{"id":15452,"date":"2016-10-17T17:20:50","date_gmt":"2016-10-17T17:20:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/?p=15452"},"modified":"2017-12-11T20:47:31","modified_gmt":"2017-12-11T20:47:31","slug":"roaming-gnome-journeys-scandinavia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.travelocity.com\/inspire\/roaming-gnome-journeys-scandinavia\/","title":{"rendered":"The Roaming Gnome Journeys to Scandinavia"},"content":{"rendered":"

As you know, I\u2019ve been roaming the world for quite some time now. (Did the white hair give it away?) But even a perpetual journeyman has a bucket list. And Scandinavia has been on mine for a few decades now. Well, I\u2019m not getting any younger, so I figured what better time than now to explore one of my most dreamt about destinations. I hope you\u2019ll follow along with me on my Twitter<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> pages as I venture through Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo and Bergen, and a number of interesting planned and unplanned stops along the way. Because what\u2019s a journey without a little sense of adventure thrown in?<\/p>\n\"Norway\"\n

Norway<\/em><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a peek at my itinerary so far:<\/p>\n

August 23<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So long, America! I\u2019ll be departing from Dallas with a final destination of Stockholm<\/a> in my sights. Packing my bags with plenty of snacks and in-flight entertainment. But hoping for a chatty seatmate. I have lots of great stories to tell, after all.<\/p>\n

Stockholm<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

August 24 <\/strong><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll have arrived in Stockholm, Sweden! After checking in at the Haymarket by Scandic<\/a>, it\u2019s time to hop on a ferry to Fjaderholmarna, which I\u2019ve heard is the beginning of Stockholm’s stunning archipelago and a hotbed for history, art, shopping and great food \u2026 hello, crayfish feast! Just don\u2019t laugh at me when I get dressed in a bib and paper hat \u2014 it\u2019s part of the culture, you know?<\/p>\n\"Crayfish\"\n

Stockholm Crayfish Feast <\/em><\/p>\n

After a filling and potentially messy meal, something a bit more refined might be in order, so I\u2019ll likely head over to Fotografiska<\/a>. The museum is said to be the<\/em> international meeting place centered on photography, with 2,500 square meters of exhibition space including four major exhibits and 15-20 minor ones. That ought to keep me busy for a good while, huh? Next I’ll stop by the Stockholm subway to visit what is said to be the world’s longest art exhibit \u2014 at 110 kilometers long! With all this art exploration planned, I’ll surely work up an appetite, and my menu calls for drinks at the Brasseriet in the Royal Opera House followed by dinner at a local “hole in the wall” (my favorite kind of eatery!), the Italian restaurant called Caf\u00e9 Milano. Mmm, I’m hungry just thinking about it!<\/p>\n

August 25 <\/strong><\/h3>\n

On my second official day in Stockholm, I must check out Gamla Stan<\/a>, also known as the Old Town. Some of the relics date back to the 13th<\/sup> century \u2014 yes, even older than me! \u2014 and there are so many great places to explore, from the Royal Palace to the magnificent sculpture of St. George and the Dragon at Storkyrkan (the Great Church.) I\u2019ll also plan to take a stroll down Marten Trotzigs\u2019 Grand, the narrowest street in Gamla Stan, at only 3-feet wide! Good thing I\u2019ve been dieting \u2026 oh wait, the crayfish. Oh well, worth squeezing through for. Plus, I\u2019ve heard it\u2019s filled with medieval cellars now transformed into restaurants and cafes I must try. Everyone deserves a Swedish Fika every now and again. (That\u2019s what the locals call a coffee break.) How do you make it even better? Follow it up with a grand<\/em> lunch. I’ve heard delicious things about the Terrassen by Grand Hotel, so I’ll likely stop in and see if I can snag myself a seat on the terrace<\/a> before more sightseeing.<\/p>\n\"OldTown\"\n

Stockholm’s Old Town<\/em><\/p>\n

Next up, more culture as I check out the Vasa Museum<\/a>, and its salvaged warship that capsized and sank in Stockholm way back in 1628. I\u2019ve heard it\u2019s the world\u2019s only <\/em>preserved 17th<\/sup> century ship, so of course, I can\u2019t miss this! If there\u2019s time, I might also stop into the ABBA The Museum<\/a> \u2014 yes, as in the legendary group known for hits like \u201cDancing Queen\u201d \u2014 and maybe even Skansen<\/a>, the world\u2019s first open-air museum showcasing a Swedish society from the 1900s. This is no average \u201chistory museum,\u201d with a zoo, traditional cuisine, and even rollercoasters. What more could an adventure seeker ask for, tell me? Dinner might find me somewhere traditional, like the Swedish restaurant Villa Godthem, where I can really sink my teeth into the culture … quite literally!<\/p>\n

August 26 <\/strong><\/h3>\n

This will be my last day in Stockholm, so I better make the most of it! But after a whirlwind day before, I plan to take it a bit easier. Of course, I’ll start with an incredible breakfast, as is custom in Stockholm. Then perhaps I\u2019ll go hunting for vintage shops and Swedish fashion to take home with me \u2014 these local finds are my favorite kinds of souvenirs. Another shopping spot I\u2019ve been told to explore is Biblioteksgatan, filled not only with fashionable goods, but plenty of interesting interior design. Double win! Now that I\u2019ll be loaded up on takeaways to remind me of my fun in Stockholm, it will be off to my next Scandinavian stop: Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

