This time of year, it’s popular to visit an upstate New York ski lodge or fill your calendar up with holiday light shows. But sometimes going with the status quo just doesn’t cut it.
Why not aim for a sensational experience by trying a new kind of holiday travel, something with the perfect balance of relaxation and adventure – and a Christmas light show like you’ve never seen before!
Mother Nature knows how to light it up for Christmas better than Chevy Chase ever could, and that’s saying something.
The Northern Lights
Aurora Borealis, more notably known as the Northern Lights, are disturbances in the magnetosphere made by solar winds, which are typically seen in high latitude regions.
The result is ribbonlike sweeps across the night sky in bright colors of blue, green, purple, and pink. And all for our viewing pleasure.
There are a few world-renowned places to see these polar lights in all their glory, such as Kangerlussuaq, Greenland which we’ve previously shared, or the authentic Alaskan Chena Hot Springs Resort.
But this winter, you may be looking for an experience that stretches beyond conventional tourist escapes.
In the Northwest Territories of Canada (Aye!) is the Aurora Capital of North America, called such because there’s a 95 percent chance you’ll catch the unforgettable light show.
Some like to go all man vs. wild to see the lights, but if you’re like me, then you may prefer to enjoy the view from a cozy tepee at Aurora Village in Yellowknife, right along the shores of Great Slave Lake.
Experiences of a lifetime
Aurora Village offers multiple packages. Dine at their authentic restaurant after spending the day dog-sledding and ice-fishing. Afterwards, you’ll be transported to one of the 21 tepees along the breathtaking lake.
If you want a little less adrenaline rush, opt for just ice-fishing or snowshoeing.
Or crank the adrenaline way up with a highspeed snowmobile ride you won’t be able to stop talking about as you sip hot cocoa next to a woodburning stove.
While you won’t be sleeping right under the natural phenomenon of lights – which is probably best because it’s so cold – transportation is provided to and from your hotel of choice in the town of Yellowknife.
Tours last around four and-a-half hours and are given by an Aboriginal family from Fort Resolution, the “oldest trading settlement in the territories and home to mostly Dene and Metis people,” according to the Aurora Village website.
Costs for a day like this you’d think would be astronomical, but the indigenous people have made it an affordable trip the whole family can enjoy at only $126 CAD (about $95 USD) for adults and $84 CAD (about $64 USD) for children.
This is definitely one of those natural wonders you don’t want to miss out on – and one that will give you an outside-the-box vacation that isn’t overrun by tourists.
So catch a light show this Christmas season that could never be duplicated! Your whole family will thank you.
Please tell us in the comments section if you’ve ever seen the Northern Lights or if this sounds like just the vacation you’ve been waiting for!
