Wanting to see Aurora Borealis would be in the wish list of many travelers, but the certainty of seeing one seems to be a challenge. Several factors like solar activity, clarity of skies and outside temperature (that can be bearable) all seem to play equal roles to make the sight an enjoyable one. Initially, we explored the possibility to try either in Finland or Norway, but the logistics of travel from NY to these regions made it very challenging. On the other hand, Iceland is like <5hr flight and can be done with a really cheap airfare (Luckily, WOW air was still in business when we traveled!). Iceland is probably known for its relatively warmer temperatures than upstate NY. Late February is when we went and it was certainly warmer than Albany, NY area. The entire trip is for 3-4 days and it started with a cloudy day. We booked a 2-day trip via Troll Expeditions to do the South Coast again, but this tour included a trip to Ice Caves, which we were not able to do during our s...
Hottest, Driest and Lowest National Park... The mention in the NPS web-site about Death Valley National Park pretty much sums it all: In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes. Yet, each extreme has a striking contrast. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring vast fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbor tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life thrives in Death Valley. Death Valley National Park boasts as the largest of all the National Parks in what is called the contiguous US (meaning, excluding Alaska and Hawaii). Another interesting fact is that it is designated as the ‘dark sky park’ – the night sky apparently provides incredible views with minimal light pollution in the vicinity. As the Las Vegas buildings disappeared behind us, we were heading into the desert pretty soon on a fine December morning. Soon we were on the roads with much...