Anthony Norman

 Sweden’s High Coast offers awe-inspiring views at every turn. Whether you’re looking for a thrilling outdoor adventure or a leisurely hiking excursion with your family, the High Coast caters for all this, and much more. Set in the northeast province of Ångermanland on the Gulf of Bothnia, the High Coast is a UNESCO World Heritage site, boasting the highest coastline in the world at approximately 286 metres above sea level. Due to a geological process called post-glacial land uplift – occurring since the most recent ice age – the land continues to rise at a rate of approximately 8 millimetres per year. This phenomenon is in direct contrast to Finland’s Kvarken archipelago, situated on the opposite side of the Gulf of Bothnia, with its flat, low-lying islands and shallow bays. The High Coast’s dramatic world heritage landscape includes a beautiful archipelago and is a vast, uncrowded wonderland – a natural year-round arena for any outdoor activity you can imagine, fr...

  Småland has a diverse design scene, to say the least. Why not create your own glass art in the Kingdom of Crystal? Learn all about the story of IKEA in Älmhult. Or visit the childhood home of a world-renowned Swedish furniture designer. You’ll also find a rural museum and four barns filled with contemporary art.   Bruno Mathsson Center, Värnamo Curious about one of the most prominent Swedish furniture designers of all times? Learn more about Bruno Mathsson’s furniture at the Bruno Mathsson Center, and visit the studio and office where he created many of his designs. Bruno Mathsson presented a new type of furniture design in the 20th century and soon became one of Sweden’s most prominent furniture designers of all times. The chairs he designed became immensely popular and have become icons for Scandinavian design. It is said that his aim was to provide a new way of sitting, suitable for modern times. In the 1940’s Mathsson paid a longer visit to the USA, where he ...

 Sweden’s right of public access allows anyone to light a fire out in the nature. But there are restrictions to safeguard Sweden’s beautiful but timber-rich countryside.   Arrive in the natural wonderland that is Sweden and you’ll enjoy the right of public access – giving you freedom to roam the countryside across land and water. Go for a relaxing walk and stop to pick berries along the way or take a swim in a lake. Pitching a tent for a night or two in the wilderness is part of the freedom to roam, too. To complete the experience, what could be cosier than sitting by a campfire as night falls ? Making fires is allowed in the Swedish countryside – but only when conditions are safe. Campfires make some landowners nervous – and understandably so. Many forest fires are unintentionally caused by campfires every year – and with dire consequences. Sweden has suffered significant fires in recent years due to the unusually dry, hot summers Scandinavia has experienced. Fir...

 Experience Sweden from the waterside in a kayak or canoe, gliding along mighty lakes, clean rivers and through Swedish archipelagos that spread across the idyllic coastlines and into the sea.   Few experiences are as peaceful as paddling in a kayak or canoe. Moving silently across the waters, you’re at one with nature. Aside from the sea surrounding it, Sweden has a vast number of lakes, rivers and archipelagos – often within easy reach of quaint towns and other urban environments. Set off with paddle in hand wherever you might be in the country – from Gothenburg on the west coast to Luleå in Swedish Lapland in the north. There’s no end to the variety of adventures to embark on, either independently or as part of a guided tour, with or without accommodation. Often, you can also combine the excursions with indulging in local food and beverages. Discover the diversity on offer for kayakers and canoeists, beginners and experienced paddlers alike. City kayaking Gothe...

  Swedes are known for their innovative mindset but are also used to making the most of available resources. This is especially important in cooking, as Swedish winters are long and the growing season is short. For this project, two of the country’s foremost food creators, Lena Engelmark Embertsén and Elvira Lindqvist have crossed innovative Swedish flavours with traditional food preserving methods. Join us on a digital tasting journey with Lena and Elvira and enjoy 22 unique and authentic tastes of Swedish summer!   The Taste of Swedish Summer is exactly how it sounds – a tasting experience that encapsulates the best of Swedish summers. Lena and Elvira have used raw ingredients, both cultivated and wild, that can be found in Sweden during the sunniest months. A few can be found in abundance on almost every patch of grass, while others thrive exclusively in hard-to-find spots. Many can be eaten fresh from the plant, while others require preparation or refining t...

  If you want to know what Swedish summer tastes like, look no further than Swedish strawberry cake. For many Swedes, this cake is essential to midsummer and birthday celebrations. Every year, in the days leading up to midsummer, the cost of strawberries tends to skyrocket in Sweden. This is because Swedes have to eat strawberries and, more specifically, strawberry cake on midsummer’s eve – no matter what the cost. An authentic Swedish strawberry cake is as simple as it is spectacular. It is essentially a regular sponge cake filled with vanilla cream on the first layer, strawberry jam on the second and then smothered in whipped cream and strawberries. Once finished, the strawberry cake is a sight to behold in all its red and white glory – colorful, decadent, and absolutely mouth-wateringly delicious.  Midsummers is one of Sweden’s most beloved holidays and ever since pagan times Swedes have celebrated the longest day of the year, around the time of the summer sol...

    Göta Canal is one of Sweden’s most popular tourist destinations. It's ideal for a memorable canal cruise across the country and biking on the car-free towpaths that run along Göta Canal is also a beautiful way to explore this iconic waterway. Göta Canal is often referred to as Sweden’s blue ribbon. The 19th century canal connects Lake Vänern in central-west Sweden with Lake Vättern and ends – or begins, depending on how you look at it – on the east coast. In total, it stretches over 190 kilometres from the town of Sjötorp to Mem. The canal was built by some 58,000 soldiers and is up until today one of the largest construction projects in Sweden. The first part of Göta Canal was inaugurated in 1822, however, it wasn’t fully completed until 1832. Before the railway and road traffic, it was an important transportation route for both goods and passengers. Today, it’s one of Sweden’s most popular tourist destinations. If you haven’t visited Göta Canal yet, this ye...