Jessica

When not writing about Northern European tourist attractions, Jessica Bowe is busy daydreaming about her next trip or scouring Instagram for travel inspiration. Originally from Wisconsin (USA), she's lived in Iceland since 2008 and has since become fully immersed in Eurovision mania and Scandinavian coffee culture.

Find Jessica on LinkedIn.

Posts by Jessica

8 Volcanic Experiences to Have in Iceland

Iceland is perhaps best known for its “Land of Fire and Ice” nickname, earned from its long history of eruptions at volcanoes with tongue-twisting names. Eyjafjallajökull, anyone?..

Blogs, Activity, Iceland, Things to Do

A few fun facts about Swedish Lapland

Even for experienced Scandinavian travellers, there's always something new and fascinating to discover about Swedish Lapland. Therese and Mikael, Nordic Visitor travel consultants based in Swe..

Blogs, Lapland, A little something about

8 Must-See Geothermal Attractions in Iceland

Iceland may not have a reputation for being a warm destination, but there's no shortage of sizzling attractions for you to visit. As a volcanic island situated on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, Icela..

Blogs, Nordic, Iceland, In Focus, Things to Do

8 Ways to Experience Glaciers in Iceland

You're coming to Iceland to see some ice, right? It should be easy enough as roughly 11% of the country's landmass is covered by glaciers. This will give you plenty of opportunities to..

Blogs, Iceland, Guides, Things to Do

Driving Iceland's Ring Road: All You Need to Know

Synonymous with road trip vibes, the Ring Road, Iceland is a must-do drive for those looking for spectacular scenery. The Ring Road is in fact the nickname of Route 1, Iceland’s main motorway...

Blogs, Iceland, In Focus, Road Trips, Guides, Things to Do

In Focus: Iceland's Golden Circle

The Golden Circle is without a doubt one of Iceland's top experiences. More than just one attraction, it’s a popular route that encompasses several top sights. Here you’ll come acros..

Blogs, Iceland, In Focus, Road Trips

Norway in Focus: The UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord

Often described as majestic, the Norwegian fjords have no shortage of boastworthy features. One fjord in particular, the Sognefjord, has a lot to brag about. Stretching 205 kilometres inland from..

Blogs, Scandinavia, Norway, In Focus

10 Things to Do in Norway in Winter

In Norway there's a saying that people are born with skis on their feet. While perhaps not all Norwegians are Olympic-level skiers, winter activities are an important part of the cultu..

Blogs, Activity, Scandinavia, Norway, Svalbard, Guides, Things to Do

A Little Something about the Northern Lights

The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, are one of the biggest reasons travellers flock to northern Scandinavia in winter. Like shape-shifting apparitions dancing across the stars, this..

Blogs, Iceland, Northern Lights, Scandinavia, Lapland, Sweden, Norway, A little something about, Finland

Want Great Views in Bergen? Head to Mount Fløyen

As a city surrounded by seven mountains, with the nickname “Gateway to the Fjords,” you would expect some stunning viewpoints in Bergen, right? Well, we’re glad to tell you that&nb..

Blogs, Norway, In Brief

A little something about Tallinn

If you’re planning to visit Helsinki, Finland’s capital city, you’d be remiss to not make a side trip to Tallinn, Estonia. Located just 70 km (43 miles) south of Helsinki across..

Blogs, Scandinavia, A little something about

Why Scandinavia is Perfect for Solo Travel

Plenty of solo travellers have already discovered that Scandinavia is the place to be. In fact, Norway, Sweden and Finland all made the top 20 in Travel + Leisure magazine's list of best countri..

Blogs, Scandinavia, In Focus

7 Reasons to Visit Lapland in Winter

Imagine frost-covered trees, festive lighting, and outdoor fun in the snow followed by cuddling with a warm beverage. It doesn't get much closer to a winter wonderland than Lapland! Lapla..

Blogs, Activity, Northern Lights, Scandinavia, Lapland, Sweden, Our Favourite, Finland, Guides, Things to Do

Who is the 'Dancing Waterfall Woman' of Norway's Flåm Railway?

The Norway in a Nutshell trip is full of fun surprises, especially on the Flåm Railway leg of the journey. The Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana) — part of the Bergen Rai..

