We'd been putting off a trip for a few months. With my husband, James, finishing his Master’s degree and me navigating the second trimester of pregnancy, it wasn’t a season of excess. We were juggling work, school, and morning sickness. But if you put off adventures enough, you'll end up never taking them. Travel is always life-giving for us, so we dove in even in the middle of life’s chaos.
At first, our sights were set on South America. But with the doctor's warning against the Zika virus, we pivoted our plans. A quick search for the cheapest flight to a non-tropical destination led us to Norway. So, with our travel points pooled together, we booked a three-day trip that squeezed into a long weekend.
Despite the rain and biting chill that greeted us, our spirits weren't dampened. Norway, with its blend of natural beauty and charming cities, turned out to be the perfect, chilly little escape. Here’s how we made the most of our whirlwind visit:
Strolling Oslo
We hopped off the airport shuttle to Oslo Central Station. Is there anything more magical than a train station? We had no plan in Oslo other than to see the Norsk Folkemuseum (Norwegian Museum of Cultural History). We loved strolling the grounds there and seeing the Stave church and a few sheep. Of course, no trip is complete without us searching for specialty coffee shops, and we walked through the falling October leaves in the rain to Tim Wendelboe, a wood and bare-brick coffeeshop & micro-roastery - one of the first specialty coffee shops in Oslo. After having wonderful Ethiopian pourovers (my personal favorite), we stumbled upon fun food halls, small shops, and city overlooks.
Train Through the Fjords to Bergen
The highlight of our trip was the scenic train journey through the fjords to Bergen. The train ride was magical. We seemed to pass through all 4 seasons on the 6-hour trip. We broke up the time sipping hot chocolate and taking endless photos. From rolling green hills to icy tundras, we saw worlds pass us as we rode.
A Tram Ride with a View
Before the sun was up in Bergen on day 2 of our trip, we stopped by a Starbucks built into the original architecture of an old Norwegian building. We're usually local coffeeshop people, but can't resist new places built into existing beautiful spaces. We took a tram up to the top of Mount Fløyen in the hazy morning clouds that parted just as we got to the stop, opening up a stunning view of the city that became the backdrop of our baby announcement. This is a must if you're visiting Bergen!
Exploring Wooden Houses
Walking through the historic wooden houses of Bergen was like stepping back in time. Each wood floor and cobblestone street seems to hold a story. This is a great place to pick up souvenirs for your friends & family. Tucked into the old wooden houses, we also came across a local coffee shop and bakery that sold my favorite baked good - kardemummabullar, or Swedish cardamom buns.
Reindeer Hot Dogs
No trip to Norway would be complete without sampling the local cuisine. For some reason, this was harder to find than we expected. Both Oslo and Bergen have a great variety of international food, and we hadn't done our food research beforehand. We did, however, stumble across the sweetest reindeer hot dog stand. The hot dogs were topped with lingonberry jam, spicy mustard, and crispy onions. Ever since, this is a staple in our house when the weather gets chilly and we're feeling nostalgic for Norway!
Our three-day trip was packed, but with moments we'll never forget. It was our daughter’s “first trip,” and our last overseas adventure as a couple before she officially arrived and made us a family of three. We hope to go back one day for a bit more time- heading to the northern region, hiking the fjords, and experiencing a sauna.
For all of these reasons and more, Norway had to make it as a print in the shop. I hope you find joy and inspiration as you peruse the prints, and feel like you're on your own adventure - with or without a passport!
Is Norway on your travel bucket list?