What was once a Dash turned into a Sprint for 18 Riverland Community College students, instructors and community members earlier this month.

 More specifically, the group took a “Sprint to Scandinavia,” a spring break trip to Copenhagen, Demark; Stockholm, Sweden; and Oslo, Norway. They returned March 11.

The trip — for this year — was taken instead of the traditional “London Dash” travel-study trip the college has been organizing for several years.

“We thought that with our strong Scandinavian heritage in Minnesota, this might be an interesting trip to take,” said Scott Blankenbaker, a music instructor who, with theatre instructor Lindsey Williams, organized the trip that focused on the art, music, history and theater of the countries. The international trip is alternated with a New York City trip, roughly every other year.

This year’s trip earned rave reviews from members of the group.

“It was super amazing, super eye-opening,” said student Teagan Kempe, 23.

Organizers fashioned the trip so that the entire group did not have to visit all the same sites. Smaller groups went to different venues, depending on their interests.

Kempe tried hard to walk as much as possible and “not to use public transit … I wanted to see the nooks and crannies of the culture” at a slower pace instead of from a bus.

She wasn’t disappointed. She talked of the sunset she watched with co-organizer Lindsey Williams one day from atop a large ski hill at Holmenkollen in Oslo; or the food, she said, which “was of such diamond quality. We don’t have that here.”

Blankenbaker found himself particularly taken with Stockholm and its many museums — including, he said with a laugh, the ABBA Museum.

Marijo Alexander, another traveler, said Stockholm’s new fallen snow made everything look “like you were in a snow globe; it was magical.”

The group first toured Copenhagen, visiting two royal palaces.

“It wasn’t just interesting in terms of history, but also because of their beautiful interiors,” Blankenbaker said.

The group then traveled to Stockholm by train, where they stayed in the Old Town, which was rich in history.

“I loved everything; its quaint streets; colorful buildings — just beautiful,” said Alexander.

Williams enjoyed the Stockholm Vasa Museum, where an early ship, lost in Stockholm harbor, was raised and restored.

“It is an incredible story and the work on the ship — it’s beautiful,” Williams said. “I was fascinated by it.”

She and others also enjoyed a visit to an Oslo chocolate factory; both its tour and free chocolate were much appreciated by the travelers.

For all of the sites to be enjoyed, there were also many comments about the friendliness of the citizens of the three countries.

“We did not encounter anything negative,” said Williams.

Alexander echoed the thought, adding how impressed she was with the friendliness of the people.

When Norwegian citizens learned the group was from Minnesota, they would immediately respond with enthusiasm that “oh, well, then you’re all Norwegian, too.”

“That was so great; they made that instant connection to Minnesota right away,” Williams agreed. “They were wonderful to us.”

Kempe said she was impressed with the enjoyment the Scandinavians took in their days.

“They found ways to appreciate each day, each moment,” she said.

Almost all knew English as well as their native language, so understanding people was never an issue, travelers said — except, perhaps, during a live production of “Singin’ in the Rain,” which some attended. That was performed entirely in Norwegian — but was enjoyed mightily, nonetheless.

Kempe said she is intent on traveling the world, and this venture provided a good start on what she hopes is a lifetime of visiting different countries and cultures.

Blankenbaker said future trips to other countries will most likely be considered — and returning to London, or someplace on the British Isles, are still in the mix for consideration.

“I have to admit, I do occasionally get pangs to return to London,” he said with a laugh.