In mid-November, after first making stops in Copenhagen and Stockholm, I’ll be flying to the Luleå Airport in Sweden near the Arctic Circle and then driving another hour to reach the Aurora Safari Camp. Here in this remote outpost, I’ll be spending two nights in one of their glass-enclosed Lapland Cone Rooms, where if I’m fortunate, I’ll have front row seats to the Aurora Borealis. My timing couldn’t be better. We are currently approaching the next solar maximum in January 2025 which means that the Northern Lights are putting on their most spectacular show in roughly a decade. So if seeing the Northern Lights is on your wish list, this might be the year to do it. Here are some of the finest ways to achieve that goal:

Fifty Degrees North, the tour operator organizing a trip to Scandinavia for me and other travel advisors, is the same company we use for all our clientele heading to the region and Iceland. They’re gearing up for a busy Northern Lights season with several touring options. First up is the 5-Day Northern Lights Experience at Nivunki Village, A Glass Igloo Stay in the Heart of Finnish Lapland. At night, you’ll be staying in a cozy glass-roofed “kota” hut, surrounded by the night sky. Simply lie down, preferably with a glass of chilled Finnish vodka, and wait for the kaleidoscopic light show to happen. Daytime activities are a bit more active and just as enticing. Go deep into the untouched wilderness via dogsled, snowmobile, even a reindeer-led ride. Fifty Degrees North also offers a weeklong stay at a lakeside cabin in Finland if you need more downtime to savor the serenity. They can also custom design any trip you’d like to Scandinavia or Iceland in winter.

Hurtigruten cruises run year-round in Norway, and they often note that one of the best times to see the fjords is in the winter months, when the mountains are snow-capped and you have a good chance of viewing the Northern Lights. In fact, Hurtigruten will guarantee you’ll see the Northern Lights on one of their itineraries from now until March 31 or receive another weeklong cruise for free! Opt for their 11-day Coastal Express Voyage from Bergen to the Viking Capital of Trondheim,, where my sister, niece and nephew witnessed these amazing Northern Lights last winter.

One of our favorite adventure travel companies, Wilderness Travel, who recently hosted ActiveTravels members on a Walking Safari in Zambia, offers three scintillating 8-day itineraries to Iceland next February. The description for their Winter Adventures in Iceland tour says it all: “We’ll snowshoe along lava fields with sweeping vistas across the coast, cross an icy glacier with crampons (no experience necessary), explore World Heritage-listed Thingvellir National Park, soak in thermal pools, walk down into a giant lava tube, and hike to some of Iceland’s most legendary waterfalls, including Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss. As night falls, we search for the spectacular blue, green, and violet arcs shimmering across the sky above us.” Sign me up!

You don’t have to cross the ocean to have a chance to see the Northern Lights. Alaska offers a similar experience. On Gondwana Ecotours 8-day Alaska Northern Lights trip, guests will view the Northern Lights displays from a family-owned lodge with magnificent panoramic views. During the day there will be time to explore Fairbanks, take an exciting dog sled ride, and rejuvenate in the natural hot springs at Chena. Fairbanks is situated within a ring-shaped region around the North Pole called the auroral oval. This location offers a terrific balance of occurrence, frequency and activity of Northern Lights.

If you prefer to view the wondrous night sky from one of the darkest locations in the US, head to Death Valley National Park for their 13th annual Death Valley Dark Sky Festival February 21-23, 2025. Scientists and park rangers fill the weekend with live presentations, field programs, an exploration fair, family programs, telescope viewings and more. Visitors will have the chance to learn about a variety of topics ranging from space exploration to how Death Valley National Park has helped us learn about other worlds.

If you have a love of the night sky, whether it’s the Northern Lights or the North Star, ActiveTravels will help lead the way!

Get in touch with us if you are interested in any of these enlightening trips for 2025. We are happy to look into dates and availability for you. We recommend booking your tours with us since, not only will we book your tour, but we can provide a seamless experience and plan your pre and post stays to bookend your tour, ticket your flights and help you with all your insurance questions. We're used to taking care of all the details and logistics!

Has the Airlines Lost Your Luggage Recently?

