Coolest Places to See the Northern Lights

The northern lights are notoriously difficult to predict and, if you are trying to catch a glimpse, it's best to maximize your chances of seeing them by visiting northern regions during peak times-and that time is now. The months of January, February and March are the three most popular times for Aurora-hunting because they mean long, dark nights and equally dark skies.

For many, visiting the North Pole near Fairbanks, Alaska, is the ultimate winter experience. The town takes its name seriously, with year-round Christmas decorations that include candy cane street lamps. Add to that the northern lights, and it's a true winter wonderland.

Winter vacations in Iceland often include the chance to see the northern lights. You can see the Aurora Borealis from just about anywhere in the country if the weather cooperates. If you are in Reykjavik, however, it's advised to get out of the city as much as you can, where it's dark and far from light pollution.

Photograph the northern lights from the archipelago of Lofoten and you will frame the Aurora with rugged peaks, serene waters and colorful fishing villages. Located within the "Aurora Oval," chances are good the lights will be out during a winter visit.

Home to the world's northernmost airport, flying into Svalbard could mean a show of the northern lights before your plane touches down. In addition to the Aurora, you will have your pick of wintertime adventures, with snowmobiling, ice caving, sledding and even the chance to see polar bears.

For those in the U.S., you don't have to head too far north to spy the Aurora. Head to Montana's Glacier National Park for a winter vacay and, if the forecast is just right, you could see the northern lights from the foot of Lake McDonald.

Tromso is one of the coolest places to see the Aurora. The stunning city has northern lights, a wide variety of adventurous winter activities, a happening nightlife and good food.

In the Swedish Lapland, visitors have their pick of ways to see the northern lights. Travelers can enjoy dinner at the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko, go for a late-night snowshoe, dogsled to see the Aurora and more.

Whitehorse is one of the best jumping-off points from which visitors can see the northern lights in the Yukon Territory. Like in other places, viewing packages include other fun activities such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, dog sledding and more.

The northern lights are not just a phenomenon in the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere has its own version, the Aurora Australis. They appear in the wintertime but, because Antarctica is larger and far less populated than the northern Aurora Oval, it's much more difficult to see the lights.

Okay, so most of us probably won't get to this one in our lifetimes, but the truly out-of-this-world experience of viewing the northern lights from the International Space Station certainly makes for stunning photos we enjoy back on Earth.