How to Watch Northern Lights with Kids

Watching the Northern Lights is an unforgettable experience for adults and kids alike. With vivid colors dancing in the night sky, it’s a sight that’s sure to take your breath away. If you’re looking for the best places to watch the Northern Lights with kids, then you’ve come to the right place. Let’s explore some of the most kid-friendly spots!

Introduction

The northern lights – or Aurora Borealis – have captivated people across the globe with their incredibly beautiful colors, shapes and movement in the sky. The spectacle of the northern lights has become a symbol of joy and adventure for many travelers who flock to the Arctic regions each year to witness nature’s beauty up close. The shimmering colors can appear in a dizzying array of colors including pink, orange, green, blue and violet depending on which type is being seen.

One of the most magical experiences for families is seeing the northern lights. With children in tow, a bit of planning can make it easier to get a great view of this amazing natural phenomenon. We recommend consulting reliable online sources to determine when and where the northern lights are visible. We think one of the best resources is to follow the Aurora Forecast from University of Alaska for a while when planning your trip. This site has excellent visuals of where you are likely to catch the Northern Lights and you can see how the varying strength of the lights impact which locations it reaches.

The lights are truly mesmerizing. Seeing them gives one a sense of awe and appreciation; it’s really just impossible to put into words. There truly is no experience like it and it’s something everyone should get a chance to see at least once in their life.

Considerations for a good experience

Watching northern lights is easiest in true darkness far away from cities. However, if you are bringing smaller kids, you will probably want to look for a place that is fairly easy to reach from an airport. You should also try to look for a location where local operators arrange kid-friendly northern lights watching tours. Bear in mind that most trips will be starting at night and you will be outside for a couple of hours or more in cold weather.

Some operators will provide proper clothing but do make sure that they also provide kids’ sizes or ensure that you have all the requisite weather-appropriate clothing and perhaps some blankets. We recommend to get inspiration for how to dress by how you would dress your kids for skiing (layers are key). Also, bring some snacks – something warm and savoury always helps keep hands occupied during waiting periods.

It’s also important to keep expectations realistic – most often you’ll be outside in dazzling darkness with only stars and moonlight as company – an absolutely thrilling experience but not exactly what you’d call riveting entertainment for kids! So make sure they are prepared and talk it through with them before you go – or bring a tablet or some other entertainment for them. And make sure they understand that there are no guarantees that you will see the natural phenomenon.

To maximize your chances for success, we recommend planning your trip so you can stay in your chosen location for at least a couple of days. That way, you can go again the next night if you are not in luck on your first try.

Taking photos of northern lights

Photographing the northern lights can be difficult as they are elusive but if you are lucky enough to be ready to shoot your camera in the right direction when they appear, the lens will usually pick up the lights better than the naked eye. Just make sure to bring a tripod to stabilize the camera for long exposures if you plan on photographing.

Where can you go?

Here we have listed some of the places you can go to watch northern lights:

Norway

Norway is one of the most popular destinations for watching northern lights because it has some of the clearest skies in Europe. In addition to being able to view them from the city of Tromsø or Lofoten Islands, there are numerous other activities that can be enjoyed by all ages such as reindeer sledding and whale watching tours. The best time to visit Norway is during winter months when there are fewer clouds in the sky making visibility even better!

Iceland

Iceland has become a popular destination for watching the northern lights due to its high accessibility and reliable viewing conditions (if weather permits). You can stay conveniently in Reykjavik and go on a tour with a local operator. Iceland is perfect for families since there are plenty of activities available, such as exploring glaciers, hot springs, and lava caves. The best time to visit is from October until April when the skies are darker and you have a better chance of seeing the lights.

Finland

Finland is another great spot for catching glimpses of the Aurora Borealis from November through March. It offers many kid-friendly activities such as snowmobiling, skiing, husky sledding, ice fishing, and more. There are also lots of hotels and resorts that offer family packages so you can easily plan your trip.

Sweden

Visiting northern Sweden – e.g Abisko or Umeå – to see the famed northern lights is a magical experience. During the winter months, Aurora Borealis paints the night sky with its vivid swirls of pinks and greens, creating unforgettable memories. Tourists from all over the world flock to get a glimpse of this spectacular light show, and for good reason. Not only do you get to witness one of nature’s beautiful spectacles but depending on the day, you might even get the chance to ride in a sled drawn by some adorable huskies or snowmobile across an icy lake.

Canada

Seeing the northern lights in Canada is an experience unlike any other. Not only do you observe one of the most beautiful shows that nature puts on, but you also get to enjoy a breathtaking view of Canada’s night sky. From looking up at an array of stars and galaxies while hearing complete silence to taking plenty of photos that look more beautiful than anything on Instagram, it’s hard to beat this amazing sight. Wrapping yourself up warmly while standing outside in the freezing cold can be challenging, but the reward is definitely worth the effort!

Final words

It’s no wonder why witnessing these mesmerizing lights has been on so many traveler’s bucketlists! Seeing the northern lights with kids is an unforgettable experience that will stay etched in their memories forever! Whether you choose Iceland, Finland, Norway, or another place, they all offer something special that will make your trip memorable! So what are you waiting for? Pack up your family and get ready for an adventure like no other this winter!