Inside the World’s Most Remarkable Destinations: Nusfjord Village & Resort
A hotel bed isn’t just someplace to rest your head at night. A hotel room isn’t just a place to store luggage and a toothbrush. After touchdown, your hotel becomes the first point of contact to shape your journey. The first impression that sets the tone. One step into the lobby can make you giddy with anticipation—or send you into a spiral of regret. Vacations are escapes from our daily lives. Taking us to places we’ve dreamed about, read about, coveted, and saved up for....
Chasing Polar Bears in the Arctic Circle—And Other Adventures
Our guide’s voice breaks the silence, even-toned, but with a noticeable sense of urgency. “We need to get back to the Zodiacs—there’s been a polar bear sighting.” Twenty-five SLRs freeze mid-click. We file back along the rocky shoreline towards the boats, an energy in our steps equal parts thrill and fear. It’s one thing to read about polar bears in National Geographic. It’s quite another to come face-to-face with one on his home turf. My eyes scan the shore, the sea, and past the huddle...
These Remote Norwegian Islands Have An Unusual Smell. It’s Money.
Our RIB slices through Trollfjorden towards Svolvær, the scenic capital of the Lofoten Islands. Twelve of us instinctively lean left—as if we have some control over the heeling boat. The narrow fjord’s steep-sided, jagged mountains rise dramatically from the sea. The water swirling beneath me is a shade of blue I’ve never seen. Overhead, the sea eagles we met earlier turn back towards Raftsundet strait, realizing their midday snack is officially over. The trolls remain hidden. As we get closer to the harbor, a stench...
The Spectacular Lofoten Islands: My Questions, My Answers
The Lofoten Islands are home to some of Earth's most majestic and dramatic scenery. An adventure-lover's playground, there's no one way to explore this dreamy archipelago in the Arctic Circle. Read on to discover how best to plan a trip to Norway's most unique islands, including transportation methods, accommodation options, activities, and itinerary ideas. ‘Let’s go to the Lofoten Islands next summer,’ I say to my husband over dinner. He lifts his gaze and looks at me like I’ve just asked him to bungee jump into...
Where in the World is Manshausen Island?
A tiny square on Instagram stops me mid-scroll—a photo of a glass cabin perched above a stone jetty cantilevered over the sea. Through plate glass windows, a seated woman with a book on her lap gazes towards the horizon. The caption reads, “Can you see yourself in this chair?” That was six years ago. If I’d seen it today, I would’ve been convinced the image was computer-generated. But in 2018, Instagram still depicted reality. Well, sort of. “Yes!” I think to myself as that familiar...