Where on earth (without including Russia in the mix) have you been to see the AB? I’ve googled this, so I have accumulated a list of the usual places (Greenland, Alaska, Canada, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Iceland), but I was wondering about your experiences. Where YOU have been and loved it? Or hated it? I am planning this trip for the express purpose of seeing the lights. I understand this may not happen. I figure at the very worst, I’m in a beautiful place and just don’t get to see the lights. I’m going with another person, hopefully my DH. We’re both pretty low maintenance and don’t require a lot of “entertainment” to make us happy.
I would be traveling from the US (Virginia). I don’t want to spend my last dime on this, but how does $5000 per person sound? Looks feasible from the quickie hipmunk flight search I did last night. I am retired, so I can travel whenever and for however long, although I think a week freezing to death would be my limit! Thinking about doing it THIS December 2015 (around the first or 2nd week). If not too late, that is. I see some of the popular jaunts are already sold out. Opinions on December 2015 also welcome.
I don’t ski (downhill), but think it would be fun to try cross country skiing or snowshoeing. Is that possible without knowing how to ski? The reindeer sledding, husky mushing, snowmobiling all look fun as long as it’s not just a hokie touristy thing without regards to the animals or local people. The scenery to the places I’ve investigated look just stunning, and it seems that most people spend about 4 or 5 nights for this kind of thing.
I also don’t have the proper clothing. I see some places offer the outer wear for these nightly searches. What say you all about clothing? Would I need to buy a LOT cold weather clothing?
Thanks.

I've seen them once in Alaska and maybe 3 times in northern Scotland.

I'm from California and somehow manage to have clothing for wintery trips, so can't really help w/ that.

Me personally -- I'd opt for a trip to Inverness and north from there (including Orkney and Shetland) and forgo skiing/snowshoeing.

Thanks. Would be REALLY COOL to see them in Scotland. I understand that it's much rarer to see in Scotland, but oh my SCOTLAND!!! Neat-o.

No personal experience to share, but I just happened to come across this article today in a Toronto online paper. It might not have much new information for you, but others reading this thread may find it interesting.


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/...ticle26242967/

I have seen them three times, on board he Hurtigruten in Norway. There is absolutely no guarantee you will see them, but I have been very lucky.

Yellowknife is a good place to see them in North America, or try Iceland, Northern Sweden, or Norway. Either the Hurtigruten trip or go to somewhere like Tromsø, where you can go on organised trips out into the dark to try and see them, or maybe the Lofoten islands.
You have the best chance of seeing them around the equinoxes, and into the winter (I have seen them in October, February and March), but they can be seen at any time of year that the sky is dark enough - including at twilight.
Find out when the moon is new and try to go around that time, rather than have the full moon competing with them, as it was the first time I saw them.

I regularly look at http://www.gi.alaska.edu/AuroraForecast to see how they are (click on the map of where you are) - we have seen them as far south as where I live in the Netherlands, but that is exceptional. Scotland see them low on the horizon quite often, but for the full dancing glory you need to be further north.You can see them in the northern United States quite often, without going to extremes.

Be prepared for them to be white or pale green - they appear much more colourful in photos.

Good luck!