We have a hack for that!

Blue Ribbon Bags

I hate to admit this, but the airlines are messing up our beautifully designed and thoughtfully crafted itineraries by their constant shenanigans! Perhaps due to low staffing, delays that lead to tight connections where the luggage doesn't seem to make it on the next flight, and who knows what other host of reasons, our clients have had a record number of delayed luggage upon their arrival to their destination. In some instances, it really weighs on their enjoyment of their much-needed vacation because they need to take time out of their downtime to track down their luggage.

We consistently recommend that our ActiveTravels members pack only a carry-on and avoid checking their bags. However, on the contrary, people are still reluctant to take this plunge.

Well, listen to this excellent news for all you heavy packers!

Blue Ribbon Bags is the answer for you!

For $5, Blue Ribbon Bags will track and expedite the return of your undelivered baggage by the airline.

All you need to do is purchase their service prior to your flight. Upon arrival to your destination, if it becomes apparent that your luggage just isn't going to show up and circle that carousel, this is what you need to do. While at the airport, you will fill out a luggage missing report. Following that, and within 24 hours of your arrival, you will need to fill out a claim with Blue Ribbon Bags.

Fantastic features of the service?

• You'll receive automatic email updates whenever there is a change to the status of your mishandled luggage.
• Their service contract even includes those bags that, at the last minute, need to be checked at the gate due to small amount of carry-on space.
• Blue Ribbon Bags will cover every flight, on every airline, all around the globe.
• And, believe it or not,
• If your bag is lost for more than 4 days (96 hours), Blue Ribbon Bags will pay you $1,000 for each bag lost!

Next time you decide to check a bag, invest five bucks in this service. It just might be worth your while!

And, let ActiveTravels know your story!

Built in 1791 and sitting on a bluff perched out to sea, the exquisite white edifice of the Portland Head Light has been painted by the likes of Edward Hopper. It’s the boulder-strewn coastline Winslow Homer depicted so brilliantly in his artwork that comes to mind when walking along the rocky shores at Fort Williams Park. Both artists appreciated Maine in the off-season when crowds were at a minimum. Stroll around the entirety of Portland Head Light, taking in its 80-foot height. On rare occasions, the lighthouse is open for a quick climb to the top. Then hit the trails that line the shoreline. Lobstermen haul up traps from the back of their boats, while farther out to sea, oil tankers make their way in and out of Portland Harbor.

Those same lobstermen supply the wares to our favorite food truck in the Portland area, Bite into Maine, where I force myself to slow down and not inhale my curried lobster roll, it’s so sublime! If you correctly answered Bite into Maine as our favorite food truck at Portland Head Light, you were entered into our raffle for Two Nights, One Dinner Escape at nearby Inn by the Sea, a favorite of ActiveTravels members since we debuted in 2012!

Yes, one very fortunate winner gets to enjoy this oceanside property and all it offers, including long walks on its secluded beach, a dinner of freshly caught seafood at Sea Glass, a cozy bar, pool, fire-pit for s’mores, and a full-service sybaritic spa.

We are always super impressed with the Inn's commitment to sustainability. Not only is it a member of Beyond Green, a small curated collection of the most sustainable lodges and hotels on the planet located in 18 different countries, but they strive to be climate conscious in all kinds of ways. They plant only indigenous species in their beautiful gardens. In the summer, they have "scapegoats," who munch down the invasive weeds. Amazingly, 100% of the inn's electricity comes from solar energy. And, something also near and dear to our hearts, they collaborate with the Animal Rescue League of Greater Portland and foster adoptable rescue dogs on property! 176 dogs have been adopted after spending time at the Inn!

When you visit, you’ll quickly understand why we continue to book this property all seasons of the year. If you are planning a family vacation, a romantic retreat or a solo getaway, this is the place.

And, now to see which of our lucky ActiveTravels members will win the Two Nights, One Dinner Escape to the Inn by the Sea, let's have a drumroll, please.....

The Winner of Our Autumn Getaway is…

DOUG MOST!!!

Congratulations, Doug!

We will be sending you a gift certificate to enjoy a stay at the lovely Inn by The Sea!

Enjoy!