Maximum "Swedishness" in Sweden

The IKEA museum - https://ikeamuseum.com/en/ - would be peak Swedish

As for nature; most of it will be very covered by snow in January.

What traditions have your friend grown up with and what part of Sweden are her ancestors from?

January will be snowy in large parts of the country, but in general Dalarna can be a good place to visit.

First, she should try to figure out where in Sweden her ancestors came from, if she doesn't know. If they came from Northern Sweden, she might like to experience the darkness of the area in winter (I want to go back and experience that). If she's from elsewhere she might come across an historical organization in the relative area that traces the area and where people lived. For example, when I was going to the area, I stayed in Eksjö and went to the tourist office to check bus schedules because I had located a town I wanted to visit. During the course of the discussion, she wanted to know why I wanted to go to such an area. I explained I wanted to see the church as some of my grandmother's people were baptized there. She asked me to come back in the morning. I did and she walked me over to this office in town. They asked me who my relative was and I gave them what I had. They said to come back in 2 hours. I did. They had researched my people further. They contacted a lovely woman who drove me all over the area and showed me various places where they had lived and likely worked. She also made me a dinner of reindeer meat, those Swedish mushrooms...begin with C...the name escapes me, which she picked, and potatoes. She had gone to college in the north so she said she'd make me a northern meal in honor of the other relatives. She was in her 70s at the time...where I am now. LOL

I had a somewhat similar experience in Umeå. I had had to bargain with a taxi company to bring me to a location nearby and stay while I explored (the hotel receptionist translated the negotiations for me). It seemed they begrudgingly agreed and one of the female drivers volunteered. I had no info other than where the logging yard was, which was a lovely walk, which she did with me. Back in the cab and pretty soon everyone at the taxi company is researching where she should take me next, ie, the church, a village area, etc. We had a lovely time. Sweden loves their 'lost cousins'. So I suggest your friend go armed with all the information she has about her family tree and locations. And, when she goes somewhere to ask about them, you step back aways so they feel like they are dealing with one person. I traveled solo...that might have made the difference.

On that trip I also previously made contact with a woman via the internet, just on a Swedish ancestry page. She drove me around and brought me to her house for the first strawberries of the season. Anyway, since then she has started a small business (not her main job) and she will find where ancestors lived, bring them there, and connect them with living cousins if possible. If your friend is interested in that, I can DM you her contact information. She's in the Jönköping area. I have no idea how much it costs. So I suggest you speak with your friend to see if she has any idea in what part of Sweden her family is from and visit those areas. That being said, Gotenburg allegedly has a good emigration museum. Stockholm is lovely so I wouldn't miss Stockholm. I loved Skansen there, but it is doubtful it would be open in January...but maybe, seems they do have some celebrations outside there in winter...or that might be the one in Umeå.

So if you can come back with more specific locations...even north or south, east or west, would be helpful. Sweden is a wonderfully friendly country. Anywhere I was, even shops, if they found out I was descended from an emigrant, I would hear "Welcome home!"

Also, has she seen "The Great American Adventure"? Allt for Sverige is the Swedish name. Maybe she will want to apply to be on that show. If they interview her, she should be willing to say she'll cry...a most unSwedish thing to do and I gave the wrong answer, but it lead to my own wonderful trip.

Have you factored in the short daylight hours in Sweden in January? In Stockholm, the sun rises around 9:00 and sets around 3:00. The further north you go, the less daylight you have. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go, but you should be prepared, especially if you are looking to enjoy nature and scenery.

I’ve only been to Stockholm (in July and October), and I loved it. It’s a beautiful city with lots to do.

I can't imagine visiting Sweden in the dead of winter without multiple days in Stockholm. You surely know that Swedes don't live in hand-built rural cabins, butchering their own reindeer! They put their bikes in covered bike racks at the station and train to the city, where they join in the financial domination of Europe.

She also made me a dinner of reindeer meat, those Swedish
mushrooms...begin with C...the name escapes me, which she picked, and
potatoes.

Chanterelles? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantharellus_cibarius

I loved Skansen there, but it is doubtful it would be open in
January...

Skansen is open 365 days per year (or 366 on leap years).

The House of Emigrants is an emigration museum in the town of Vaxjo. It is co-located with a glass museum. I enjoyed both, though I am not of Swedish background.

Just keep in mind that Sweden has changed since the early 1900s and some of the traditions that her family have, could have been changed or modified when they moved to the US.

I would just find out where in Sweden her ancestors came from and perhaps base yourself from there. It could be fun to see her ancestral home or hometown or even the church where her ancestors were baptized.

