Week 12: Canadian Summer Staycation Series!
This is the twelfth in a series of 13 weekly blog posts highlighting one iconic Canadian experience in each Province and Territory.
In this weeks’ blog post we’re hunting for the Northern Lights in the North West Territories.
NOTE: At the time of writing this blog post, the North West Territories borders are closed to all non-essential travel.
Located in Northern Canada, the North West Territories is bordered by Canada’s two other territories – the Yukon to the west and Nunavut to the east. It’s the largest in size of the three territories and the most populated.
The slogan for the North West Territories should be “Go Big or Go Home” for a few different reasons. It’s home to some of the biggest lakes in Canada and the biggest fish (some can weigh up to 75 lbs). The longest river in Canada flows through the territory and you can take an epic road trip to the Arctic Circle. It’s also the perfect place to experience 24 hour daylight and see the Northern Lights when it is dark at night.
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The Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River is Canada’s longest river system at 4,241 kms long and is the second largest in North America after the Mississippi River.
A good way to see the river up close is by canoe or boat.
Dempster Highway
The Dempster Highway is Canada’s northernmost highway. It’s known as “the highway to the top of the world” and is the only road in Canada that crosses the Arctic Circle.
Planning in advance is recommended to travel on the highway since it’s a gravel road and requires two ferry crossings.
Land of the Midnight Sun
The North West Territories enjoys clear blue skies for most of the year. Yellowknife (the Capital City) is Canada’s sunniest city in the spring and summer making it the best place to enjoy the midnight sun.
In the northern parts of the territory, the sun rises for the summer around the end of April and doesn’t set until the middle of August. In the south there is no true darkness at night from May to July.
In the middle of the night it looks and feels like it’s still daytime.
The Northern Lights
The Northern Lights (also known as the auorora borealis) are natural lights that glow, flicker and sway in the upper part of the sky. Without getting into too much detail, they are caused when the solar wind interacts with the Earth’s magnetosphere.
The North West Territories is the world’s leading Aurora Borealis viewing destination.
The Aurora Borealis can be seen more than 240 nights per year here because of the low humidity resulting in crystal clear nights. The North West Territories is also located directly beneath the earth’s band of maximum auroral activity – the auroral oval.
During the winter months, many visitors travel to Yellowknife to watch the auroras but they can also be seen in the summer starting at the end of August.
Have you seen the Northern Lights before? If not, is it on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments section below.
And if you want to catch up on our other blog posts in this Canadian Summer Staycation series…click on the links below:
Newfound and Labrador: Iceberg Alley
Nova Scotia: Tidal Bore Rafting
Prince Edward Island: All Things Anne
Saskatchewan: Notoriously Moose Jaw
Alberta: The Drumheller Dinosaurs
British Columbia: Rainforest and Beaches
Yukon Territory: Klondike Gold Rush
If you haven’t had the pleasure of traveling for a vacation within Canada before, now is the ideal time to do so.
With a decrease in the number of international tourists expected to visit because of the Covid-19 travel restrictions in place, popular tourist destinations within Canada will be less crowded this summer. Hotels and resorts have been offering discounted room prices and free room upgrades to entice travelers to book accommodations.
In addition to a less expensive and more enjoyable travel experience, the tourism industry in Canada has been hit hard by Covid-19 and they are going to need our help to recover as quickly as possible with our tourism dollars.
Let’s all do our part and help support our own economy and tourism industry to recover by choosing to spend money on Canadian travel experiences this summer.
is a Canadian lifestyle and travel blogger, sharing stories, information and resources about family travel and everyday family life.
I have wanted to see the northern lights for most of my life.. Thank you for sharing!
You’re welcome Holly. Thanks for reading this post.
What a beautiful place! I’d love to see the northern lights sometime.
I bet this is just stunning to see. I was in northern Canada years ago and always thought that it had such a natural regal beauty. Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome Beth. Thanks for reading this blog post.
It is my absolute dream one day to see the northern lights somewhere. I would love to explore this part of Canada! It is dazzling.
What gorgeous photos! Seeing the Northern Lights is definitely on my to-do list; never thought of going to CA to see them…hmmm…
Thanks for all the great suggestions.
What incredible pictures! Seeing the Northern Lights is something I’ve wanted to do!
I would love to see the Northern lights one day. We are moving out west, so you never know, maybe we’ll get there.
Oh wow! Those northern lights are something special! I wish I could see them one day!
Love the pictures, this looks amazing. I love the northern lights, would be awesome to see in person.
So much beauty!! Hope to visit one day!
Beautiful pictures! I would love to see the Northern Lights sometime!
I haven’t seen the Northern Lights but seriously hope I do. It’s on my bucket list!
I love the northern lights, I’ve never seen them up close but would love to go there someday.
So gorgeous. We have the opportunity only once in a great while to have a peek view of them.
I would like to see the Northern Lights. I imagine this area is pretty cold and that not a whole lot of people live there?
The population is smaller in the NWT. In the summer because of the constant sunshine the temps can be similar to Hawaii but in the winter it can get quite cold.
Sometimes we get lucky in Michigan and can see the Northern Lights, but definitely not the same sight as seeing it farther north!
Still a great experience from Michigan!
Definitely on my bucket list! I would really love to see the Northern Lights… and why travel around the world to do it, when there are tons of opportunites in my own country! Again, love this series!
It’s great that we don’t have to travel far to see them. I went to Iceland and saw them from the plane for about 5 minutes and that was it. I am thinking that a trip to NWT would increase my chances 😉
Seeing the Northern Lights is indeed on my bucket list and I had no idea you could see them for so many days a year in the North West Territories.
With around 240 days chances are pretty good to see them in the NWT!!!
So beautiful. I hope Canada opens up very soon.
Me too Sandi
Seeing the northern lights is on my bucket list for quite some time now…..one day soon! Thank you for the lovely info & pics.
You’re welcome Maya! Thanks for reading this post.
I haven’t seen northern lights yet but sometimes you can catch a glimpse of them here in northern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula. Some day I hope to travel and really see them.
You are lucky to be able to see them where you are Alice.
Breathtaking! Such beautiful country!
Absolutely beautiful! I would love to explore!
I so want to see the northern lights! I missed them in Scotland.
That’s too bad about Scotland. I saw them from the plane for a few minutes flying into Iceland but didn’t see them the entire time we were there.
I have two things in mind when visiting the NWT – driving through Dempster Highway during summer for an epic roadtrip and seeing the northern lights. One day..when the time is right.
Both of those are incredible experiences.
I have not seen the aurora borealis but did try when I was in Alaska. I did see the Midnight Sun in Norway.
Experiencing the midnight sun would be amazing!!