Finland

Finland contains vast expanses of forest and thousands of lakes and islands. In the striking capital of Helsinki, travelers visit Temppeliaukio Church, created from a solid bedrock formation and boasting great acoustics as a concert venue; the Sibelius Monument, an abstract steel pipe sculpture honoring the late composer Jean Sibelius; Finlandia Hall, the ultra-modern concert and conference center; and the Russian Orthodox cathedral.

Some trips cross the Arctic Circle into Lapland, where indigenous populations remain. Highlights include the Gold Prospector Museum at Tankavaara and Santa Claus Village at the provincial capital of Rovaniemi.