Visit Santa\u2019s helpers<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Elf](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/elfvillage15-1-of-1.jpg\")
Elf Village | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s well known that Santa\u2019s real home is in Rovaniemi, Lapland. So, if you want to hand-deliver your wish list, be sure to start there. But it\u2019s also\u00a0<\/em>well known that while the big-guy gets all the credit, it\u2019s really the elves that do all the work. Wanna see where they stay while Santa plays? Pay a visit to Elves Village<\/a>, located 8 kilometers outside of Levi. There, it\u2019s Christmas all-year around, and the elves will lead you on a series of seasonal activities, including decorating and cookie baking. Everything from caroling to storytelling is taken incredibly seriously here (read: the elves never break character), so feel free to ask them all your burning Christmas questions.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nEscape the cold in a sauna <\/strong><\/h2>\nPeople in Finland sauna like it\u2019s a sport. With good reason, not is it the only Finnish word to make it into the English language, it\u2019s one of the most common things in the country period, with an estimated two million saunas servicing five million Finns. It\u2019s traditional to go in (gender segregated) saunas in nothing but the skin the good lord gave you\u2014so if you\u2019re not quite ready to show the Nordics your full Monty, consider an evening at Levi Foxfires<\/a>, a traditional Finnish spa available for private rental. Soak in a barrel turned hot tub, steam it out in a sauna and beat yourself with birch branches. (More invigorating than weird.) If you don\u2019t catch the northern lights (they\u2019re finicky!) comfort yourself with a round of fireside snacks and mulled wine.<\/p>\n\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\nGo dog sledding<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Sled](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/dogs3-1-of-1-copy.jpg\")
Sled dogs | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n
You may think you love your job, life and friends\u2014but you have not seen true passion until you\u2019ve experienced a sled dog doing what it was born to do. These lean Tamaskans (which look like a cross between a husky and wolf) run like the wind, and wag their tails like they\u2019re expecting a treat. (Don\u2019t worry, they\u2019re taken care of like heroes.) Visit your newfound buddies at the Levi Husky Park<\/a>, where in addition to the ride of a lifetime, you can also get a kiss from a reindeer, and meet the elusive Arctic fox.<\/p>\n\u00a0ALSO:<\/strong> Warm up to travel perks with Orbitz Rewards\u2014it’s free to join!<\/a><\/p>\nGet to know reindeer<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Lapland](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/reindeer5-1-of-1.jpg\")
Lapland reindeer | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n
A word on reindeer in Lapland\u2014there\u2019s a lot of them. (Why do you think Santa chose them to pull his sleigh?) They\u2019re all owned, and roam free\u2014so there\u2019s rarely a roadside forest where you won\u2019t see them hanging out. (Fun fact: It\u2019s rude to ask a rancher how many reindeer they have. The cagey answer you\u2019ll get is, \u201cMy herd is on both sides of the forest.\u201d)\u00a0 But while reindeer are plentiful, they\u2019re also fairly shy. Which means if you want to get that Instagram opp, you\u2019ll need professional help. At the Aurora Village<\/a>, a trained reindeer wrangler will assist you with a basket full of lichen and a lot of patience. \u2018Cause when it comes to meeting Rudolph, pics or it didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Eat a lifetime\u2019s supply of vitamin C<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/berry-1-of-1.jpg\")
So many berries | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n
A note on Lapland\u2019s food: it\u2019s very berry heavy. The lingonberry, a tiny red tart berry that\u2019s sweeter than the average cranberry, is hearty enough to sustain some of the region\u2019s coldest temperatures. Which means from soup to dessert, you\u2019re likely to find this low sugar, high-in-vitamins super fruit everywhere. Other local staples you\u2019re likely to encounter include barley flatbread, almond-infused potatoes, fish and reindeer (which reportedly is lean and tangy). Eat up\u2014that super-heavy snowsuit you\u2019re wearing won\u2019t lug itself around.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Hug a tree<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/huggingforest2-1-of-1.jpg\")
The Hugging Forest<\/p><\/div>\n
Need a moment of zen? Try hugging a tree. The Halipuu<\/a>, or \u201cHugging Trees,\u201d located 10 kilometers north of Levi, is a protected forest where fans of foliage around the world can adopt a tree. In-person visitors are welcomed by a family, and are offered a nap in their cocooning hammocks (a Finnish childhood staple), a fireside coffee made by the on-site \u201cCampfire Barista,\u201d and of course, plenty of chances to hug a tree or ten. Stressed out? There\u2019s a special tree where written worries are taken and burned\u2014making Halipuu a one-stop shop for all your good vibes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Sleep in an igloo<\/strong><\/h2>\n![\"Aurora](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Screen-Shot-2019-12-06-at-1.40.59-PM.png\")
Aurora Village | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n
With all due respect to Santa, the real star of Lapland is the Northern Lights, which are tear-inducingly beautiful, as well as incredibly finicky. Your best bet for catching them is to stay several nights, and your best bet for all-hours viewing is a glass igloo. The huts at Aurora Village<\/a> are heated, and contain real walls, so you won\u2019t have to worry about performing a Scandinavian-striptease. During the short winter days, you can also busy yourself with a slate of other outdoor activities, including snowshoeing, sleigh rides, and sauna. Finish your Finnish experience by jumping into their ice cut wading pool. Don\u2019t worry\u2014shrieking in shock is the same in every language.<\/p>\n
