We braved the Alaskan winter with our kids (ages three and six) to spend two nights at Borealis Basecamp, an Alaskan resort just 45 minutes north of Fairbanks, Alaska. I was excited to bring my family here in winter to see the Northern Lights and sleep in an igloo. I didn’t realize that the resort also offered a variety of winter activities for my family to enjoy during our stay.
Some activities were included in the overnight package price, while others were an extra fee. Read on to find our favorite family-friendly activities at Borealis Basecamp for little kids, and tips to make the chilly experience more enjoyable.
Fairbanks, Alaska is located on the stolen lands of the Dene Athabascan peoples
Before you go
- Learn more about Borealis Basecamp: Check out our blog post
- Book your stay in advance: Reservations require a minimum of two night stay, rooms are limited, and fill up quickly in peak aurora viewing times (August through April). Reserve your stay ASAP.
- How to get there: Borealis Basecamp is located 25 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. A 45 minute shuttle ride is included in the overnight package.
- Plan to pack warm gear: Weather temperatures can dip below 0ºF in the winter. Read our blog for more details on what to pack.
- Bring snacks, instant soups, or wine to enjoy in your room: There isn’t a store on-site. Pack all snacks, food you can cook with hot water (rooms have a instant kettle but no hot plate or other cooking is allowed in the room), and a bottle of wine to enjoy from inside your igloo either for lunches or during the evening hours while you wait for the aurora borealis to appear.
1. Meet Reindeer
There are two different reindeer activities at Borealis Basecamp
Reindeer meet & greet
Meet at the activity center and walk about ten minutes to the reindeer area with the guide.
Once inside the reindeer pen, the reindeer keeper will give you kibble to feed the reindeer and share a variety of fun reindeer facts.
Our kids were a little nervous about getting close to these giant creatures. We demonstrated how to feed them first, then scooped reindeer kibble into their gloves. The reindeer were very focused on food and did not want to be pet.
Pro-tip: the walk to the reindeer area, although not far, was challenging for my kids in the chilly 0ºF weather. They complained about their cold feet the whole time, so make sure you prep your kids for the trek in advance or bring a sled along.
Reindeer Walk
Meet the reindeer and their keeper at the Activity Center. From there, each person on the tour will take turns walking one of the two reindeer on a leash.
Although this experience is for “all ages,” the reindeer are strong and pull hard on the leash when there is something they want to see, or snow they want to eat.
The keeper did not recommend our kids, ages six and three, hold the reins by themselves. We tried standing between the reindeer and our child, with them holding the end of the leash.
The kids were not as excited to be only ceremonially holding the leash and lost interest quick. In the end, they enjoyed feeding the reindeer more than walking in the snow with them.
2. Dog mushing or sledding
Meet the mushers at the Activity Center after you’ve put on all of the layers – hats, gloves, jackets, and gaiters – because it is going to be cold while you’re moving fast on a dog sled.
The guides will take you first to meet the adorable dog sled puppies and teach you all about raising sled dogs. We learned about each puppy’s personality, and what role they would be best suited for on the line.
After, you get to meet the sled dogs, learn about the commands and skills each dog needs for a successful ride. Once the dogs are connected to the sled, your family will hop on for a 1 mile ride through the snow.
On our trip, we had two sleds pulled by two teams led by two mushers. I rode in the front of one sled with my six-year-old on my lap, and my husband rode in the back of another sled with our brave three-year-old on the front of the sled by herself.
Our kids laughed and smiled during the whole trail run, while our expert dog musher told me stories about his all-female dog mushing team. Pro tip: Having a neck gaiter was helpful to keep the cold out, and an absorbent booger catcher for my kids.
3. Photography Session
For around $100, you can schedule a 15 minute photoshoot with a professional photographer to capture your family in front of the Northern Lights.
The photographer will call you sometime in the middle of the night to let you know the lights are out, meet you in front of your room with all of their gear (lights, tripod, etc.) and take amazing photos.
Pro-tip: Talk to your kids the night before you schedule the photo shoot and plan to see the Northern Lights. Since the Aurora Borealis is typically most visible in the wee hours of the night, you and your family will most likely be asleep when you get the call that it is time for your photoshoot.
