"One of Norway’s most iconic images is of a traveler dangling his legs over a cliff, a glistening fjord below his boots. Preikestolen, known in English as Pulpit Rock, is that cliff, and it can be reached only by a two-hour hike from the nearest car park. That doesn’t stop thousands of people from undertaking the journey from April to October, however. If you decide to join them, bring sturdy shoes, plenty of snacks and water, and warm clothing no matter what the weather. For a less strenuous day, take a ferry from Lysefjord to Stavanger—you'll get to see the cliff from below and taste the water from the Hengjande waterfall."

"From the royal ambience of the lobby (bedecked with Murano glass chandeliers and a grand piano) to the classical elegance of the rooms, the Grand Hotel Oslo pulls out all the stops in making guests feel like visiting dignitaries—which should come as no surprise since the hotel has played host to countless actual visiting dignitaries. Nobel Peace Prize winners including the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela give interviews and greet crowds from the balcony of the eponymous Nobel Suite, but junior suites offer the best views overlooking buzzing Karl Johans Gate. Be sure to make time for a visit to the hotel’s Artesia Spa, where birch tree trunks separate the chromatherapy pool from a rooftop sun terrace."

"The Drive of Your Life Declared "the world's best road trip" by the Guardian, a drive along western Norway 's 5.2 mile Atlantic Ocean Road is certainly bound to be inspiring. The road connects the mainland with several small islands of an archipelago, winding across the ocean, passing by lighthouses, rugged landscape and some of the most beautiful ocean terrain in the country. In some places the road actually resembles a roller coaster track, and is particularly dramatic when wind and tide send waves crashing up and over the road itself."

"Skiing, Biking, and More Two and a half hours by car north of Oslo and a quick trip from the picturesque village of Lillehammer, the Hafjell Resort is considered among Norway 's top three ski resorts. The park has seven ski lifts and slopes ranging from child friendly to challenging to nigh-suicidal. In the summer, the park shifts gears from skis and snowboards to off-road cycling, offering some of the most challenging single-track trails in the area."

"Spend the Night in Tromsø But bring a change of underwear (or two), as "the night" in Tromsø lasts from November 21 until January 21, with the short dawn bringing stunning light conditions. Despite the dark, the town is alive with festivals and cultural events, with an even livelier nightlife than during the rest of the year. After the sun returns, you'll have a few hours of daylight to enjoy downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, and snowboarding. A high latitude means there'll be snow until May. Tromsø is also considered the best place on the planet to view the northern lights, which tend to come between 6 pm and 1 am from November to March."

"Taking a Cablecar in the Middle of the Night The Fjellheisen cablecar in Tromsø, which takes you up Mount Floya, operates 24 hours in the summer, when the Arctic sunshine stays with you all night. Whether you're planning to hike or merely to stand and gaze at the view of the mountains, it's a lovely experience. We went up around midnight, just after a blood-red sun had 'set' behind the peaks. By the time the cable car had reached the top, the sun was visible again. Little patches of dirty snow sat in hollows around us, the town of Tromsø spread out below, and the mountain range disappeared invitingly behind (we didn't accept the invitation, but that wasn't the point...)."

"Norwegian Fjord (Nærøyfjord) You can cruise the fjords by either going on the " Norway in a Nutshell" tour or doing it on your own. Getting to the fjords isn’t as easy you think. You need to take a series of trains, buses and ferries. After a lot of research, I found that the easiest way is to take the “Norway in a Nutshell” tour. This tour is a series of well-organized connections from Oslo to Bergen (and back) via rail, bus and ferry. Along the way, you will take a train halfway across a mountain, then ride the Flamsbana train down to the Sognefjord for a ferry ride thru 2 off-shoot fjords (Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord). There are also other city & fjord combinations (for more information, check out Fjord Tours). You can buy your ticket directly from Fjord Tours or at the train stations. One of the great things about this tour is that if one segment is delayed, your next segment will wait as they are all connected. Since we are short on time, we decided to do the roundtrip tour from Oslo to Bergen…which was 22 hours long! During the summer, you have more options for a shorter tour. By Nichole Pitts"

"Shopping in the Heart of Oslo Stretching from Oslo Central Station in the East to the Royal Palace in the West, Karl Johans Gate is named after King Karl III Johan, who ruled Norway and Sweden in the 19th century. Along the street you'll find many famous highlights, like the National Theatre, the Parliament, the Royal Palace (the pond of which serves as a skating rink in the winter) Central Station, The Grand Hotel - and of course, plenty of shops. The Bazaar Market (Basarene ved Oslo domkirke) is a particularly colorful place to spend your money. Popular with locals, travelers & gypsies of all sorts, no "must visit" list in Norway would be complete without at least a mention of the venerable Karl Johans Gate plaza."

"Navigating Inspiration in Norway The Flatbreen hike in Norway is officially in the running for "Best Day Hike in the World," in my book. You'll gain 3,100 feet in elevation on the way up these stunning, glaciated valleys and mountain passes. Depending on your pace and the weather, you're looking at a five- to six-hour experience, roundtrip. This is no walk in the park—it is truly an all-day challenge that leaves you breathless (and inspired). You can see in the photograph that even in July you could run into long stretches of snow, meaning sturdy, waterproof footwear and extra layers (rain jacket, etc.) are always a good idea. A great place to start the day is in the small dairy farming community at the foot of Jostedalsbreen Glacier (the largest glacier on the European mainland). Here, you have the chance to hit the Norwegian Glacier Museum for a fascinating, hands-on look at glaciology and its impact on the topography of Norway. You can also warm up with some hot chocolate or soup in the museum cafe. If you've rented a vehicle, double-check directions with the staff at the museum and make the 10-minute drive over to the parking lot where the hike begins. An extraordinary up-close look at the glacier awaits you at the top after all of that effort and I promise there will be moments that will leave you speechless. Norway is rugged and stunning and the people are warm and beautiful. It'll have you wanting to marry into a Scandinavian family in no time!"

"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"