Laughing like children, swinging our legs as we soared above my new favorite city, we watched the sun’s powerful hues settle over the Copenhagen skyline – it was a dream I didn’t know I needed until it came true.
There’s something freeing about experiencing a new place alongside women who are just as ready to explore, indulge, and say yes to something unexpected. For my family this meant embracing the magic at Copenhagen’s Tivoli Gardens, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks.
But that feeling didn’t just happen at Tivoli Gardens with my family – I felt it throughout our time on A Week In… Copenhagen & Oslo, surrounded by an incredible group of women. Each day brought a new adventure – and another opportunity to connect, not only through the places we explored together, but through the stories we shared. Solo travelers, mothers, grandmothers, and best friends came together, and somewhere along the way, it began to feel like we were part of something special.
From spontaneous moments to shared experiences, Scandinavia showed me how travel can bring together women from different walks of life – and how quickly strangers can become part of the story you bring home.
It wasn’t one big moment that defined our time in Scandinavia – it was all the little ones, shared with my family and the women traveling alongside us.
One of the oldest amusement parks in the world, Tivoli Gardens was pure magic – even for four grown adults who wanted nothing to do with rides. Somehow, the energy was enough for my aunt and me to brave our fear of heights on the swings, and even convince my mom, the biggest ride hater, to get on one herself. This was perhaps the biggest win of the trip.
By 11:30 pm, the park was twinkling, my aunts were exhausted, and I had one final mission: soft serve. Not just any soft serve – the best in Tivoli. My mom took this very seriously, recruiting an employee who had us practically sprinting across the closing park before convincing an ice cream stand to serve us two giant cones covered in rainbow sprinkles.
We laughed the entire walk back to our nearby hotel, devouring our ice cream. No pressure to call it a night and no reason to say no to a craving. This was the magic of Tivoli.
After a hot, sweaty, but rewarding morning of palaces, canals, sightseeing, and more steps than we cared to count, we were ready for a pre-dinner nap. That is, until my mom turned a corner and made us follow her.
To my surprise, we found a harbor full of people jumping into the water, sunbathing on the docks, and soaking up the summer heat. Luckily, I had been warned to carry a swimsuit – and I jumped right in before my family could process what I was doing. The water was refreshing, the smiles came easily, and we discovered a side of Copenhagen we never could have experienced inside a museum.
Later that evening, as we shared stories over dinner, a grandmother and granddaughter in our group lit up when they heard about our swim. The very next day, they made their way to the harbor themselves – returning with photos, smiles, and a story of their own. It was a small moment, but one that captured what I loved about traveling with this group: one person’s spontaneous discovery could inspire somene else’s next adventure.
I did plenty of research before this trip – museums to visit, souvenirs to find, and, most importantly, every pastry shop we needed to try. Scandinavia has a long tradition of pastries, and from Swedish cardamom buns to Norway’s custard-filled skolebrød, we happily indulged.
Every bakery had a purpose, but the real joy was convincing our entire group to venture out together, sharing each treat before collectively complaining that our stomachs hurt – only to do it all over again the next day.
Who was going to stop us? Certainly not each other.
Cruising the Oslofjord was exactly what four tired travelers needed. We kicked our legs up, listened to our guide, and watched Oslo slowly give way to gorgeous architecture, quiet harbors and couples soaking up the Norwegian summer.
Between constant gasps, far too many photos, and traditional Norwegian cheese and cider, we got a glimpse into everyday life beyond the busy streets – and happily captured photos of it all.
“I call that house,” my mom said, pointing to a quaint cottage that seemed completely removed from the rest of civilization.
Naturally, we each started picking out homes of our own. It was perfect – we’d have our privacy but still only be a boat ride away from meeting up for dinner. By the end of the cruise, my aunt was joking about canceling our return flights so we could put the plan into action.
We all agreed that would be an excellent idea, and the rest of the group was right behind us.
To be honest, it was both. Scandinavia felt like a dream – jumping into the harbor with locals, hunting down food we found on social media, and acquiring far too much Swedish candy (most of which did not make it home).
But what I remember most is who was beside me. Riding the swings at Tivoli with my aunt, convincing two of the solo travelers to indulge in a very messy Danish hot dog and showing a grandmother and granddaughter the best swimming spot in Copenhagen, always ready to explore, indulge, and try something new.
I arrived in Scandinavia with three of my favorite women. But I came home with shared memories between some of the most inspirational women. We all learned that the people you travel with are just as much a part of the discovery as the places you came to see.
Travel is always good for the soul, but it’s even better in the company of females who just get it.
Traveling with your sisters, mother, best friends, and the important people in your life is always special, but what the women taught me on this journey is that you can do anything on your own.
Don’t miss out on your opportunity to have a Scandinavian summer in 2027 on our exclusive women’s only departure on A Week In… Copenhagen & Oslo. Find laughter, spontaneous adventure, and moments you’ll talk about long after you’re home.
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