Norway is getting a lot of attention in current events as its soccer team has been doing great at the World Cup so far, and its fans have been showing their enormous pride everywhere they go. The “Row Chant” and the shouts of “NORGE!” have been ringing out across the country, from Times Square to Texas.
My family is 100% Norwegian (really more, as our Mom is 3% Sami!) and we are finding ourselves getting into “football” for the first time ever, really. It’s so fun!
Fly Over Norway – what a great ride!
It has been HOT in Minnesota this week, and we don’t have AC at our house at the moment. I’ve been looking for things to do to keep my Mom cool, and the other day a friend (Shout out Leah!) texted me that there is a ride in the Nickelodeon Universe park at the Mall of America called Fly Over Norway! What?! My little Mom’s biggest wish is to return to Norway again – and we’re working hard to make this happen – but a little fly over tour would certainly be welcome in the meantime.
The great thing about Fly Over Norway is it’s not just visuals. When you fly off the mountain and swoop down to the water, you feel the wind and the cool mist. When you fly over a team of sled dogs in the north, you hear them barking and running. When you fly over the Oslo harbor, you hear kids jumping off walls into the water. It is awesome.
I tried to capture a picture of my Mom flying over Norway with a big smile and tears in her eyes, but you’re not allowed any photography, and I got busted immediately. I tried.
It should be a longer ride, it finished too soon.
The only thing we would change about it is to be longer. It’s not cheap ($21.95 if you buy ahead online) for like ten minutes, but we all agreed when we emerged that it had been worth it. With all the Norwegian Americans that live in Minnesota, this was a smart move. With all the World Cup attention on our Motherland, this is a great experience for anyone that appreciates the breathtaking beauty of our beloved Norway.
It’s super wrong that I’ve still never been in real life, but we’re looking for sponsors (anyone know anyone at Hurtigruten?) for me to take my Mom again – the stories I will tell! This lovely ride only made us more eager to go. And you should definitely go to Fly Over Norway if you too love the land of the Vikings. Enjoy!


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