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Taking the Kids: Norway, the land of fjords and 'Frozen'

By Eileen Ogintz, Tribune Content Agency on

No, not the Splash Mountain in Walt Disney World or Disneyland, we're actually in Norway touring the gorgeous fjords with Adventures by Disney where one waterfall is bigger and more awesome than the next. In less than an hour on our Fjord Safari, where we ride inflatables, we pass 18 waterfalls, including the Sagfossen waterfall, which is about 1,600 feet high. We pass kayakers as they pause to marvel at the power of the falls and get a different perspective when we hike to the top of Brekkefossen waterfall in the tiny town of Flam (population 500) where school kids have left a book in a mailbox along the trail asking visitors to tell them what they think.

"You're lucky to live in such a fantastic place!" we write.

Naeroyfjord is one of just two fjords in the world that has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage area. It's easy to see why -- the craggy mountain peaks, those thundering waterfalls and the small villages like Undredal (population 65 people and 350 goats). We see a herd of baby goats grazing by the water's edge.

Another day, we eat lunch beside a glacier. We stay at the Hotel Union in Geiranger, owned and operated by the same family for four generations, which overlooks the fjords from practically everywhere, including the spa treatment rooms, the kids' pool and even our room.

I guess I keep thinking "splash mountain" everywhere we go because we're on this new Adventures by Disney itinerary that is designed to showcase not only the beauty and culture of Norway but also the Disney brand and the filmmakers' inspiration for the hit movie "Frozen," the story of the young Norwegian Princess Anna and her sister, Queen Elsa, and how sisterly love saves all.

This year, Norwegian Tourism officials say, there has been more than a 30 percent uptick in tourism here, despite the fact that Norway may well be the most expensive country in Western Europe. (Think $25 pizza and $12 beer. I found Lonely Planet’s Norway book very useful.)

 

The debut of Norwegian Airlines’ nonstop service at bargain prices in their 787 Dreamliners from California, Florida and New York certainly is helping fuel tourism from the United States. But tourism officials here credit the runaway hit "Frozen," (the story inspired by Hans Christian Andersen's tale "The Snow Queen" had been discussed at Disney for decades), for helping to put Norway on family travelers' must-visit list.

I don't think I've been anywhere in recent months without a little girl belting out "Let It Go!" the Oscar-winning song from the movie. It is no surprise that kids are clamoring to see where Queen Anna and Elsa come from. No wonder the new Disney cruises to the Norwegian Fjords are selling briskly, though they won't debut until 2015.

The Adventures by Disney trip begins in Bergen. Its famous multi-colored historic wooden houses and picturesque port (we loved exploring the famous Fish Market where we sampled smoked whale and all varieties of salmon) is reminiscent of the fictional kingdom of Arendelle, home to Queen Elsa and Princess Anna. We wonder which snow-covered mountain is the home of Queen Elsa's ice castle.

You just have to tour one of Norway's famous stave churches as we did at the Borgund Stave Church, which dates back to 1180, with its narrow dark pitched roofs to see where the inspiration for the fictional castle and coronation room came from.

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