During the day, head out on reindeer and snow tank safaris. When you're not staring at the night sky, splurge on a customized once-in-a-lifetime helicopter flight with Tasmanian Air Tours. And since the lodge is off-the-grid, theres minimal artificial light to interfere with prime aurora viewing. 1. The best places to see northern lights in Saariselk are the snowshoe track around Saariselk chapel, Javri restaurant, and the top of Kaunisp fell. While lesser known, polar lights called aurora australis appear in the Southern Hemisphere and are visible in places like Antarctica, Tasmania and New Zealand. World Explorer presents: 5 Best Places to See the Northern LightsLearn about the dancing lights and the best places in the world to view them.Facebook http. Visitors can expect to see the lights on an average of four out of five clear nights during aurora season, which lasts from August 21 to April 21. You've Gotta See These 6 Spectacular Neighborhood Christmas Light Displays In Connecticut. Weve ordered these alphabetically by country (i.e. Voyageurs alsoruns nighttime junior ranger programs. Not only does it have excellent restaurants and accommodations, but it also has good access to the Ring Road. Spotting the aurora borealis from a train in Russia. The optimal time for seeing the illuminated skies in the northern part of Sweden, in Swedish Lapland, is between early September and late March. Connecticut Trolley Museum, 58 N Rd #9606, East Windsor, CT 06088, USA. The southern lights are most visible in the winter months (between March and October), but due to the extreme weather conditions, only researchers brave the elements in Antarctica in the winter and they mostly stay indoors. I hope you find resources here to help you do just that. The 6 igloo resorts include Northern Lights Village . When night falls on clear evenings, look for the light show in the southern sky. Fall and winter are the best seasons to witness the aurora, also known in local dialect as the "Mirrie Dancers." By day, you can explore local history and cultural museums to get a sense for Russian history. The small Swedish village of Jukkasjrvi sits around 125 miles above the Arctic Circle on the Torne River and is an ideal locale for aurora viewing. Finska. You can book two- or four-person igloos at the Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort. Guests can opt to head out by car to see the aurora, view it by snowmobile or go snowshoeing in pursuit of the lights. Thanks to longer hours of darkness and clear night skies, December through March is usually thebesttime to observe this elusive natural phenomenon (though you can sometimes see the northern lights starting as early as August). Widely referred to as "the Crown of the Continent", the park is a national gem for a multitude of reasons, not least because of the unparalleled views it boasts of the unfiltered night sky. I tried to pick 1-2 spots in each of the 12 states where you can see the northern lights in the USA. Days are spent snowshoeing, igloo-building and dog sledding, while evenings will be spent in search of the northern lights. This beautiful property is just minutes by foot from Oban village and the property will pick you up at the airport or ferry terminal for your stay. This excursion includes round-trip transportation to the resort from town, a soak in the hot springs, dinner at the on-site restaurant, a visit to the Aurora Ice Museum and an aurora viewing tour in a snowcat. Most often, those waves are green in color, but they can also be yellow, red, orange, blue, and even white. As a result, the skies above Fairbanks are illuminated four out of five nights from August 21 to April 21 each year. Perlan is also home to the world's first indoor ice cave and glacier exploratorium. 9. It provides one of the best views of the aurora borealis you can possibly see. There, you can have a guided night tour with a Swedish fika (coffee and a pastry) or indulge in a four-course meal. There, youll find suggestions on recommended forecast tools as well as a few tips to help you maximize your chances of seeing them. While in Reykjavik, splurge on an overnight tour with Buubble.com. Many people overlook Greenland as an aurora destination, but Kangerlussuaq is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights. These destinations will inspire even the most experienced aurora chaser. Transformative Travel: I look at how travel can change lives. best time and places to see Northern Lights in Alaska. See the aurora borealis, aka the northern lights, across the northern tier of the U.S. this week, from Maine to Montana to Washington this week. If you visit in March, plan to attend the monthlong Snowkings' Winter Festival, which features events and activities like a snow-carving competition, an ice slide, a snow castle, live music and more. Web Visit website. Its on every astrotourists bucket list and its one of the most popular bucket list activities for non-space geeks too: see the northern lights. Slemish Mountainprovides excellent foreground forastrophotography; its located outside the town of Ballymena but far enough to reduce light pollution. In order to increase your chances of seeing this spectacle, you should time your trip to anew moon. Alaska. This product is based on the OVATION model and provides a 30 to 90 minute forecast of the location and intensity of the aurora. The northern lights sparkle above the teepees at Aurora Village in Yellowknife, Canada, the Aurora [+] Capital of North America.. Today its a prime destination to try and see the northern lights. The resort village is also one of the prime spots in the world to view the northern lights as it sits within the "aurora zone" and there are as many as 200 opportunities per year to see the show. The southernmost destinations in the