Midnight Sun, Sauna Fails & Squeaky Cheese: Finland Gave Us Everything
If I told you we screamed our way into icy waters (maybe it was just me, oops!), got “steamrolled” during a sauna session, and ate squeaky cheese on tacos under a glowing midnight sky, would you believe me? Because that’s exactly how our all-women trip in Finland unfolded—and no, it wasn’t just a vacation. It was a full-on experience that left us dazzled, drenched in sauna sweat, and utterly alive!
One mistake you can make before going on a trip is to have expectations. Even though I know that, I still went into this trip with some basic assumptions - no Northern Lights because it’s summer, it’ll be bright out surprisingly late and that will probably mess with our sleep, and everyone is going to get along so well! Okay, well, this was an exception it seemed, because all of my expectations actually came true and for the better!
It started on day one, with a zero-pressure introduction: sauna, cold plunge, repeat. One minute you're melting in intense steam; the next you're gasping for air in freezing water. While the Greek guy who steamed us out of the last sauna appeared completely neutral. Our group? Virtually vibrating! Or more so shaking from the freezing cold water!
One evening felt more like a Scandinavian street fair: gourmet tacos stuffed with squeaky, tangy cheese with a side of local berry gin drinks served in plastic on an island off Helsinki. We cheered with every bite, even as a lone seagull swooped in to steal a sausage right off of the grill! Mid-trip, we thought we’d seen it all. But then came the midnight sun.
Picture this: a bonfire on the water, pastel sky that never quite gets dark, great conversations and gorgeous headpieces.
Everything felt surreal, unplanned (but actually very planned) and perfect all at once. The days blurred in the best way—sauna, plunge, tacos, fire, repeat. And in the space between each breathless moment we found something unexpected: joy, real belonging, and stories we’ll be telling for years.
What made it all click wasn’t the places, but the people—four of us women showing up with sweaty faces, adventurous hearts, and open minds. We cheered each other on through shrieks, chorus-laughed at sausage disasters, and held hands when the water felt too cold. And when we finally stepped off the ferry at 11 p.m., under a sky that refused to sleep? We looked at each other and said, “We did this!” And—even better—we said, “Let’s do it again.”
Because travel isn’t just about destinations. It’s about the moments that zing your spirit back to life. And Finland? Finland has dang near perfected the recipe.
