Norway is the westernmost, northernmost—and in fact the easternmost—of the three Scandinavian countries. Best known for the complex and deep fjords along its west coast which stretches from the North Sea near Denmark and Scotland into the Arctic Ocean and has borders with Finland, Sweden and the northwestern tip of Russia. Norway may have a clutch of attractive, cosmopolitan cities, appealing destinations in their own right, but where the country really shines is not in its urban culture, but rather in the low-key, amiable small-town feel that pervades throughout its settlements.

Alaska is a U.S. state situated in the northwest extremity of the Americas. With landscapes that stretch out seemingly to infinity, it is known for its dramatic, diverse terrain of wide-open spaces, mountains and forests, with abundant wildlife and many small towns.  Alaska was viewed as a frozen wasteland, not realizing it would turn out to be one of the United States' richest resources for gold and oil. It took until 1959 for the territory to become a State of the Union. For lovers of nature, few places exhilarate like Alaska!