"Dating back to 1900, and sharing a deep connection to the National Theater (which sits just across the street), Hotel Continental is a venerable figure in Oslo ’s arts scene. The family-owned property has long prided itself on being a hangout for local artists, a tradition manifest in its impressive art collection, which is displayed both in public areas and private spaces. Guest rooms juxtapose modern and classical touches, like top-of-the-line flat-screen monitors viewed from classical European divans; 59 recently renovated rooms add gilded elements and marble finishes for an airier aethetic, while a new lobby bar serves up classic cocktails at a circular counter surrounded by blue leather stools. As befits a hotel with a longstanding relationship with the creative community, the Continental offers a number of all-inclusive packages that bundle accommodations, meals, and tickets to shows around town."

"There’s no better view than from the top of 320-meter-high Mount Fløien. Ride up on the Fløibanen Funicular, just a short walk from the cruise ship dock on Bryggen wharf. The ascent takes less than 10 minutes, with sprawling Bergen unfolding before you. At the top, enjoy breathtaking panoramas from the viewing platform and choose from hiking trails of various lengths and effort levels."

"Swimming in a Fjord It was August, so it seemed a perfectly sensible idea. I'm in Norway , land of the fjords—let's go for a splash in one! Bergen has a lovely little lido that offers you just that opportunity. Sure, you can swim in its heated outdoor pool, but the real attraction is the small roped-off area of (lifeguard patrolled) fjord. Having warmed up—not literally—in the lido, I dipped my toe in the sea and, before I could register how cold it truly was, launched myself in. It was cold. Colder than an ice bath. Colder than locking yourself in a beer cellar (it's not that far, remember, from the Arctic). And, once my horrified body had recovered from the shock, it became one of the most enlivening experiences of my life. Just don't stay in there too long."

"Overnight in the Norwegian Fjords? Yes! This really doesn't look like the kind of place where one would want to spend more than a few minutes in transit. Not because it is shady or unsafe - quite the contrary. But because it's so small, and virtually empty. Not a soul in sight except for the odd car passing through and the train station employee, a few buildings spread around the harbor, and that's about it. Flåm isn't a city, nor is it a village, really. It just is. Forget about nightlife, high-end restaurants or shocking museum exhibitions. In Flåm, nature is the star of the show. Where the air is crisp, and fresh, and invigorating, where the two restaurants are proud to serve local specialties like elk and beer, where the mute spectacle is on from dusk 'til dawn, and where the only noise you'll be hearing is your own voice saying 'wow' at every turn (not that there are that many turns, mind you - it is a small place). The Fretheim Hotel is surrounded by the grandiose fjords, the many waterfalls and cute, wild Norwegian horses. You don't even have to be a nature-lover to fully appreciate the striking beauty of Flåm. In terms of amenities, the hotel is ultra-modern and cabin-chic, with the latest technology and decor. And the large lobby area makes for a perfect fjord-gazing, tea-sipping afternoon. Trust me when I say that my trip to Norway would not have been the same without these crucial hours in Flåm - stop sightseeing for a minute, sit back, and enjoy the show. Quite literally."

"A Charming Nordic Town The few episodes of the Netflix show Lilyhammer didn't prepare me for my visit to the actual town of Lillehammer itself. With its bricked pedestrian mall filled with boutiques and other high-end shops, the town seemed more like a nordic Boulder, Colorado , outpost than something toward which a mafia wise guy acclimated to a New York state of mind would gravitate. But that's television for you. Though my time in town was brief, I could see the charm of the town that hosted the 1994 Winter Olympics. Strolling the hilly residential area above the main drag on a dark midwinter evening, I came across dozens of locals commuting with ski-poles and mountain bikes tricked out with studded ice tires, seemingly unperturbed by the layer of ice on the town's every horizontal surface. On the main drag, I visited pastry shops and sipped steaming coffee next to a small creek. I dallied too long to make it to either the Norwegian Olympic Museum or the Lillehammer Art Museum, but there'll always be another trip."

