There are few experiences in life as awe-inspiring as watching the northern lights dance across the sky- and there is no better place to witness this natural wonder than Alaska. With its wide-open landscapes, dark winter skies, and prime aurora-viewing locations, Alaska offers one of the most magical front-row seats to the show. In this Alaska bucket list guide, I’ll share everything you need to know to chase the aurora borealis- from the best times to go and where to watch, to tips for maximizing your chances of seeing this bucket list spectacle. 

Things to Know

Best Time to Visit

The best time for witnessing the northern lights is during the winter months, from late September through early April. This is when the nights are longest and the skies are darkest- ideal conditions for aurora viewing. The heart of the winter, especially between December and March, tends to offer the most reliable activity, along with the added bonus of the snowy landscapes that make the experience even more magical. 

I suggest staying 4-5 nights. If you stay in Fairbanks for a minimum of 3 nights and are actively out seeking every night, you have a 90% chance of catching the show. The more time you give yourself, the more you can plan around weather which could bring in some clouds. Clear skies are a must for this adventure.

What to pack for Alaska

Where to stay in Fairbanks

Hampton Inn

Hotel in Fairbanks with free breakfast and airport shuttle service

check pricing

Hyatt Place

Hotel in Fairbanks with free breakfast and airport shuttle service

check pricing

Springhill Suites

Riverfront hotel with free breakfast and airport shuttle service

Check Pricing

You will need a rental car for this trip. I strongly advise a 4×4 as your nightly excursions will take you well outside of town to escape the light pollution. 

You will need a few tools to assist in your aurora hunt. First, download My Aurora Forecast & Alerts on your phone. This app offers information such as the likelihood of visibility, details about solar winds, and a list of best locations to view from “right now”. Forecasts for the next hour and several hours will help you to plan your evenings. 

Next, check the Aurora Tracker on the Explore Fairbanks website. This combines the same data from the app that comes from the Geophysical Institute along with weather in six locations, the amount of darkness, and 3 days of predictions. 

Between these 2 tools, you will have a pretty good idea of your chances for seeing the northern lights and where to go. 

Viewing Locations

When to Hunt

The optimal window for viewing is between 10pm and 3am. For the best chances of seeing the magical lights, you should pull an all-nighter. If this isn’t your cup of tea (it was not mine!), then you should use the tracking app and website to get a good idea of future activity. 

For example, around dinner time I would check the app and see what the chances of activity looked like. Then we formulated a plan of attack. This allowed us to go to bed and rest for a few hours, set an alarm for around midnight and then hit the road for our chase. We stayed out for a few hours, then returned back to the hotel to catch a few more hours of sleep before waking up and doing day time activities. 

Other options include guided tours that can take much of the guesswork out of the evening for you. Take a look at these great tours.

Ice Fishing

This unique Alaskan adventure combines the serenity of winter with the thrill of catching fish beneath the frozen surface. Our guided fish was set up in a cozy cabin with the fishing holes pre-drilled waiting for us to reel in Arctic char, rainbow trout, or silver salmon. The guide prepared reindeer sausage and cooked our fish for us on the iron stove. 

What made this a truly special night was fishing under the glow of the northern lights. It was a peaceful, almost surreal experience that blended outdoor adventure with the raw beauty of Alaska’s winter wilderness. 

Although this is a bucket list item, this trip is far more than just checking an item off the list- it’s stepping into a world where nature puts on a show like no other. Whether you’re an adventurer, a photographer, or simply someone in search of magic, witnessing the aurora borealis is a soul-stirring experience. Bundle up, head north, and let the lights lead the way- you won’t regret it. 

Have you visited Alaska to see the Northern Lights? What was your favorite experience?

For more awesome winter escapes, check out this post about Banff!

The post Alaska Bucket List Guide; See the Northern Lights appeared first on Boujee on Any Budget Travel.

You’ve seen the viral videos.
You’ve seen my videos and pictures.
Massive brown bears standing in a rushing waterfall, casually plucking salmon out of the air like it’s no big deal. Brooks Falls in Katmai National Park is one of the most iconic wildlife viewing experiences in the world.

And it’s also one of the most complicated to get to.

Want to plan your own trip to see it? Buckle up (literally), because I’m breaking down what it really takes-from lottery hopes to floatplanes and the not-so-budget-friendly price tags.

Option 1: Win the Brooks Camp Lottery (AKA the Unicorn Route)

If you’re planning way in advance, you can try to win the golden ticket: a reservation at Brooks Camp. This is the only developed area inside Katmai where visitors can stay overnight near the falls.

• How to enter: The National Park Service opens the lottery each year through katmailand.com (December 1- December 30). The drawing is random and winners are contacted by early February with their dates to stay at the lodge for THE FOLLOWING YEAR. For example, December 2025 the lottery will open, early 2026 names will be drawn and contacted for a stay in summer of 2027. 50% payment is required within 7 days to secure your stay.
• Your odds: Slim. Tens of thousands of people sign up for this lottery.
• Cost: A stay at Brooks Lodge (if you do get a spot) runs $1,300+ per night. There is a 3–night maximum stay. this includes meals, but not flights. Cabins are 2 twin bunk beds
• Perks: You wake up with the bears. Literally. You can walk to the platforms during early and late times and don’t need to rush a day trip.

