The Canadian North is blessed with an abundance of sunshine in the summer and natural light shows in the winter. The latter, known as Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, is a spectacular natural phenomenon that is best viewed from January to March, and one of the prime locations to witness the ‘light up the night’ effect is in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories.
Yellowknife actually has the distinction of being the ‘Aurora Capital’ of North America and there are plenty of places to soak up the grandeur of the night skies that include luxury lodges, traditional teepees and cozy cabins.
While even a mere peek out of a downtown hotel room window will provide a decent show, going outside and getting away from civilization really is a far better option to properly commune with Mother Nature and truly appreciate her gift.
For those wanting to take things up a notch and experience another unique aspect of life in the far north, local dog-sledding companies offer moonlit mushing excursions. Just imagine being briskly pulled across the vast frozen tundra by a team of huskies while the night lights dazzle and delight high in the sky above — excitement and entertainment will surely abound.
Before bidding farewell to fair Yellowknife, take the time to explore the terrain during daylight hours and admire what else this northern capital city has to offer.