HoliDaze Archive

Scandinavia

Offbeat Oslo, Norway: A Quirky Travel Guide

Offbeat Oslo, Norway

Exploring the fjords and glaciers. Embracing the midnight sun. 360° of breathtaking scenery by day and the Northern Lights by night. A vibrant sauna culture. Yes, Norway is known for a lot of things. Although the country is not known for its one-of-a-kind museums, eccentric artists and lust for liquor….but perhaps it should be 😉 … Read More

6 Unique Types Of Alcohol Only Found In Iceland

Unique types of alcohol only found in Iceland. Try something different.

“During summer when it’s 24 hours of daylight, we drink to celebrate that. When it’s winter and only a few hours of daylight, we drink just to get through it.” Welcome to Iceland, a country with a complex and interesting relationship love of alcohol — including several unique types of alcohol that are available nowhere … Read More

Iceland Off The Beaten Path Travel Guide

Road trip through the eastern region of Iceland

No other country can compare to the awesomeness of Iceland off the beaten path. That legendary Viking history and countless tales of mystery. An intriguing culture and an even more intriguing cuisine. Plus the country is just far enough removed from its neighbors to make others curious about this icy island nation. Iceland Off The … Read More

Hel in Photos: Exploring Helsinki, Finland During Winter

Uspenski in Helsinki, Finland

Spend a few days exploring Helsinki and you’ll discover that the Finnish capital city is comprised of a beautiful yet eclectic collection of buildings. It is a place where Art Nouveau meets modern minimalism, with many historic buildings reminiscent of both Swedish or Russian styles of architecture….or both! I arrived early to explore the city … Read More

20 Awesome Things You Do Not Know About Finland

Helsinki love locks with Uspenski Cathedral in the background

Hugs? Nope, not in Finland. Not kosher. But a bunch of nude men wrestling in the mud or relaxing together in the sauna? Perfectly normal. Welcome to Finland! 😀 The only Nordic nation on the continent that is not part of Scandinavia. Did you know that? That one was free — below are 20 more … Read More

First Impressions Of Finland: A Friendly But Puzzling Land

Aerial view of Oulanka National Park in Northern Finland

Finland is amazing. The country is gorgeous, its food delicious and its people polite and friendly. In many ways the entire country runs so smoothly (often solely on the honor system) that we can all learn from Finnish people. Things here just work. Flawlessly….Except for those few puzzling times when they don’t and you just … Read More

Whoa @Finnair Didn’t Rob My Luggage — They Repacked It!

Delsey suitcase in Bangkok

I have been crisscrossing the globe from 39,000 feet up in the air for nearly a decade across with countless different airlines and this might just be the greatest airline story ever. It all started yesterday when I flew from Helsinki to Bangkok via Finnair. I had to pause my winter fun to come to … Read More