A couple weeks ago, I set off on a trip to Stockholm, Sweden. In order to fly directly, I flew from Newark International Airport. Getting through security was easy; it wasn’t too crowded. I grabbed my snacks and water and waited by the gate to get some work done before boarding.

The flight to Stockholm was overnight, so I arrived around 8 a.m. Getting through customs at Stockholm’s airport was a mess. It seemed like a bunch of flights arrived at the same time, lines were super long, and of course, I picked the one that wasn’t moving and was one of the last ones through. Luckily, once I made it through, there was a car waiting to take me to Nordic Light Hotel. The drive from the airport to the hotel was about 40 minutes, but it was a pretty drive. We went from the country to the city, so it was interesting to see the different landscapes.

I had some time before my first commitment of the trip, so I relaxed in my hotel room and took a quick nap. After my nap, I got ready for dinner. We were greeted by some hotel executives for delicious appetizers and drinks in the lobby before our tour of the hotel.

After the tour, we sat down for a delicious dinner with a tasting menu of different appetizers, dishes, wine and desserts. The best dish was gardsclarias, a locally farmed fish. It was unlike any fish I’ve had before in texture and taste. I think people who don’t typically eat fish would like this dish.

After dinner, our hosts introduced us to a popular drink in Stockholm, called a Hot Shot, a combination of Galliano Vanilla Liqueur, coffee and whipped cream served in a shot glass. As someone who likes espresso martinis, I was excited to try it; I liked it so much, I made some for my friends when I got home from the trip.

Once we were all full, it was late, so we decided to go back to our rooms for a good night’s sleep for our full day of activities the next day.

Stay tuned for more of my Stockholm adventures over the next couple weeks, and check out our Instagram for day-by-day reels from my trip!

— Mary Melnick, social media and editorial coordinator