Lapland: It’s About More Than Santa. Maybe.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to go to Lapland. Call me a big kid, but there is something magical about even just saying the name. Lapland. It’s where Father Christmas lives, so it has to be awesome, am I right?

Now, I’m not usually one to enjoy spending time in cold, snowy destinations, unless it involves holding a steaming mug of gluhwein and eating bratwurst. Which is why I tend to shy away from winter holidays. And after the worst school skiing trip in the history of the world that I endured as a teenager, let’s just say that skiing is usually off the agenda.

But places with fun, non-bone-breaking activities to partake in? Well, they are right up my alley.

In Lapland, I’d get to feed reindeer again, one of my newest favourite pastimes. I’d also be able to go dog-sledding, something that I’ve wanted to do for years. And the great thing about this winter wonderland that we call Lapland? It spans both Sweden and Finland, meaning that I also get to visit two new countries. Yay for me!

All joking aside, I’m sure most of you know by now how obsessed I am with Christmas. I have a dedicated Pinterest board set up to worship this particular holiday and this year alone I’m planning on visiting no less than six Christmas markets. Six. I really love Christmas, people. Or maybe it’s the gluhwein. Same same.

Anyway, after this year’s escapades, there’ll only really be one place left on my Christmas bucket list and that will be Lapland.

Santa Claus Village

I may be 30, but that doesn’t mean that I can’t still get an appointment with the big man to tell him what I want for Christmas (a new DSLR if you’re reading this, Santa. Pretty please.) There is a Christmas exhibition and several shopping and factory outlets, meaning that I can probably get some of my Christmas shopping done while I’m there. Score.

Dog Sledding

Anyone who knows me will know that I love dogs as much as even more than Christmas. So to be able to handle huskies and have them guide me through the snow sounds like a dream come true.

The Northern Lights

If I don’t manage to see the Northern Lights in Iceland in Janauary (which is apparently a possibility) then it’s definitely something I’d want to experience in Lapland. Apparently you can even take dog sledding excursions to some great vantage points, combining two must-dos into one trip.

Wooden Cabins and Fires

Now, health and safety standards would usually dictate that the two things I just mentioned in this heading should never go together, lest there be terrible consequences. But with all that wet snow around, I’ll take my chances. In all seriousness though, the wooden guesthouses in this region of the world are just as appealing as the destination itself and seem like a great place to relax and read a good book in the hot tub after a day dog-sledding and chatting to Santa. It’s a hard life.

Photo credit: header, lapland