Scandinavia, Norway, A little something about

Literary Landscapes of Scotland & Northern England

Many great authors and poets have used Northern England and the Scottish Borders region as their muse. When the landscapes seemed ripped from the pages of a storybook, it's hard not to see why.

In Focus, Scotland

South Iceland: Hidden Pools to Local Hangouts

Lily Donald, Nordic Visitor's Photo of the Month winner for May 2017, shares her favourite discoveries from her South Iceland at Leisure self-drive tour.

Iceland, Contests, Nordic Photo of the Month

Traveller Stories: A Pirate Finds Treasure in Norway

Jay Cole, aka Whisky Pirate, found a bounty of natural wonders and adventure on his Nordic Visitor winter getaway in Arctic Norway...

Northern Lights, Norway

Words of Inspiration: A Letter to Nordic Visitor

Cowboy, author and Nordic Visitor traveller Carew Papritz on his passion for travel and living life to the fullest.

Miscellaneous, Norway, Reviews & Travel Stories, Scotland

Traveller Stories: Snow Dogs in Finland

A lot of Nordic Visitor travellers find inspiration in films. In Iceland, you can explore Game of Thrones filming locations. In Scotland, you can immerse yourself in the magic of Harry Pot..

General, Northern Lights, Lapland, Finland

Christmas Traditions in the Nordics

Do you love Christmas as much as they do in the Nordics? That is: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland. This is the homeland of Santa Claus, where there's plenty of glögg ("m..

Nordic, Iceland, Scandinavia, Lapland, Sweden, Norway, A little something about, Finland, Denmark

Photo of the Month: Autumnal Iceland

"When is the best time to visit Iceland?" If only there was an easy answer for that. Although Iceland's chilly name may put some people off the idea of visiting outside o..

Iceland, Nordic Photo of the Month

Photo of the Month: Iceland Rocks!

When Mike Murat and his family visited Iceland in June, they left no stone unturned on their 8-day journey. Travelling on Nordic Visitor's South and West in Detail self-dri..

General, Iceland, Nordic Photo of the Month

In Brief: Iceland’s Volcanic Westman Islands

Known as “The Land of Fire & Ice”, Iceland is a veritable playground for geology enthusiasts. One area in particular truly puts the “fire” in the nickname:..

Iceland, In Brief

Photo of the Month: Scotland's Colourful Skye

Double rainbows are considered auspicious in many cultures, and it seems that luck was on Ray Korsch's side in Scotland. Ray and his family travelled on a custom-made version of Nord..

Contests, Nordic Photo of the Month, Scotland, Traveller Stories

First Hurtigruten Cruise? Tips for your Maiden Voyage

Whether it's your first time ever on a cruise, or just your first experience with the Hurtigruten coastal voyage, we're here with some tips to make sure it's all smooth sailing. Lonely..

Scandinavia, Norway, In Focus

Photo of the Month: Norway on a Whim

"...On the scenic fjord cruise from Gudvangen to Flam on the ferry through Naeroyfjord. What lovely views — majestic mountains with small villages nestled at the base." This was wr..

General, Scandinavia, Norway, Reviews & Travel Stories, Nordic Photo of the Month

Photo of the Month: Iceland's Chilling Beauty

We're not quite ready to part with winter yet. Or perhaps Iceland is such a nice place to hang out, winter has a hard time leaving us. While we already celebrated our Sumardagurinn F..

General, Iceland, Northern Lights, Contests, Reviews & Travel Stories, Nordic Photo of the Month

So you want to go to Svalbard?

This is not your typical winter destination, that's for sure. While others may jet off to winter-sunny Thailand or Tenerife in mid-February, one brave Nordic Visitor explorer set off to the equa..

Nordic, Our People, Norway, Svalbard, In Focus, We Tried It

Thinking of a Honeymoon in Iceland?

Maybe we should phrase that question in a different way: do you want some amazing photographs to remember your milestone moment? When it comes to picture-perfect moments, it's hard to bea..

Iceland, Contests, Romance

Photo of the Month - Changing Seasons in Iceland

The seasons are changing here in the Nordics and that also mean it's time for a new Nordic Photo of the Month! This past month, Iceland -- like most of the Nordic region -- has se..

General, Iceland, Contests

My Iceland: The Other Flatey

Which one? We get that a lot in Iceland. In a small country with strict traditional naming laws it's not uncommon to encounter many people sharing the same names. For example, within the ran..

