Alaska's Northern Lights

Your journey starts in Fairbanks, in the great state of Alaska. Originally a gold rush boomtown, it's now known as the “Golden Heart of Alaska.” Due to varied arrivals, there are no group activities planned for today, so enjoy a chance to explore and have dinner on your own.

Feel the brisk air and discover Fairbanks, the perfect combination of nature and civilization. Look into the past at the Antique Auto Museum, where vintage cars sit between timely artifacts and fashionable designer dresses from times gone by. Hop in a car and pose for a perfect souvenir snapshot. In the afternoon, embrace the Iditarod spirit on a private kennel tour andstep into a sled with an expert guide and glide over the snow with a pack of sled dogs. Later this evening, chase the legendary northern lights, considered one of the most amazing natural spectacles in the world. Walk out in the snow under an unspoiled bed of stars and search for the shimmering hues of green.

Enjoy a full day at leisure in the city of Fairbanks. Take this opportunity to relax or flex your sense of adventure with optional excursions: consider flightseeing to the Arctic Circle. Later in the evening, enjoy another chance to spot the northern lights.

Begin your day hopping on Alaska Railroad’s Snow Train for a full-day journey to Talkeetna. Sit back and relax as you are whisked away, through snow-covered mountains and striking valleys. Have your cameras ready – the train conductor will point out wildlife as you pass by. Lunch is included in the train’s dining car. Check into the iconic Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, perched on a ridge offering unforgettable views of Denali (when conditions allow). Later, perhaps you will spend some time on the lodge’s expansive deck, a great place to search for the northern lights, or just enjoy some hot cocoa by the roaring fireplace in the great room.

Start your day with a lecture on the down-to-earth Alaskan lifestyle before taking a step into the past with an Impact Moment visit to the Musk Ox Farm. Learn about the Musk Ox project – a sustainable domestication effort that has worked to preserve, protect, and increase awareness for these wooly creatures since 1954. Your day concludes in Anchorage, an urban enclave surrounded by wilderness.

Head to Whittier and embark on an incomparable glacier cruise of Prince William Sound, narrated by an expert guide. Enjoy a boxed lunch on board as you take in the spectacular surrounding scenery. Blue skies collide with stark white glaciers, and playful otters dip in and out of the calm waters. Embrace the sheer magnitude of Alaska’s natural beauty as you venture through a geological wonderland. Feel like a true explorer during a beach landing. Toast to your Alaskan adventure at a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.

Enjoy a relaxing morning before heading to the Anchorage Museum. Alaska’s largest museum tells the story of the states multi-faceted culture and history from many different perspectives. The remainder of your day is at leisure. Your hotel room is available for your use whether your flight is today, tonight, or tomorrow morning.