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Where and when to see the northern lights? Any timeshares perfect for that, and what time of year?

rickandcindy23

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Our daughter-in-law asked me about going to Nova Scotia to see the lights, but she thought you could also see them from Vermont? I have no idea, just hoping you all know where we can go and if there is a timeshare I can request to see the lights.

Would it be better to look at Alaska?

Any help you can give would be very appreciated.
 

mdurette

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I follow the northern light sightings in New Hampshire. They are still rare enough occurances that you really can't "plan" for one in advance. Seeing the northern lights is on my bucket list. One day I will just jump in the car to drive north if/when an occurance is likely to happen. Other than that, I think it is a designated trip to Iceland.
 

rickandcindy23

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I follow the northern light sightings in New Hampshire. They are still rare enough occurances that you really can't "plan" for one in advance. Seeing the northern lights is on my bucket list. One day I will just jump in the car to drive north if/when an occurance is likely to happen. Other than that, I think it is a designated trip to Iceland.
Thank you for answering. I am thinking Iceland is a trip for another year.
 

moonstone

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I am about 2 hrs north of Toronto Ontario in a rural (dark) area and have seen the Northern Lights 3 times in the last 30 years. They may have been visible a few times that I didn't catch sight of them, but it is a rare sighting this far south. On the other hand a friend in the Edmonton Alberta area who is also in a rural/dark area has seen them 4 or 5 times this year! They are beautiful and amazing when you can see them.

~Diane
 

MrockStar

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I have only seen them once in northern Michigan when I was a kid.
 

PigsDad

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I don't think planning a trip to specifically experience the northern lights is really feasible, even in Iceland. It's not like it happens all of the time, only when the solar storms are active and the conditions are right. I grew up in northern MN and saw them only two or three times. Also, even in the continental US, if you do experience them they will be just in the lower part of the horizon -- they will be nothing like what is seen in pictures where they come high across the sky. Fun to experience, but very difficult to plan to see, IMO.

Kurt
 

Sandy VDH

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They are more a factor of solar storms than times of the year. You can also see them at the south pole if you did not realize it.

I have seen them when I was in Banff in the 1990s just by chance.

I don't know if you can say there is a season and a location.
 

rickandcindy23

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I don't think planning a trip to specifically experience the northern lights is really feasible, even in Iceland. It's not like it happens all of the time, only when the solar storms are active and the conditions are right. I grew up in northern MN and saw them only two or three times. Also, even in the continental US, if you do experience them they will be just in the lower part of the horizon -- they will be nothing like what is seen in pictures where they come high across the sky. Fun to experience, but very difficult to plan to see, IMO.

Kurt
I think you are right. Going from Colorado to see the lights sounds rather a fool's errand.
 

zentraveler

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We saw them when we went to Iceland a few years ago, and we were fortunate. We were staying far enough outside of a small town and the hotel called everyone who requested it at 3 or 4 am to let them know they were visible.

We also loved Chana Hot Springs in Alaska although we were there in the summer. Wherever you go I think you will do better with places like both of these that make a specialty out of northern lights and will arrange things like 3 am phone calls.
 

JMNY

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I have a friend who grew up in Rovaniemi (sp?) Finland. He said that during the months of the year when it is dark most of the time, you can see them whenever there's a solar event that would trigger them. So perhaps a trip there may make it worth a shot. I know there are a few resorts in that area as I've looked at going for this reason myself.
 

Snazzylass

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A dark sky is important! My sister-in-law saw them once during the summer from her back yard in rural Indiana. It's an ideal location for stargazing and meteor showers, too! A big open sky and very limited or practically no light pollution.
 

easyrider

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Our daughter-in-law asked me about going to Nova Scotia to see the lights, but she thought you could also see them from Vermont? I have no idea, just hoping you all know where we can go and if there is a timeshare I can request to see the lights.

Would it be better to look at Alaska?

Any help you can give would be very appreciated.

I researched this and Yellowknife Canada is a very good place to view Northern Lights. We have been trying to go to Yellowknife for the last two years but covid shut us down. Yellowknife is known for more clear nights and less weather problems so making reservations can work well. Our second choice is north of Fairbanks at Chenna Hot Springs. The problem here is you need to go when you know the weather is clear.

Bill
 

klpca

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I researched this and Yellowknife Canada is a very good place to view Northern Lights. We have been trying to go to Yellowknife for the last two years but covid shut us down. Yellowknife is known for more clear nights and less weather problems so making reservations can work well. Our second choice is north of Fairbanks at Chenna Hot Springs. The problem here is you need to go when you know the weather is clear.

Bill
A few years ago my SIL and her husband went to Fairbanks to see the northern lights. They were there for two weeks and all it did was rain. She was so disappointed. Seems like you have to get lucky to see them.
 

easyrider

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A few years ago my SIL and her husband went to Fairbanks to see the northern lights. They were there for two weeks and all it did was rain. She was so disappointed. Seems like you have to get lucky to see them.

For Fairbanks I would make my reservation last minute based on weather and solar activity. The problem is alot of people do this so lodging can be tricky.

Yellowknife is where we plan to go. Late September with no moon is when we want to go because the weather isn't as cold. Even then we would check weather and solar activity and like to have the ability to cancel our reservations last minute.

Bill
 

JudyH

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Akureyri Iceland. My friend went there in early December and saw lights on their 5th and last night there.
 
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