The region of Lapland, Finland, is a dream come true for travelers in search of a real winter wonderland. The area has long been associated with Father Christmas, reindeer and a dense, snow-covered wilderness.

As Finland's largest and northernmost region, Lapland spans roughly one-third of Finland's total land area though only about 3% of its population calls this area home. It's also one of the best places to view the mystical phenomenon known as the Northern Lights, thanks to generally clear skies during the polar night (a period when the sun does not rise for several weeks).