Cloud cover, levels of solar activity, and dumb luck all play large parts in whether the Northern Lights deign to show up in your eyeline, and some tourists spend days chasing them without success. If you do see them, expectation management is key. Expensive cameras can make the lights look far grander than they ever do in reality, and they will always look better on Google than they do to the naked eye.

Read on to see which American attractions you should visit instead of the big hitters

Liked this? Click the Like button above. And click the Follow button above for more great stories from loveEXPLORING

Iconic global landmarks that rarely live up to the hype