We recently flew up to Napa with Alaska Airlines for BottleRock, where we listened to amazing music, ate delicious food, and duh, drank some good wine. Here are some of our favorite things from the trip!
How to See (and Photograph) the Northern Lights on a Weekend Trip to Fairbanks, Alaska
Note... this is a guide on how to give yourself the best possibility to see and photograph the Northern Lights. We can't guarantee you will. The phenomenon that is the Aurora Borealis is fickle, and it does what it wants. We had the privilege to visit Fairbanks, Alaska in March, one of the best months for Aurora viewing. During our trip we saw just enough of the Northern Lights to feel extremely lucky... but we definitely came away craving more! The following is a guide to prepare you for your upcoming trip to Alaska, and how to make the most out of chasing the Aurora Borealis.
For how to get there, get around, and where to sleep, check out this more comprehensive blog on our trip... Here we're specifically talking Aurora Borealis.
Seeing the Northern Lights - For the Non-Photographer
Okay if you are just there to view, then you should probably go on a tour or get a guide. We'll recommend two: Fairbanks Snow Sleighers and SkyFire In Focus Tours. Snow Sleighers may be the better choice, because you can do a snowmobile tour in search of the northern lights. On our next trip you will ABSOLUTELY find us here! SkyFire in Focus Tours is a great option too, because they will pick you up at your hotel, provide camera equipment if you'd like, and hot drinks to keep you warm while you're viewing.
Seeing the Northern Lights - For the Photographer
We encourage you to stay in one of the epic spots above and still go on a tour (because locals will take you to the best spots), but here is some information on what you need to take photos once you're lucky enough to see the northern lights.
Basics
- Make sure you have the right cold-weather gear. Standing out in sub-zero temperatures while waiting for your shot can be miserable if you aren't prepared.
- A high quality-camera and lens (renting is okay if you know how to use it) is a must. More specifically, you want a camera that can provide good image quality at high ISOs. Full-frame DSLRs or mirrorless cameras (Sony and Fuji) are solid.
- When it comes to lenses, you want a fast lens with an aperture >f 4.0. A lower aperture will allow for your images to have less noise and better quality.
- Invest in a tripod. You need something strong and sturdy that will stand up (hehe) to all types of weather. Make sure it has a solid ball-head so it can quickly maneuver to wherever the aurora may be.
- Don't plan on getting a good picture with your iPhone.
Before you go out
- Charge your batteries and bring extras. Extreme cold can drain your batteries quick, so keep them somewhere insulated (inner coat pocket).
- Check that your memory card has plenty of space on it, and bring a back-up.
- Pack your extra lenses, your tripod, a shutter release, a headlamp, flashlight, snacks, water, extra layers, and anything else you might need.
Getting the epic shot
- Be patient.
- Shoot in RAW so you can have more flexibility when editing the photos later.
- Prepare to shoot in manual mode.
- Set your aperture to the widest setting possible setting, or one stop down - around f 2.0.
- If you are going to do manual focus, then get any objects in the foreground really sharp and in focus.
- In terms of ISO, try not to shoot above 3200. We prefer to be in between ISO 800 and ISO 1600.
- For shutter speed, we used between 5-30 seconds. Check out your image, and adjust accordingly.
These are some things that worked for us. Adjust based on your experience and let us know what you think!
Lastly - Pray, cross your fingers, clinch your lucky penny, or do whatever superstitious thing you think will help you... we hope that you get a spectacular show while you are there! Good luck!
We’re not in California Anymore… Our trip to “The Last Frontier”, AKA Alaska!
Exploring Alaska has always been high on our bucket list. The Northern Lights, dog mushing, snowmobiling, ice parks… it all just sounds so COOL. Literally. Being the So-Cal kids we are, we’re fascinated by snowy weather activities… and basically snowy weather in general. We’re also big fans of Alaska Airlines, so it just made sense that we head to this epic and untouched state. Here’s a re-cap of our trip, and why we think Alaska should be on EVERYONE’S bucket list!
Getting There
We flew LAX (Los Angeles) > SEA (Seattle) > FAI (Fairbanks), and it was easy and oh-so enjoyable. We stopped in at our favorite Alaska lounge at LAX, had a drink and some snacks, and boarded our comfy plane to Seattle. A couple hours later, we found ourselves at another Alaska lounge in Seattle (shocker, right? We love lounges!), and then before we knew it we were landing in snowy Fairbanks, Alaska. Nothing makes us happier than seamless travel days, and this one was a winner!
