Five places to see the Northern Lights

Northern Ireland isn't on everyone's radar when it comes to spotting the aurora borealis, but Dunluce Castle in County Antrim (pictured) has proved a prime viewing spot. Photo / Alistair Hamill

Choose your sky-gazing destination based on the other attractions available to minimise disappointment if the aurora borealis doesn't play ball, writes Megan Singleton.

Seeing the Northern Lights is on my bucket list, yet I'm acutely aware that I could spend a week in some far flung wintery corner of the world only to find it rains the whole time.

October/November and February/March are optimum times to go and 9pm to 2am is the best time for viewing -far from the lights of a city.

But the general consensus is to choose your destination for the other attractions and if you see the aurora borealis, that's a bonus.

Alaska

On the outskirts of Fairbanks, hotels are geared up for aurora spotters. You can even request a wake-up call when (and if) the lights come out to save yourself sitting up all night waiting in vain. While you're in town, go to the Jeff Studdert Racegrounds to watch a dog sled race, see chickadees, take a snow mobile tour, photograph huge ice sculptures or go to mushing school.

Canada

There are several places across all the states in Canada for wonderful aurora spotting opportunities from September to April. I would look for the chance to go on a photography tour in the Rockies as the lights move quickly against a pitch black sky - and I don't think the images we see dancing across our screens are taken by amateurs.

Northern Ireland

I hadn't considered Northern Ireland to be a northern lights kind of base, but the images that are coming out this season are breathtaking. In County Antrim, Dunluce Castle is a medieval ruin that is proving to be quite the borealis darling. The castle's history can be dated back to 1513, so archaeology and architecture buffs will love this spot - with or without the lights.

Sweden

What about staying at the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi? It opens about mid December and closes when it begins to melt, and yes, you sleep in it. But don't worry - you have reindeer-hide bed covers and there are warm baths and a hot meals in their normal hotel. Combine seeing the lights with driving dog sleds, moose and reindeer tracking, skiing at one of the roughly 200 resorts in the area or catching fish from frozen lakes.

Iceland

The colder the temperature the brighter show, and that makes Iceland another great spot to star gaze. It's geared up for tourists too. Explore downtown Reykjavik during the day, hike to glacial lagoons or do a self-drive Jeep tour and soak in geothermal pools of a chilly evening while you wait.

For more from Megan, see bloggeratlarge.com.