Alaska Trip in Late March. What do you think?

[ColoGuy]

Originally Posted by Frostnip

May in most of Alaska is brown and goopy.

Alright - summers are prime but very expensive. What might you recommend then?

[RayinAK]

Originally Posted by Frostnip

March is an awesome time to visit. There are a bunch of events - Fur Rondy and the Iditarod start in Anchorage, dog sled sprint races and ice sculpture competitions in Fairbanks, various equinox celebrations, probably other stuff I'm not thinking off. It's not as cold and grim as Dec/Jan/March but it's still good for winter activities. Usually it's one of the better months for northern lights viewing. Your chances of seeing auroras would be much better up by Fairbanks than by Anchorage, both because of drier weather and because of the higher latitude.

Grizzly and black bears will be hibernating. They occasionally get up for a while but you're not likely to see them.

Good points about March and the Auroras, specially around Fairbanks. For taking photos of the Auroras, my favorite times are in mid to late September before the snow falls, and in early to late March with snow on the ground. In this case (September) there is open water such as you can see below.

[Frostnip]

Originally Posted by ColoGuy

Alright - summers are prime but very expensive. What might you recommend then?

March. lol

[Cloudy Dayz]

Originally Posted by AdrianaOakland

First of all, thanks for this amazing forum, just knew about it yesterday and already registered.


I am a senior student from Asia, studying here in California. I will graduate in April and go back to my country. I've always wanted to see Alaska before leaving the US going back home.

I do have a week off (Spring break week) in late March. What do you think? Is it a good time to visit Alaska? Can I drive during that time? I am not accustomed to driving in snow. How many days is enough?

What do I like?

I want to see Anchorage, The Northern Lights, and a couple of the most famous national parks, I would like to see the Alaskan bears.

Is it possible for you to take the trip right after you graduate, and before you leave the US? Maybe early May? An extra month could give you a lot better weather, and more light.

Then again, if you really want to see the Northern Lights, March might be the best time.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Cloudy Dayz

Is it possible for you to take the trip right after you graduate, and before you leave the US? Maybe early May? An extra month could give you a lot better weather, and more light.

Then again, if you really want to see the Northern Lights, March might be the best time.

Because it's brown and goopy in (early) May, Cloudy. There won't be any of the good things about summer or the good things about winter. Just a bunch of brown, shoulder-season goop. The trees won't even have leaves on them yet.

Originally Posted by Frostnip

May in most of Alaska is brown and goopy.

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by Frostnip

May in most of Alaska is brown and goopy.

May in the Anchorage area greens up during the second week.

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by Frostnip

March is an awesome time to visit. There are a bunch of events - Fur Rondy and the Iditarod start in Anchorage, dog sled sprint races and ice sculpture competitions in Fairbanks, various equinox celebrations, probably other stuff I'm not thinking off. It's not as cold and grim as Dec/Jan/March but it's still good for winter activities. Usually it's one of the better months for northern lights viewing. Your chances of seeing auroras would be much better up by Fairbanks than by Anchorage, both because of drier weather and because of the higher latitude.

Grizzly and black bears will be hibernating. They occasionally get up for a while but you're not likely to see them.

Fur Rondy starts in February and ends a few days into March just as the Iditarod starts.

[Northrick]

Who let their kid get access to the internet unsupervised?