Family Travel through Norway’s Arctic Circle

Despite their planning, they hit a snag early in the trip. “We realized one of our daughter’s boots wasn’t waterproof when she refused to walk any further—just sat down in the snow,” Claire says. “But Tromsø’s great for that kind of thing. We rented her a proper pair right in town.”

Their family motto quickly became: “Three layers at all times.” It stuck. “The kids still repeat it like a chant,” Claire laughs.

Challenges they faced

Even before they arrived, the trip delivered an adrenaline rush. During a flight connection in Bergen, the plane was struck by lightning: “There was this loud flash and bang, and my daughter yelled, ‘I saw fireworks on the plane!’” Claire recalls. “The cabin went silent. The crew was incredibly calm, but I remember sitting in the hotel that first night wondering, ‘Why did we sign up for this?’”

Still, the moment passed without issue, and the rest of the trip unfolded smoothly—aside from one weather-related change.

“We had to cancel a day trip to an ice hotel because an avalanche blocked the road,” Claire says. “We were disappointed but also very aware that we’d rather be on this side of the avalanche.”

Claire Lynch

The unexpected highlight

The family’s Northern Lights fjord cruise turned out to be one of the most unforgettable parts of the trip. “There was a hot tub on deck,” Claire says. “So we all got in—pitch dark, Arctic night, in swimsuits—and floated while everyone else sat bundled in coats.”

It was a bold choice, but it paid off. “It felt like this surreal, cinematic moment that the kids will remember forever. We didn’t plan it as a highlight, but that’s what made it special.”

When Claire asked her children what they remembered most, their answers were clear.

“They talked about building a snowman taller than them that other tourists stopped to photograph,” she says. “They loved sledding with other kids, linking their little sleds together into a kind of snow train.”

But the biggest standout? “The reindeer. They still remember their names. That experience really stuck.”

Aside from the snow and the sights, what stood out most to Claire was how easy it felt to travel as a same-sex couple. “There was no awkwardness, no side-eye, no explaining,” she says. “We were just treated like any other family. Sometimes, the absence of friction is the most powerful thing.”

Norway’s general child-friendliness also made a huge impact. “You never feel like you’re inconveniencing people with children. Everything is set up to include them.”

Claire Lynch

What they’d do differently next time

With kids now a bit older, Claire says they’d structure the trip differently: “If we went again, I think we’d stay somewhere outside the city—more rural—where you can walk straight out into the wilderness,” she says. “Then we’d just pop into the city for museums and meals.” They also skipped more serious hiking or longer wilderness excursions due to the kids’ ages, but that might be on the table next time.

Still, Claire says she wouldn’t trade the slow pace for anything. “You’re forced to stop and enjoy the moment when you travel with little kids. You can’t rush past a perfect patch of snow without a snowball fight. And that’s kind of wonderful.”

Advice for parents eyeing an Arctic escape

If you’re wondering whether a trip like this is too much for young kids, Claire’s message is clear: with the right planning, it’s absolutely doable—and more than worth it. For starters, she recommends choosing accommodations that take the pressure off daily logistics. Staying in a hotel with half-board, for example, meant they didn’t have to think about where to eat after a long day in the snow. “Having dinner waiting at the hotel every night made the whole trip more relaxing,” she says. “Especially when everyone’s tired and a bit cold.”