One final trip

Our last adventure through Scandinavia

Phew, writing my last post as we wrap up a month of travel. So many thoughts and emotions are running through my brain as we prepare to head home. Spending a month together on the road (or the railway) has been a fun way to end this amazing year, but it has not been without challenges. We’ve had bumps in the road in the form of sickness, travel mistakes, bad weather, and a lack of alone time. Our worst moment was when Alana was hit with a tummy bug ten minutes before we left our friends’ house in Oslo to catch a train. In the chaos of trying to get out the door with a sick kid, I left my phone and my friend had to chase after us with it on the subway. She got there two minutes before the train left. (Thanks Terah!!) We’ve also had tons of unique experiences, beautiful places, card games, and laughter. This year has changed us as a family and this trip has been a test of our newly acquired travel skills.

I’ve always wanted to visit more of northern Europe and a Scandinavia trip was a chance to make that happen. Our itinerary included major cities like Stockholm, Copenhagen, Oslo, and Reykjavik and more rural areas like the Lofoten Islands in Norway and Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, both above the Arctic circle. We’ve travelled mostly by train which has helped to keep the pace slow and to see a lot.

Here are few pictures that capture some of the ups and downs of our adventure together.

Way too heavy. It’s hard to travel light with a family and such unpredictable weather. If we could do it again, we’d take less stuff.

Jonah getting ready to sleep in a sleeper car for six with our family and a couple of guys from Belgium. He did great! We have slept in so many places on this trip that we’re going to be able to sleep anywhere after this.

The kids have had a lot of fun times together.

But it hasn’t always been easy.

Visiting the cities

The cities of Scandinavia are sparkling, colorful, and cool even in the summer. We visited museums, zoos, and amusement parks and checked out the beautiful gardens, architecture, and waterways. There was something for everyone in the family.

Fourth of July celebration at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen

Copenhagen canal

Jonah’s big win and Liseberg amusement park in Gotenberg, Sweden. 50 candy bars added to our travel weight.

Alana leaping through Vigeland sculpture park in Oslo, Norway.

Jon and I went on exploratory runs together at each stop of the trip like this one in Stockholm, Sweden.

North of the arctic circle

After our time in the cities, we took an overnight train to get to the Lofoten Islands in northern Norway, which might be the most beautiful place on earth. We enjoyed unplugging, exploring the fjords, experiencing the midnight sun, and time for card games, reading, and relaxing.

The midnight sun was spectacular

The view from our cozy cabin

Fjord hike

After Lofoten we went to the Ice Hotel in northern Sweden. This was one of the kids’ favorite stops.

A seriously cold experience in the middle of summer.

Part of a sauna experience. It turns out our kids love a cold plunge.

We loved meeting sled dogs and getting pulled by them in a cart.

Wrapping it up in Iceland

Our last stop was in Reykjavik, Iceland. This place stood apart from the rest of Scandinavia. Aside from the incredible hot springs, geysers, waterfalls, volcanoes, wildlife and ice cream, it had an interesting viking-hipster vibe that was made you want to dress in all wool and dye your hair pink. It was cold and grey in Iceland, but this made the green grass, flowers, and the blue lagoon look even brighter.

Geyser surprise

Puffin tour

So many amazing waterfalls

The blue lagoon

In front of my favorite wool shop.

Colors everywhere.

This trip, like our year in Spain, has been full of special memories and family time. I am so grateful for this year and for my family! Thanks for sharing the journey with us. We hope that turning this blog into a book will help us remember it forever.