellent

Lance D.

Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kirsten A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Great communication, warm cozy home.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

Izabelle A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Our family had a great stay at this home! It was really important for us to stay somewhere suited for young families and this place met those needs. It also had a fun Alaska feel to it with taxidermy and all of their family history tied into the place. I especially loved the little book people have been signing since 2014. It was interesting reading through other people’s experiences and stories. The host was also great at communicating, frequently checking in about laundry and such. Thank you for hosting us!
Aurora- We went out looking for it that night and saw a perfect view from their window when we got back!
Stayed 7 nights in Dec 2025

10/10 Excellent

kyle B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Thomas B.

Liked: Cleanliness
Really lovely cabin home right on the Chena River. Mardee is the nicest host!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Nina A.

Liked: Cleanliness
Checking in was super easy and Martha is just the nicest person. We actually got locked out and she let us in no problem. The rooms are cozy, the kitchen has all the gadgets we needed. The decor was great! Theres a polar bear coming out of the wall! We had an amazing trip! Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eric S., Ketchikan, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
A comfortable and peaceful setting. I’ve stayed here a few times now and enjoy the setting and location.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Eric S., Ketchikan, USA

Liked: Cleanliness
Appreciated their flexibility when travel changes needed some last minute adjustments.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jessica B.

Liked: Cleanliness
This was a fantastic stay. It has everything we needed and a beautiful view. My friends and I loved the cabin feel, as well as having many rooms to choose from. The kitchen also had everything we needed for cooking meals. Our only negative was the smell of cigarette smoke in the house. None of my friends are smokers, so we were not fans of that.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeremy S.

Liked: Cleanliness
Amazing hospitality and great place to stay. Great Alaskan charm and history.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025

2/10 Terrible

Sheri B.

Disliked: Cleanliness
The house was very dirty, smoke filled and musty. We left after 2 nights and did receive a refund. The carpet was laid in the 1970’s, orange and green shag. The bedding was dirty as was the bathroom. The kitchen small appliances need replacing. The only nice thing was the view of the river. It needs a total makeover. Buyer beware.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2025

10/10 Excellent

Anne F.

Liked: Cleanliness

Peaceful Family Getaway

We really enjoyed our stay. Our host did an outstanding job making us feel welcome, and the property was exactly as described in the listing. The location was perfect with a huge lawn right on the Chena River! We enjoyed relaxing on the deck, our kids enjoyed paddleboarding on the river, and our dog enjoyed exploring the spacious yard. The home itself has a unique, old time Alaska feel to it, and the beds were very comfortable. I enjoyed reading some of the articles hanging up about the history of the area. Our kids also enjoyed the puzzles and games, a nice break from the screens. We would definitely like to stay again next time we are in Fairbanks. Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Dr. Ron F.

good, nice location, great host
Stayed 10 nights in Jul 2025

8/10 Good

Free Spirit Dog Training

Liked: Cleanliness

Safe place for dogs, beautiful views

Flexible checkin/out times, this was a great area to have dogs with us. The interior is outdated, but in a very cute way. There were some things the previous people had left behind (children’s socks and undies in the hallway) that weren’t noticed by the host. The balcony was lovely to sit on, the only real downside was the heat wave that we had, certainly not controllable, but the lack of ventilation was a bit uncomfortable, so if you’re headed here during summer, just be aware. We definitely enjoyed our stay and would recommend Martha’s place.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2025

10/10 Excellent

Chris C.

Liked: Cleanliness
Host was wonderful to work with and the location was beautiful.. right along the river. The rooms were decorated with awesome game furs and taxidermy. It was an ideal place for us. Thank you!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Marcie

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities
Stayed 2 nights in May 2025

10/10 Excellent

Colleen K.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great Location & Stay

We enjoyed our seven-night stay in winter 2025. The hosts were friendly and the place had all we needed; we especially liked spending time in the kitchen, with its big window overlooking the Chena River.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cooper G.

Liked: Cleanliness

River stay

Great house, would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Chari B.

Liked: Cleanliness

Great stay with family

Visiting from Idaho to see my sister, we had an amazing stay. The Ice Sculptures were beautiful. We made the trek to Chena Hot Springs twice during our stay. It was quite a dream relaxing in that warm water and staring into a sky I feel like I have never seen before. On our last night, as we pulled in after a long soak in the Hot Springs, we saw a great show of green dancing lights. The space was just what we needed to rest at night and fuel up for another adventure.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Elliot K.

Liked: Cleanliness

Mostly good, except for a couple of minor issues.

Really decent place overall. It's situated a bit outside of town, but still close. Less light pollution, so sometimes you can see the aurora without driving anyplace. Lots of space to spread out if you're 4 people. Originally we were going to be seven though, and that would still have been fine... except for the fact that there's only one bathroom. Beds were relatively comfortable. Pillows so-so. Kitchen is well stocked with everything you need, including generous supply of condiments and even snacks. Moreso than most VRBOs. The pans, however, were old, and teflon was coming off. I liked the rustic decorations... grizzly bear watching over us at night. Cleanliness was decent, but there is the smell of smoke. Guests are not allowed to smoke inside, but the owner smokes in the sunroom below, and that sometimes wafts into the upstairs living space. Also, the water had a smell to it. No one suffered any ill effects though. Overall, very decent place especially for the price.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025