If you’re one of the lucky few, congrats. If not? Don’t worry. There are still ways to see the magic…

Option 2: Day Trip from Anchorage

If you’re starting in Anchorage, you’ll need to take two flights:

1. Anchorage → King Salmon
   • Commercial airlines like Alaska Airlines operate this leg.
   • Flight time: About 1 hour
   • Cost: ~$500 round trip depending on time of year
2. King Salmon → Brooks Falls (floatplane)
   • You’ll transfer to a floatplane with Katmai Air or another air taxi service
   • Flight time: ~20 minutes
   • Cost: $450 round trip per person

That means just getting to and from the falls can run $900–$1,000+ per person, and you’ll still need a place to stay in Anchorage before or after your trip.

The downside to this option is the amount of time spent flying to and from, limiting the available time to spend with the bears.

Option 3: Day Trip from Homer

Homer is a smaller, quirkier town on the Kenai Peninsula (and worth visiting even if you’re not heading to Katmai). There are a few companies that run full-day bear viewing excursions from Homer that include round-trip flights and guide services.

• Flight time: 1.5 hours each way
• Cost: Typically $1,000–$1,400 per person
• Perk: No need to coordinate separate flights. You book once and they handle everything.

This is a popular option for those wanting a once-in-a-lifetime guided experience without the hassle of logistics. The perk of using Homer as your base is access to Lake Clark National Park and other parts of Katmai National Park such as Halo Bay.

Option 4: Day Trip from King Salmon (the closest access point)

If you can get yourself to King Salmon, this is your shortest route into the park.

• Floatplane to Brooks Falls:
  • Flight time: ~20 minutes
  • Cost: $450 round trip per person

But-and this is important–getting to and around King Salmon is no small feat. It’s only accessible by plane. No roads. No Ubers. Limited rental cars unless your VRBO host also owns a vehicle (ask me how I know ).

There are very few places to stay, and the ones near the river with prime access are often luxury lodges charging thousands per night. You can find more budget-friendly rentals, but they go quickly and don’t come with many frills.

I chose this location purely for convenience on location to Brooks Falls. I wanted to go 2 days in a row to experience the environment as much as possible. After a lot of research, I found that flights are cancelled often due to weather, so getting as close as possible and setting myself up for 2 full days with the possibility of a 3rd day for rebooking if needed due to weather, was the most important factor.

So… Is It Worth It?

Let me be clear:
Getting to Brooks Falls is not easy, and it is not cheap. But it is one of the most awe-inspiring, humbling experiences you’ll ever have.

Watching an 800-pound brown bear snatch a salmon out of a waterfall just feet from where you’re standing is the kind of stuff that stays with you.

So whether you win the lottery or cobble together a floatplane-fueled adventure from King Salmon, it can be done if you’re willing to plan ahead and make it happen.

Want more tips for planning your Alaska bucket list trip? Or need help piecing together your flights and accommodations? That’s literally what I do.
Send me a message if you want me to put a trip together for you!

Want to check out another amazing spot for wildlife viewing? Check out this blog for Yellowstone and Grand Teton!

The post Into the Wild: How To See Bears In Brooks Falls, Alaska appeared first on Boujee on Any Budget Travel.

Why Brooks Falls?

Three words: bears. catching. salmon. If you’ve ever seen a photo of a bear with a fish mid-air in its jaws, chances are it was taken at Brooks Falls.

But here’s the catch ( see what I did there?): getting to Brooks Falls isn’t simple. You can’t drive. Lodging is limited. And timing is everything. That’s why this trip has been circled, starred, and set to perfection for nearly 12 months. And why planning for Katmai National Park is a must.

My Final Prep Checklist

Here’s what’s on my radar as the trip inches closer:

Planning a Trip Like This Takes a System

And let’s be real: I didn’t just wing it. The way I stay sane planning trips like this—especially ones that are remote, multi-leg, and require permits or timed entries—is with a solid, repeatable system.

Enter: my Travel Planner Bundle.

This is the same toolkit I used to plan Brooks Falls—complete with editable Canva itineraries, checklists, packing list, and step-by-step guidance. Here are some behind the scenes images so you can see how I mapped out this trip start to finish.

Want In on the Planning Magic?

If you’re dreaming up a bucket list trip of your own—or just want to make your next vacation 100x less stressful—my Travel Planner Bundle is your new BFF.

It’s digital, printable, and made for travelers who want epic memories without the last-minute scramble. Whether you’re heading to the wilds of Alaska or just trying to make the most of your PTO days, this will be your go-to tool.

Snag the Travel Planner Bundle

Stay tuned—once we’re back (and sort through 10,000 bear photos), I’ll be sharing a full trip report with tips, photos, and everything I learned. But for now, it’s countdown mode.

Brooks Falls… I’m coming for you.

The post Planning for Katmai National Park, Alaska: A Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip appeared first on Boujee on Any Budget Travel.