Would you be willing to use a toilet in a Cosi that doesn’t flush after dozens of runners have used it just to make sure you can get to the starting line on time? Thanks to the Newport Half Marathon this year, I now know that I’m willing to make this kind of sacrifice for a good run. And it was totally worth it. Nearing the end of my marathon training schedule, I only decided to run the Newport Liberty Half Marathon after I won a free entry from Yelp.

I’m a fan of Fläm Chances are, you’ve never heard of Fläm, Norway. This small town on a massive Norwegian fjord deserves attention though as the perfect jumping off point for an exploration of the fjords, mountains, and pristine cascading waterfalls of the area. Nature lovers will absolutely love the beauty of the area. But there’s a ton to do in this small town for everyone. Shoppers and craft beer aficionados will find plenty to love about the charming town as well.

I don’t miss the rains down in Bergen According to Wikipedia and other, less legitimate sources like the actual website for the city, Bergen, Norway supposedly has more rainy days than any other city in the world. We certainly didn’t see anything to prove this during our visit to Norway’s second largest city which was experiencing a warm and sunny summer day without a cloud in the sky. Making the most of a sunny day like this is as simple as exploring the city’s sights and experiences, and taking some time to enjoy a locally brewed microbrew under the sun along the harbor.

I was always surprised by the number of BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, and Lexus SUVs other kids at my college drove. For me, I entered school with an ancient Volvo 240, a tank of a car, and I wouldn’t take it back even 15 years later. That car built character, taught me the value of hard work, and was the center of plenty of incredible college memories. I want my children to have the same, so they’ll be starting off with used jalopies too.

Norway’s fjords are beautiful in a serene, otherworldly way. The entire coast of the massive country seems to be littered with incredible scenery with huge snow-capped mountains, even in the middle of summer, reaching up from the water and majestic waterfalls cascading down from them. However, there is beautiful and there is stunning, take-your-breath-away beautiful. Geiranger is very likely the most beautiful example of Norway’s fjords, even recognized above and beyond the others as the most beautiful UNESCO site in the world.

“You’ve got your hands full.” I often hear this cliche spoken to myself or my wife as we make our way around with our twins. Many times, we literally do, carrying a child in each arm. Other times, it’s the twin stroller loaded up with bags and toys to keep us going during a day out with the boys. In either case, the speaker tends to not go beyond words and we’re left to navigate tight corridors, heavy doors, or move items on display in stores to even get by.

There’s no where to go but down from here. Things get strange up above the arctic circle. In the summer, for weeks, the sun never sets. In the winter, it doesn’t rise. Reindeer and Santa are real here and you can meet them. The Earth ends here, dropping off into the water over precipitous cliffs that make you really appreciate how brave the Vikings were to have sailed out beyond these cliffs.

Our smartphones, tablets, TVs, and computers are pretty impressive. They’ve become integral parts of our lives and many of us cannot imagine life without them. In the ten years since the debut of the original iPhone and arguably the launch of the smartphone revolution (sorry Palm), our phones have become an extension of ourselves. Phones have come with many benefits. We are always connected now, getting updates from friends and family constantly.

Trondheim, city of kings and home to what feels like Norway’s highest concentration of microbreweries per capita, is the perfect place to spend a day in the sun with some beer and exploring a city tied to its past. From the statue of the Viking King Olaf that watches over town to the massive Nidaros Cathedral, burial site of the ancient kings of Norway, Trondheim is a city that won’t let you forget it’s history.

Home to mountain views and surrounded by water, Alesund, Norway is where the mountains meet the sea in Norway’s Western Fjord region. A popular jumping off point, or stop along the way for those exploring the fjords, Alesund makes for a great rest stop in a more developed setting than most of the fjords. Here you’ll find a great hiking scene, excellent local beer, and good restaurants, all within a short walk from the water.