Skansen, Sweden

The photo above was taken in Skansen, Sweden (on the island of Djurgarden) and is the location of Europe's first open-air folk museum and zoo. Skansen, a 75 acre open-air park was founded in 1891 by Artur Hazelius. Within the park, there are over 150 buildings that showcase the homes, shops, schools, farms (some dating back to the 16th century) and churches of Sweden. Skansen is rich with culture and has many folk artists who will gladly share with you their expertise in various crafts such as glassblowing, pottery making, leather crafts, wood working and weaving.  The Park is a popular tourist site and is easily accessible from Stockholm. If you want a taste of the way life has been in Sweden the past several 100 years, this is the key place to visit! Why not plan a trip in Northern Europe for the summer when southern Europe is packed with tourists and locals? (Thank you JAD for the use of your terrific photo!)