Friluftsliv: “Open-Air-Life” is a Truly Norwegian Concept

A way of life we could get used to

The weather here in Norway has had me down in the dumps lately, but I’m working on moving past that. The sun was in-and-out this weekend, but we didn’t let that stop us from getting outside. Saturday and Sunday were mostly spent outside, in nature, soaking up as much sun and warmer weather as possible. I recently learned the term friluftsliv, “open-air-life”, and it’s a concept I think we should fully embrace.

As visitnorway.com puts it, friluftsliv is more than a concept, it’s a way of life for Norwegians. They believe in getting outside, celebrating the outdoors, no matter your age or weather conditions. Although, I haven’t seen many people out and about when the wind is 60+ mph, so they do keep safety in mind. This word goes well with the famous Norwegian quote of, <<Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlig klær,>> or, “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.” And the Norwegians know how to dress for the weather. They all seem to have a very functional wardrobe. Of course, I’m generalizing here, but it’s not uncommon to see the vast majority of people out and about wearing very practical clothing no matter the weather conditions, dressed in layers, and always looking a little warmer than me. They go outside prepared because the weather here can change quickly.

Friluftsliv is serious business in Norway and, according to visitnorway.com, has its own law, Friluftsloven, which includes the right to roam. Apparently some Norwegian colleges offer bachelors degrees in friluftsliv. The country is dedicated to enjoying nature and treating it with respect. Whether privately owned or part of the Norwegian Trekking Association’s (DNT’s) 550 publicly available cabins, many Norwegians flee to a remote cabin or cabin in the woods on weekends and holidays to reconnect with nature and relieve stress in the outdoors.

I felt as though we experienced a truly Norwegian Saturday this past weekend while embodying the concept of friluftsliv. We headed about thirty minutes out of town to a trail head off the side of the road. After about a mile and a half walk with a slight elevation gain, the trail led to a small cabin in the woods and shelter with a firepit near a waterfall. A couple of other families joined us, so we had a nice big group to hang out with for the day. We didn’t utilize the cabin accommodations, which were impressive for an unlocked cabin in the woods, we did enjoy the fire pit, shelter, and view of the waterfall and swimming hole.

Stump with a face (there were many of these along the way), the kids walking together, and the view from our shelter.

The cabin was very cute. It had rugs on the floor, a wood burning fireplace, bed, couch, two chairs, coffee table, and a small area with kitchen supplies for cooking a meal, eating it, and cleaning it up afterwards. There were lights on the ceiling but we didn’t see how to turn them on. It was very clean given it was a cabin in the woods. I assume this one is part of the DNT because it was well kept, but I’m not certain on that.

We bypassed the cabin, and outhouse, and headed for the shelter with a fire pit overlooking the waterfall and swimming hole. It was gorgeous and the perfect place to roast some marshmallows and relax with friends. We brought our backpack cooler along with us filled with drinks, hotdogs, and lefse (a potato flour wrap used as buns for the hotdogs…they take up less room in your backpack while hiking).

Our shelter, the hotdogs cooking, and a hotdog wrapped in lefse...delicious!

After filling up on hotdogs and enjoying some cold drinks, we explored the area. Some of the kids and the dads in the group headed down to the water. It was a bit of a scramble getting down there so my two-year-old and I stayed up by the shelter and explored the woods around us instead. Then we broke out the bag of marshmallows our friends had brought for a quick dessert before packing up. With our bellies full, the hike back to the car was a little slower. Our toddler took an almost three hour nap when we got back home, so I think it’s safe to say he had fun.

Taking in the scenery while enjoying the calm of nature.

The next day my husband went fishing with a friend and his sons while our toddler and I went for a hike around a lake. The hike was slow and on flat ground, but we had a lot of fun crossing bridges, keeping an eye out for trolls, and hiding from them when necessary. We talked about the different birds we saw and stopped to blow dandelions a time or two. The sun was shining, and we had a great morning together. At home that afternoon, I sat on our deck and finished the book I’ve been reading for a few weeks while he napped. It was a relaxing afternoon.

No hike is complete without a snack break. Also, evidence of how slow we took the hike..."resting" on a bench.

While we’ve only just learned about friluftsliv, we’re working on embracing the philosophy. The hardest part for me will be finding the motivation to get outside when the weather is less than ideal. But, we’ve been working on improving our wardrobe to be ready for the cold and wet days, so I’m getting there. Friluftsliv is more than a concept, it’s a way of life with a goal of being active in nature but also leaning into the calm and finding peace in nature to create a happier and more grounded life. That’s something I can get behind.

P.S. I highly recommend reading the article linked in this post to learn more. It was an interesting and inspiring read.