Pike’s Waterfront Lodge
Our first night was spent at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, a cozy lodge right on the Chena river, and five minutes from the airport! On the shuttle ride over, we saw a small hint of blue waving through the sky. We both turned to each other and said “That can’t be the Northern Lights, right? Is it? Is it!?” Within five minutes we were checked into the hotel, bundled up, and stationed out on our balcony… watching none other than the NORTHERN LIGHTS!!! In case you didn’t know, the Northern Lights are really hard to see. March is a great month to see them (we were in Alaska March 15-19), but even then, there’s only about 8 nights of the month that the skies are clear. So we walked into our trip with pretty low expectations. Little did we know we’d get to see them our first night there!! SO THANKFUL.
We stayed at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge only for one night, but it’s a great spot that’s picturesque and close to town. It’s also super affordable, so definitely look into it when planning your trip. We’d love to return when the weather is warm, and truly utilize that waterfront location!
Mush or Bust
The next morning we stopped at The Cookie Jar for breakfast (highly recommend! Make sure you get the cinnamon roll!) and then headed to The Last Frontier Mushing Co-Op! Friends, this may have been the highlight of our entire trip. Not only did we get to play with Alaskan puppies and learn how to harness them, but we got to go on an hour sled ride along the frozen Chena River! It was a dream come true for us, and The Last Frontier team was absolutely incredible. The way they care and love on their dogs, their attention to detail, and their knowledge of all things dog mushing blew us away (most of them are professional dog mushers training for big races!). The experience of flying through the snow with the pups leading the way was something we will NEVER forget!
Borealis Basecamp aka ALIEN CAMP???
From The Last Frontier Mushing Co-Op we headed to the Borealis Basecamp, our home for the night. Now, we’ll be honest… This place was a splurge. We almost didn’t stay there, simply because of the cost, and also because they were sold out! But Borealis Basecamp happened to have a cancellation, and we couldn’t resist the thrill, so we made the spontaneous decision to YOLO it… and we’re SO glad we did!
Borealis Basecamp is situated in one of the best spots for Northern Lights viewing, and every one of their 9 igloos has a crystal-clear ceiling above the bed. Not only were we stoked on the idea of sleeping in an igloo, but what better way to watch the Northern Lights than from your bed?!
We spent the rest of our afternoon exploring the property, having dinner in their yurt (which we had all to ourselves!), and watching the snow gently fall around us. Unfortunately the snowfall meant that the sky was cloudy, and hence… no Northern Lights. But we loved every minute of our time at the Borealis Basecamp. We didn’t want to leave!!
Ice, Ice Baby
The next morning we headed to the George Horner Ice Park in Fairbanks. We weren’t entirely sure what an Ice Park entailed (Slushies? Ice cream? Ice skating?) but we were excited. This place was so much cooler (literally - it was cold) than we could have dreamed! Basically, think of an amusement park made of ice. There were tons of slides, sculptures, and life-size interactive displays - all made of ice! We spent hours walking around, sliding around, and marveling at the craftsmanship of every sculpture. They definitely don’t have these kinds of parks in Southern California!
Dog Mushing Championships
We timed our trip just right, where we were able to catch the tail-end (Get it? Tail?) of the GCI Dog Mushing Championships. Being very new dog mushers ourselves, seeing the “professionals” race against each other was really exciting. We had chili and cornbread with the locals and cheered on the racers.
Chena Hot Springs
From there we drove to the world-famous Chena Hot Springs. Known for their picturesque hot springs and eco-friendly resort, it’s also a prime spot to see the Northern Lights. We stayed in the cutest little rental cabin, the Ferree Cabin, and it truly became our home away from home. The owners had it stocked with snacks, water, movies, and all of the amenities one could want.
That night we set out on a Northern Lights adventure, where we rode a snow coach (think snow plow meets school bus... kind of) up to the top of a mountain far away from the city lights. There they had a heated yurt with hot cocoa, hot tea, and Cup O’ Noodles when you need a warm pick-me-up. This was MUCH needed, as we were there from 10pm-2am! The late night and cold mountain air was worth it though, we saw the Northern Lights for a second time (wahoo!!)… and even made some friends!
