I am planning a Norway trip for July 2018 for about 15 days. My family consists of my wife and I and sometimes charming children ages 15, 13 and 11. We like the outdoors and hiking and being active.
On other European holidays that we have taken we have rented a car and then stayed in places for no less then 4 days apiece using the place as a base to explore the region and trying to minimize the amount of driving during these four days. We try to rent from VRBO or through Homeaway as it is difficult to get one hotel room for all of us.
On our drive days between destinations we can cope with about four hours of driving a day or else we all start fighting with each other and no one enjoys themselves. We of course could take a train but I think the car gives us a greater degree of flexibility and on other trips has been more economical.
We would start the trip in Oslo and could either end the trip in Bergen or in Trondheim. We would like to see the fjords of Norway. We recognize that such a trip limits one's ability to see more of the country but if we try to do an itinerary where we are moving every day we do not enjoy ourselves.
My question therefore is what two places would you stay in and visit on the way from either Oslo to Bergen or Oslo to Trondheim that would be large enough to acquire a vacation rental property and would have enough hiking and outdoor sights to keep the family busy for the four days. I would also be interested in which of these two routes with two stops along the way would give the greatest scenery and exposure to nature and hiking.
Thanks