By Judy Bereza, guest blogger

“We’re going where?”

“We’re going where?” For a woman who likes to be in control, I had to relinquish all
my instincts to plan every detail when we travel. It was our 50th Anniversary adventure,
and my husband and his friend were in charge of planning this surprise trip to
celebrate our joint anniversaries. They instructed us to pack warm clothes, even
though it was July, because as part of this multi country tour we were flying to
Lapland to stay at a hotel where each room was its own pod anchored high up
in the trees.

After we landed in Lulea, located far into the cold north of Sweden, we were transported
by a van deep into the heart of the Swedish countryside. When we pulled up to the
hotel, we were greeted by a building that certainly didn’t look like the sleek, Swedish design
we had been anticipating. And what about that clothesline with long johns flapping
in the wind. Even more disconcerting was the interior, which looked like it had been magically
transported from the 50s, full of kitschy objects. Our apprehension was immediately
eliminated by the delicious lunch that was waiting for us. At least the food was
exceptional.

Trekking to the Treehouse

Then the trek uphill to the treehouse. After a 5 minute walk, our reward was in sight.
Scattered around the forest were 7 “rooms”, each one individually designed by
Swedish and Finnish architects and supported by the trees. Ours was called “The
Cabin” and was accessed by a ramp that ended 30 feet above the ground at the entrance to a refined Scandinavian designed room with windows all around, overlooking the mountains and a nearby river. It had a bathroom that featured an “eco” toilet, which involved a bag, an incinerator, and a page of instructions. Enough said. The best part? The feeling of being suspended in the tree tops with an incredible view, and feeling the gentle sway of the room with the wind.

Visiting Sami People

The experience didn’t end with the room, of course. The hotel offers field trips to hamlets
of the indigenous Sami people, who have occupied the area for thousands of years. Their nomadic culture was dominated by reindeer herding. Very little remains, but we were
treated to a traditional dinner and the Sami way of singing by a young woman who was
an engineer in Stockholm, but returned to Lapland to help preserve the culture.

The Arctic Circle

The final event was a road tour which included a stop at the Arctic Circle. Because we
were there in July, there was never a period of total darkness, which is an experience on
its own; however, the most popular season for the hotel is the winter, when the Northern
Lights are on display, and can be appreciated from your own room in the sky.

Judy Bereza is a retired interior designer/kitchen expert, constant walker and “Nana” to five adorable grand children. With friends she has hiked in Wales, Cornwall, Switzerland, Smokey Mountain National Park, Ireland and California.