Matthew Wang

My family’s winter break trip to Northern Europe was the most unforgettable adventure of my life.

After a long journey, we finally landed in Rovaniemi, Finland — the official hometown of Santa Claus. Stepping off the plane, I saw more snow than I had ever imagined, covering everything in a thick, silent blanket of white. I immediately scooped up a handful. It was so cold it made my fingers tingle, but I loved it instantly.

Our first stop was the famous SantaPark, a magical Christmas world hidden inside a real cave. Walking through a sparkling tunnel of lights felt like stepping into a storybook. Deep inside, we found workshops run by busy elves. In one, I carved and painted my own wooden elf ornament, gluing on a fuzzy beard and a bright red hat. In another, the wonderful smell of gingerbread led us to Mrs. Claus’s kitchen, where she shared baking secrets. We watched a joyful elf acrobatics show, warmed up with hot spiced glögi juice, and even attended an “elf school” where we learned a few words of the elf language. The most special moment was our private meeting with Santa Claus in his cozy office. We took a photo with him, which felt like our official certificate for crossing into the Arctic Circle.

The next day, we took a husky sled ride. At first, the dogs barked fiercely, straining against their ropes. It was a little scary! But the moment the guide released them, the barking stopped, and they surged forward in perfect silence. We flew across the snow, the cold wind whipping past my face. It was an incredible feeling, though my fingers and toes grew numb with cold — I wished I could warm them by a roaring fire!

We then traveled to Levi, Finland’s largest ski resort. My first attempts at skiing were clumsy. I fell more times than I could count. But then I met Sebastian, a friendly boy from Hong Kong who loved the same video games as me. He was a great skier and patiently encouraged me. With his tips, I grew braver. Soon, we were tackling a winding forest trail together.

The final part of our tour took us to Norway. In Tromsø, we planned to take a cable car up a mountain, but it was closed. Undeterred, we decided to climb it ourselves. The higher we went, the deeper the snow became, until it was up to my knees. It was exhausting but felt like a real expedition. We also visited the city’s stunning modern library and beautiful Arctic Cathedral.

Our trip ended on the Senja island, a place of breathtaking beauty. We hiked through quiet, snow-dusted valleys and along rocky shores. Though we didn’t see the Northern Lights, standing on a secluded beach under the vast Arctic sky, I felt the magic and peace of this remote corner of the world.