A trip with a dog team, wrapped up in warm blankets under the northern lights, is a superb way of experiencing the countryside of Norrland. There's a good chance you’ll encounter an elk or a reindeer, too. There are four companies that offer dog sledding tours: Hedlunda Husky (www.hedlundahusky.se), Granö Beckasin (granobeckasin.com), River Lake Huskies (www.teamissa.se) and Aurora Borealis Adventures (auroraborealis.nu).

This is a stunning country house from the 1860's, surrounded by parks. Brodsworth Hall & Gardens shows visitors how a wealthy Yorkshire family and their servants lived for some 150 years. Here, in fact, almost everything has remained the same, so pay a visit and immerge yourself in the enchanting history of this area!

Located along the famous Roxas Boulevard, this oasis of green features the 19th-century national hero, Jose Rizal. Rizal Park is a great place to relax and here you will find beautiful gardens, historical markers, an open-air concert hall, playgrounds and restaurants.

Skulpturparken, which is located in the former hospital compound in Umedalen, is considered to be one of Europe’s most distinguished sculpture parks and is also one of Västerbottens most visited sites in the summer. More than 150 Swedish and international artists has since the start in 1994 exhibited their works in Umedalen Skulptur, an exhibition that is organized every summer. Today there are also 26 permanent works in the park. Skulpturparken also has a garden landscape in connection with the IKSU Spa, Umeå’s so-called cultural spa. The garden is created by one of Sweden’s famous landscaping artists, Ulf Nordfjell.