Traveling to Alaska can be a treat for anyone. But taking a winter trip to Alaska can give you so much more. During this time of year, you can easily see as much of Alaska as you can because of the six to 12 hours of sunlight that occurs. Taking in the Aurora Borealis or going on a dogsled trip through the Alaskan frontier are just a couple of ideas for adventure in the winter months of Alaska.
One of the most popular and well-known phenomenons of Alaska is the beautiful Aurora Borealis, more commonly called the Northern Lights. When you visit Alaska through the winter months of October to April, traveling to Fairbanks or further north gives the best viewings of this spectacular natural light show. Some of the best places to view the Northern Lights can be done in Fairbanks or at the Chena Hot Springs. For more unique destinations to see this phenomenon, you can travel to Bettles and Coldfoot, which are located across the Alaskan Arctic Circle.
One of the most popular races in the world is the Alaskan Iditarod. This race takes place over the 1049 miles between Anchorage and Nome and takes the dogsleds and its mushers through some of the roughest country in North America. If you participate in the Guided five-day Iditarod tour, you will not only be able to watch much of the race as it travels through, but you will actually be a participant in helping with the race as well. Opportunities with this tour include being a musher handler at the beginning of the race, a volunteer road crossing guard at another point in the race or mushing your own dogsled team along a portion of the trail. Reach many of the checkpoints of the race by a ski plane and have a private grand aerial tour of Mt. McKinley.
For an unforgettable wildlife experience, take a bear-watching tour of Alaska. When you see these amazing animals in their home turf of the Alaskan wilderness, you may see them catching salmon in the rapids or eating berries in the mountains. Visiting Kodiak Island can have you forget everything else except the beauty of the nature that surrounds you. Another option would be to visit the Inside Passage of southeast Alaska that offers a coastal rain forest, deep fjords and a rich history, as well as amazing wildlife viewing.
