You Don't Have To Leave North America To See The Northern Lights

You might associate the northern lights with Finland, Norway and Sweden, but you can see this stunning celestial show much closer to home.

Have you ever wanted to go see the northern lights? Planning an adventure to see one of nature's most awesome spectacles might feel a bit out of reach. The countries often associated with the best views of the aurora borealis, such as Finland, Norway and Sweden, require U.S. travelers to head overseas.

But for those who want to stick a little closer to home, North America actually has numerous locations where the northern lights occasionally put on a fantastic celestial show.

The northern lights occur when charged particles from the sun collide with the earth's magnetic field, according to NASA. A similar phenomenon happens in the Southern Hemisphere, where it's known as the aurora australis, or southern lights.