Often overlooked by tourists, Latvia is a tiny Baltic country filled with charming surprises. The capital city, Riga, mixes the old world of cobbled streets with twenty-first century nightclubs where students dance all night long. In the summer, days are long with the sun setting around midnight and rising around four a.m. on the longest days of the year. The country lights up, both literally and figuratively, in the summer as locals take to the beaches, hiking trails, summer cottages, and any sun-drenched location around. In the winter, days are short, but the locals take it in stride by taking up winter sports and drinking plenty of coffee. Whenever you visit, you’ll be able to explore medieval ruins, shop in the bustling cities, or take a slow pace in the many rural regions of Latvia.

Latvia’s low population has been a good thing for the natural world. Many nature reserves are nearly untouched by human intervention. In summer, you can hike through forests and wetlands to discover the best of Latvia. The country also has many beaches including Cape Kolka, which is part of Slitere National Park.

The best way to enjoy the natural world during the winter (other than by staring out the window with a cup of hot chocolate) is to engage in winter sports. Come for the Ice Sculpture Festival in February, but stay for the skiing and snowboarding. Get your legs working on cross-country trails through the forest or indulge your need for speed by heading downhill.

With all that hiking and skiing you’re going to be doing in Latvia, you’ll be ready for a big, hearty meal at the end of the day. Luckily, traditional Latvian food has you covered. The cuisine of Latvia is based heavily on staple grains like wheat and rye as well as root vegetables like potatoes and beets. After a day on the ski slopes, a few slices of rye bread and a bowl of pea soup with ham or beetroot soup will warm you up from the inside out. Finish your meal with a pint or two of local beer and you’ll be ready for a good sleep before another day in the snow.

In the summer, you can pick wild berries during your hike or pick up baskets of them at the local open-air markets. Make a picnic out of rye bread, freshly made Latvian smoked cheese, and some fat, juicy strawberries. Or buy some cookies or a homemade blueberry pie from one of the market vendors.

All images are used via Creative Commons Attribution rights. View the original images on Flickr at: Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4