world offer the chance to see the aurora australis or southern lights. Idaho. This time of year brings cold evenings with clear skies, which makes for ideal viewing conditions. Officially named a Dark Sky Preserve, Jasper National Park is one of Albertas and Canadas most picturesque locations and is quickly becoming a tourist hotspot. Talk about a birds-eye view. If you're patient and the weather cooperates, chances are, you won't be disappointed. Lapland is located within the Arctic Circle in the northernmost part of Finland. Set in a remote part of northern Sweden, the property promises to be the ultimate place to catch the northern lights. When it comes to wildlife viewing, humpback whale sightings are abundant, and you'll still see penguin colonies including king and gentoo penguins. Its a truly fascinating place to stay while you wait for the Northern Lights to appear. Luxury adventure outfitter Butterfield & Robinson has expanded its winter offerings with a new collection of cold-weather expeditionsnorthern lights included. Some have not only witnessed the Northern Lights for hours here, but observed a rare red Aurora. Lokacija: Fairbanks, Talkeetna, Denali National Park, Wiseman, Utqiagvik, Nome. (Martha Shuff/Courtesy of Voyageurs National Park). (Getty Images) Located 220 miles above the Arctic Circle, Troms is one of several top spots to view the northern lights in Norway. The National . Gwen Pratesi and Amanda NorcrossJan. Natural Habitat Adventures, a leader in responsible wildlife tourism, is introducing itsvery firstArctic expedition exclusively for women: the seven-dayNorthernLights and Arctic Cultures. Inspired by the Arctics intrepid female explorers, this epic journey was designed by expedition leader Annie Van Dinther. Abisko: Home to Abisko National Park and the Aurora Sky Observatory. Vast portions of Iceland are rural or undeveloped, meaning you can find places to spot the northern lights all over the country. Fairbanks is by far one of the best places in the world to view the northern lights, as it's located directly under the auroral oval. Its the best way to see thenorthernlights, explore ice caves and avoid the crowds. While its far from Norway, Svalbard consistently ranks among the best places to see the northern lights in the world because its so far north it almost seems like youre at the north pole! Borealis Basecamphas domes designed especially to offer you a view of the northern lights from the comfort of yourbed. In the winter months, Washington State isnt known for clear skies; the states reputation as a rainy and cloudy place is well-earned during the aurora-viewing season. While the auroras appear less frequently there, in December and January each year, they can be seen illuminating the heavens. You can reach Stewart Island by flying into Oban or taking a ferry from Invercargill or Bluff. Visit Troms sells aurora-watching trips around the city of Troms in Norway. Destinations known for northern lights are often expensive. Copyright, Juan Pelegrn. Saariselka, Finnish Lapland. Where to see the northern lights. Visitors can even camp on a nearby ice sheet while basking in the glow. One of best places to view the northern lights on the planet is the mountaintop Aurora Sky StationinSwedish Lapland. The hotel also organizes an ice-cap tour nearby. Another good location to chase evasive Northern Lights is the remote wilderness of Eeyou Istchee Baie-James in Northern Quebec. The northern lights, known as the aurora borealis, are a spectacular natural light show visible at certain times of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. Travel company Off The Map decided to ease the pain by offering two mobile methods for the enthusiastic aurora seeker. For the best chances to see aurora borealis, get away from city lights and look north between 10 p.m. Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday. In fact, its the only place in the world where the Northern Lights can be seen in thedaytime. #shorts For many outdoor enthusiasts seeing the Northern Lights is at the top of their list and is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Yellowknife, the capital of Canada's Northwest Territories, is also known as the "Aurora Capital of North America." That means theres no artificial light around to obscure the extraterrestrial view. There, on a clear night, you'll get an unfettered look at the sky, which from September through March, is often ablaze with bright colors. The winter nights comealive in Alberta. The property has an impressive selection of year-round tours and activities, including northern lights excursions on horseback or by horse drawn carriage or you can head out on a quad bike to see the show. But the long nights of winter give visitors the greatest opportunity of witnessing the Northern Lights in all of their glory. This massive fjord was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004 and is something anyone visiting town must see. Headlands International Dark Sky Parkwas one of the first ten dark sky parks in the world, established in 2011! A clear night at sea is the perfect venue to stargaze, and being out on the water further illuminates the northern lights, as there is no ambient light interference from land. Despite this, you dont have to worry too much about light pollution interfering with your view. