Two Sides of Norway

When you picture Norway, what do you see?

For me, it's the fjords first.

Deep blue water winding between towering mountains. Waterfalls spilling down rocky cliffs. Colorful waterfront towns and scenic rail journeys where getting from one place to another looks like it could be every bit as memorable as the destination itself.

But then there's another side of Norway that calls to me just as much.

The Arctic.

Snow-covered landscapes, long winter nights and the possibility of standing beneath a dark sky watching the Northern Lights dance overhead.

And the best part? In Norway, you don't necessarily have to choose between the two.

You can begin in Oslo and make your way west through mountains and valleys toward Norway's famous fjord country.

Honestly, this is one of those places where I think the journey itself would be part of the reason I'd want to go. I'd want the scenic rail journey. I'd want to sit by the window and watch the landscape change instead of simply getting from Point A to Point B as quickly as possible.

Then there are the fjords themselves.

There's something about seeing those enormous mountains rising directly from the water, tiny villages tucked along the shoreline and waterfalls appearing around the next bend that makes me want to experience the scale of it for myself.

Then there's Bergen, with its colorful waterfront and the fjords of western Norway within easy reach.

That alone could be an incredible trip.

But then you can go north.

Tromsø sits above the Arctic Circle, and winter brings an entirely different landscape. Snow-covered mountains, Arctic scenery and those long, dark nights that create the opportunity for something I've wanted to see for years...

The Northern Lights.

Of course, they're nature. There are no guarantees.

You can travel during Northern Lights season, get away from the city lights and give yourself the best opportunity possible, but ultimately the weather and the aurora have to cooperate.

You can't schedule the moment, and that makes it even more special!

You just have to be there, look up and hope nature decides to put on a show.

Maybe that's why Norway keeps finding its way back onto my list.

It isn't just one experience.

It's cities and tiny villages. Mountains and water. Rail journeys and fjords. Colorful waterfronts and snowy Arctic landscapes.

And if you're lucky, maybe even a little magic overhead.

I haven't experienced Norway yet, so I can't tell you what my favorite part would be.

But I can tell you I'd have a hard time choosing between the fjords and the Northern Lights.

Thankfully, I may not have to.

Which side of Norway would call to you first?