To some of us, the last thing we want to think about in the middle of February is going somewhere colder: the Arctic Circle in Alaska. However, if you’re making plans for a spring or summer getaway, a little Alaskan adventure may be just what you need. So, even if you’ve just been snowed in for the ump-teenth time this winter, put the cold out of your mind for just a few moments and consider the AK’s Arctic Circle for your next vacation.
The Arctic Circle is not a destination in and of itself (like a country, a state, or even a national monument), but is instead one of five major parallel circles of latitude found on maps of the Earth. Those parts of the earth found within the Arctic Circle have some very unique properties within that region, including the following:
- During winter solstice, the sun does not rise, creating a black blanket covering the Alaskan countryside for days at a time. Depending on how far north you are of the Arctic Circle, you may not see sunlight for one day up or up to six months (near the North Pole).
- The opposite is true during summer solstice, when the sun does not set (or rarely sets from March to September) across the Alaskan countryside north of the Arctic Circle. If you travel in your Alaska van rental to the Arctic Circle around this time (the peak is around June 21), be sure to bring your camera to capture this all-day phenomenon.
- Although rich in minerals and natural resources, this region of the world is largely untouched by big business and industry. Therefore, its beauty is unsurpassable.
- The Arctic in Alaska is actually not frigidly cold all year round. In fact, during summer months, there can be little to no snow and vegetation grows quite well across the region.
- To many, AK’s Arctic region is worth the visit in order to say they had been to the North Pole. We’ll let you speculate as to why this famous destination and what they witnessed there.
Or maybe you’d like to see the North Pole and the rest of Alaska’s Arctic circle for yourself. If so, we think there’s no better way than to take a driving tour in an Alaska motorhome rental. We recommend that you aim for the summer months so that you can actually see this region (remember that winter months have practically no sunlight), and so that you can travel in your Alaskan RV rental from Anchorage, AK to the Arctic with ease.
While in the Arctic regions of Alaska, you may want to look into some guided tours, which usually last about a day. You can find guided driving tours to many different destinations or flying tours above areas of the Arctic you may never be able to see on foot or in a vehicle. Most tours give you a certificate after your trip so you can proudly say you have been above the Arctic Circle.
You may not be able to find many places in the Arctic to camp overnight, so you may want to look for campsites in or around Fairbanks, Alaska, which is 358 miles north of Anchorage and 188 miles south of the Arctic circle. Fairbanks boasts of its “frontier feel” and has a lot of unique attractions to keep visitors busy, so we recommend that you check it out as a place to stay in your Alaska RV rental.
Depending on your sense of adventure, AK’s Arctic regions seems like an interesting and exciting place to explore. If you decide to travel here, you’re bound to come back with some great stories and photos that you can share for the rest of your life. And be sure to report back to us on your Arctic adventure!
