Inspiration for our Adventures in Norway & Day One with Adventures by Disney

Our family’s inspiration to visit Norway stretches back to 1904, when my great-grandfather left his homeland by ship and began a new life in America. Later that same year, my great-grandmother followed, and together they built a life on the plains of eastern Montana. With the arrival of their five sons—including my grandfather, Torlief—their roots grew deep. Now, 118 years later, the Aasheim farm is still in the family, and the quiet pull of Norway endured, calling us back to where it all began.

Growing up with my grandfather’s Norwegian heritage meant an introduction to lefse and brown cheese over the holidays, a celebratory shot of gløgg, and listening to a Norwegian prayer with bowed heads on Christmas Eve. Interwoven with these traditions were stories of his parents’ experiences in Montana—homesteaders living in a sod house on the dusty plains. Yet alongside their story, another image was painted of a farm perched on a Norwegian hillside and a welcoming hotel by the edge of a tranquil lake.

To me, Norway has always carried a sense of purity and majesty—something that is hard to describe, yet it feels deeply familiar. I had no idea how the fjords and their countless waterfalls tumbling down their mountains would be so awe-inspiring. Yet, I had always been drawn to this country, with its colorful houses, sod roofs, and crystal-clear streams. People often speak of what we inherit from our ancestors—and this trip made me reflect on what is passed down from those we’ve never met. In my case, is it a love of nature? Of mountains and waterfalls and pristine air?

Inspired by our deep connections, in the summer of 2024 our family began to make our plans to visit Norway and walk the same ground and see the same mountain country that our ancestors had. We’d be traveling as a group of 10 with four young teenagers and with our family experiencing a previous Adventures by Disney trip to Iceland, we knew Adventures by Disney would be the perfect way to experience and be fully immersed in the culture and natural beauty of Norway.

What makes an Adventures by Disney vacation so special? It’s the rare kind of trip where every member of the family—yes, even the planner—gets a true break. From the moment you arrive, every detail is handled for you: airport transfers, guided tours, hotel stays, transportation, even the adventure gear you’ll need along the way. All that’s left for you to do is show up, connect with your Adventure Guides and local experts, and soak in each unforgettable moment with the people you love most.

We flew to Iceland a day early and enjoyed a soak in the stunning Blue Lagoon before embarking on our Norwegian adventure.  What follows is a daily diary of our experience in Norway with Adventures by Disney, along with some tips for your next adventure.

Coronation Day!

We arrived into Bergen on an early flight from Iceland and our Adventures by Disney driver was waiting to escort us to our hotel, the lovely Hotel Norge by Scandic. The hotel’s location cannot be beat as it’s near the main square of the heart of Bergen and a quick walk to so many amenities. We met our Adventure guides, Paola and Lisa and they gave us a quick overview of our evening ahead along with some recommendations of how to spend our afternoon in Bergen. They also had our room keys waiting for us, so we got settled and then headed out to explore the wonderfully charming, Bergen.

Bergen

Bergen was the perfect introduction to Norway for us. The city unfolded like a painting—streets alive with color, air mixed with mountains and sea, and offering a promise of the Norway yet to come. A five minute walk had us strolling through Bergen’s famous fish market. We were hungry so we purchased some various offerings and enjoyed our fish and chips and waffles while enjoying the picturesque Bryggen houses, a UNESCO World Heritage site located on the old wharf of Bergen. This area was ‘oh so charming’ and we got some great photos. My regret here is that we didn’t take more time to enjoy the shops! Everything was so quaint and picture perfect.

We then took the funicular to the top of Floyen, one of seven mountains that surround Bergen city center. The journey up took less than 10 minutes and we were awarded with a stunning view of the city, fjords and surrounding mountains. There was also the most charming restaurant and cafe and miles of hiking trails. You can grab a coffee or even make a dining reservation here and if we would have had more time, I would have loved to stay longer. But, it was time to make our way back to the hotel for our first adventure dinner!

Adventures by Disney Welcome Dinner

Adventures by Disney weaves together impeccable service and the magic of storytelling and our welcome dinner set the stage for unforgettable journey ahead. We had an amazing meal in a private room at the hotel and over dinner, we were introduced to our group and our guides shared exciting previews, safety reminders and overall expectations to ensure we had the best week ahead in Norway. Then it was off to bed, as we were up early for our first adventure, and lucky for us, it involved a river! You can read more about day two and day three of our Adventures by Disney experiences and day four is coming soon.

Tips from Day One, Adventures by Disney Norway

• Plan to arrive a day early to acclimate to the time change and ensure flight delays don’t disrupt your plans
• Pack a raincoat for Bergen! We missed the rain, but it’s famous for it’s liquid sunshine!
• If you want a souvenior from Norway, don’t miss the shops and galleries along the Bryggen wharf.
• Here’s a link to my recommendations to beat jet lag during your next trip! A key trip is to get on local time as quickly as possible. If you arrive in the morning, allow yourself no more than an hour nap and then get outside and walk and be as active as possible. Once you’re up for the day, head outside and get some morning light–just five or 10 minutes of natural light and this will help your circadiam rhythm adjust and you’ll beat jet that much quicker.

Ready to plan YOUR Adventure by Disney vacation? Do you know the difference between a vacation and a trip? A vacation is something where the entire family can relax and I’d love to help you experience one of these epic adventures. Do you have questions on Adventures by Disney or other companies that I work with to make your vacation seamless with flights, transfers and all your favorite excursions bundled in? I am an Certified Travel Advisor and would love to work with you. Reach out to me at [email protected] or fill out a quote request here.