With its romantic grounds, Sofiero Palace makes for a popular destination. The grounds are perhaps best known for their unparalleled rhododendrons, with an incredible 5,000 bushes bursting into flower in the spring. The fairytale of Sofiero began in 1864, when Crown Prince Oskar and his wife Sophia had their summer residence built here. In 1905, Oskar — by now King Oskar ll — gave the palace to his grandson Prince Gustav Adolf and his bride Princess Margareta as a wedding present. This is when the gardens literally flourished. Princess Margareta was a keen and creative gardener, and it was she who first laid out the grounds that we can enjoy to this day. She arranged flower beds and gardens, had paving laid and wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Every summer, the Crown Prince couple travelled from Stockholm with their four young princes and Princess Ingrid, who eventually became Queen of Denmark. When Margareta died in 1920, Gustaf Adolf carried on the work in the garden, particularly with the rhododendrons. The palace was the summer residence of the Swedish royal family up until 1973, when it was given to the town of Helsingborg. This small palace, which lies like a jewel amid the extensive lawns, is home to a restaurant where the food is prepared by some of Sweden’s finest chefs. There’s also a café with views of the Öresund Sound and Denmark.

Earl Anton Grassalkovich had this Rococo-late Baroque summer palace with a French garden built in 1760. In the 18th century, there was a lot of social activity in the palace and guests included the Austrian composer Joseph Haydn. After some reconstruction in 1996, the palace became the seat of the president of the Slovak Republic.

Just a short 20-minute drive from Lynden lies the vibrant city of Bellingham, home to the magnificent Whatcom Falls Park. Centered around the cascading waters of Whatcom Creek, the park features a stunning series of waterfalls that give it its name. You can wander through towering ancient forests alive with activity, from joggers and dog walkers to families enjoying picnics. The park also offers recreational amenities including a playground and tennis courts.