Sapokka Water Garden spreads across the area surrounding Sapokka Bay in Kotka. It’s a beautiful park where water features play a central role. My memory had long held onto an image of a tall waterfall in Sapokka, so when I arrived in Kotka for an entirely different reason and that very waterfall happened to catch […]
Haapasaari island is one of those wonderful destinations you can reach for free by a scheduled commuter ferry service. The M/S Otava operates from Kuusinen harbour, and the crossing takes two hours each way — long enough to let the sea breeze blow away the everyday worries while getting a taste of the Eastern Gulf […]
In commercial collaboration with Visit Raseborg Brimming with small-town charm and celebrating its 700th anniversary, Karjaa (Karis) is home to a delightful collection of day-trip destinations: there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a laid-back sun-seeker, an adventurer yearning for the peace of a forest lake, or a history enthusiast. Karjaa, located in Raasepori (Raseborg), is […]
First-timer’s guide: what to expect, what to bring, and how to avoid the most common mistakes on one of Finland’s most beautiful lakeshore trails. Iso-Melkutin is the kind of lake that stops you mid-step. The water is exceptionally clear: the sort of clarity that makes you want to stop, stare, and eventually wade in with […]
Earlier this week we told you about the wonderful summer town of Hanko, located at the tip of the Hanko Peninsula far out in the embrace of the Baltic Sea, about a two-hour drive or train ride from Helsinki. When you travel to Hanko, make sure you set aside time to stop for a good […]
Hanko is a remarkably exotic city: grand old ornate villas, long beautiful sandy beaches with changing cabins, and the scent and breeze of the Baltic sea coming from almost every direction are all hallmarks of this southernmost corner of mainland Finland, which stretches far out into the sea in western Uusimaa. Many Finns cherish Hanko […]
The Japanese term ‘hanami’ is often associated with admiring cherry blossoms, but the word refers more broadly to the appreciation and enjoyment of flowers in general. In Finland, too, there are cherry trees and cherry groves here and there, whose blossoming is a magnificent sight — though a fleeting one. A somewhat longer window for […]
One of those spring Sundays that remind you why you bother going outside. Sun out, a gentle breeze in the trees, and Lake Iso-Valkee looking exactly as good as ever: clear water, forest all around, not a building in sight. Iso-Valkee trail info It was one of the first properly warm spring days when I […]
The April wind was biting, and a late-season cold snap was on its way, but deep within the forest, the world seemed to stand still, as it always does. This past Sunday, we headed to Somero, into the rural peace of Southwest Finland, to explore the Metsäkoivula Trail. If you’re looking for a destination where […]
Tervetuloa! Welcome to Finland! As you prepare to explore our wonderful summer cities and breathtaking wilderness, you’re about to experience a very clean environment. To help you feel right at home, here is a quick guide on the Finnish Way of keeping our surroundings beautiful. In the City: The Bin When you are exploring the […]
