Time yet again to dole out mad props (or is it prøps) to another superb city in Scandinavia. Bergen, the exquisite European Capital of Culture in 2000 (one of nine that year) and venerable “Second City” of Norway, suffers, like many other Nordic destinations, from a lack of mainstream attention. This is my humble opinion. To be blunt, most of my friends and family want to go to Spain, France, Australia and the Caribbean. I hear very few concrete plans made in favor of Sweden, Finland and Norway for example.

Oh I know. When given the opportunity, everyone lauds Nordic Europe’s gorgeous scenery, progressive spirit, civic pride and culture. But do they take it a step beyond and head to this pre-eminent part of the continent, outside of perhaps Copenhagen and Stockholm? The simple fact is that Spain alone, with some 60 million international arrivals every year, lures way more tourists than Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Iceland put together. Is climate a factor? Of course. But Scandinavia can do better. Right now, the majority of tourists to the region either come from nations within Scandinavia or from nearby Germany.

So here’s to Bergen. Gateway to the fjords and a spectacular city with these ten must-see attractions.

10. Grieg Hall

Edvard Grieg is the most famous person to ever come out of Bergen (sincere apology to ornithologist Leonhard Hess Stejneger). The composer/musician and genius behind In the Hall of the Mountain King was at the helm of the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra from 1880 to 1882. The orchestra’s superb home is Grieg Hall.

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9. Bergen Kunstmuseum

The Bergen Art Museum is simply one of the best fine arts museums in Nordic Europe. The permanent collection includes some great works by landscape master Johan Christian Claussen Dahl and Edvard Munch.

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8. Fløibanen

Bergen’s famous funicular, the Fløibanen, is by far the most popular attraction in Norway. More than one million people take the 8 minute ride up Fløyen mountain every year. The subsequent views of the city are remarkable and the summit is the perfect place for a winter or summer afternoon stroll.

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7. Brann Stadion

Since 1919, Brann Stadion has been home to SK Brann, Bergen’s top football club. Ardent supporters are known as Bataljonen (The Battalion) and fill the 17,824 seat stadium to capacity for each Norwegian Premier League home contest. The opportunity to catch a game here is a real, authentic Bergen experience.

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6. Troldhaugen

Troldhaugen is the beautiful former home of composer Edvard Grieg. Built by his cousin, the eminent architect Schak Bull, the house and sanctuary is now a superlative museum.

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5. Bergenhus Fortress

With portions that date back to the early 13th century, Bergenhus Fortress is one of the most vital medieval landmarks in all of Norway. The immense complex is accessible via Bergen harbor.

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4. Strandgaten

This busy central commercial thoroughfare is home to some of Bergen’s best architectural landmarks, shops, hotels and restaurants.

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3. Gamlehaugen

Gamlehaugen is a noble Scottish Baronial style estate built at the turn of the last century. Since 1927, the beautiful mansion has been the official residence of the Norwegian royal family in Bergen.

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2. Torgallmenningen

Bergen’s principal square is a handsome, open pedestrian area with wonderful views of the contiguous countryside. A superb civic nerve center in the terrific city.

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1. Bryggen

One of the foremost UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Norway, Bryggen is a network of incredible Hanseatic wharf landmarks that date back as far back as the 15th century. Many important archaeological finds from the area are now on in display in the Bryggens Museum nearby, while the area itself is full of attractive pubs, shops and restaurants.

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Discover some of the best rates on hotels in Bergen.

The largest city in Turkey and one of the most fascinating cities in the world, Istanbul is a unique tourist destination located in the very place where East meats West. Featuring a plethora of attractions, from historical monuments, to the famous Grand Bazaar, Istanbul has a little bit of…

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Active and official royal residences constitute some of the most exquisite points of interest in Europe. Here are five in particular that stand out as exceptional monarchical homes and architectural marvels.

Stockholm Palace, Sweden
Home of: King Carl XVI Gustaf
The Baroque home of the Swedish…

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“We are so happy to finally be in Las Vegas!!!”