What lovely stories about finding Swedish origins, loved it! In addition to doing all the research she can ahead of time, I took photos of my grandparents' homestead in Fargo, North Dakota which were a big hit. It was also fun to show the second cousins living in the home where my grandmother was born above the arctic circle, pictures of her home taken a hundred years ago. (The story of how I found them is a saga, think old letters, followed up by random phone calls to Minnesota & an intro to a second cousin on LinkedIn, who was quite suspicious until I could name all of my grandmother's siblings, same as his grandmother's.)

If you're looking for "Swedishness", do carve out some time for Skansen in Stockholm, we've been there at Christmas time and there were a lot of festivities, though will be quieter but no less fun in January. I was amazed at the flat bread bakery, just like my grandmother use to make, and the woman in traditional garb looked JUST like my aunt.... It is open all year, perched high on a hill on Djurgården island, it was quite chilly but hey she's from South Dakota so should be fine. https://skansen.se/en/plan-your-visit/opening-hours-and-prices/.

You sound like quite intrepid travelers, I'm sure you will have a great trip! (PS, Should have added a link to our recent 2-day TR to Stockholm, some of this won't work in January, but would absolutely add a visit to the Swedish History museum! https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/2-day-stockholm-trip)

MAXIMUM WINTRY SWEDISHNESS Part I - The North

FEBRUARY DAYLIGHT

You are right to want to take in nature as it is a religion here, an integral part of the culture that is always present. As February is the coldest and snowiest month, even though the thaw can set in during the last few days of the month in the capital, and is MUCH better lit, you should strongly consider arriving on FEB 15. Go north of the province of Gästrikland and the city of Gävle and a snowy experience should be guaranteed for all, as Gävle retains it's snow much longer. Go even further north to Sundsvall or Umeå and you will get all the dark, cold and snow anyone could possibly wish for, as there is always more of it the further north you go except in the summer, when there are almost supernatural amounts of nothing but light. South of the capital the cities along the coasts don't always get a lot of snow, which is a "problem" in both Gothenburg and Malmö, as the climate is different there, and both are windier and occasionally storm-ridden that time of year.

TRAVELS

Here are some suggestions that will give you a real taste for Sweden (north to south):
VISIT: - Go by train in a sleeping carriage to Umeå (alt. Sundsvall) and take trips inland, to the silent snowladen fir forests and to the frozen Baltic coast from there. There is even a recreational forest in downtown Umeå. - Peruse the Zorn paintings in the small snowy town of Mora at the northern end of Dalarna. - Stay a while in Uppsala for the large cathedral, the splendidly situated castle, several botanical gardens that range from quaint to magnificent, and the viking heartland of Gamla Uppsala, where the giant burial mounds will move you back to a time before Christianity. They are Scandinavias frosty reply to the pyramids at Gizeh. - Enjoy the History Museum gold hoard, Nordiska Muséet and Skansen in the capital. Walk the medieval alleys of Gamla Stan and see the worth-wile world-class grandeur of the interiors of the royal castle, which are truly opulent and surprisingly varied (1740-). You could mount a bed in those colossal Parisian chandeliers. Take bus 403 to the terminal stop Östervägen (19 min) for the Källtorpssjön nature reserve trails by the jetty.

STAY

Buildings that are at least 100 years old will give you that genuine Swedish feeling, as they were constructed, furnished and decorated by local artisans who took care to choose the right wood and painted appliances by hand. Try Sven Vintappare or Hellstens Malmgård for that 1780 treat that won't be forgotten, and Hotell Hornsgatan or Castle House Inn if you prefer more affordable options. In Gothenburg look up Hotell Dorsia (costlier), Hotell Royal, Hotell Eggers, Pigalle, Hotell Vanilla, Hotell Flora, Elite Plaza or Center Hotell (cheaper). In Malmö book at Mayfair Hotel Tunneln or BW Hotel Royal (request the older building).

DINE

The bread and the pastries are the best and most varied in the world, and you should go to great lengths to sample all the varieties. Purchase kavring, rågkaka and tunnbröd at a good bakery (or even at a supermarket) and get to know a few of the hidden wonders of the northern cuisine. Have fika with cinnamon buns, cardamom buns, sticky chocolate cake, 3 varieties of sponge cake, and a minimum of 5 kinds of biscuit at a confectionery; Nya Konditoriet in Umeå, Güntherska in Uppsala, Vetekatten, Rosendals Trädgårdar or Grillska Huset in the capital, Taxinge Slottscafé (with a giant-size pastry buffet) in Södermanland, Ahlströms or Latterian in Gothenburg, and Konditori Katarina in Malmö. Pastries and bread are one of the few things that are a cultural constant, and the bread you choose would easily have been recognized by people, in one region or another, who lived 100 years ago. SPECIAL RECOMMENDATION: The singular Skansen heritage (1870) bakery! All you want is all they've got!!!

Avoid the Skåne and Gotland regions as they are anything but Swedish at heart.

Mycket Nöje!