We have mail! A KPLU listener named Trapper writes:
We're traveling to Norway for a couple weeks with our 2 boys in August (ages 6 and 8). We figured that since we need to layover in Reykjavik, we should take a few days to tour Iceland. Does it make sense to do this for only 2 full days?
“Yes,” says KPLU travel expert Matthew Brumley. “Iceland is super kid-friendly, it’s a perfect layover, it’s relaxing, and that time of year the days are long and you can spend some time outside.”
Spend two days there, he says.
The Fosshotel Reykjavik runs about $200 a night, and has a great beer garden (children are allowed). If you’re on a tighter budget, try the City Hostel.
Reykjavik is a great outdoor city with thermal baths, including the legendary Blue Lagoon. Inside is nice, too: There are museums accessible on a citywide 48-hour pass.
In Norway
The Fram Museum explores Arctic and Antarctic exploration. The Viking Ship Museum is a must-see, too, and part of the Museum of Cultural History.
“They have an 1,100 year old Viking ship inside that’s perfectly preserved,” Brumley said. “This will take their breath away.
At Holmenkollen, you can visit a museum dedicated to skiing and enjoy the view from the nearby ski jump.
Catch a soccer match if you can.
And then, Brumley says, get on a train.
Riding The Rails
Take a trip aboard the Bergen Railway to the town of Bergen – a fishing community with stunning scenery. It's a seven-hour ride, but the views of mountain passes and open meadows makes you forget about the time. In Bergen, you can catch a boat into the fjords for more sightseeing.
Brumley recommends taking the train one way, from Oslo to Bergen, and then booking the return flight to the United States out of Bergen.
“That will save you a bit of time and money,” he said. “Pack a picnic (on the train). Food and alcohol in Norway and Iceland is ungodly expensive.”
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“Going Places” is KPLU’s weekly exploration of travel. Matthew Brumley is the cofounder of Earthbound Expeditions, which provides small group travel to clients including KPLU.
