The resort we stayed at (link here) kakslauttanen was magical. It was so snowy and cold, I have never been that cold in all my life. It got down to -4 C. I am so glad me and my girlfriend got snow gear. I personally spent what I thought was too much money for cold weather gear. Every penny spent was worth it and yet I was still cold. I purchased these ugg boots for men called Butte ( I didn't catch em on sale). These boots were warm and yet the reindeer ride I was so cold. When the clouds parted and the aurora was shining I had to periodically get into the tent that was set up and get next to the fire.

I have lived most of my life in southern California where it doesn't get that cold. It gets pretty cold up in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The Mojave desert not so much. When I was a kid it snowed a foot deep out in Lucerne Valley CA but still nothing like Finland. The coldest I ever got was 0 degrees -20 with the windchill in Ft.Sill Ok. Kakslauttanen is just cold all the time in February.

Preparation and seeing the Aurora made it all worth it. Venus was in the night sky during our adventure in Finland. It was so bright I thought it was a man made light tower on some mountain. It seemed like a distant spot light. The night sky in Ivalo was majestic.

We only stayed one night in the glass igloo. Then we switched over to the queen suite for three nights. It has a private sauna and this SoCal guy was in it a lot. It has this shower by this very large bathtub. I have never felt so pampered in my entire life. The doors on this place (actually every place) are those big freezer doors. It keeps so warm in there. The room has a jacuzzi on its own private deck. Me and my girlfriend went in it at night when the temp was a -1C. We couldn't stop laughing it was so cold. The water was nice at 80F but it was just ridiculously cold. We kind of had to do it in our birthday suits to say we did it. We ran back in as fingers were sticking to things

My girlfriend showed me this picture of glass igloos in the snow. It was a brochure to a glass igloo hotel deep in the arctic circle. We started talking about how cool that would be and how much I wanted to see the Northern lights. We ( my girlfriend and me) flew in to Helsinki on the 12th of Feb.

Helsinki was the best. We stayed in the Hilton located right here next to the ocean. It was amazing to see as the sea would freeze people would walk out onto it. According to one of our cab drivers "crazy" people.

We took a ferry to Suomenlinna, which is this island fortress. It is so pretty and the museums are as fantastic as their restaurants. The sunset was just jaw dropping. The ferry ride back as it was becoming night time was incredible. The ice on the water being broken and pushed aside as the lights of the city started to come on.

We continued our journey up north, way up north. We landed in Ivalo. Oh my word you should go to this hotel they have glass igloos so you can watch the Aurora at night. It was snowing on that night for us but, the following night as we were on a reindeer sleigh ride when the sky cleared for a display of the northern lights. It was magical. We went on a dog sled excursion which was fantastic. I got to drive first then my girlfriend. We were allowed to pet the dogs at the end. The smile was on my face despite the cold. Oh and protip when they tell you to take the extra heavy clothing do it. I had on so many layers of high quality snow gear on that I didnt think I would need it. The staff politely insisted and so many thanks that they did. I could feel the cold thru all their equipment and mine.

We went back to Helsinki for another day before the return trip home. We went to a grocery store there and quickly learned how different things are even as they are the same. This was a once in a lifetime journey for me, spending it with my girlfriend made it epic. If you have are planning a once in a lifetime trip go to Ivalo and see the Northern lights. The people there are the friendliest it was contagious. I wish I could thank each person I came across they made it special. Oh and the guy that runs the Northern Lights Tank excursion, awesome dude you have to meet him.