I posted this in the Alaska forum too but wanted to be sure to expand my reach on this topic, so here we go....

My world traveler brother called me tonight and offered to pick up my air ticket using his air-miles to accompany him on a trip to Fairbanks in March to see the A.B. as well as be there to check out the ice sculpture festival. Sounds like we will spend the first week of March in Fairbanks. What say you on this trip? Odds of seeing the lights? Decent yet inexpensive places to stay? Restaurants/bars to visit or stay away from? Anything else to take in during the day? Any and all thoughts/recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

moved my post to ALASKA section...... I hooked u up...there are a few of us hiding up here!

Don't miss The Howling Dog Saloon in the nearby town of Fox. I've only been in Fairbanks in the fall, AUG and SEPT, and the lights were incredible in late SEPT.

http://howlingdogsaloon.alaskansavvy.com/

The odds of seeing the lights vary with the suns activity. They aren't seasonal, and can happen anytime during the day, you just can't see them when the sun is out.

Fairbanks is a great place to go see them. Drive up to Chena Hot Springs for a better experience.

Strange, when we lived in Kodiak we never saw them, but have seen them on many occasions in Sitka. Both about the same latitude.

In Fairbanks, I always recommend "Reflections" (the couples place) as a nice pub.