Some journeys begin long before you pack your first bag. My Swedish adventure started decades earlier, curled up with Astrid Lindgren's books, dreaming of endless summer days by mirror-smooth lakes and adventures on tiny islands where anything seemed possible. In 2014, I finally decided to chase those childhood dreams – I threw my tent in the car and headed north with nothing but a full tank of gas and a week of freedom ahead of me.

There's something liberating about traveling without a plan, especially when you're on your own. No reservations, no rigid itinerary, just the open road through southern Sweden and the promise of discovering whatever called to me along the way. I'd wake up each morning, consult my map over coffee, and simply point myself toward whichever lake or forest looked most inviting.

Arriving in midsummer felt like stepping directly into those beloved stories. The mornings greeted me with the scent of dew-soaked grass and a symphony of birdsong that seemed to stretch on forever. While I didn't experience the midnight sun this far south, the evenings stretched endlessly, bathed in that golden Scandinavian light that makes everything look like it's been touched by magic.

The landscapes were pure fairy tale – lakes so still they perfectly mirrored the sky, dotted with small islands that beckoned like secret kingdoms. I couldn't resist channeling my inner Pippi Longstocking, building makeshift rafts and wooden castles on secluded shores, laughing like the child I once was while reading about these very adventures.

My favorite moments came in the early morning hours, when long shadows painted the world in soft contrasts and I felt like the only person awake in all of Sweden. There's a particular quality to Scandinavian light at dawn – gentle but brilliant, making even the simplest pine forest feel cathedral-like.

That week taught me the value of spontaneity and solitude. Away from schedules and obligations, I rediscovered the art of just being present, of appreciating the small magic that happens when you give yourself permission to wander without purpose.

Sweden will always hold a special place in my heart – not just for its beauty, but for proving that sometimes the best way to honor childhood dreams is to live them exactly as you imagined.

A field of delicate white cotton grass swaying gently under a partly cloudy sky, with a soft focus on the foreground plants, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A rustic red wooden house with a weathered, moss-covered tiled roof and a black door featuring lace curtains, framed by lush green bushes, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A peaceful Swedish coastal village with red wooden houses topped with orange roofs, numerous Swedish flags flying, lush greenery, and small boats docked along the calm waterfront, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A vast, calm lake reflecting a partly cloudy sky with wispy clouds stretching across the horizon, bordered by a distant tree-lined shore, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A dramatic sunset over a dark lake with heavy, textured clouds filling the sky and the sun’s golden light reflecting in a sparkling path on the water, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A Swedish flag with a yellow Nordic cross on a blue background waves atop a white flagpole surrounded by lush green foliage and a red-roofed house under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A peaceful Swedish countryside scene at sunset with golden light filtering through scattered trees, casting long shadows over a grassy field under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A quiet country road lined with tall trees casting long shadows in the golden light of a setting sun, with grassy fields on either side, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A solitary stone house with a red roof stands beside a narrow road under a dramatic, dark, and heavy cloud-filled sky, surrounded by green fields and a few trees, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A golden sunset shining brightly through the branches of a lone tree in a grassy field, casting warm light and long shadows across the landscape under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A warm sunset casting golden light across a grassy field dotted with scattered trees, with dramatic clouds in the sky and the sun partially hidden near the horizon, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A pair of weathered blue wooden doors set in a white wall partially covered by lush green ivy, with a stone block resting at the base, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A handwritten list of items and prices on graph paper rests on a wooden table next to a pen, two garlic bulbs, and plastic bags containing tomatoes, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A charming white house with a red roof sits beside a quiet country road bathed in the warm golden light of the setting sun, with open fields stretching into the distance, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A calm body of water reflecting a small grassy island and a tree-lined shore under a clear sky at dusk, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A solitary white swan glides on a calm lake surrounded by rocks and trees, with a clear sky reflecting on the water, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A quiet Swedish village street lined with trees and houses, featuring a blue flag with a yellow elk hanging from a white wooden building, bathed in warm sunlight, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A lone figure stands at the end of a wooden pier stretching into a choppy sea, silhouetted against a bright setting sun with long shadows cast on the pier, under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A tranquil lake reflecting a partly cloudy sky and a tree-lined shore bathed in soft sunlight, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A wooden footbridge stretches across calm water towards a small rocky island, with a marina of sailboats visible in the distance under a partly cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki.
A serene lake reflecting a partly cloudy sky and a small rocky island with trees, surrounded by forested shores bathed in warm sunlight, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
Five open brown paper bags filled with various seeds and beans are arranged on a wooden surface, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
Bottles of orange and dark berry juice labeled in Swedish stand on a wooden table alongside cartons of fresh strawberries and a rusty metal cash box, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A vast open grassy field under a bright blue sky dotted with white clouds, with a distant line of small trees on the horizon, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki
A small white rowboat with wooden oars rests beside a narrow, weathered wooden dock surrounded by tall green reeds under a cloudy sky, taken in Sweden by Chris Zielecki