Snowmobiling
Prior to this trip, we had never been snowmobiling. It’s something we’ve always wanted to try, but honestly, we’ve always been scared to do! But what better place to face our fears and snowmobile than Alaska?!
The Chena Hot Springs team taught us all we needed to know, and took us out on a ride we’ll never forget. We rode down tree-lined snowy paths complete with jumps and sharp turns, and Bobby only got launched off once! Haha!
Ice Museum
No trip to Chena Hot Springs is complete without a visit to the famous Chena Ice Museum. Everything inside is made out of ice, including an ice bar where you can sip on a Apple-tini in an ice glass! (You can keep the glass, but good luck bringing it home.) ;) You can get married in the ice chapel, and even rent out one of their four guest rooms, completely made out of ice!
Now, this blog barely breaks the ice (hehe) of all that there is to do in Alaska. Heck, we only made it to Fairbanks! If there’s one thing we learned on this trip, is that there is A LOT to do and see in this magnificent state, and we hardly scratched the surface.
Monterey Beyond the Aquarium: Whales, Wine, and More!
One thing we love about travel is the ability to visit familiar spots and experience something new. We recently spent a weekend in Monterey, somewhere we have visited several times, and decided to change it up a bit (we normally head to the aquarium). We ended up having the BEST time and discovered a newfound love and appreciation for this part of the California Coast. Here's some of the new things we did that we would HIGHLY recommend!
Whale Watching
This area is a mecca for whale watchers, no matter what time of year! (mid December - April for blue whales, mid April through mid December for Humpbacks) We went with Discovery Whale Watch Tour and they took us on a two-hour tour that brought us close to 6 different whales! It was AMAZING!! We also saw tons of sea otters, seals, and jellyfish (the jellies were a bit terrifying). The boat can be rocky, so if you get seasick definitely prepare yourself. But the experience is 100% worth it!
John Steinbeck Center
John Steinbeck fans? This is something you DEFINITELY don't want to miss! Located in Salinas, just outside of Monterey, you can visit the center that is dedicated to John and his literature. The museum is incredibly well-done (and fun!), and you could easily spend a whole day learning about the man behind all the classics. Whether you're taking a quick break or wrapping up your time at the center, just a mile away Steinbeck's home that's now a restaurant! While we didn't have time to eat there, we heard the food is awesome! And how cute is his home?
Wine Tasting in Monterey Wine Country
Did you know they made wine in the Monterey area? We didn't. Apparently the warm sun, cool fog, good soil, and the topography of the surrounding land and sea have combined to create a vintner's paradise. With over 60 tasting rooms, it's a fantastic spot to spend your day (or just a couple of hours)! Known for their Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Riesling, each winery has an amazing selection. We drove along the River Road Wine Trail one afternoon, where we indulged in the Odonata, Scheid, and Hahn wineries. Go out and explore for yourself, as Monterey County has some great wines!
Exploring Cannery Row and Nearby Treasures
While we've been to Monterey several times, we've never actually just walked around the surrounding area! Weird, right? Our favorite walk was from the wharf to Cannery Row, and here's what we recommend that you do. Park at the wharf, and turn left. Take the trail along the water and you'll walk past fun shops, restaurants, along the historic Cannery Row, and even the aquarium (You can easily spend a whole day there - it's incredible)! We walked to First Awakenings for breakfast and back, and it was the perfect way to start the day! If you have a bike, this would be an AWESOME spot to bike ride!
These are just a few of our favorites activities that took our trip to Monterey to the next level. If you have anything to add, let us know! We're looking for new spots to visit next time!
This post was sponsored by Monterey County. All opinions expressed here are our own.
Where to Eat + Drink in Monterey
We’ve said it numerous times on our blog and Instagram, and we’ll say it again. We LOVE to eat. Wherever we’re traveling we try to find the best spots to dine, and this last trip to Monterey was no exception. While we were only there for around 48 hours, we made the most of our time, and did our best to hit up some old (and new!) favorite spots!
BREAKFAST
You know the restaurant is good when you can’t leave without buying their shirts. (We both bought them - that never happens!) This fan-favorite, family owned restaurant is by far the most popular breakfast spot in town. And for good reason. Everything is fresh and cooked to order with locally sourced ingredients. Known for their eggs benedict, (and we both love a good eggs benedict), we both ordered different variations. And a pancake to share. Everything was delicious, and SUPER filling. Definitely go hungry, it’ll keep you full until dinner
MUST TRY:
- The eggs benedict (ADD CARNITAS!)