Elf Village | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n
It\u2019s well known that Santa\u2019s real home is in Rovaniemi, Lapland. So, if you want to hand-deliver your wish list, be sure to start there. But it\u2019s also\u00a0<\/em>well known that while the big-guy gets all the credit, it\u2019s really the elves that do all the work. Wanna see where they stay while Santa plays? Pay a visit to Elves Village<\/a>, located 8 kilometers outside of Levi. There, it\u2019s Christmas all-year around, and the elves will lead you on a series of seasonal activities, including decorating and cookie baking. Everything from caroling to storytelling is taken incredibly seriously here (read: the elves never break character), so feel free to ask them all your burning Christmas questions.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n People in Finland sauna like it\u2019s a sport. With good reason, not is it the only Finnish word to make it into the English language, it\u2019s one of the most common things in the country period, with an estimated two million saunas servicing five million Finns. It\u2019s traditional to go in (gender segregated) saunas in nothing but the skin the good lord gave you\u2014so if you\u2019re not quite ready to show the Nordics your full Monty, consider an evening at Levi Foxfires<\/a>, a traditional Finnish spa available for private rental. Soak in a barrel turned hot tub, steam it out in a sauna and beat yourself with birch branches. (More invigorating than weird.) If you don\u2019t catch the northern lights (they\u2019re finicky!) comfort yourself with a round of fireside snacks and mulled wine.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Sled dogs | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n You may think you love your job, life and friends\u2014but you have not seen true passion until you\u2019ve experienced a sled dog doing what it was born to do. These lean Tamaskans (which look like a cross between a husky and wolf) run like the wind, and wag their tails like they\u2019re expecting a treat. (Don\u2019t worry, they\u2019re taken care of like heroes.) Visit your newfound buddies at the Levi Husky Park<\/a>, where in addition to the ride of a lifetime, you can also get a kiss from a reindeer, and meet the elusive Arctic fox.<\/p>\n \u00a0ALSO:<\/strong> Warm up to travel perks with Orbitz Rewards\u2014it’s free to join!<\/a><\/p>\n Lapland reindeer | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n A word on reindeer in Lapland\u2014there\u2019s a lot of them. (Why do you think Santa chose them to pull his sleigh?) They\u2019re all owned, and roam free\u2014so there\u2019s rarely a roadside forest where you won\u2019t see them hanging out. (Fun fact: It\u2019s rude to ask a rancher how many reindeer they have. The cagey answer you\u2019ll get is, \u201cMy herd is on both sides of the forest.\u201d)\u00a0 But while reindeer are plentiful, they\u2019re also fairly shy. Which means if you want to get that Instagram opp, you\u2019ll need professional help. At the Aurora Village<\/a>, a trained reindeer wrangler will assist you with a basket full of lichen and a lot of patience. \u2018Cause when it comes to meeting Rudolph, pics or it didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So many berries | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n A note on Lapland\u2019s food: it\u2019s very berry heavy. The lingonberry, a tiny red tart berry that\u2019s sweeter than the average cranberry, is hearty enough to sustain some of the region\u2019s coldest temperatures. Which means from soup to dessert, you\u2019re likely to find this low sugar, high-in-vitamins super fruit everywhere. Other local staples you\u2019re likely to encounter include barley flatbread, almond-infused potatoes, fish and reindeer (which reportedly is lean and tangy). Eat up\u2014that super-heavy snowsuit you\u2019re wearing won\u2019t lug itself around.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Hugging Forest<\/p><\/div>\n Need a moment of zen? Try hugging a tree. The Halipuu<\/a>, or \u201cHugging Trees,\u201d located 10 kilometers north of Levi, is a protected forest where fans of foliage around the world can adopt a tree. In-person visitors are welcomed by a family, and are offered a nap in their cocooning hammocks (a Finnish childhood staple), a fireside coffee made by the on-site \u201cCampfire Barista,\u201d and of course, plenty of chances to hug a tree or ten. Stressed out? There\u2019s a special tree where written worries are taken and burned\u2014making Halipuu a one-stop shop for all your good vibes.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Aurora Village | Photo: Laura Studarus<\/p><\/div>\n With all due respect to Santa, the real star of Lapland is the Northern Lights, which are tear-inducingly beautiful, as well as incredibly finicky. Your best bet for catching them is to stay several nights, and your best bet for all-hours viewing is a glass igloo. The huts at Aurora Village<\/a> are heated, and contain real walls, so you won\u2019t have to worry about performing a Scandinavian-striptease. During the short winter days, you can also busy yourself with a slate of other outdoor activities, including snowshoeing, sleigh rides, and sauna. Finish your Finnish experience by jumping into their ice cut wading pool. Don\u2019t worry\u2014shrieking in shock is the same in every language.<\/p>\nEscape the cold in a sauna <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Go dog sledding<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Get to know reindeer<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Eat a lifetime\u2019s supply of vitamin C<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Hug a tree<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Sleep in an igloo<\/strong><\/h2>\n
![\"Orbitz,](\"https:\/\/www.orbitz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/OrbitzApp.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"