Chasing the Northern Lights: My Unforgettable Trip to Rovaniemi
2 min read
Chasing the Northern Lights: My Unforgettable Trip to Rovaniemi
To be completely honest, Finland wasn’t even originally on my bucket list. It wasn't a place I had dreamed about. But looking back now? It has easily turned into the one destination that has truly stayed with me, carving out a permanent spot in my heart. There's just a different kind of quiet up in the far north. When I visited Rovaniemi, Finland, in October 2024, it was like letting out the breath i didn't know i had been holding. If you've never been to Lapland in the autumn, it's an amazing shoulder season. The heavy winter snows haven't quite taken over yet, leaving you with this crisp, frosty air and a landscape that feels totally untouched.
You can't really talk about Lapland without mentioning the reindeer. Seeing them wander calmly giving sleigh rides offered a little preview of that classic winter wonderland vibe. speaking of the reindeer, my dog Elzie was utterly fascinated by them. Let's just say Elzie desperately wanted to play, while the reindeer looked completely unimpressed by an overly enthusiastic pup trying to make new friends in the Arctic! I even tried traditional reindeer stew for the first time, and it was delicious. Served with creamy mashed potatoes and tart lingonberries, it was rich, hearty, and tasted very similar to beef stew.
One of my favorite moments was heading over to the Santa Claus Village and standing right on the Arctic Circle. Crossing that line feels pretty surreal—you look down at the marker on the ground and realize how far north you've actually traveled. Wandering around Santa Claus Village also brought back a surprising amount of childhood wonder. It's hard not to smile in a place built entirely around holiday cheer. And the snacks paired with hot coffee were a wonderful treat!
Of course, the absolute highlight of the trip happened after the sun went down. Everyone says the Northern Lights are tough to catch, but October blessed me with some serious luck: I saw the Aurora Borealis three different times. The first time, the night sky just came alive. It started as a faint green smudge, but a few minutes later, vibrant ribbons of emerald and artic twilight were literally dancing and weaving right above my head. Standing out there in the freezing air, time just stopped. It's hard to put into words how humbling and breathtaking it is to watch the sky put on a show like that. it was so magnificent, i cried.
My days in Rovaniemi reminded me how good it feels to slow down, look up at the dark sky, and just soak in the world around you. it also reminded me how MIRACULOUS the world really is.