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, make reservations to stay overnight in unique camping accommodations at Aurora Village to view the lights. The trip includes relaxing in the hot waters of theSecret Lagoon, the countrys oldest natural geothermal swimming pool. Want northern lights viewing thats pretty much guaranteed? Enter Chena Hot Springs Resort, with . Between mid-April and mid-August, the night skies are just too bright for visitors to see the aurora well. (Getty Images). For U.S. citizens, the top no-passport-required destination for seeing the northern lights is Alaska. Liard River Hot Springs, further north, is a bucket-list must. Since Earth's magnetic field is weaker at the poles, more particles from the solar winds enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles there, making the lights more visible in these regions. Seeking out the northern lights in Iceland. Kiruna: Sweden's northernmost city with a high-end "camp" (resort) designed for those seeking the Northern Lights. Parachute Concerts partner Ilario Altamura shows the setup underway for the "Holiday Wish: Follow the Magic" immersive holiday experience at Stamford Town Center in Stamford, Conn. Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022. Best of all, you can plan to visit any time of year in search of the dazzling aurora australis. Since Jasper is largely covered in forests, you need to find a spot with a wide clearing to maximize your chances of seeing the northern lights. You can also watch the northern lights from a cozy teepee at Aurora Village, an Aboriginal-owned experience that also offers custom-made, heated outdoor seats that swivel 360 degrees to catch every angle of the aurora borealis. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association's Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a moderate . It is even possible to doze off in a warm bed while the auroras dance overhead, making this a comfortable and enchanting way to enjoy this unique setting. Look out the window of your plane if youre flying overnight close to the Arctic Circle. If you're on your own in the park, campsite docks offer some of the best spots for northern lights viewing and stargazing. During your visit, don't miss the panoramic views of the city from the building's fourth-floor observation deck. 1. Seeing the Northern Lights is an event that often gets a spot on many bucket lists, but traveling north toward Alaska, Canada and the North Pole might not be necessary to accomplish it. Here are some of thebest spots to see the northern lights near Fairbanksif you want to improve your chances during your trip: Want to sleep under the aurora? Plus, theres an observatory with a retractable roof for nightly northern lights viewing, as well as a staff of local astronomers who will show you the planets and the stars using Icelands largest telescope. Embrace the winter and set sail for the Arctic Circle to experience the aurora in northern Norway. Lastly,Woodburn Reservoiris one last spot to try and see (and photograph) the aurora at the right time of year you might even get a lovely reflection in the water, too. The Aurora season here falls between late August through April when you can expect to see the grand spectacle of shimmering aurora. Today the village boasts about 800 residents and more than 1,000 dogs. Other activities visitors can enjoy in late summer include a ride on the Riverboat Discovery or panning for gold. Because of its protection as a national park, theres limited development and less light pollution. the best Northern Lights hotels in Canada, the best time and places to see Northern Lights in Canada. In fact, they have awhole section about iton their website! If you'd prefer to chase the lights with a curated tour, Visit Abisko leads 4.5-hour tours with professional photographers and aurora-chasing guides in October and November. In the air. Fairbanks, Alaska. Absolutely! A few places to see the spectacular light show include along the coast at Birsay or on the beach at Dingieshowe. Troms is the largest city in northern Norway. On the Alaska Northern Lights Multi-Active Private, youll snowmobile, mush a dog sled and relax in a private hot spring, all beneath the dancing northern sky. But dont limit yourself: You can also spot the southern lights in the southern hemisphere. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. [Read: The Best Places for National Park Camping.]. At the time of publication, the SWPC's 3-Day Forecast projects a G1 watch starting early on December 10 with various levels of that lasting until the early morning hours of December 11. Finding an app that gives you real time data and focuses not only on the intensity of the lights at that time but also the potential cloud cover is vital. A great site to check out is Service Aurora, which is run by a group of northern lights chasers and tracks the aurora borealis in the northern hemisphere. CONNECTICUT A solar storm that made a "direct hit" to Earth Tuesday and more developing storms could trigger aurora borealis displays in Connecticut and in areas where the northern lights . These durable carry-on bags are ideal for any upcoming vacation or business trip. You can read more about these 5 spots below, as well as 20 alternatives that are also good spots to see the northern lights but less popular and/or further off the beaten path. Ryan Knapp, a meteorologist for the Mt. McGulpin Point and Johnson Point are both good viewing spots; McGulpin Point Lighthouse is just outside the park but also a good contender. 5, 2023, Up to 60% Off + Exclusive 5% Guaranteed Priceline Coupon, Up to 50% Off Travel Plans with Top Expedia Promo Code, Discount Travel Plans with 50% Off on Hotels.com bookings, 50% Discount on Getaways with Barcel Resort & Hotels, Booking.com Promo Code Up to 50% Off + Extra 10% Off. That's because the naturally-occurring light show might be visible in Connecticut and throughout New England . You can learn more about my mission here or read about me and the rest of the team here. The northern part of the country is dark in the early afternoon until late morning from the end of September to late March. 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best places to see the northern lights in ct