How good are the odds? Data suggests about a 90 percent chance of seeing the northern lights over a three-night stay, according to the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ Geophysical Institute.

Any park or open area works to see the lights, but many visitors mix the frigid nights with a warm environment. At the Chena Hot Springs Resort, about 60 miles northeast of Fairbanks, you

can watch the skies while relaxing in hot springs. Amateur astronomer Todd Thalimer, 53, of Parker, Colorado, made the trek in 2023 and saw the lights four times. “The aurora was dancing

like waves, bright green and pink and red. I’ve seen a lot of stuff in the universe, but that one was really like ... wow.” DON’T MISS: Borealis Basecamp’s igloos let you gaze at the sky

birthday cake cutting outside the mansion on Jan. 8; live music, movies, tours and other events will continue through Jan. 11. Sept. 16 will mark the 100th anniversary of B.B. King’s

birth. Head to the famous Beale Street, where B.B. King’s Blues Club will celebrate on Sept. 18 with a musical tribute featuring members of King’s band. When King arrived from Mississippi

in 1946, Beale Street was the vibrant hub of Memphis’s Black cultural scene. He quickly landed a radio DJ gig as “The Beale Street Blues Boy” (later shortened to B.B.) and built a fan base

playing the guitar in local clubs. These days, tourists swarm Beale Street, including the Rum Boogie Cafe and King’s namesake blues club. Memphis also boasts a number of music sites to visit

in homage to both men. You can see Sun Studio, where they each recorded, and check out the Memphis Rock ’n’ Soul Museum and the Stax Museum of American Soul Music. But perhaps the best way

to celebrate their legacy is by diving into the city’s still-thriving music scene. One must-visit spot is the outdoor Overton Park Shell. Built as a Works Progress Administration project in

1936, the amphitheater hosted Elvis’ historic debut performance in 1954 (he opened for Slim Whitman) and offers free concerts each year from May through October and a backstage museum

experience year-round. To escape the tourists, head to Bar DKDC (the locals say it stands for “don’t know, don’t care”). “It’s my favorite spot for cool, live music. It gets not just local

artists but touring artists that don’t mind playing tiny spaces,” says Cole Early, Overton Park Shell’s content and archives manager and a Memphis music enthusiast and self-described “music

fanatic.” “It’s a well-kept secret. Many Memphians have no clue about it.” Early raves, too, about Crosstown’s little-known Memphis Listening Lab, a music library with a collection of 35,000

45-rpm singles, 15,000 LPs and 25,000 CDs. Guests can visit the lab’s SoundRoom, make a selection and relax in a comfy chair. “It’s the ultimate place for vinyl and music nerds,” Early

says. DON’T MISS: The Green Room, an under-the-radar intimate venue. ARGENTINA WHY GO: A favorable exchange rate Ushuaia, Argentina, is the world’s southernmost city. Getty Images When

dipping into your savings account to take an international vacation, one key consideration is affordability. So when weighing where to travel, research the strength of the dollar compared to

local currency for more purchasing power. Argentina is a popular destination that is easy to reach, and it typically has the best exchange rate to the dollar in the Americas, a recent

report from NetVoucherCodes found. But Argentina offers more than inexpensive empanadas. You’ll find glaciers, massive mountains and miles of Atlantic coastline. Hikers will love Ushuaia,

the world’s southernmost city, and El Chaltén, a Patagonian town near the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Iguazú Falls is part of a World Heritage Site that straddles the border with Brazil.

Birders flock to Parque Nacional Iberá to spot more than 300 species, from cuckoos to kingfishers.