We got a wake up call at 2am. Here’s how we handled it:
- Lay out clothes the night before so you can grab them quickly
- Sleep in your base layers
- Get dressed first, then dress the kids
- Plan ahead what poses you would like to do – you only have 15 minutes
Although the night sky pictures came out amazingly clear, my children’s faces were not great. They were tired, cold, and surprised by the camera’s flash and umbrella light. Their facial expressions look rather hilarious…so take some photos looking away like we did.
4. See the Northern Lights at Borealis Basecamp with Kids
The Northern Lights are visible from Borealis Basecamp from August to April. The days are shorter in winter, offering more opportunities for aurora sightings. Many factors impact how the aurora appears, so make sure to check the Aurora Forecast.
At Borealis Basecamp, you can see the Northern Lights from the comfort of your room. The front desk provides courtesy wake up calls when the lights appear, no matter the time of night.
Make it a successful sleepless night by:
- Checking the Aurora Forecast
- Mentally preparing your family the night before
- Sleeping in base layers
- Lay out winter gear so it is easy to find
Read our blog post for more tips on how to prepare your kids for an incredible aurora viewing.
5. Free Activities at Borealis Basecamp for Kids
Most activities at Borealis Basecamp are an added cost to your stay. These are free!
Visit the sled dog puppies
Yes, you can hold adorable, friendly, cuddly puppies at Borealis Basecamp.
Follow the sled dog bark to find the area where the sled dogs are kept and the puppy pen.
We greeted the pups after breakfast one morning through the fence. A guide noticed us and let us into the puppy pen to fill our hearts with puppy love.
Our kids loved the puppies! We held them, learned their names, and chose our favorites.
Pro tip: Be careful, the pups love to nibble on shoe laces and beanie tassels, so tuck them in! Our kids loved this activity so much, they asked to visit the pups multiple times during our stay.
Sledding
The Activity Center offers sleds for guests to borrow. We grabbed two metal sleds, put our kids in the front seat, and pushed them around the compound.
The kids loved sledding down a little hill that took us over towards the Cubes and Cube Suites on the east side of Borealis Basecamp.
I loved getting a bit of a workout in. Pushing a sled is hard work!
The kids even took turns trying to push each other. This worked until one of them face planted into the snow.
Happy Hour
Borealis Basecamp offers a free happy hour for all guests from 5pm-7pm every evening that includes wine, beer, and a salami, cheese, and cracker plate. Happy hour is hosted in a room on the side of the restaurant.
We enjoyed a drink in the warmth of the indoors while playing board games provided in the lounge.
Our kids dominated on chutes and ladders, grateful to be inside. My partner and I sipped wine and chatted with other guests also grateful to be relaxing out of the cold.
Relax
Sometimes it is hard to remember to relax during a vacation. The bitter cold, and your whiny children, will remind you to sit down, pull out a game, drink a glass of tea, and enjoy the view of the Alaskan winter from the comfort of your heated igloo.
Our kids were content to warm up inside the igloo and play. They reminded me that winter is a time for hibernation and relaxation.
So take a break and enjoy this place. It is truly magical.
6. Activities for Older Kids
Some activities at Borealis Basecamp have age restrictions. Here are a few to consider if you have older children.
The heated sauna has no age restrictions and is reservable in advance at 30 minute increments.
I wasn’t sure if my kids would tolerate the heat, so we didn’t give this a try.
Thinking back on it, maybe they would have tolerated a few minutes in the sauna if I pretended we were going to Oaken’s shop and sauna from the Disney movie Frozen. Please try this and let me know if it works.
Snow machine tour
Book an all-day snow mobile tour to explore the area around Borealis Basecamp. Drivers must be at least 16 years old, and riders must be a minimum of eight years old. Our kids were too young to participate in this activity, so we skipped it.
Borealis Basecamp offers outerwear to borrow for the tour to protect your body as you drive fast through the winter snow, like googles, boots, hats, and snowsuits.
We saw guests line up on their snow mobiles to embark on an adventure – it looked fun! Maybe next time.
Borealis Basecamp Activity Cost Breakdown & Tips
The cost of Borealis Basecamp can be daunting. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience for my family, and one we were willing to splurge on since it was to celebrate my 40th birthday!
Guests must stay a minimum of two nights, and pay per person ages 4+, kids ages 0-3 free. Overnight packages include:
- Minimum of two night accommodation
- Roundtrip transportation to/from Fairbanks
- Breakfast
- One-hour snowmachine tour (for guests ages 16+)
- One-hour dog sled tour
Our family had two kids ages 3 and 6 years during our visit. We paid for two adults and one child (6yo) while the 3yo was free. See here for package costs.