General, Iceland, My Destination

Photo of the Month: Chasing Waterfalls

Autumn brings a chill to the air in Iceland, but that only means you’ll want to sit a little closer to your favourite travel mate at stunning viewpoints, like the Kolu..

General, Iceland, Contests

In Focus: Lapland’s Reindeer Culture

In this instalment of In Focus, let’s get to know more about Santa’s sleigh-pullers and Lapland’s best known creatures. The reindeer. Not just cute animals Reindeer a..

Lapland, Sweden, In Focus, Finland

Aurora Surprise: Traveller Stories

Like almost everything about nature in the Nordics, the northern lights are unpredictable. In September of 2015, one of our travellers snapped some northern lights photos before the season had..

Iceland, Northern Lights, Contests, Traveller Stories

We Tried It: Arctic Swimming in Lapland

Wintertime in the Arctic. Perfect time and place for a swim! At least two adventurous souls thought so: Cicci and Sofia, travel consultants at the Nordic Visitor-Sweden office in Stockho..

General, Lapland, Finland, We Tried It, Things to Do

My Norway: Fjords, Goats & Bikes

"Slow travel" has been the buzzword these days in Norway, with landscapes so striking that no one in their right mind would want to hurry through this country. B..

General, Scandinavia, Norway, My Destination

Photo of the Month: Timing it Right in Iceland

The theme for August at Nordic Visitor was Iceland, and our new Nordic Photo of the Month winner Bob Trinnes was certainly in the right place at the right time. That's what impressed..

General, Iceland, Contests

My East Fjords: Iceland's Hidden Side

Eastern Iceland is something of an enigma. Here in this quiet region—home to only about 3% of Iceland's population—is the country's largest forest, a town with French street..

Iceland, My Destination

Alice & Bob's Iceland Grand Tour: Part 3 - Closing the Loop

The following post is part of our “My Destination” series, in which staff or clients of Nordic Visitor tell us about their favourite highlights from our Nordic destination..

General, Iceland, My Destination, Reviews & Travel Stories

Alice & Bob's Iceland Grand Tour: Part 2 - East to West

The following post is part of our “My Destination” series, in which staff or clients of Nordic Visitor tell us about their favourite highlights from our Nordic destination..

General, Iceland, My Destination, Reviews & Travel Stories

Alice & Bob's Iceland Grand Tour: Part 1 - Reykjavik to Höfn

The following post is part of our “My Destination” series, in which staff or clients of Nordic Visitor tell us about their favourite highlights from our Nordic destination..

General, Iceland, My Destination, Reviews & Travel Stories

My Reykjavík: A Photographer's Dream

The following post is part of our “My Destination” series, in which we ask our staff to tell us about their favourite highlights from our Nordic destinations. You don't have to tr..

General, Iceland, Our People, My Destination

Shark meat & summer snow: an Iceland tale

Linda Chandler spent two weeks in Iceland and found herself in a completely different world from hot, sunny Florida. Travelling on a guided small group tour, she said Iceland was “..

General, Iceland, Reviews & Travel Stories

Photo of the Month: Chillin’ at Jökulsárlón

Iceland gets its name for a good reason, and it also happens to be one of the best places to chill out. Faced with stunning scenery like the Jökulsárlón glacie..

General, Iceland, Contests

Akureyri: Lonely Planet’s 2015 Best Place in Europe

It’s no secret: we love Iceland. In fact, a lot of people love it: this country has topped many a “best in travel” list over the past 5 years. Yet there’s one place in I..

General, Nordic, Iceland, In Focus

Photo of the Month: Best Seat in Iceland

In Iceland, a country where many natural attractions aren't roped or fenced off, you are free to stand (with caution, of course) right next to the edge of a roaring waterfall..

General, Iceland, Contests

My Iceland: Into the Glacier

Since opening in 2015, the Into the Glacier ice tunnel experience in Iceland has received quite a bit of attention in the press. Being the travel trendsetters that we are, many of the staff at..

Iceland, Our People, My Destination

10 Cool Swedish Facts: What Is Sweden Known For?

You may be wondering what is Sweden known for? There are countless amazing cultural highlights as well as hidden gems to mention. But how can we possibly fit all of the coolness of Sweden in only a..

Scandinavia, Sweden, Our Favourite, In Focus

Nordic Eats: What's the Deal with Licorice?

