Category: solo travel

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Sweden confidential: 3 epic places that will make your heart soar

Sweden is one of my favorite destinations.  The southernmost region, Skane, where pastoral and woodsy beauty mixes with a stunning coastline, is a magical place within a very modern country.

On a solo road trip through Skane, I uncovered 3 unforgettable places, each deserving of its own narrative to share the soulful experiences of the seaside, forest, and yes, sophisticated dining. 

Following is a summary of that trip which, at every turn, made my heart soar. The common thread is the laid-back warmth of the Swedish culture which both recognizes and celebrates the natural beauty and bounty found in this corner of the world.  Links to the previously published posts are noted below.

Continue reading “Sweden confidential: 3 epic places that will make your heart soar”
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How to have the perfect lunch: Sweden’s Daniel Berlin Krog

In Sweden’s southernmost agricultural heartland, about an hour from Copenhagen’s airport, lies Daniel Berlin’s dining experience, outside the town of Tomelilla. To call it a restaurant doesn’t do justice to the careful preparation and exquisite presentation of a bounty of local food, in the hands of a team who respect the palate’s  power to delight, nurture, comfort and celebrate.

Paired with 5 wines hailing from France, Germany, and Spain – from dry whites to a sweeter Muscadelle that foreshadowed the close of the meal – the lunch tasting menu was a taste bud explosion. Over 12 courses, all ingredients are grown on site or sourced locally, excepting the dessert’s Tanzanian chocolate. On a brilliant autumn afternoon, here are some highlights. You’ll be booking a table, I promise. Continue reading “How to have the perfect lunch: Sweden’s Daniel Berlin Krog”

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Why this is a spa for your soul: Sweden’s amazing Nyrups Naturhotell

If you yearn for the different, the soulful, a stay at Nyrups Naturhotell is the answer. Deep in the birch and beech forests of Skåne, Sweden’s southernmost province, near the town of Höör, this experience brings the essence of living in communion with nature to the post-modern, complicated world. No glitzy fanfare, no need to travel to remote corners or to bring anything special beyond an open mind. The secret sauce is the simple power of nature.  As it turns out, that’s pretty potent.

Continue reading “Why this is a spa for your soul: Sweden’s amazing Nyrups Naturhotell”

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Nordic Noir goes to the spa: Sweden’s Ystad Saltsjobad

It was Inspector Kurt Wallander, the fictional lead of the eponymous “Nordic noir” PBS/Masterpiece series, that interested me in Ystad in the first place.  Coastal, windswept, with a rich history dating back a millennium, it seemed an appropriate setting not only for crime stories but also as a place to launch a 5-day road trip through Skane, Sweden’s southernmost province.  I was determined to start with a spa. The venerable Ystad Saltsjöbad, with various packages and ad hoc services, was the perfect fit. The seaside location was a strong plus; to my mind, nothing is more restorative.  An easy reach by car from Copenhagen’s airport.  It was an inspired choice; I knew I would regret that my schedule allowed for only an overnight stay.  Continue reading “Nordic Noir goes to the spa: Sweden’s Ystad Saltsjobad”

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Iceland: Searching for Richard Serra, Discovering Reykjavik

Pair of pillars, Afangar, Videy Island

The mission:  To see renowned sculptor Richard Serra’s striking installation Afangar (“Standing Stones”) on Viðey Island, a national preserve across the harbor from Reykjavík. Under that brief,  I savored a taste of Iceland – in Reykjavík – on a lay-over return to New York from London. What to do in Reykjavik?  I found plenty! Continue reading “Iceland: Searching for Richard Serra, Discovering Reykjavik”

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