Skansen Open Air Museum

We've been to several open-air history museums on this trip, but Skansen is by far the best of the bunch.  It's more of a living history museum, and the people working there actually perform tasks using the same techniques that have been used for centuries.  They have traditional glassblowers, potters, weavers, bakers, and metal smiths and you can watch daily demonstrations of them plying their crafts.

Handmade linens

A Sami storehouse with Stockholm in the background

1930's allotment cottage. Proof that the "tiny house" movement is nothing new.

Skansen is also part zoo, displaying mostly animals that are native to the region such as bears, lynx, moose, seals, and of course reindeer.

In summertime Skansen has jazz concerts and dancing every Monday evening.  We heard a modern jazz band performing in the bandshell and had a nice view of the sunset over the city, too.

But the main event was the big band dancehall.  There were hundreds of couples actually foxtrotting and lindy hopping the night away.  We did our best to try to keep up, but the old-timers definitely had much better moves!