Browse the candy aisle at a Nordic supermarket or convenience shop and you'll see this salty-sweet confection dominating the shelves. What's up with the Nordic licorice obsess..

General, Miscellaneous, Nordic, Iceland, Scandinavia, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark

In Focus: Eat Like a King in Arctic Norway

Today we join a Nordic Visitor team of Norway travel experts as they harvest red king crab in Arctic Norway and feast on the spoils of their efforts. In the far north-east of Norway&nbs..

Norway, In Focus, Food

Swedish Cool: Christy's Icehotel Adventure

Sweden is already a cool place. How to make it even cooler? An overnight at the ICEHOTEL, of course. Meet Nordic Visitor traveller Christy Toy from the "Windy City", bette..

Scandinavia, Lapland, Sweden, Reviews & Travel Stories

Northern Lights in Norway: Always a Winning Memory

Another incredible northern lights photo from our travellers! Our Nordic Photo of the Month winners for December 2014, Janice and Sitthivet Santikarn, were certainly in the rig..

General, Northern Lights, Contests, Scandinavia, Norway

Glowing Ice - November 2014 Photo Winner

Congrats to our new Nordic Photo of the Month winners Julien Vivenot and Coline Lemang! Everything about their photo says WOW. Julien and Coline travelled on our Iceland Full Circle self..

General, Iceland, Northern Lights, Contests

It’s Never Too Late to Meet Santa Claus

Hidden away in the snowy wilderness of Finnish Lapland, Santa Claus is busy preparing for Christmas in his workshop. But he’s never too busy to greet visitors! Earlier this year, two of our..

Our People, Lapland

Iceland Ring Road Adventure: The Story

1,332 kilometres, 5 days, 4 people, 1 video... Iceland Ring Road Adventure from Nordic Visitor on Vimeo. Doesn't that look like fun? In reality, our little adventure on the Rin..

General, Iceland, My Destination, Road Trips

Oh Baby! October 2014 Photo Winner

Brooke Simpson, daughter of Kyla, enjoys a little swim in the Hofsós pool. There are many outdoor pools like this in Iceland with incredible views. Congrats to our new Nordic Photo of..

General, Iceland, Contests

Iceland Ring Road Adventure: Day 5 - Home!

Day 5: home sweet home. We wrapped up our 1,332+ km Ring Road journey today by closing the circle back in Reykjavik. What an epic trip! First we got to enjoy the morning in the town of A..

General, Iceland, My Destination, Road Trips

Iceland Ring Road Adventure: Day 4 - Snow!

Day 4: This is an excellent opportunity to talk about Icelandic weather. Driving from Egilsstaðir to Akureyri today, we hit a few patches of rain, sleet and snow. Then moments of par..

General, Iceland, My Destination, Road Trips

Iceland Ring Road Adventure: Day 3 - Fjords!

Day 3: we drove from Höfn to Egilsstaðir in East Iceland, with a stop in Djúpivogur and an additional detour off the Ring Road around some of the fjords to Fáskruðsfjö..

General, Iceland, My Destination, Road Trips

Iceland Ring Road Adventure: Day 2 - Ice!

Ice ice baby! Day 2 of our Ring Road adventure was all about exploring the ice of Iceland. Driving from Kirkjubæjarklaustur to Höfn today, our main highlights focused on South Iceland&#..

General, Iceland, My Destination, Road Trips

Iceland Ring Road Adventure: Day 1 - Go!

This week we have four Nordic Visitor explorers out on the road, catching up with our travel friends around Iceland and taking in the beauty of the Icelandic winter. Our journey takes us a..

General, Iceland, My Destination, Road Trips

My Greenland: Hilmar's Arctic Expedition

The following post is part of our "My Destination" series, in which we ask our staff to tell us about their favourite highlights in our Nordic destinations. Today's staf..

Our People, Greenland, My Destination

Our Favourite Museums for a Rainy Day

In the Nordic countries, the weather is known to be fickle. "If you don't like the weather, just wait 5 minutes," the locals are fond of saying. Luckily for you, the visitor, there'..

Iceland, Our People, Scandinavia, Our Favourite

September 2014 Photo of the Month

We have a new Nordic Photo of the Month! Congrats to Daniel and Ercy Hosie from the United States. They travelled on our Iceland Full Circle self-drive tour, which we are discovering is..

