The Norwegian Jewel: the country not the cruise ship!

When I found out I’d be moving back to the U.S. there one was place on the list I knew I had to get to before I moved: Norway. With the clock ticking, I convinced some friends to take advantage of an upcoming 3-day weekend in June and go on an adventure!

We started in Oslo, a place I have been interested in visiting since my friend Emily and I saw JT Rogers' play that bears the same name. The play is about the Oslo Accord, the 1993 attempt to make peace between Israel and Palestine in a secret meeting.

We started the trip with a late-night Friday evening flight into the Norwegian capital city and hit the ground running with a morning walking tour of this beautiful city. Highlights include:

It was then time to board our train for a scenic ride from Oslo to Bergen. We looked into the pre-arranged ‘Norway in a Nutshell’ tours that essentially book a series of picturesque trains from point A to point B, and ultimately decided to do it on our own. The ~6 hour train ride was long, but well worth the journey! We meandered along the Norwegian cost, and with each twist and turn we gapped at the beauty around us – from luscious green plains with animals grazing, to snowcapped mountains (it was June!) and quaint hillside villages.

We arrived in Bergen late at night, but given how close we were to summer solstice, and that is was a Saturday night, daylight was still omnipresent, the weather was clear and dry, and the city was abuzz with locals and tourists alike. Live music lined the streets, people sat at outside cafes drinking local brews, and the smell of fresh-caught seafood in this picturesque fishing village was in the air. I instantly fell for the charm of colorful Bergen.

Saturday was action-packed and a huge bucket list check, but Sunday was just a dream. We rented a car and set off to see the famed fjords of Norway. We drove a bit before arriving at our first stop – Skulestadmo Falls. We pulled off the side of the road and were instantly met with a larger-than-life waterfall, teaming with water and spewing off a fierce mist. After enjoying a few minutes of the fresh air and snapping some photos, we piled back in the car and were on our way.

Next stop: the hidden, but jaw-dropping views behind the Storfjord Hotel in Stalheim. A straight-on view of Storfjord. And then it was on the made-for-tourist-but-still-beautiful village of Flam. Flam is home to the famed ‘Flame Scenic Railroad.’ We opted out as we had our scenic train ride the day before, but we did walk around the village and grabbed lunch at a viking-themed (again built-for-tourists-but-somewhat-charming) brewpub.

From Flam we traveled on to Aurland in search of the Stegastein lookout point to see the Aurlandsfjord. As we traveled up, up, up into the hills, we found ourselves carefully maneuvering not only the winding roads, but the local traffic as well.

The lookout point jets out over the side of the mountain, and is not for those who are afraid of heights. Pictures don’t do it justice, especially because of the overcast weather, so take my word for it – this natural wonder was just stunning.

In the afternoon we planned to take a boat ride from Flam, which would sail through two of the most famous fjords – Naeroyfjord and Aurlandsfjord. After our sailing adventure, it was time to pile back into the car and head back to Bergen. A day spent in peaceful nature surrounding by astounding natural beauty is certainly a day well spent!

On our last day in Norway we spent the morning enjoying Bergen. We wandered down wooded back alleys that looked more like a scene from a Wild Wild West film than a small Northern European fishing village. As we made our way down to the waterfront, the Bergen we saw the night before started to emerge. We were met with vibrantly colored houses that met the water’s edge, fresh fish markets and a harbor full of fishing boats. Exactly how I pictured it to be!

And just like that, our Norwegian adventure had come to an end. A jam-packed weekend filled with everything I could’ve imagine and more. I highly recommend visiting this Northern European jewel!