Rimstigen is by far the best hike in the best fjord in Norway, and it's a hidden gem! The trailhead…read moreis in Bakka, down a small road from Gutvangen. You can park on the side of the road and the trailhead is on the right side of the road just before the bridge. The trail starts as a steep climb...and then continues as a steep climb until the very top! But it is SO worth the pain. All the way up and all the way down are amazing views, and if you are really adventurous, you can keep going up onto the ridge. This trail was an old road the farmers used to take with their herds to take them to the summer grazing fields, so it connects several cities if you're willing to hike far enough. It would be a fun multi-day hike if you are up for it! Naeroyfjord is easily one of the most beautiful things in Norway. Partly because no one else is going to be there while you're there, and partly because it is such a small fjord, you can easily access all parts of it and see across the fjord without a problem.

There's some weird things that have happened to me during my adventure here in Europe but nothing…read moreas bizarre as what happened yesterday. During a random hike, at some random place I picked to hike, called Kongevegen (King's road), I was chased down by a rabid herd of goats. I was near the end of my hike towards an old 18th century bridge built next to an old Viking era stone bridge when I heared bells clanging, hundreds it sounded like, and it got louder and louder barreling down the hill towards my location. This trail meanders through forests and open grasslands full of sheep and other farm animals. There are gates that you simply pass through and close behind you but you pass by private property it seems like. Back home somebody would have a shotgun ready to gun you down from stepping into their private property, but not here, I passed by farmers going on about their daily routines and waving to say "Hallo!" Very friendly bunch these Norwegians...but back to the goats...Yes there I was finally making it to the fabled stone bridge and a pack of rabid horned goats ready to mow me down. I quickly ran towards the nearest wooden gate at the end of the bridge and quickly locked it from behind me. The goats dared follow me closer but to no avail...whatever drove these crazy animals to chase me is beyond comprehension - maybe because of what I was wearing? All red.

I cannot rant and rave enough about how spectacular this company is. I love the variety of options…read moreand every employee delivers outstanding customer service. This company is perfection. I have to say we travel a bit and Rose is my favorite tour guide, hands down! She is wonderful, patient, gave out great information and went above and beyond in every way. Fjord Safari makes you want to come back for more! Skål!

If you find yourself with 24 hours in Flam (population: 387) - and you will if you're on the Norway…read morein a Nutshell tour package like Jamie W. and me - then you may find it challenging to fill your time. There were no casinos, no designer outlets, no long-term residencies starring Celine Dion or worse, Katy Perry. But there was this RIB boat adventure excursion. If you don't know what RIB means, it stands for Rigid Inflatable Boat. Yep, it's a zodiac boat with a motor that adds a jolt of speed to your trip. I decided to book us in advance for the standard fjord safari which lasted approximately ninety minutes. It cost 790 NOK or about $80 in US dollars. Pretty typical Norwegian tourist pricing. You're given a pair of goggles and heavy-duty fluorescent chartreuse coveralls as if you're scaling Everest during a typhoon. It was a bit of overkill but a fine Instagram moment (photo: https://bit.ly/3JAo0VU). There were just seven of us including a young child who already seemed bored despite constant prodding from her insistent father. Our guide and boat pilot was Gustav, an ebullient local who brought the necessary enthusiasm to his role. With dexterity, he took us to key spots in both Aurlandsfjord and Sognefjord including a stop where the tip of our boat entered a rushing waterfall (photo: https://bit.ly/3QosZv3). Gustav also shared colorful stories about life around the fjords. There are longer versions of the excursion, some including a goat cheese tasting since it's a local delicacy. I was almost sorry to take off my coveralls as I could feel the testosterone slipping out of me. RELATED - Exploring Norway? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3PEL4Fe