Recommend January 2014 - (Page 110)

VISITDENMARK VISITSWEDEN; PHOTOGRAPHER: HENRIK TRYGG Thingvellir National Park is located in a valley between the American and European geological plates; and Lake Thingvellir, which contains species of ﬁsh found nowhere else in the world. WHERE TO STAY: Located across from Althingi, Iceland's parliament and cathedral, in Reykjavik, is Hotel Borg (hotelborg.is). A luxury hotel with 56 rooms and suites decorated in modern designs and equipped with standard amenities, Hotel Borg is within walking distance from restaurants, shops and galleries; and the hotel's onsite restaurant, The Silfur, serves classic Icelandic cuisine. MUST-DO: The Fjords of Western Norway where active adventure can be found in cross-country skiing, horseback riding, river rafting, glacier hiking, kayaking, trekking and so much more. WHERE TO STAY: The Grand Hotel Oslo (grand.no/en) ﬁrst opened its doors in 1874. The hotel features 292 rooms and 54 suites as well as an onsite restaurant and Artesia Spa with seven treatment rooms, a pool and sauna. The Grand Hotel Oslo was awarded "Norway's Leading Spa Resort" by the World Travel Awards in 2012. norway sweden "Certain areas of Scandinavia are traveled to very often, but don't forget there are so many different areas to each one of these countries. Maybe while in Norway, take a Hurtigruten cruise from Oslo and travel as far north as Kirkenes, just a few kilometers from Russia. Some of these areas are so undiscovered and have so much to offer," says travel agent and Vacation.com member, Mitch Gordon. THE WHY FACTOR: There is no denying that Oslo is what's hip and happening in Norway. It offers everything from museums showcasing art, design, and architecture, to the Akershus Fortress, located in the city-center. There's also the popular Vigeland Sculpture Park, restaurants and nightlife scene, and numerous outdoor activities in both winter and summer. BE FASHIONABLE: Sporting its own fashion week in August, visitors heading to Oslo will not be disappointed. This city has a selection of shopping malls, department stores, boutiques, and streets lined with small antique shops, ﬂea markets, local handicrafts and international brand names. DELIGHTFUL BITES: In Norway, seafood is the way to go. The waters off of Norway provide fresh cod, salmon, shrimp, crab and trout found in restaurants and markets such as The Bergen Fishmarket, which has been trading since 1276, or the popular local ﬁsh restaurant in Trondheim, Havfruen, located in an old warehouse near the Nidarosdomen Cathedral. "While Scandinavia doesn't have the weather of the Mediterranean, there is a wealth of culture, art and sights that, while lesser known, are equal in quality," says Nexion travel agent, Harvey Shifrin. Adds Scandinavia travel specialist with Tzell Travel, Siv Wadlin, "Scandinavia is unique. It is off-the-beaten-path, modern and ancient, well priced, and quite undeveloped with nice lodgings. You can really experience nice adventures." THE WHY FACTOR: Gothenburg, located on the west coast of Sweden, is where music festivals, restaurants, shopping, and history merge to create a culturally rich destination. The town was founded in 1621 and has undergone a transition from a shipping and industrial city to a creative hub for innovation with internationally successful companies in the industries of marketing, architecture and web design. During the summer, Gothenburg is host to a number of international music festivals, like Way out West, which was listed as one of the top 10 best music festivals in Europe by The Independent in 2012. BE FASHIONABLE: In Gothenburg it's all about the cafe culture, where most serve their own roasted coffee, and there are a variety of clothing boutiques showcasing designs from local talent, as well as vintage stores. DELIGHTFUL BITES: Find fresh seafood at the Feskekorka ("ﬁsh church" in Swedish) in Gothenburg. Far from an actual church, this indoor ﬁsh and seafood market is where you'll ﬁnd a large selection 110 january 2014 108-111 EUROPE.indd 110 recommend.com 12/18/13 2:43 PM http://www.grand.no/en http://www.hotelborg.is http://www.Vacation.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2014

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Aloft Hotels
Tour Talk: Swain Destinations
Uniworld's Queen Isabel
Disney Magic
Delta Air Lines Travel Guide 2014
Macau
Egypt Update
Scandinavia Exposed
B Hotels & Resorts
What's New in Las Vegas

Recommend January 2014