Hunting for the Northern Lights is one of the best family vacation ideas for winter!
Imagine this: You and your family huddled together, bundled up, hot chocolate in hand and mouths gaping open because giant bands of green and blue vapors are dancing across the night sky. Right. In. Front. Of. You.
If you’re looking for a fun family vacation idea this winter, going on a hunt for the Northern Lights (or aurora borealis) would be one for the books! Think you have to jet off to Iceland or Norway to see them? Nope, it’s completely possible to spot the Northern Lights from multiple U.S. destinations.
When Can You See the Northern Lights in the USA?
The best time of year to catch the Northern Lights is when we have the longest, darkest nights and clearest skies. That means wintertime, especially December through February.
But you should know that seeing the Northern Lights is never guaranteed, no matter what time of year or your location. That’s because the phenomenon is related to unpredictable activity on the sun’s surface.
What Causes the Northern Lights?
The Northern Lights occur when solar flares – explosions on the sun’s surface – send tiny particles into the earth’s atmosphere. The collision of the particles from the sun with the gases in our atmosphere can create a bit of light (kind of like a spark – but with lots of those sparks happening at once to form a strip of light).
Where Can You See the Northern Lights in the United States?
It’s true that the higher north you go, the more likely you are to see the Northern Lights. That’s why Scandinavian countries, Iceland, Greenland and Canada get all the aurora borealis buzz. But when big solar flares occur, you can also view the Northern lights from states close to the Canadian border (just make sure you have an unobstructed view toward the northern horizon):
- Alaska
- Idaho
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Montana
- New Hampshire
- New York
- North Dakota
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Vermont
What U.S. Destination Is Best for a Family Vacation to See the Northern Lights?
If you’re able to take a vacation on a whim, then your best bet is to monitor the aurora borealis 3-day forecast and go at the spur of the moment. For most of us, that strategy doesn’t work because we have to ask for time off, book a rental, get someone to feed the kid’s bearded dragon, etc.
So, that’s why I recommend planning a family trip in the winter to a place that has a lot of snowy-fun activities for the day and the potential for Northern Lights viewing at night. That way, even if you don’t see those mystical lights, you’ll still have a good time.
Check out the list I wrote up for Family Vacation Critic: 8 U.S. Destinations Where You Can See the Northern Lights. That’ll give you an idea of where to go, what you can do there and what hotel to book. Everything you need for a cozy-fun weekend!
Happy travels,
P.S. Would you rather go someplace warm for a family vacation in the winter? As a Michigander, I totally understand. How about a weekend in Key West With Kids? Or a weekend in Orlando that doesn’t revolve around Disney?
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