The grizzlies may have cowered and headed for shelter, but when the weather turns cold and glistening snow blankets the state, Alaskans and travelers alike are giddy with the anticipation of winter. Read on to learn about some fierce Alaska competitions, ultimate ski destinations and sure-fire tips to ensure the Northern Lights are a highlight of your next vacation. If you still think hot cocoa and cashmere are the only pleasures of winter, harness up man?s best friend and grab your sense of adventure for a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Alaska?s winter playground.

Looking for some not-so common ideas for your next winter vacation? Alaskans? competitive edge will take you to the sidelines of some of the fiercest races on earth. See incredible canine athletes at their best, watch the ice fly at an ice-sculpting competition or hear the roar of the speedway at a snowmachine race ? you might even spot a celebrity at the starting line. Want to know where to catch the action? Click here to learn more.

You may imagine Alaska as a wintry wonderland 365 days a year, when in fact only 5 percent of Alaska is covered by glaciers, ice and snow all year round. Still you can hit the slopes from November through April, and that?s heaven for a lot of powder lovers. Alaska has a flavor of skiing for everyone ? from glazing across miles of maintained Nordic trails to dropping from a helicopter into the most extreme terrain imaginable. To learn more about the options for skiing in Alaska click here.

Dancing in curtains of color from green to red to purple, the aurora borealis, known locally as the northern lights, take place as low as 40 miles above the earth. Clear skies and darkness are essential to see the aurora, and this polar light show is only available to the lucky residents of the northern hemisphere. But what exactly are the northern lights and how can you be sure to catch a glimpse? Click here to find out.