Off-Beat Couple's Travel Blog
Northern Lights. Herds of reindeer roaming the arctic tundra. Dog sledding through snowy woods. Fjord flopping. Wait… what? In this post you’ll find the exact itinerary for the life-changing Norway trip I took in January, plus alternative destinations if you want to switch things up. This massive 7 day itinerary includes everything you’ll need to plan an epic winter trip to Norway!
Visiting Norway in the winter was one of the most incredible trips of my life. From seeing the Northern Lights to jumping in an icy cold fjord to dog sledding in the mountains to herding reindeer with the indigenous Sami people to crashing a snowmobile in the Arctic Tundra (because it wouldn’t be me if there’s not at least ONE disaster, right?), here are 35 jaw-dropping photos of Norway in the winter!
Snow-topped mountains. Hot springs. Ski resorts and cozy lodges. Dog sledding and sleigh rides underneath the Northern Lights. Banff National Park is a winter wonderland for outdoor adventure lovers and snow sports enthusiasts (or just like, people who really like frolicking in the snow, eating poutine, and maybe befriending a moose). Visiting during Banff’s winter season will show you a sparkling, icy, snow-dusted side of the Canadian Rockies – all with fewer crowds and cheaper prices! Here’s everything you need to know to plan your Banff winter trip, including 12 of the best things to do in Banff during the winter.
Cobblestone streets dusted with snow. A stunning haunted castle looming over an ancient city and an icy river. Sweet, sticky maple syrup rolled in cold snow. Rich, piping hot poutine and flaky meat pie. Quebec City, Canada is absolutely charming – and no, it’s not just because of all the yummy food! We spent 3 days visiting Quebec City between Christmas and New Years Eve, and fell in love with this romantic slice of French Canada (and a few slices of maple syrup pie, which we also found out is a thing). Visiting Quebec City in the winter is the perfect time to embrace the snow. Although Quebec City winters are cold, don’t worry – you’ll be too enchanted to even notice! Here are all the best things to do in Quebec City in the winter!
Our favorite time of the year to travel in Europe is during the winter. As the weather gets colder, the Christmas markets come to life, snow begins to fall, and it’s the perfect time to throw on cozy sweaters, puffy coats, and winter boots and wander through cobblestoned back alleys. It’s developed into a bit of a habit, actually: after just a few trips, the idea of Christmas without Christmas Markets just feels empty, meaningless, and devoid of calories. But it can overwhelming to try and come up with a Europe itinerary when there are so many amazing places to visit! So we’ve created not one, but TWO detailed 2-week itineraries so you can make the most of your winter holidays in Europe. Just call us Santa Blogs! … Get it? The 2-week Northwestern Europe itinerary takes you from Copenhagen to Bremen to Amsterdam to Bruges to Brussels, and The Central Europe itinerary takes you from Vienna to Hallstatt to Cesky Krumlov to Prague. From Christmas Markets to castles, these itineraries have your winter holidays covered.
Living in California makes us antsy for winter. We crave snow and cold weather and yearn for hot mulled cider and a crackling fire, and we love frolicking in the snow just as much as some folks love laying on a beach. But since we have to travel to find real winter weather, we’ve learned to pack carefully to prepare our coastal, California bodies for the cold! In this post we’re laying out all of our favorite, field-tested essentials for winter travel, from gear to clothing.
![[INDIGENOUS PEOPLES] On the last day of our trip to Montana, our hosts @glaciermt plied us with wine and invited us to share ways that Montana surprised us. As I reflected, I realized that my trip to Montana was eye-opening in a way I never expected.
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I was anticipating beautiful vistas and jagged mountains and rolling hills and bison and ranches and connecting with the great outdoors. (I maybe wasn't expecting the enormous variety of huckleberry foods available on any given menu in Montana - a pleasant surprise!)
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What I wasn't expecting was to be hit squarely between the eyes with the realization that I am sorely and shamefully underinformed about Indigenous Peoples in my own country. Montana has several large reservations, including the Crow Nation and the Blackfeet Nation, which we drove right through on our road trip. And I was like, wait... why don't I know ANYTHING about these communities? Why do I keep catching myself thinking of First Americans in the past tense rather than the current tense?
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I mean, I like to think of myself as a fairly aware and conscientious traveler. When I visit a new country, I do research on its history and its Indigenous peoples. I can list off several Indigenous communities and languages still thriving in various parts of South America; I can tell you about my homestay with a Sámi family in Arctic Norway. So why do I have such a blind spot when it comes to my own country?
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Like, I couldn't tell you a single thing about the Indigenous communities in my own backyard. I don't even know if we have reservations here in California. I honestly don't. Actually, I just googled it. We have 109 tribal communities in California. (I couldn't name a single one of them.) California actually has the highest Native American population in the country. (I had NO idea. Did you?)
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Well, my ignorance is going to change. I'm currently compiling resources to educate myself further on Native Americans, past & present. I'd love any educational recommendations you all have, or Tribal tourism experiences!
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It's hard to admit my own ignorance, but I'd wager a few y'all may not have stopped to think about it either. So ...have you? (No judgment!)](http://scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com/vp/a0f35beeab5e5539a40955f2319d8a12/5E3E693E/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.135.1080.1080a/s640x640/70468237_390308615226544_6446725078598077981_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-sea1-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=104 "[INDIGENOUS PEOPLES] On the last day of our trip to Montana, our hosts @glaciermt plied us with wine and invited us to share ways that Montana surprised us. As I reflected, I realized that my trip to Montana was eye-opening in a way I never expected.
.
I was anticipating beautiful vistas and jagged mountains and rolling hills and bison and ranches and connecting with the great outdoors. (I maybe wasn't expecting the enormous variety of huckleberry foods available on any given menu in Montana - a pleasant surprise!)
.
What I wasn't expecting was to be hit squarely between the eyes with the realization that I am sorely and shamefully underinformed about Indigenous Peoples in my own country. Montana has several large reservations, including the Crow Nation and the Blackfeet Nation, which we drove right through on our road trip. And I was like, wait... why don't I know ANYTHING about these communities? Why do I keep catching myself thinking of First Americans in the past tense rather than the current tense?
.
I mean, I like to think of myself as a fairly aware and conscientious traveler. When I visit a new country, I do research on its history and its Indigenous peoples. I can list off several Indigenous communities and languages still thriving in various parts of South America; I can tell you about my homestay with a Sámi family in Arctic Norway. So why do I have such a blind spot when it comes to my own country?
.
Like, I couldn't tell you a single thing about the Indigenous communities in my own backyard. I don't even know if we have reservations here in California. I honestly don't. Actually, I just googled it. We have 109 tribal communities in California. (I couldn't name a single one of them.) California actually has the highest Native American population in the country. (I had NO idea. Did you?)
.
Well, my ignorance is going to change. I'm currently compiling resources to educate myself further on Native Americans, past & present. I'd love any educational recommendations you all have, or Tribal tourism experiences!
.
It's hard to admit my own ignorance, but I'd wager a few y'all may not have stopped to think about it either. So ...have you? (No judgment!)")