Copenhagen<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

August 26 <\/strong><\/h3>\n

A short flight from Stockholm will find me in Copenhagen<\/a>, Denmark and all its eclectic glory. It’s not dubbed the “World’s Happiest Nation” for nothing. Cobbled streets and colorful buildings, the largest green area in town at F\u00e6lledparken \u2014 Denmark\u2019s largest public park, a new beach park at Svanem\u00f8llen and Copenhagen’s Lakes and the most famous statue in the city \u201cThe Little Mermaid\u201d are all found in the Osterbro District<\/a> \u2014 so you\u2019d better believe that\u2019s where you\u2019ll find me, with a huge smile on my face.<\/p>\n\"LittleMermaidStatue\"\n

Copenhagen’s Famous Statue: The Little Mermaid <\/em><\/p>\n

August 27<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A vacation isn\u2019t a vacation without a bit of leisure. So today, I think I\u2019ll give myself that luxury as I peruse Str\u00f8get, one of the longest pedestrian streets in Europe. Some of the buildings date back to the 15th<\/sup> century, so I can only imagine the amazing architecture I\u2019ll encounter on my walk. Don\u2019t worry \u2014 I\u2019ll take and share lots of photos! After walking, I might be up for resting my footsies for a bit, and I\u2019ve heard Copenhagen is famous for its guided bicycle tours<\/a>. I\u2019ll take the opportunity to glide around the city while feeling like an authentic local. Hey, maybe they\u2019ll even think I am one!<\/p>\n\"CopenhagenBicycles\"\n

My future ride through Copenhagen <\/i><\/p>\n

Continuing my journey, I might kick up my feet on a Canal Tour<\/a> after lunch. Why not get a waterside view of Copenhagen\u2019s beautiful churches and castles while feeling like royalty myself? With so much to see in this city, I hope I\u2019ll still have time to explore the N\u00f8rrebro District, where great coffee and liquid nitrogen ice cream are on the menu, as well as the Tivoli Gardens<\/a>, home to the world\u2019s second oldest amusement park. (Some say Walt Disney found his inspiration here, so it must be pretty grand!)<\/p>\n

August 28 <\/strong><\/h3>\n

My final day in Copenhagen already? Since I haven\u2019t been inside a castle yet at this point, I\u2019ll do my best to wake up early and head to Rosenborg Castle, originally built by King Christian IV in the 17th<\/sup> century. Boy, this city sure makes me feel young! After catching a glimpse of Danish crown jewels, I\u2019ll want to keep up this dazzling state of mind with a trip to T\u00e5rnet (tower) at Christiansborg Palace<\/a>, home to the Danish Parliament. Hopefully someone will give me a boost, because I\u2019ve heard you can even see Sweden from here if you get the right vantage point!<\/p>\n

Oslo<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n

August 29<\/strong><\/p>\n

At last, Norway<\/a>! I have a bit less time here in Oslo<\/a>, so I\u2019ll hit the ground running as fast as my little gnome feet can take me. Sightseeing is definitely on my must-do list, and I\u2019ve been told Holmenkollen<\/a> is one of the greatest places to see the city, as well as take in extraordinary architecture and maybe even try the ski jump simulator (it\u2019s the Norwegian National Ski Jump facility!) Oslo is also famous for its sculpture parks, and Vigeland Sculpture Park or Ekebergpark \u2014 or both \u2014 are the places to be to see incredible works from artists both locally and internationally. And of course, I can’t miss the Viking Ship Museum<\/a>, where I can live out my dreams of being a ship’s captain … if only for a moment.<\/p>\n\"Vigelandsparken\"\n

Vigelandsparken <\/em><\/p>\n

To complete my trip, I\u2019ll take a boat ride on the Inner Oslofjord to witness its beautiful islands before I pack up for a final farewell in Bergen<\/a>, located in Fjord Norway<\/a>, for the evening, where my home base will be the chic Hotel Bristol<\/a>.<\/p>\n

August 30 <\/strong><\/h3>\n

From Bergen to Flam to Gudvangen and back again, today I\u2019ll take the opportunity to experience all that Norway has to offer. This includes tasting the local beer, right? I sure hope so, because a cold brew or two will be just the trick to top off this unforgettable adventure, along with a waterfront seafood dinner. Heaven!<\/p>\n\"NorwayIsland\"\n

A beautiful view in Norway <\/em><\/p>\n

August 31 <\/strong><\/h3>\n

By now I\u2019m sad to say my journey through Scandinavia will be coming to an end, but not without one more unforgettable memory! I\u2019ll be taking the funicular railway to the top of Mount Floyen<\/a>, getting one last taste of Norway\u2019s breathtaking nature under my belt.<\/p>\n

All this talking has gotten me excited \u2026 I hope you\u2019ll follow me as I explore Scandinavia via Twitter and Facebook, August 23-31!<\/p>\n\n\n\t