Visit the Arctic's most cosmopolitan city

For an increasing number of travelers, the Arctic has changed from a place to avoid into a desirable destination. Several cruise ships will be taking travelers around the Arctic Ocean in the coming years, and eco-resorts have been gaining popularity in places like Scandinavia and Greenland.

Actually, one Norwegian city has already been on the tourism radar for some time. Tromso, which sits at nearly 70 degrees north latitude, has historic wooden houses that date back to the 18th century and a recorded history that stretches for over a millennium. You might be surprised to see that the northernmost major city in Europe outside of Russia isn't a frontier outpost, but a cosmopolitan place defined by gastropubs, a vibrant music scene and an events calendar that includes everything from traditional indigenous festivals to the Arctic's largest pride celebration.

READ MORE ON MNN