Unforgettable
Alaska
The Roman Goddess of Dawn
The northern lights are just about the only thing that could get Alaskans to stand outside without a coat in January. The northern lights can be incredibly bright, multihued and fast moving. An aurora (plural: aurorae or auroras; from the Latin word aurora, "sunrise" or the Roman goddess of dawn) is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude (Arctic and Antarctic) regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere.
The northern lights are just about the only thing that could get Alaskans to stand outside without a coat in January. Because Fairbanks is closer to the highly active area over the arctic and because the Fairbanks' winter nights are longer than they are to the south, the light show is often much brighter and reliable over Fairbanks than over Anchorage.
Take the Road Less Traveled
Alaska's isolated backcountry draws hikers, hunters, paddlers and sightseers. Outfitters provide guides and equipment, and bush pilots and boat captains ferry adventure seekers to and from the wilderness. Tours as short as one day and as long as several weeks - explore the millions of acres of remote land that make up Alaska's backcountry. This amazing State is full of outdoor adventures, from the mild to the wild. Picnic near an Ice Age glacier or raft a raging river.
Experience gold rush excitement aboard a sternwheeler or try your hand fishing for Alaska’s world-class halibut and salmon. Skim the wilderness in a "bush" plane or helicopter. Or take a flight-seeing trip over some of the most breathtaking mountains in North America. Drive for miles beside a turquoise glacier-fed river. Endless Summers Alaska has some of the most incredible scenery to be found in the United States.
