| Day 1 - Thursday, July 31
Departure from U.S.A. (D on Flight)
Depart from Chicago O’Hare International Airport to Oslo, Norway. Or request international departure from the city of your choice, dependent upon availability.
Day 2 - Friday, August 1
Oslo- Karlstad (B on flight, D)
Arrive Oslo in mid-morning. You will be met by your guide, host and driver Mr. Alf Brorson, noted historian and teacher. Depart for Karlstad, Sweden stopping at the Peace monument on the Norwegian-Swedish border, which commemorates the Peace between Sweden and Norway in 1814. Mid-afternoon check-in at your hotel in Karlstad. Enjoy time to rest and relax or explore the city of Karlstad before dinner.After dinner at the hotel, an evening tour of the island of Hammarö includes the Viking burial grounds and the rune stone from 1025. In Karlstad, visit Östra Bron spanning the River Klarälven. Built in 1761, it is the longest stone bridge in Sweden (168 meters). Overnight at the Clarion Collection Hotel Bilan, your home during the entire Värmland tour.
Day 3 - Saturday, August 2
Karlstad - Brattfors - Långban - Filipstad
- Karlstad (B, D)
In Brattfors learn how the people here were punished for disrespecting King Oscar I in 1859. At Långbanshyttan see the birthplace of inventor John Ericsson, thought to be one of the most ingenious inventors of all time. After a stop in the old mining town of Persberg, continue to Filipstad for Sweden-America/John Ericsson Day. Experience the traditional ceremony at the John Ericsson Mausoleum, then step into American history as you enjoy an exciting reenactment of the Civil War Battle of Hampton Roads (between the ironclad ships Monitor and Merrimac). A special dinner tonight featuring the Swedish-American of the year (2008) and light entertainment. Overnight at the hotel.
Day 4 - Sunday, August 3
Karlstad - Torsby - Ekshärad - Noretorp - Karlstad
(B, D)
Travel to Torsby for a very special visit to the home of Alf and Maud Brorson. At the Forest Finn Culture Center learn about the cultural influence of Finnish immigrants to this part of Sweden. After an entertaining visit to a local farmstead, travel to Ekshärad to see the churchyard famous for the beautiful and unusual singing iron crosses that adorn the graves. At the old country parsonage at Noretorp see the Olof Olsson family’s last Swedish home before immigrating to America. Here you will be welcomed for Swedish style afternoon coffee. Return to Karlstad for dinner and overnight.
Day 5 - Monday, August 4
Karlstad - Karlskoga - Järsberg - Kristinehamn
- Karlstad (B, D)
This morning visit the Emigrant Registry and the Kinship Center, where genealogy experts in the research facilities will help you research your ancestors. Travel to Karlskoga to visit Björkborn, the manor home and laboratory of Alfred Nobel. At Järsberg see Sweden’s oldest rune stone, dating from the 6th century. In Kristinehamn, on the shore of Lake Vänern, the Picasso Monument stands where emigrants to America passed on their way to Gothenburg and America. This evening board the M/S Vestvåg for an enchanting dinner cruise on the lake. Return for overnight the
hotel.
Day 6 - Tuesday, August 5
Karlstad - Klässbol - Arvika - Karlstad
(B, D)
Start the day with a stop at Värmskog to view the monument to L.M. Ericsson (founder of Ericsson Telecommunications) Continue to Klässbol to visit the Klässbol Linen Mill, Madam Glassworks and Schützer’s Pewter Smiths. This afternoon, visit the west Swedish town of Arvika, well known for its music, art and crafts. Enjoy a traditional Swedish dinner buffet at the hotel.
Day 7 - Wednesday, August 6
Karlstad - Sunnemo - Munkfors - Karlstad
(B, L, D)
Your first stop this morning is the site of the 9,000 year-old stone-age settlement on Lake Lidsjön. Continue to Sunnemo and Sunnemo church where Alf Brorson will talk about Swedish religion and emigration in the 1800’s. Enjoy a traditional Swedish lunch at the Munken Hotel in the community of Munkfors before visiting the ironworks foundry and museum, which has a history dating back to 1670. Return to Karlstad for dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 8 - Thursday, August 7
Karlstad - Medskog - Mårbacka - Sunne - Karlstad
(B, L, D)
Free time this morning in Karlstad before driving to the Medskogs Country Inn to enjoy a special Värmland lunch of Potatiskorv (potato sausage), potatoes and lingonberries and rice pudding for dessert. Following lunch, visit Mårbacka, the home of Nobel Prize winning author Selma Lagerlöf. At Sunne view the “Kinship Monument”, honoring the Finnish immigrants to Sweden and Swedish immigrants to America. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.
Day 9 - Friday, August
8
Departure to U.S.A. (B, Lunch on flight)
This morning, depart from Karlstad to return to the U.S.A. via Stockholm or Oslo, or make arrangements with Anderson Scandinavian Tours for an extension to your Värmland tour.
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