Viking Magazine - January 2017 - 46

Q&A
A Lifetime of Travel
Author, television host and travel expert Rick Steves shares his
love for Norway. BY SABINA BADOLA
or Rick Steves, wanderlust
began with a family
trip to visit Norwegian
relatives in Bergen. The trip
ignited a passion for travel
that transformed the skeptical
teenager into a curious tourist.
Today, Steves is North America's
most respected authority on
European travel. The tour guide
and guidebook author spends a
third of the year researching and
fi lming for his television show
" Rick Steves' Europe, " but he
still makes it a priority to return
to his homeland of Norway
about every other year. " My
roots are in Norway, " he says.
" When I travel there, I feel like
I'm coming home. "
F
found that there are too many
crowds during peak season.
Q How does Norway stand
out from other Scandinavian
countries?
A All of Scandinavia is blessed
with natural beauty. But
Norway has natural wonders
in the extreme with steep
mountains, plunging fjords,
waterfalls seemingly gushing out
of every hillside and a ragged,
rocky coastline.
Q What are a few must-see
places in Norway?
A The three top sights for the
typical visitor are Oslo, Bergen
and the fjord country of the
west coast - specifi cally the
Sognefjord. And if you have
any relatives in Norway, I'd
add them to the list of more
rewarding stops.
Q When is the best time to
visit Norway?
A Go in what travel agents call
" peak of peak season " - the
height of summer. You want the
longest days, the most sunshine
and outdoor sights that are
enlivened by tourists. I've never
46 VIKING JANUARY 2017
Q What are some hidden
gem locations?
A To experience traditional
Norway and fewer tourists, a
drive up southern Norway's
remote Setesdal Valley. You'll
see ancient churches, old
farmhouses, grass-roofed
buildings, herds of goats and
roadside stands selling real
goat cheese (ekte). I think
it's probably Norway's most
authentic cranny, and it's
fi lled with lovely scenery
from the bottom of the valley
near Kristiansand to its top
in the mountains near the
Hardangervidda plateau.
Q What are some favorites
restaurants that serve
authentic Norwegian cuisine?
A In Oslo, I like Engebret
Café, which has been serving
old-fashioned Norse food, such
sonsofnorway.com
as reindeer, since 1857. It's in
an evocative 17th-century
building in the Christiania
section of town below the
Akershus Fortress. In Bergen,
the Bryggeloftet & Stuene
Restaurant on the harbor near
the famous Bryggen wharf
is a memorable setting for a
traditional Norwegian meal.
Q Are there still places
on your Norway travel
bucket list?
A Someday I will take the
Hurtigruten coastal cruise from
Bergen all the way up Norway's
west coast to the North Cape
at the very top of mainland
Europe. Also, I want to hike the
Besseggen ridge in the mountain
region called Jotunheimen. It
is one of the most intriguing
vistas I've ever seen. Even
though it's a long trek, I want to
take that hike to experience an
unforgettable slice of Norway's
natural splendor.
Name: Rick Steves
Hometown:
Edmonds, Wash.
Guidebooks:
" Rick Steves'
Scandinavia, " " Rick
Steves' Snapshot:
Norway "
Television
show:
" Rick Steves' Europe "
Radio show/
podcast:
Travel with Rick Steves
Learn more at
ricksteves.com and
see more from the
interview on Jan. 15
at sonsofnorway.
com/blog.
PHOTO COURTESY RICK STEVES' EUROPE
http://www.ricksteves.com http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - January 2017

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