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DAY 1 - Tuesday, June 19
Departure from
U.S.A. (D on Flight)
Today,
depart from O’Hare International Airport to Stockholm, Sweden. Or request
international departure from the city of your choice, dependent upon
availability.
DAY 2 - Wednesday, June 20
Arlanda Airport- Skokloster- Uppsala (B on
flight, D)
Early morning arrival at Arlanda International airport near Stockholm.
Journey through the province of Uppland to tour beautiful Skokloster
Castle (1654), one of the finest baroque museums in the world. In Uppsala,
enjoy a tour of magnificent Uppsala Cathedral whose construction began in
1260 and is today the largest Cathedral in Scandinavia. Visit the amazing
Viking burial mounds at Gamla Uppsala. Dinner and overnight in Uppsala.
DAY 3 - Thursday, June 21
Uppsala- Avesta- Sundborn-
Falun- Rättvik (B,D)
Travel to the tradition rich province of Dalarna today. Stop at Avesta to
see the world’s largest Dala Horse standing almost 43 feet high and
weighing 67 tons. In the village of Sundborn tour the beautiful home and
studio of beloved artists Carl and Karin Larsson. Continue to Falun to
visit the amazing Falun Copper Mine, which began operations in the year
1288. All mining ceased in Falun Mine on 8 December 1992. Drive to Rättvik
for hotel check-in. Enjoy pre-Midsummer entertainment this evening. Dinner
and overnight in Rättvik.
DAY 4 - Friday, June 22
Rättvik- Nusnäs- Mora- Rättvik (B,D)
Today is Midsummer’s Eve, the largest and best summer celebration in
Scandinavia. . Enjoy
the beauty
of idyllic Lake Siljan as you explore the region today. Visit centuries
old Rättvik Church with its hundreds of tiny wooden “houses” used
centuries ago to stable horses in winter during the long church services.
Travel to Nusnäs to visit Nils
Olsson’s Hemslöjd, gift shop and Dala Horse factory, watch as expert
craftsmen hand carve a Dala horse in a matter of minutes. Take time to
shop, enjoy a cup of coffee, or stroll across the street to Grannas
Olsson’s for more shopping. In Mora, tour the fantastic home of
world-renowned artist Anders Zorn. The main room here is reminiscent of a
Viking ship. Early afternoon return to Rättvik for folk music, folk
dancing, fun, food, and the raising of the Midsummer Pole. Dinner and
overnight again in Rättvik.
DAY 5 - Saturday, June 23
Rättvik- Sunnemo- Medskog- Ransäter- Karlstad (B,L,D) Midsummer Day
Depart the beautiful Lake Siljan area, traveling to the province of
Värmland to visit the quaint village of Sunnemo where Mr. Alf Brorson,
historian, pastor and educator will talk about Swedish religion and
emigration to America in the early 19th century. Today enjoy a delicious
traditional Värmland lunch
of potatiskorv (potato sausage) at
the
delightful country restaurant of Medskogs Aktivitetsby. After lunch
take the short drive to Ransäter to tour Ransäter Homestead museum, a
collection of home and farm buildings dating as far back as 1680. Continue
to Karlstad for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6 - Sunday, June 24
Karlstad-
Sjötorp- Åsle Tå- Habo-
Gothenburg
(B,D)
This morning travel south into the province of Västergotland to see the
locks at Sjötorp where the Göta Canal meets Lake Vänern. Just outside of
Falköping visit Åsle Tå, the incredibly well preserved peasant village
from the 19-20th centuries. Travel to the western shore of Lake Vättern to
visit beautiful Habo church, famous for the interior biblical paintings on
walls and ceilings. Continue to the west coast of Sweden to Göteborg
(Gothenburg), the second largest city in Sweden. Dinner and overnight in
Gothenburg.
DAY 7 - Monday, June 25
Gothenburg- Varberg- Helsingborg (B,D)
In Gothenburg this morning enjoy the highlights of this lively west coast
city founded in 1621. Travel to the province of Halland and the small town
of Varberg chartered in 1100. Once described as the least appealing place
in Sweden, Varberg’s beautiful sandy beaches have earned it the nickname
of the “Swedish Riviera”. In Helsingborg take a stroll on the walking
street or take in the
view across the Öresund Strait
to Denmark and Kronborg Castle (Elsinore - the home of Shakespeare’s
Hamlet) at Helsingør. Perhaps
investigate the Kärnan
tower, Helsingborgs most famous landmark, which has guarded the
city for over 600 years. Dinner and overnight in Helsingborg.
