Highlights from Finland
My time in Finland was short but sweet and I’m already plotting my return. During my week here, I was able to feel as much like a local as possible. From kickbiking around Helsinki to meeting Santa Claus, here are my top five highlights from the land of the Midnight Sun.
Kickbiking Through the City
While seeing a city by bus can be relaxing, I much prefer to breathe in the sights and sounds around me, which is much better when done on foot…or in Finland’s case, by kickbike. Known for being one of the most bike-friendly cities, there is little to distract from enjoying your surroundings. Lanes are divided between bikers and walkers and since kickbikes are designed to be a bit of both, we were able to ride in either lane.
Meeting Santa Claus
A few days into our trip brought us to Rovaniemi near the Arctic Circle, which of course means Santa Claus’ house. Staying at Santa Claus Holiday Village, a complete recreation of how you might imagine the North Pole to look like, I could not help but feel like a five year old again. I remember the immense excitement I felt every Christmas Eve when I imagined Rudolph and the other reindeer flying through the air. Even in the summer time, this is a great place to stay for families and kids at heart.
The Arctic Circle
A visit with Santa is not complete without taking the classic tourist shot next to the Arctic Circle sign. The circle is quite big, dividing itself through Finland, Norway, Sweden, Russia Canada, Denmark, Iceland and our very own Alaska. Marking the southern part of the “Midnight Sun” (Polar Day), this is the reason why Finland has 24 hours of sunlight during this time of year. The opposite of course, is Polar Night in which nightfall lasts for a full day.
Channeling my Lucky Side
Whenever I see a rainbow my mind goes back to when I was celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in elementary school and the little tale about finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Hardly seeing any rainbows during my 25 years, I saw two within one single week in Finland – three if you could the small second ring shadow that later showed up behind this rainbow. Shining bright, I could distinctly pick out every individual color.
Partying with Locals via Tram
It’s not everyday that you get invited on a “Disco Tram” so there was really no choice but to participate in this nearly four hour, highly amusing excursion. Serving as my last little tour of Helsinki, I drank free beer while cruising through the different neighborhoods and dancing to the techno music blasting from the speakers. As it turned out, I was one of the few non-Finnish people aboard and the ride was organized as part of the World Design Capital year-long celebrations.
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30 Comments
Meeting Santa Claus sounds fun!
Brock – Backpack With Brock recently posted..Snapshot: Florence, Italy – My First Italian City
This santa was way smarter than I envisioned. He knew every language compared to my attempt at learning a second
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Highlights from Finland
Meeting Santa, the Arctic Circle AND a disco tram – what a trip! Ticked off some of life’s ambitions there I’m sure
It really was Natasha! The disco tram was totally by chance but definitely added some great memories to the trip.
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Highlights from Finland
Disco tram?! Best idea EVER!!
Naomi recently posted..hanbok & hanok: a portrait shoot at gyeongbokgung palace
I know! and the person organizing the thing was dressed like a zebra. So strange yet so fantastic!
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Highlights from Finland
You can meet Santa there!?! I’m so going!
Bobbi Lee Hitchon recently posted..Celebrating one year in New Zealand
Yes! It was my childhood dream come true!
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Highlights from Finland
The Arctic Circle is on my list!! So envious you got to go there!
Diana Edelman recently posted..Daily Wanderlust: The Las Vegas Skyline at Night
I’m sure you will get there soon enough yourself
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Boho Guide to Helsinki
Looks fantastic! How come you only spent a week? You must have been super busy to have done all those things
Jade Johnston – OurOyster.com recently posted..Australia – Great Ocean Road Tips
If I had my way I would spend every summer in Helsinki – one week was not enough but I’m really hoping to make it back there soon!
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Highlights from Finland
Wow.. this trip looks like it has it all. I’m really interested in checking out Scandinavia at some point but have no clue where to start or what to see… looks like you might have some good ideas!
Margyle recently posted..Kick-Ass Kiwi Kampervans! (Or How I Almost Died on a New Zealand Mountain)
Scandinavia is absolutely stunning! I can only speak for Norway and Finland but I would definitely recommend these two countries
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Highlights from Finland
LOVE the photo of you with the rainbow… and drinking on the tram!
Brooke vs. the World recently posted..By the Time You Read This…
Thanks Brooke! It was such a fun trip.
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Highlights from Finland
My wife was in Finland last year – she really liked it a lot, and how the Fins are really into design.
Don Faust recently posted..Canary Island Insider: Lanzarote’s Changing Image
They are so into design! It was really inspirational for me, as an outsider to see.
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Highlights from Finland
It looks like you had so much fun! I don’t know why we don’t put more of Scandinavia on our priority list – meeting Santa and Disco trams seems awesome – though I would probably just be in the sauna the whole time as i don’t think I could handle cold weather (ie, not 90 degrees)
Jess | GlobetrotterGirls recently posted..Notes from the beach house: Week 3
We went to a traditional sauna as well! Definitely an interesting experience. I loved Finland in the summer – you should visit then!
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Highlights from Finland
I love the sound of the disco tram! Imagine if you could get one of them to work every morning!!
Turtle recently posted..Visiting the origin of the Olympics
haha that would be awesome! At one point there was a man who got on the tram thinking it was in its normal rotation….he realized real quick and hopped off.
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Bohemian Trails Goes Curly
aw man, Santa wasn’t home when I went to visit! Lucky you :p
Seattle Dredge recently posted..Hiking in Flip-flops
Aww next time! This Santa knew like every language. I was slightly jealous.
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Boho Guide to Berlin
I’m seriously digging the tram party! You can do the same in Berlin.
Staying at the Santa Claus Holiday village looks pretty fun too. Did you get presents?
Cheryl recently posted..Cafe Popularna in Szczecin, Poland.
No presents haha but it was a fun visit. I wish I saw the party tram when I was in Berlin!
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..Day Tripping to Grenoble
Wicked. Who would have thought that you would be at the arctic circle in short sleeves eh. Looks like you had a great time. I gotta get myself to Finland!
Deb recently posted..The Columbus Ohio Experience
haha good point! It was a super fun trip. I hope you guys make it there soon.
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..The Mighty Fjords in Photos
Finland is starting to inch up are travel destination wish list. Thanks for giving us a fun taste of what the country offers.
Mary @ Green Global Travel recently posted..ECO NEWS: New U.S. Fuel Efficiency Standards (Plus 30 Other Obama Accomplishments)
No problem! I have a feeling you two would really enjoy it there
Megan Eileen McDonough recently posted..A Bohemian Weekend in Paris