Heeey heeey….what happens in vegas stays in vegas ok….come on now. EXCEPT FOR BED JUMPING THAT IS!!

If you were to buy an around-the-world ticket and festival-hop from one continent to the next, these seven spectacular and iconic events would have to rank highly on your list. From England to Japan, Spain to the United States of America, check out our favourite summer festivals.
Glastonbury…

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For some people in North America, years out of middle school, Labor Day (Labour Day in Canada) still brings with it a sort of queasy back-to-school anxiety. Call it anti-nostalgia. Yes, a few of us definitely have a love-hate relationship with summer’s swansong.

Sure, for countless parents everywhere Labor Day signals a thankful final end to summer vacation. With the back to school bell, mom and dad no longer have to stress over day camps, summer camps, swim lessons, soccer tournaments, road trips or how to occupy their little terrors every hour of the day throughout the lazy, hazy days of July and August.

But for those of us not quite as cynical (or bitter), Labor Day is the last long weekend of summer. For millions who live in four seasons climes, the first weekend of September is the dawn of autumn and winter – no matter how deep into October the hot weather lingers. Labor Day weekend is often our last opportunity to fire up the grill, host a backyard pool party or throw a neighborhood block party (people still have those right?). Once September is in full swing after all, the vibe is just … different. The exuberant optimism we all felt way back in late June and early July is pouf! gone. Yes indeed, Labor Day is the annual symbolic return to “Real Life”. A return to “labor” as it were, from the college campus to the corporate boardroom.

Thankfully, Labor Day also ushers in some of the best annual events of the year, from college football games to cultural festivals. Check out our faves for 2010.

Labour Day Classic

The Canadian Football League is often misunderstood outside of Canada, most notably in the United States of America, where the National Football League and college gridiron game reign supreme (and with slightly different rules too). So while the NFL is incredibly popular north of the 49th parallel, for a genuine display of Canuck pride, you have to take in a CFL game.

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The Labour Day Classic is a set of traditional fixtures between geographic rivals that date as far back as 1946. The Classic involves the Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Eskimos in the Battle of Alberta, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats versus the Toronto Argonauts, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers against the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Montréal Alouettes versus a franchise from Ottawa (now defunct) or B.C. Lions.

NCAA College Football

Labor Day weekend in the U.S. means NCAA Division I-A Football. You think the NFL is popular? Try a live NCAA football game on for size, especially in hotbeds like Ann Arbor, Michigan, Lincoln, Nebraska and Knoxville, Tennessee. With crowds in excess of 100,000, top-notch college football provides a nonpareil atmosphere. Labor Day 2010 offers a bevy of spectacular, classic match-ups: Arkansas State at Auburn, Kentucky at Louisville, Colorado versus Colorado State, LSU versus North Carolina and Boise State versus Virginia Tech.

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Jazz Aspen Snowmass

The 20th anniversary of the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day weekend festival is going to be off the hook. The annual open-air event in the gorgeous Aspen Snowmass resort in Colorado draws up to 8,000 music fans a day and a strong line-up artists. This year will feature Wilco, The Black Crowes, Harry Connick, Jr. and more.

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Los Angeles County Fair

The superb L.A. County Fair kicks off on September 4 and runs for a full month. Held since 1922 at the Fairplex in Pomona, or Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, the fair has all the traditional staples, from rides to games, food vendors to entertainment.

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Labor Day Carnival

When it comes to Labor Day celebrations, the annual West Indian Carnival in Crown Heights, Brooklyn is supreme. The Caribbean festival is a massive party and colorful riot of costumes, mas bands, Calypso and Soca music. No other event in New York City tops it – up to three million people take part in the Carnival parade. While the music is infectious and the costumes impressive, we salivate over the curry goat, oxtail, callaloo and jerk chicken vendors that line the parade route.

Check out great hotel deals in New York City.

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Taking your children to any World Expo, let alone the Shanghai Expo, is the opportunity of a lifetime. Not many parents are able to take their children to a World’s Fair unless it happens to be in their own home country and even then, many are unable to travel the distance required.

Those who are…

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