Travelogue: Norway
I just got back from Norway, a must-visit destination for anyone who loves epic landscapes, pastoral scenery, and outdoor activities. It is quite a large country, so with only a week, it seemed best to focus on one region. My husband and I chose the western fjords- check out some of my highlights below!
Bergen: This coastal city in southwest Norway is super charming and full of history. I loved the Bryggen neighborhood, a UNESCO world heritage site, with its old wharf, bustling fish market, brightly painted old houses, and winding streets. We had only a day to explore, but took full advantage, wandering through alleys of shops and cafes, admiring the architecture, and hiking to Floyen for a panoramic view of the city and its surrounding mountains and fjords.
Sognefjord: This is the largest and deepest fjord in Norway, and my favorite of those we visited (Nordfjord was a close second). Despite being a huge tourist draw, it never felt crowded due to its size- unlike Geirangerfjord, which was filled with tour buses and cruise ships). We completely lucked out, booking a last minute room at Bestebakken, a bed and breakfast set on the lakeside village of Hafslo. The innkeeper is a pioneer of the fledgling agritourism movement in Norway, and prepares delicious three course farm-to-table dinners and special Norwegian Christmas breakfasts every day! Rooms are equipped with natural linen bedding and handmade bath products. The icing on the cake- 3 pet alpacas in the backyard! I was in heaven.
Bestebakken, overlooking the lake and village of Hafslo
Bestebakken was a perfect home base to explore the neighboring villages of Solvorn and Balestrand (both incredibly quaint and worth a visit), and do some hiking. We were unlucky with the weather but did sneak in a climb to the top of Molden, where we were rewarded with a bit of sunlight and otherworldly scenery.
Panoramic view from the top of Molden.
There was one hotel I was dying to stay at, but sadly, it was booked through October! If you are planning a trip, I'd HIGHLY recommend checking out the Juvet Landscape Hotel. It looks like the perfect juxtaposition of modern design and nature- which, to me, is a complete dream!
The Juvet Landscape Hotel, image from jebiga.
After a great mid-summer escape, I returned to San Francisco refreshed, inspired and excited to introduce our sophomore collection in about six weeks! For more on that, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter.
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