At the heart of Finland’s lake region, Kuusamo provides a superb introduction to Finnish Lapland. Best known for its multitude of ski slopes and surrounding resorts, it has an average of 200 days of snow each year, creating ample skiing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling opportunities. The city’s proximity to the Arctic Circle, just 37 miles north, means vacations in Kuusamo can also include experiences of the polar night. Outside of the winter months, the ski runs are replaced by hiking trails offering up extraordinary vistas across the lakes, with midsummer having the added allure of the midnight sun.