Sarah Barrell reveals why Scandinavia and the Nordic countries have all the ingredients for a flawless family holiday.
With crystal-clear lakes, dramatic mountains, and large wild animals to wonder at, along with delicious, simple local food and a homespun hospitality that's both genuine and world-class, Scandinavia (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) and the Nordics (Finland, Iceland, Greenland, the Faroe Islands and Svalbard in addition to the above) should be firm family favourites.
In the Northern Hemisphere summer months, you'll get almost limitless daylight hours for children to roam free, and far more to explore than just the beach and the kids' club. A Nordic family holiday offers ample choice. Denmark has 7000km of coastline, with superlative stretches of blond sand, while islands lining the forest-fringed lakes and shores of Sweden and Finland mean a secret bay is only ever a paddle away. For something completely different, consider the wild fjords of Greenland, the Faroes, Iceland and Norway for a well-organised wilderness experience.
In winter, this polar-crowned region transforms into some of the most adventurous holiday terrain, its Arctic temperatures tempered by the Gulf Stream. From audiences with Father Christmas, aurora-hunting and reindeer feeding in Lapland, to ski resorts that focus on families and include standard extras such as husky sledding, this is Frozen-style fun in spades. And all of it is within easy distance of bone-warming hot tubs, natural hot springs and saunas.
In summer, for a rustic adventure that is safe and meticulously systematised - yet conversely libertarian, wild and outdoorsy - nowhere delivers like the Nordics. Year-round you'll find intelligent museums that celebrate marauding Vikings, Moomins, Tomtens and primary-coloured building bricks.
