During the three years I lived in Japan I made a lot of visits to Tokyo, and I got to know the different neighborhoods quite well. I definitely have some favorite parts of Tokyo that I always go back to, and there are three areas I always recommend to any friends wondering where ...
10 Years of Heart My Backpack
Exactly a decade ago I opened my laptop, logged into my new Wordpress account, and began typing my first blog post on heartmybackpack.com. Could I have imagined that ten years later, I'd be typing yet another post on this travel blog of mine? I can't really remember what my ...
What’s So Special About Røros, Norway?
Røros had been at the top of my list of places to go in Norway for years before I visited. And after finally visiting Røros I now find myself recommending it to everyone! I first visited Røros in May, and then more recently in January. You might have heard of Røros ...
15 Nordic Inspired Holiday Gifts
While I've already shared a Norwegian gift guide, I thought I could also share a gift guide inspired by the entire Nordic region. I'm always talking about how living in Scandinavia taught me to love cold, dark winters. People up here really do know how to winter. So what ...
Dog Sledding in Norway
Having lived in Northern Norway for over four years, I now get so many questions from people planning winter trips to Norway to see the northern lights. And after telling them my picks for the best places in Norway to see the northern lights, I always stress one thing: make sure ...