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10 Countries to Visit in Northern Europe

October 6, 2016 By Heather Blackmon

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At the end of August, Kirk and I celebrated our 15 year wedding anniversary. To celebrate, we planned a cruise through an area of the world we had not explored – Northern Europe. We learned that this area of the world looks very different than what we expected. And today I hope to share that with you through photos.

10 Countries to Visit in Northern Europe (via @FITaspire)

Cruising the Baltic Capitals

Stockholm, Sweden

This is where our adventure began and we spent a chilly day wandering the streets of downtown. We had an amazing breakfast at a local coffee shop, before spending most of the day in Old Town.

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Sweden (via @fitaspire)

Helsinkie, Finland

Our first stop was in the port city of Finland, where the bay freezes through the winter and giant ice breakers make a path for ships through thatseason. We saw the city by boat and then ran the coastline for our long run.

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Finland (via @fitaspire)

St Petersburg, Russia

The most surprising of all the stops, St. Petersburg looks more like France than typical Russia. Founded by Peter the Great, who had a love for Western Europe and greatly influenced the design of the city. There are a few buildings with the iconic onion twist, however these were almost out of place in the French-style architecture that was most common.

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Russia (via @fitaspire)

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Russia (via @fitaspire)

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Russia (via @fitaspire)

Tallinn, Estonia

This city was heavily influenced by St Peterburg, so the architecture reflects the french style. They also make a good, German-style beer!

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Estonia (via @fitaspire)

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Estonia (via @fitaspire)

Klaipeda, Lithuania

Largely destroyed in WWII, much of the original architecture here was lost. They do have a great fishing legacy, which they displayed in an outdoor museum showcasing historical ships and lifestyle.

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Lithuania (via @fitaspire)

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Lithuania (via @fitaspire)

Gdansk, Poland

This was another surprising city to me, as I didn’t expect Poland to be so colorful! I could have used a bit more time to explore Gdansk, because we started the day at the Stutthof concentration camp.

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Poland (via @fitaspire)

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Poland (via @fitaspire)

Warnemunde, Germany

While we have spent a lot of time in Germany (we both studied there for a summer during college), the northern coast looked very different. The architecture was still distinctly German, but a bit softer with the ocean backdrop.

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Germany (via @fitaspire)

Copenhagen, Denmark

My favorite city of the two weeks (although it is hard to choose). It was filled with the modern architecture I expected, lots of bikes, and an in-street trampoline!
10 Countries in Northern Europe: Denmark (via @fitaspire)

Oslo, Norway

The fateful city where I tripped and injured my knee. That aside, they are a proud seafaring country (remember the Vikings) and were the first and closest to the North and South Poles.

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Norway (via @fitaspire)

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Norway (via @fitaspire)

Amsterdam, Netherlands

This city reminds me of a clean Venice, with canals that snake through the streets and hundreds of small bridges. We walked almost 20 miles on our day in the city and even found an amazing brewery in an old bathhouse.

10 Countries in Northern Europe: Amsterdam (via @fitaspire)

[Tweet “Vacation inspiration: 10 Countries in Northern Europe! #travel”]

Where is one place you have visited that looked different than you imagined?

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Welcome

Hi! I’m Heather, a yoga & wellness teacher based in Colorado... Read More…

"Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleano "Do one thing every day that scares you." - Eleanor Roosevelt

What scares me is probably different than what scares you.

I am admittedly a timid mountain biker - but getting better every day.

I'm afraid to face plant, but still working on crow pose in yoga.

⬇️ What is one thing that scares you & how are you working on it?
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#mountainbiking #mtbiking #mtbdaily #mtblife #seemyadventures  #allaboutadventures #sheisthewild #mountainlife #liveyouradventure
Am I the only one still (basically) living in yoga Am I the only one still (basically) living in yoga clothes?

For at least part of the day, it's just easier to put on yoga pants, sports bra, and a "zoom-appropriate" top. Or a button-up layered over my workout tank. It makes it SO much easier to squeeze in a workout when I have time.

Tell me I'm not the only one who's not going back to work clothes?!
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#vail #yogalifestyle #yogaliving #vaillife #vailcolorado #mountainlife #vailvalley #outtherecolorado #mountaingirls #womenofthewilderness #womenwhoexplorecolorado  #lovethelifeyoulive #vaillive
Wait, should I look at the camera? 📸 But reall Wait, should I look at the camera? 📸

But really, keep your gaze straight ahead to keep your neck safe in bridge (or Setu Bandha Sarvangasana). It's rare that a version of this pose isn't included during cooldown in my classes.

Do you love bridge as much as I do?
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#asana #goodvibes #bridgepose  #energy #feeltheyogahigh #happymindhappylife #myyogalife #letyourlightshine #letyourpranaflow #coloradoyogalove #coloradoyoga #practiceyoga #yogajourney #yogalifestyle #yogaliving #yogamakesmehappy #yogapractice #yogatime #ipreview via @preview.app
"Every ending is a beginning. We just don't know i "Every ending is a beginning. We just don't know it at the time." -Mitch Albom

Last Friday, we ventured to a trail near Carbondale for the most beautiful ride with huge wildflowers everywhere. It was a great trail with good climbing, plenty of flow in the middle, and A LOT of switchbacks on the descent. Our first 2 hour ride of the season and it was a blast!

I didn't know it at the time, but it was also the last ride on my Liv mountain bike - because I got a new bike on Sunday! ✨

If you're in Colorado & in the market for a new bike, I highly recommend Over The Edge in Fruita. I test rode 6 bikes & then took the Pivot Mach 5.5 out on the trail to be sure it was the right one. Great experience!!
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#adventurespirit #alltrails #mountainvibes #mountainaddict #mountainadventures #mountainbiking #mtbiking #mtbdaily #mtblife #seemyadventures  #womenofthewilderness #womenwhoexplorecolorado
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