Listen to Me — 2024 is THE Year to See the Aurora in Alaska!

Did you know? Solar activity peaks every 11 years, and 2024 is one of those special years! That means the KP index (which measures aurora strength) is higher than usual. If you’re heading north, you’re in for a brighter, more frequent, and more magical light show than normal! Last winter, I went to Fairbanks and was lucky enough to see the aurora on the very first night — clearly visible with the naked eye! ✨ In that moment, I felt a deep, almost cosmic connection with the universe. The shimmering, ever-shifting lights felt like some kind of encrypted language from outer space… truly a surreal experience! I hope you get to see it too this year 💚 🚘 Self-Driving Tips: We chose to road trip the whole way — it offers great flexibility, but be warned: it’s exhausting! Many attractions around Fairbanks are spread out, roads can be icy, and driving requires extra caution. ❄️🧊 🌠 Aurora Viewing You can either wait at a campsite or join a guided chase tour. On clear nights, chances are high right from a camp. We booked an Aurora Camp through Viator — run by a super friendly Chinese host! The cabin was warm and cozy. ♨️ Chena Hot Springs 🚗 1 hour from downtown Besides soaking, you can try snowmobiling and dog sledding 🛷⛷️ — but don’t be late for your sledding slot!Lockers require two quarters per person. Shower facilities are basic — better to do activities first, take photos, then relax in the springs. The ice museum is skippable — kinda boring tbh 😅 🏔️ Denali National Park 🚗 2 hours from downtown Only a small portion is open in winter, but there are a couple of trails open for snow hiking ❄️🥾. Walking across a frozen lake was a first for me — so cool! Even just driving through the park offers stunning views. 🧊 Blue Ice Cave 📍 Castner Glacier Ice Cave 🚗 2 hours from downtown The entrance is down next to the bridge — follow the footprints for about 40 mins. If you’ve already glacier hiked around Anchorage, you can probably skip this. ✨ Between November and December, northern Alaska only gets about 5 hours of daylight. Sunrise and sunset seem to blend together, painting the snowy mountains in soft pastel pink — absolutely breathtaking 🥲. ✨ We all need to spend more time in places without ceilings — under the open sky, where magic feels within reach. #US #Alaska #Fairbanks