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Activity/ Itinerary suggestions Norway in June

Activity/ Itinerary suggestions Norway in June

Old Feb 15th, 2014, 06:02 PM
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Activity/ Itinerary suggestions Norway in June

We are traveling with our two kids, who will be nearly 5 years old and 2 1/2, to Norway in June. We fly into Oslo, arrive at 12:30 p.m and will likely be jet lagged. Thereafter, we have 3 full days in Oslo. On the fourth day we fly to Longyearbyen, arrive at 12:30 p.m., spend one full day there, and then fly home on the 6th day.

I would appreciate activity suggestions for the 3 full days in or around Oslo and the full day in Longyearbyen. Would love to see the fjords or other areas of natural beauty, but have to keep in mind the young children and that they might not be able to handle long drives or much strenuous physical activity.

Thank you.
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Old Feb 15th, 2014, 07:41 PM
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...all the way to Longyearbyen for one day. Is there an underlying reason for that plan that you can share? I figure it's close to a 7 hour roundtrip depending on the type of aircraft flying there from Oslo. Just saying.

In Oslo, you can probably keep a busy schedule for most of the three days...including Bygdoy Peninsula where the Kon Tiki, the Viking Ship and the outdoor Folk Museum will take up a half day at a slow pace. The five-year-old might enjoy seeing the ships and the outdoor museum. Frogner Park and it's statues is good for a few hours, changing of the guard at the Palace and maybe a boat trip out to the Oslo Fjord. The Resistance Museum is historically fascinating but probably boring for the 5'er. The ski jump just north of town is a fun sight to see up close. It can be seen from a long distance, also.

It's too bad you won't have time to visit the fjords in Central Norway.
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Old Feb 15th, 2014, 08:11 PM
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Mooninin...you do realize that June temps in Svalbard are quite cold...37F high...I just checked it out.
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Old Feb 16th, 2014, 03:08 AM
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Plenty of activities in Oslo here: http://www.visitoslo.com
With 3 days you could also consider the boat trip to Oscarsborg: http://www.visitnorway.com/us/Product/?pid=28339
Ferry nr. 602 sails from Oslo to Oscarsborg in summer months https://ruter.no/Documents/Rutetabel..._baat_2009.pdf
There are also ferries to islands which would be nice in good weather.
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Old Feb 16th, 2014, 05:42 PM
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This is great info. Thanks!

As for why Longyearbyen, well I have to say, it was not really my choice. My husband likes to go to obscure places that are off the beaten path, while I think less is more with the kids. I gave in this time. We use award bookings, so the schedule is half dependent on when we can get flights for the least amount of points. I hope we do not have flight delays and other travel difficulty; could really be a nightmare with this sort of schedule. (recommendations on best less expensive trip insurance?)

Our schedule
Wed
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Old Feb 16th, 2014, 05:56 PM
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Schedule
Wed: arrive Oslo 12:30 pm
Thurs: Oslo
Fri: Oslo
Sat: Oslo
Sun: 4 hr 20 min nonstop flight to longyearbyen, arrive 2 pm
Mon: longyearbyen
Tues: fly Lyb to tromso to Oslo and then onto home, this time it is 3 1/2 hr plus 2 layover from Longyearbyen to Oslo

Do you think we will need snow pants in longyearbyen? Any activity suggestions there with young kids?

Restaurant recommendations (not elegant) in Oslo? Any local dish that should not be missed? The hubby will eat anything (he is like an episode of Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations).

Alas, We will have to return to Norway to see the central region ...
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Old Feb 16th, 2014, 05:56 PM
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Oh one more q: is a car recommended while in Oslo?
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Old Feb 17th, 2014, 06:42 AM
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longyearbyen
Suggest you read this article which should answer your questions on Lyb. Thank you for sharing the reasoning behind that very long roundtrip. I understand, as I was always interested in the off-beat/obscure in my younger travel days.

Have fun. Please let us know about the Longyearbyen adventure when you return. Pix?

stu
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Old Feb 17th, 2014, 06:56 AM
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In Oslo, when in doubt, go East Indian or Asian for dinners. There are a few in town I recall. Maybe do a picnic while visiting the Outdoor Folk Museum on Bygdoy. There's a snack bar in Frogner Park. The appealing Munch(k) Museum has a little cafe.

No need of a car in Oslo IMO. Ferries, busses, trams, all over the place. Many of the major Oslo sites are within walking distances from the in-town lodgings. I'll post some Oslo pics below just for a familiarization exercise. In June, you'll get substantial daylight.
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Old Feb 17th, 2014, 06:59 AM
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Photos #1-31 are Oslo. Tromso (where you'll have a 2-hour layover)is at the end.

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuartt...uHk6iIgbSEgAE#
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Old Feb 17th, 2014, 08:12 AM
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Note that on weekends children accompanied by fare paying adults travel free on public transport in Oslo https://ruter.no/en/
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Old Feb 17th, 2014, 06:06 PM
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Great photos. You have quite the sense of humor! Thanks.
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Old Feb 17th, 2014, 07:45 PM
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The direct flight OSL-LYR should take less than 3 hours. Are you sure you don't have a stop in there?

Local dishes not to miss; reindeer, salmon with dill, lutefisk (for your husband, not you and the children!), bløtkake, kransekake, skoleboller, lefse. Maybe pølser for the children.

Not sure if this is still the case, but many hotel dining rooms used to serve set-price lunches that were tasty and good value (for Norway, anyway—it is an expensive place to visit!).
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Old Feb 17th, 2014, 08:25 PM
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Forgot to mention these cheeses: geitost/gjeitost/brunost, gamalost/gammalost/gammelost, and nøkkelost.

Be sure to try tyttebær (lingonberries) and multer (cloudberries) as well, although you probably will have to settle for jams rather than fresh ones.
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Old Feb 17th, 2014, 08:49 PM
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bakeries are really good places to have lunch. For instance Åpent, which has a few shops in Oslo.
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Old Feb 19th, 2014, 12:13 PM
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I believe we might have had some of those berries in Newfoundland, yes. I am mostly vegetarian, but I do eat cheeses. Thanks for the great suggestion. Of course, my husband's mouth will be watering.
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