The Traveling Professor offered first started offering up tours to Norway, Denmark and Iceland and they almost immediately became the most popular tour offered by The Professor.  Perhaps it was because of the smashing success of Disney's "Frozen" but I think it goes way beyond that.   Here are my reasons why I think these Scandic destinations have emerged as wonderful destinations to go to:

Currency:  Once considered expensive, the currency of oil-dependent Nordic countries has tumbled.  For instance, the Norwegian Krone has dropped.  A dollar now gets about 8.5 Krone while 2 years ago it only fetched about 6.  That 1200 Krone ($200) hotel is only costing about $140 now.  That 180 Krone ($30) meal is only costing about $21.  Similar savings are found in Denmark and Iceland.  

Natural Beauty:  Norway and Iceland have always been, and will always be, one of the most beautiful places on earth.  There are more waterfalls than you can imagine along with volcanoes, glaciers, fjords, black sand beaches, snow-capped mountains, and geysers.

Crowds:  Have you tried dealing with the crowds in Paris, Rome, Florence, London and the usual Europe attractions in the summer?  It has become almost unbearable.   Norway offers a more relaxed atmosphere and the weather is generally more pleasant.

Airfares:  The flight from the US is probably the cheapest ride you can get to Europe.  Check out www.norwegian.com

Cleanliness:  Oslo, Bergen and the small quaint Norwegian towns are clean, efficient, and well-run.  Although they are not without their issues, Norway is freer of the petty crimes and grime present in many other European cities.

For more information on The Traveling Professor tours to Norway, see http://www.travelingprofessor.com/