Hello from Seward, Alaska! You'll love it up here! By February and March, the days are getting longer, but there's still plenty of darkness. Keep in mind that you won't see the Northern Lights if it is cloudy - you'll need good clear weather, which translates to cold! It's been an unusual winter so far in that it's been clear almost constantly. Last year, we were all buried in snow up to our eyebrows or worse. Bring good warm gear, so you can stand outside to ooh and aah. You might have better luck on the lights if you get farther north, and stay away from well lit areas. As for quilting shops, there are MANY quilters in Alaska - that's our winter sport for sure! You should have no trouble finding shops even in the most remote areas. Enjoy your trip.