"Lutefisk: The Norwegian Must-Try Meaning "Lye Fish," this quintessential Norwegian dish is much maligned, as I well know, having much maligned it myself. I'm not the only person to have spoken ill of the dish. Esteemed American author Garrison Keillor describes Lutefisk as "...a repulsive gelatinous fishlike dish that tasted of soap and gave off an odor that would gag a goat." The dish became something of a running gag between myself and a Norwegian friend, with many correspondences ending in "When you visit, my mother can cook you lutefisk." Now heading to Norway, it was time to pay the piper. Naturally I was somewhat nervous come mealtime. I needn't have been. Yes, Lutefisk is indeed one of a select handful of dishes in the world that is toxic during much of its preparation, but when prepared correctly is surprisingly tasty, even delicate. The Lutefisk I ate was tender, its gelatinous meat a fine textural counterpoint to the crispy bacon bits with which it was served. Perhaps Ma Hokstad's recipe was toned down in deference to her guest from afar? Although Lutefisk is traditionally eaten in family homes, there are a few restaurants in Norway renowned for their Lutefisk (many of these require advanced booking). According to Ma Hokstad, the best of these is Gamletorvet Spiseri: http://www.gamletorvetspiseri.no/ Visitors who don't make it as far as Gjøvik can find an Oslo restaurant serving the dish here: http://www.osloby.no/sulten/Guide-til-lutefisk-i-Oslo-7748212.html"

"A Trip Down the Mighty Mjøsa The Skibladner is the world's oldest preserved paddle steamer. It does daily cruises in the summer up and down the length of Lake Mjøsa. Lake Mjøsa is either a long lake or an inland fjord, depending on whom you ask. The 150-year old Skibladner paddle-boat looks like something out of Mark Twain and traverses some of the most spectacular countryside in a nation renowned for loveliness. There is an on-board restaurant, though with surroundings like these travelers would likely be just as happy with a basket of bread, reindeer sausage, and Gjetost cheese."

"Lena, Bellybutton of Norway With a population just above a thousand, the town of Lena hardly seems a likely candidate to experience a tourism explosion and is thus unlikely to warrant a multi-page guidebook feature anytime in the near future. This isn't to say Lena isn't without its bucolic charms. Located in the Østre Toten municipality of Norway , the town sits on the western side of Mjøsa, which is either Norway's largest lake or its longest inland fjord (depending on whom you ask). Surrounding Lena are rolling hills, pastoral farmlands, and the occasional interesting find for those who take the time to explore. For a small town, Lena is a pretty good place to shop (especially when one is already used to the ridiculously high prices found in Norway). The town has many small stores, including antique shops and secondhand places. Couples traveling together should check out a place called Nyli. It's a small boutique with lovely clothing and a cozy little café, allowing ladies to shop for clothing while their men hang out and read over coffee. Lena's lovely and centrally located train station is, alas, only for show, the tracks having been removed decades ago. But several daily buses do the 115-mile trip between Lena and Oslo , stopping at the airport on the way."

"Henning Norwegian Wood Carving Norway's rich folk history comes to life at the workshop and store of the revered Henning family. Located in the rolling hills just outside of the town of Lena and overlooking the western bank of Mjøsa, the Henning family workshop has drawn people from both inside and out of Norway 's borders since 1947. Though small (the shop itself is located in a small timber house dating back to 17th century), fans of woodwork can easily whittle away the better part of an hour checking out the handcrafted items on display on Henning's shelves. After a unique gift? All items are on sale, of course, From ancient Norse Deities (including Odin, the all-seeing, Freya, Thor and Loki) to delicate Norse nativity scenes and, of course, trolls of both genders. The rolling hills surrounding the shop are filled with bucolic farmland, farmhouses and a church dating back to the 11th century. Though a bit off the beaten path, Henning's shop is worth the trip."