If you do want to do some computer research while in Sweden and are near Vaxjo in Smaland, near the "Crystal Kingdom" - although Orrefors and Kosta-Boda have closed (very sad) - go to the Emigrant Museum in Vaxjo. My sister and I spent a rainy day there that was very helpful partway through our Swedish roots trip in the second half of June 2007. Incidentally, while we had also been warned not to go in August when so many Swedes are away on vacation, rather than July, I suggest to start your trip at least a few days before Midsommar Festival in June, so you will be there for this major Swedish traditional celebration, but will have gotten over any jetlag you may experience.

If you are thinking of buying a new car soon, check out the Volvo "Overseas Delivery" program on the Volvo website and request the video (unless you can just watch it now on the website). I bought my little V50 there, saved $2K off US sticker price, saved $1K for car rental, got free car insurance there for 15 days, free round-trip airfare for 2 people on SAS from anywhere in the US, one free night at the Radisson SAS hotel in Goteborg (now my favorite hotel in the world), and because we booked our trip between January and March, we got a second free night there, so our first and last nights in Sweden were spent there. Volvo provides free travel agency assistance by an agency in Chicago, so planning and booking lodgings is very easy, if you want to plan that ahead. I highly recommend the Overseas Delivery program to Anyone who wants to buy a new Volvo at a discount and drive around Europe for a couple of weeks. For a modest surcharge ($600 in 2007), you can deliver your car at the end of your trip in another city, such as Rome, for example, if you just want to travel and not deliver your car back to the Volvo headquarters in Goteborg. Incidentally, when you pick up your car, they give you and others picking up their cars a red carpet tour of the factory, which was very interesting.

Marty Womer in Maine

My cousin and I visited last June. We had done a lot of research, but we hired a researcher/guide. He found information that we never could have found, using local historians, who met us at every stop. They showed us where our ancestors lived, provided photos, and a tour of the church where our great grandfather built the pews, including a copy of the contract! He set up meetings with living cousins and drove the car. It couldn't get any better! I'd highly recommend using a local guide.

Linda

Lynn Anderson, it is so interesting you should mention Filipstad and Färnebo parish in Värmland because that is *exactly* where my Father is from!  As a matter of fact, I visited Sweden last year (late August-early Sept) with my sister and brother and went to Filipstad.  Because of my genealogy research beforehand and several inquiries via emails, I made contact with someone who not only told me we are related (distant cousins) but also gave me information that I have two FIRST cousins still living!!  My siblings and I made contact and were welcomed most generously!  We then met their families and it was like a wonderful reunion.  We shared pictures and family history and stories, and it was wonderful.  

There are Anderson's in my family tree.  Do your roots come from the same parish in Värmland, too?  Could it possibly be that we may have mutual ancestors?  ~~  I'm at soaringtoo@yahoo.com and of course also on FB, where there are a great many genealogy groups, some specific to Swedish ancestry, too!  Thank you!