- The pancakes
COFFEE
Located in the center of Monterey, not only is this coffee shop really convenient, but it’s also really good. Whether you need a spot to sit and get some work done, or you’re looking to grab a coffee and a pastry to go, Lumiere is the place to be!
MUST TRY:
- The almond milk au lait
- Any of the baked goods, we loved the croissants!
LUNCH
A Monterey classic since the 1950s and located on the wharf, you can’t beat the location, the view, or the food! While they’re known for the freshly-caught seafood, Old Fisherman’s Grotto has just about everything! We recommend going for lunch, but we’re sure they serve an amazing dinner as well. Ask for a table by the window - it’s worth the extra wait!
MUST TRY:
- The clam chowder
- The burger (random, but it’s SO good)
- Any of the fresh fish!
The Sur House Restaurant at Ventana Big Sur
This is a favorite of ours, partially because we came here on our honeymoon, and partially because the views and the food simply can’t be beat! Located in Big Sur, the Sur House restaurant has a panoramic view of the California coastline, and it’s absolutely stunning. Definitely plan on taking your time and make a long lunch out of it. This spot is too special to rush! (Also, if you're splurging - just stay at Ventana!)
MUST TRY:
- The Surf and Turf short rib sandwich
- The Falafel Wrap
- The Friend Chicken Sandwich
DINNER
If you love good, authentic Italian food, La Balena is a MUST during your time in Monterey County! Nestled in the quaint and cozy town of Carmel, La Balena is the perfect spot for a date night or a special occasion with friends. The menu changes seasonly, but it’s one of those places where you know that whatever you order, it will be good. Definitely make reservations, as the restaurant is small and does fill up quick.
MUST TRY:
- Any of the pastas, you can’t go wrong.
- The Butternut Squash Soup (if available)
You know those restaurants where you look at the menu and EVERYTHING sounds good? That’s exactly what Jacks Monterey menu is like - we wanted it all!!! From fresh seafood to delicious burgers to vegetarian dishes… they have something for everyone. The ambiance is fun and modern, and if you happen to be staying at the Portola Hotel (like we were), it couldn’t be more convenient… it’s located in the lobby!
MUST TRY:
- The cauliflower steak appetizer
- The Monterey Cioppino (maybe don't eat lunch before...hehe)
DRINKS
Charming, sophisticated and cozy… Grasings is the kind of bar you’d picture in Europe. Located in Carmel, it’s the perfect spot to grab a drink and an appetizer or two before dinner. While their wine list is extensive, we’re really big fans of their cocktails. And their charcuterie tray. Wow wow wow, their charcuterie tray… pictures don't do it justice!
MUST TRY
- Any of the cocktails
- The charcuterie tray… and thank us later.
Beer drinkers, this is the place for you! This fun and casual beer spot serves up some of incredible craft brews and is really popular with the locals. Grab a couple pints, make some friends, and breathe in that salty ocean breeze. Oh ya, did we mention it’s outside? So make sure you dress accordingly!
MUST TRY:
- Bloomsday IPA
- Coffeetown Milk Brown Ale
- Daypack Pale Ale
- Monsoon Double IPA
- It really just depends on your taste... they have so many beers to try!
If you don't know about this, it could be the highlight of your trip. Each evening, at sunset, the Inn at Spanish Bay has a bagpiper close out the day with iconic Scottish sounds. Enjoy tasty libations, light appetizers, and watch the sun put on a jaw-dropping show as it tucks behind the Pacific. If you're coming from the 17 mile drive, spend $35 at the Lobby Lounge and they'll reimburse you your $10 park entry fee :)
DESSERT
Revival Ice Cream
Ice cream is our weakness. Especially when it’s fresh, organic, small-batched artisan ice cream. Revival came highly recommended to us, and after trying it once we totally see why. Their ice cream is innovative and incredibly tasty. Get a couple different flavors and share! (They change the flavors often, so some of these might not be relevant)
MUST TRY:
- Eucalyptus Mint
- Bee’s Knees
- Coffee with Cocoa Nib
This post was sponsored by Monterey County. All opinions expressed here are our own