This summer's heat waves made me book my first 'coolcation.' It changed what I want from a vacation.

This summer, Megan Carnegie took her first-ever coolcation in Trondheim, Norway.

Provided by Megan Carnegie

Living in London, I spend most of winter fantasizing about the sun on my skin, balmy sea swims, and the carefree mood that loosens even the most uptight urbanites. By the time spring rolls around, I'm usually plotting an escape around maximum sunshine, beautiful beaches, excellent food — ideally somewhere along the Mediterranean, like France or Greece.But when London hit a record 95°F in June, I surprised myself. Instead of chasing more heat, I booked a trip to Norway's third-largest city, Trondheim, for my first-ever "coolcation."As a committed sunseeker, I was skeptical that swapping SPF 50 for a down jacket could deliver the holiday I'd made routine. Happily, what I found challenged my bias.

Days stretched deep into the night during her visit to Norway.

Provided by Megan Carnegie