Cozy as a handmade mitten, try on the Latvian capital for culture, craft beer, and endless outdoor opportunities

I haven’t been on a plane since November 2019. You either? The uncertainty of a still looming pandemic has made it difficult to plan new adventures with last year’s lockdowns endlessly melding into this one, 2021. But I’m feeling hopeful that exploring will be available once more, maybe even later this year. Looking back at travel memories we’ve made and what we loved while exploring abroad has helped while we wait.

That last flight? You’ve probably guessed. It wasn’t a long one from here – a quick pop across the brilliant blue Baltic Sea from Copenhagen to Riga, the capital of Latvia. It was my second visit to this unique city, though I will sheepishly admit that Riga – nor Latvia – were ever on my travel wish list… before moving to Scandinavia. But after last-minute quick and easy flights (remember those?) from Denmark – we were delighted with what we found. Even mid-winter.