General, Iceland, Contests

Photo of the Month - August 2014 Winner

Congratulations to Rania Nikolopoulou from Greece! She is our August 2014 winner of our Nordic Photo of the Month Contest. This is Rania's winning photo with her original captio..

General, Contests, Scandinavia, Norway

My Iceland: Magical Snæfellsnes Peninsula

Today's guest blogger is Guðrún, one of our wonderful travel experts at Nordic Visitor in Iceland. Below she tells us about her absolute favourite place in Iceland, Snæ..

Iceland, Our People, My Destination

My Sweden: Stockholm from Above

Stockholm is a beautiful city. It's also the largest of the Scandinavian capitals. So how do you get the big picture during a short stay? Why, by air, of course! Today's staff blogger Irja..

Our People, Sweden, My Destination

Photo of the Month - July 2014 Winner

Congratulations to Sergio Guillen Andreu and Albert Solé Fernandez from Andorra! They are our July 2014 winners of our Nordic Photo of the Month Contest. Sergio and Albert travell..

General, Iceland, Contests

Photo of the Month – June 2014 Winner

Congrats to Ivan Glaser, our June 2014 winner of our Nordic Photo of the Month Contest! Ivan and his daughter travelled from Australia on our Norway Road Trip – Classic self-drive tour,..

General, Contests, Scandinavia, Norway

My Greenland: Alexandra's Adventures in Ilulissat

The following post is part of our "My Destination" series, in which we ask our staff to tell us about their favourite highlights in our Nordic destinations. Today's staf..

Blogs

My Helsinki: a Design Paradise

Finnish design, much like Finland itself, is highly underrated. Here to tell us more is Jessica from our Marketing team, who fell in love with the nation's creative flair on a weekend..

Scandinavia, My Destination, Finland

Photo of the Month - May 2014 Winner

Congratulations to Vincent Schenk, the May 2014 winner of our Nordic Photo of the Month Contest! Vincent traveled on our South Iceland at Leisure – Winter tour, and as you can see, the road t..

General, Iceland, Contests

My Iceland: Hafdís and Her Ring Road Faves

Today's guest blogger, Hafdís, is a veteran travel consultant at our Iceland office and an all-around fun person to have along for a drive around the country. Below she tells us about her..

Iceland, Our People, My Destination, Road Trips

Deluxe 4x4 Jeep Adventures in Iceland

Want to explore beyond the beaten path in Iceland? You'll need a good set of wheels... F-roads are off limits to regular cars, so you need a tough jeep to get into the highl..

General, Iceland

Nordic Visitor Receives Education Award in Iceland

We are very proud to announce that Nordic Visitor has earned the 2014 Education Award (Menntasproti ársins) from the Confederation of Icelandic Employers, SA (Samtök atvinnul&i..

General, Iceland, Our People

The Best in Nordic Travel for 2014

It’s that time again for New Year’s resolutions and annual “best destinations” lists by the world’s leading travel publications. Need some inspiration for your 2014 buc..

General, Miscellaneous, Iceland, Scandinavia, Lapland, Sweden

The Nordic Countries in a Nutshell: a Travel Story

In the words of William and Blair, who travelled on our Nordic Countries in a Nutshell tour, you won't run out of things to see or do in Scandinavia. There’s way more to do than yo..

General, Iceland, Scandinavia, Reviews & Travel Stories

Northern Lights Spectacle

They swirl. They dance. They ripple. They pulsate. Sometimes they look like curtains, other times like long, ghostly trails in the sky. Mostly they're green, but on rare occassions they can be t..

Northern Lights, In Brief

Reykjavik from Above

Want to take your travel experience up a few notches? Maybe several hundred feet? An aerial sightseeing tour is a great way to get "the big picture" when you're visiting a city for t..

General, Iceland

How to Eat Like a Local in Lapland

Nordic cuisine is all the rage right now. But if you consider yourself a bona fide foodie, you'll go beyond the exclusive reservations at trendy Scandinavian restaurants and get your gourmet ing..

General, Our People, Lapland, Sweden

Aurora Borealis: A Bright Outlook for Winter

Sure, the days are long and dark in the Nordics during winter, but it's not all bad. Not to brag, but up here in the far north we've got the best coffee and ice cream (a winning combina..

Iceland, Northern Lights, Scandinavia, Lapland, In Brief