If recent photos from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter–capturing the strangely beautiful process of melting carbon dioxide on the surface of the Red Planet–aren’t enough, you could see another spectacular light show, right here on Earth. In Finland, and in style, earthlings can rent individual glass igloos (two beds each) and watch the Northern Lights at Hotel Kakslauttanen – a village of 20 glass igloos – in Urho Kekkonen National Park (that’s in the Arctic Circle).
Rumor has it there’s gold to be had on Mars. Heck, scientists even nicknamed a small rock stuck in Gusev Crater “Pot of Gold.” But again, why leave the atmosphere? At Kakslauttanen, each visitor is promised a nugget of gold at Santa’s Resort, which is also on the premises. Santa’s getaway–who knew?–is near a creek of gold. In the summer, good boys and girls can pan for the stuff with his elves and keep all the nuggets they find.
