North America: Wintertime in Alaska

TRAINWintertime in AlaskaBy Paloma Villaverde de RicoImagine seeing the Northern Lights dancing across the sky, watching the ceremonial send-off of the 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race up-close in Anchorage, enjoying Fairbanks’ World Ice Art Championships…even honoring Alaska’s fur trade while partaking in all the fun during Anchorage’s Fur Rendezvous festivities. Yes, most of your clients want to head to Alaska during the summer season, but travelers aren’t all made from the same mold, so why not recommend a trip to the 49th state when the vast landscape is blanketed in shimmering white snow that allows for winter sports such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling and snowboarding. AURORA BOURELIOUSAurora ViewingOne of the best places in all of Alaska to watch the devastatingly beautiful aurora borealis phenomenon is in Fairbanks due to its location, hours of darkness in winter and its clear skies. Some of the best ways to catch all the action are during an overnight sled dog expedition, by snow cat tour, while ice-fishing, on a snowmobile adventure or on a flight above the Arctic Circle. For accommodation options, the Aurora Borealis Lodge, located just 20 miles north of Fairbanks in the famed Cleary Summit area, is open from mid-August through mid-April and offers rooms with large north-facing windows for optimal viewing conditions. Of course, the lodge also provides evening aurora-viewing tours when the lights are most active. Chena Hot Springs Resort, in the Fairbanks area, is also renowned for its aurora viewing and its array of tours to take in all that Alaska has to offer during its winter season. In fact, it’s here where travelers can visit the Aurora Ice Museum, home to ice sculptures, an ice bar with drinks served in an ice glass and an ice chapel. Gondwana Eco Tours offers an 8-day Northern Lights Adventure that includes entry into Chena Hot Springs, a dog sledding experience, entry into Running Reindeer Ranch and a curling lesson
from local players as well as Northern Lights viewing. DOG SLEDDINGDog Sledding Or dog mushing…whatever you call it, this is a must experience for those traveling to Alaska during the winter months. Not only will they have the opportunity to take in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, which starts in Anchorage in March, they’ll also have the chance to go on a dog sledding adventure down snowy trails. Snowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska—located in the town of Willow (on the George Parks Highway)—offers a 2-hour Winter Dog Sled Adventure from October to April that will have your clients seeing the sights from a custom-made tour sled and even helping the guide drive the sled. Willow, by the way, is where the official restart of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race takes place. ICE ARTThe Full PackageFor a multi-day tour that takes in the Northern Lights, the Iditarod Race and the World Ice Championships, recommend John Hall’s Alaska’s 11-day Iditarod & Aurora Adventure. The itinerary includes flying to a remote village and observing an Iditarod checkpoint; Northern Lights viewing and a photography lesson; witnessing the World Ice Championships; dog sledding at Trail Breaker Kennel; visiting a musk ox farm; glacier flightseeing; and a spa treatment. During the operator’s 8-day Alaska’s Winter Wonders, participants will have up to seven nights of Northern Lights viewing; they’ll go flightseeing in Denali National Park and land on a glacier; participate in a dog sledding ride; and go skiing and snowmobiling. Hit the RailsFrom mid-September to mid-May, Alaska Railroad’s Aurora Winter Train travels on weekends between Anchorage and Fairbanks, making the northbound 12-hour journey on Saturday and the return trip on Sunday (there are also select mid-week departures). Along the way, the train stops in Wasilla, Talkeetna and provides flagstop service along the 50-mile stretch of roadless backcountry south of Hurricane Gulch. Farther north, the train stops as needed at Healy and Nenana before arriving to Fairbanks. The Aurora Winter Train travels the same stretch of tracks as the summer Denali Star Train, but it feels like a whole other train ride as the landscape is covered in snow, and if it’s a clear day, lucky passengers will get to see Denali rise into view above the Susitna River. Contact InformationAlaska Railroad: alaskarailroad.com/travel-tradeAurora Borealis Lodge: auroracabin.comChena Hot Springs Resort: chenahotsprings.comGondwana Eco Tours: gondwanaecotours.comJohn Hall’s Alaska: kissalaska.comSnowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska: snowhookadventures.com Travel Alaska: travelalaska.com/Travel-Trade
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