72 hours in Olso
When traveling with a toddler the first thing you might try to avoid is taking a city vacation. However, Oslo proved to be the perfect blend of natural beauty, history, and intrigue for the whole family. Both my husband and I love being close to the water and love to make it a point to learn a little bit about the history of the places we visit. My son, Jasper, is currently obsessed with boats, so spending time down at the harbor, the Fram museum and the Viking museum were definite high points for him. 72 hours might not seem like a ton of time to explore a new city, but with the Olso Pass we were quickly able to create a game plan for our stay which involved museums, taking as much local transportation as possible, a few boat rides and a ton of walking.
Visiting Oslo in the Spring time we found the city to be bursting with color, but not crowds. By traveling in the shoulder season before the Summer rush we were able to explore most places without too many lines or crowds. The weather was a bit cloudy and drizzly during our entire visit, which combined with the harbor and fresh fish made us feel right at home.
This peel and eat shrimp is just about as fresh as you can get- straight off the boat!
Jasper loved taking the boat over to Bygdoy. Getting there was definitely half the fun!
After flipping through the Olso Pass guide we determined with our limited time we wanted to spend a day taking the ferry to Bydgoy to visit the Viking Ship Museum, The Kon-Tiki Museum, and The Fram Museum. We also wanted to visit the Olso Opera House and walk on the roof, visit the Akershus Castle, Astrup Fearnley Museet and squeeze in the International Museum of Children's Art if we had time. Once we arrived in Bydgoy, I quickly realized what a fantastic respite it was from the city. I could have easily wandered through every street admiring each and every delightful home. Instead we spent the better part of a day learning about the bravery each explorer must have had to leave the comforts of their home and make their mark on the world. It really made me think about whether I have the heart of a true explorer.
The homes on Bydgoy were perfection, I was absolutely smitten with each and every one of them.
Jasper taking in the enormity of the Viking ship. We learned so much while we were there, but it was a small enough museum Jasper was able to explore and not get into too much trouble. The museum did a fantastic job presenting a simple, yet worthwhile experience for us all.
Although I did not take any photos inside both the Fram museum and the Kon-Tiki museum were interactive and informative. Especially since we were traveling with a child, the Olso Pass just made our life easier. We never had to fumble with money or wait in lines, we were able to scan our passes on buses, trams, museums and then just go enjoy the experience.
I love to travel for the different perspective it brings. On our boat ride back from Bydgoy I asked the captain to snap a photo of our family. He kindly obliged and then proceeded to tell us that was the second photo he had taken in the past ten years. He does not own a camera or have a smart phone. In this photo frenzied world of selfies that we live in, it is hard to imagine not capturing and sharing at least a portion of our experiences with others. However, I can appreciate and admire the discipline and contentment which comes from truly being in the moment rather than trying to capture it.
The grounds of Akershus Castle provided hours of entertainment for Jasper. He loved the cobblestone paths, the duck pond, all the flowers and each every stick he found. I love how I felt transported to another time and place. Around every corner there was a picture perfect sight to behold.
Oslo has so many green spaces, it is easy to find the perfect place for a picnic, to rest your feet or for a moment to decompress. There are fountains and flowers beckoning you at almost every corner.
We loved exploring the Aker Brygge wharf and envisioning just how bustling it must be on a sunny day. The outdoor restaurants and open areas reminded us of some of our favorite neighborhoods in Seattle. One evening, with the rain pattering down on the sidewalk, we enjoyed a cozy candlelight dinner at Olivia. We might have been wrapped in fleece blankets, but we were perfectly comfortable under large umbrellas and sitting on our sheepskin covered chairs.
With the Olso Pass we were able to have free entry into more than thirty museums, free public transportation, free parking in municipal parking lots (had we driven), free entry to swimming pools (had it been a little warmer) and a variety of discounts at restaurants, shops and other venues. 72 hours is just enough time to get a taste of Oslo, but not hardly enough time to explore this beautiful city. Before our time was up we already started imagining what it would be like to visit in the Summer. I think another trip just might be in the works.
This post was sponsored by Visit Oslo. All opinions stated here are my own and I was under no obligation to write anything other than my personal experience. I will never write about anything I did not enjoy or find to be a valuable experience.