Due to age restrictions, we were unable to go on the snowmobiling tour and received $151 per person in credit that could be used for other activities, gift shop items, or snacks from the front desk. It could not be refunded or used at the restaurant.
Credit could be applied towards the following activities for guests ages 4+:
- Reindeer Meet and Greet – $41 per person
- Sunset Tour – $121 per person
- Reindeer Walk – $71 per person
- Sauna – $35 per hour, $1 booking fee per person
- 10-12 Hour Arctic Circle tour – $1015 per private departure, $1 booking fee per person
- Express Aurora Portrait Session – $100 per room per night
- Birthday arrangement – $50
$151×3= $453 to play around with. We booked two photography sessions, a birthday arrangement (balloons and cake in the room), the reindeer walk and meet & greet. It was a lot of fun.
Sample 2 day/3 night Itinerary at Borealis Basecamp
Day 1:
- 11am: Shuttle pick up from Fairbanks, Alaska
- 12pm: Arrive at Borealis Basecamp. Check into the room
- 12:30pm Eat picnic lunch in the room or go to Latitude 65
- 2pm: Visit the sled puppies
- 3pm: Go for a sled ride
- 4pm: Rest and warm up before dinner
- 5pm: Go to happy hour
- 6pm: Dinner at Latitude 65 (make reservations!)
- 8pm: Bedtime. Prep for seeing the Northern Lights
- 9pm-Midnight: Bring wine to enjoy in the room, or tea, and wait for the Northern Lights to appear
Day 2:
- ~2am: Wake up call – see the Northern Lights. Book a photo shoot
- 8am: Complementary breakfast at Latitude 65
- 10:30am reindeer walk
- 12pm: Lunch at Latitude 65 or snacks in the room
- 1pm: Dog sled experience
- 2pm: Sled ride or hike
- 3pm: Warm up in the igloo
- 5pm: Go to happy hour
- 6pm: Dinner at Latitude 65 (make reservations!)
- 8pm: Bedtime. Prep for seeing the Northern Lights
- 9pm-Midnight: Bring wine to enjoy in the room, or tea, and wait for the Northern Lights to appear
Day 3:
- ~2am: Wake up call – see the Northern Lights (if you didn’t see the night before)
- 8am: Complementary breakfast at Latitude 65
- 10:00am reindeer meet and greet
- 11am: Return shuttle to Fairbanks
Antiracist Travel Considerations
History Corner:
The Athabascans and Iñupiaq Eskimos have stewarded the land around Fairbanks, Alaska for 30,000 years. Alaska became the 49th state, part of the United States of America in 1959. Native Alaskans have been fighting for their rights for decades.
According to a children’s book by Inuit storyteller Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak, the many Native Alaskans interpret the Northern Lights as the spirits of their ancestors. Also, dog sledding is an Indigenous tradition as well as a popular Native Alaskan sport.
Our experience
The staff at Borealis Basecamp were a mix of white and BIPOC people, as were the guests. We were the only family there with little kids. Staff and other guests were kind to us, and greeted us with smiles. We felt welcomed and safe.
Learn More
1. Watch this video about the dog sledding way of life for Alaskan Native communities. Read about Ryan Redington, the sixth Native Alaskan to win the annual Iditarod dog race.
2. Read Northern Lights: Soccer Trails by Inuit storyteller Michael Arvaarluk Kusugak.
3. Check out the Native Youth Olympics in the summer. Watch this video to learn more.
Borealis Basecamp was a winter oasis. The second we arrived I felt like we were in a winter paradise.
We didn’t need a car since everything we planned on doing was located on-site.
We could walk to the restaurant, the Activity Center, and to all activities in five minutes.
Plus, I could see an amazing view of the Northern Lights from inside the warm igloo in my pajamas.
The diverse staff at Borealis Basecamp were also super helpful and friendly. We were the only other family there at the time of our visit, and felt like the staff made an extra effort to make our kids feel special. They all seemed to know my girls’ names, asked them questions, and bathed them with complements about their snow gear or their coloring pages.
What other activities have you tried at Borealis Basecamp? Share in the comments below.
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting Alaska in winter with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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