Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
drinking beer. Sometimes the best
concerts are the impromptu jam
sessions in smoky little clubs.
See “Molde: City of Roses” in
chapter 11.
•
Holmenkollen Ski Festival:
This
large ski festival takes place in
March at the Holmenkollen Ski
Jump, on the outskirts of Oslo.
The agenda is packed with every-
thing from international ski-jump-
ing competitions to Norway's
largest cross-country race for ama-
teurs. See p. 25.
4 The Best Active Vacations
•
Fishing:
The cold, clear waters of
Norway's freshwater streams are
renowned for their salmon and
trout, and the storm-tossed seas
off the coast have traditionally
provided enough cod and mack-
erel to satisfy most of the nation's
population. Serious anglers some-
times end up losing themselves in
the majesty of the scenery. Tips on
fishing in and around the Norwe-
gian fjords are provided by the
Bergen Sportsfiskere (Bergen
Angling Association),
Foss-
winckelsgate 37, Bergen (
&
55-
32-11-64
), and the tourist infor-
mation offices in Oslo and
Bergen. Rural hotels throughout
the nation can also give pointers
on good spots. For a truly unusual
fishing experience,
Borton Over-
seas
(
&
800/843-0602;
www.
bortonoverseas.com) can arrange
treks and accommodations in old-
fashioned fishermen's cottages in
the isolated Lofoten Islands. The
rustic-looking, fully renovated
cottages are adjacent to the sea.
Rentals are for 3 days and include
bed linens, maid service, boat
rentals, and fishing equipment.
For our favorite fishing hole rec-
ommendations, refer to “The Best
Fishing,” below.
•
Hiking:
The woods
(Marka)
around Oslo boast thousands of
kilometers of trails, hundreds of
which are lit for nighttime use. If
you don't want to leave the city,
Frogner Park also has many paths.
Any Norwegian regional tourist
bureau can advise you about
hiking. In Bergen, for example,
refer to the
Bergen Touring Club
(p. 288), whose members have
spent years hiking through the
western fjord country and can
advise about the best trails. For
our favorite hikes, refer to “The
Best Hikes,” below.
•
Skiing:
This is the undisputed top
winter sport in Norway, attracting
top-notch skiers and neophytes
from around the world. Norway is
a pioneer in promoting skiing as a
sport for persons with disabilities.
Modern facilities comparable to
those in Europe's alpine regions
dot the landscape. If you're a seri-
ous skier, consider the best winter
resorts, in Voss, Geilo, and Lille-
hammer (site of the 1994 Winter
Olympics). See “Lillehammer of
Olympic Glory” in chapter 7 and
“Voss: A Winter Playground” and
“Geilo: Summer & Winter Fun”
in chapter 11. For our choices for
the best downhill skiing and the
best cross-country skiing, see
below.
•
Mountain Climbing:
Local
tourist offices can offer advice.
What we like best are guided hikes
to the archaeological digs of the
8,000-year-old Stone Age settle-
ments near the Hardangerjøkulen
(Hardanger Glacier). The digs are
about an hour's drive north of the
mountain resort of Geilo. For
information, contact the
Geilo
Tourist Office
(
&
32-09-59-00
).
See “Geilo: Summer & Winter
Fun” in chapter 11.