DAY 8 - Tuesday, June 26
Helsingborg- Lund- Karlshamn- Växjö (B,D)
Drive to the university
town of Lund to visit beautiful 12th century Lund cathedral with its
amazing astronomical clock dating from 1424. Travel through Blekinge
province, the “Garden of Sweden”, to view the Emigrant Monument in
Karlshamn, commemorating emigration to America through characters from
Vilhelm Moberg’s classic novel “The Emigrants”. Enjoy free time for
shopping or leisure in Karlshamn. This afternoon travel to Växjö in the
province of Småland. Enjoy a self-guided tour of the museum at the
Emigrant Institute. Those interested in family research, contact Anderson
Scandinavian Tours about tour extensions. Dinner and overnight in Växjö.
DAY 9 - Wednesday June 27
Växjö- Långasjö- Kosta Boda- Orrefors-
Söderåkra (B,D)
Travel the “Emigrant Trail”
to Långasjö to tour the living museum at Klasatorpet where parts of
the film, “The Emigrants”, were made. Deep in the forests of Småland enter
the “Crystal Kingdom” to tour the 270-year old Kosta Boda glassworks. Get
up close to live moose at Grönåsens Elk Park before continuing to the
world famous Orrefors glass factory. Continue to beautiful Söderåkra for
dinner and overnight on the shores of the Baltic Sea.
Day 10 - Thursday, June 28
Söderåkra-
Kalmar- Oskarshamn- Eksjö (B,D)
Today tour 13th century Kalmar Castle, once a vital defense along the
Danish sea border. Falling on hard times, the castle has been used as a
prison and as a storage facility for salt and grain; today it is one of
Sweden’s best-preserved renaissance castles. Travel north along the coast
to Oskarshamn for a tour at the Axel Pettersson Woodcarving Museum.
Continue to Eksjö to enjoy a walking tour of the wonderfully preserved Old
Town area from the 17th century. Burnt to the ground by the Danish in
1568, the town was redeveloped in 1569.
Dinner and overnight in Eksjö.
Day 11 - Friday, July 29
Eksjö- Huskvarna- Gränna- Bergs Slussar
(Locks)- Stockholm (B,D)
This morning, travel to Huskvarna to visit the Huskvarna Museum. Known
worldwide for Huskvarna chainsaws this company started 300 years ago with
muskets and other weapons for the Swedish army. Drive along the shores of
beautiful Lake Vättern to the village of Gränna stopping at Gränna
polkagris (peppermint candy) factory/candy store and Gränna Glassworks for
an amazing demonstration of the art of glassblowing. On the way to
Stockholm see the Viking Age rune stone
“Rökstenen”,
which
details one family’s saga, then make a stop at the Berg Locks where the
boats maneuver through the system of locks on the famous Göta Canal.
Early evening arrival in Stockholm. Dinner and overnight in Stockholm.
Day 12 - Saturday, July 30
Stockholm (B)
A morning tour of Stockholm includes City Hall, the Wasa Ship Museum,
which houses the restored Wasa ship that sank on its maiden voyage in the
17th Century, Embassy Row, the magnificent view of the city from
Fjellgatan Street and Gamla Stan (Old Town). Free time this afternoon.
Dinner on your own tonight. Overnight in Stockholm.
Day 13 - Sunday, July 1
Stockholm (B,D)
Today is a free day. Your tour host will help you with suggestions.
Perhaps visit one of the many museums. Return to Gamla Stan, stroll the
walking street, visit one the world famous department stores or take a
cruise on the archipelago. Enjoy! This evening enjoy dinner in one of
Stockholm’s famous restaurants. Overnight in Stockholm.
Day 14 - Monday, July 2
Stockholm - Departure to U.S.A. (B,L on
flight)
This morning, transfer by motor coach to Stockholm -Arlanda Airport for
mid-morning departure to the U.S.A. Arrival at Chicago O’Hare around noon
local time.
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