Washing Rugs is a Beloved Finnish Summer Tradition
Washing rugs at a rug-washing station is a Finnish summer tradition. Learn how locals turn this everyday task into a seasonal ritual.
Entries by Jonna Saari
Wild Strawberries – A Tiny Summer Treasure in Finland
Wild strawberries are a beloved summer delicacy in Finland. Much smaller and more aromatic than cultivated strawberries, they grow wild in forests and along roadsides. Finns enjoy them fresh, often threaded onto a blade of grass or mixed with bilberries and cold milk.
Crystal-clear water and fine sandy beach: this is Padva Beach on the Baltic Sea coast in Raseborg
Wade through turquoise waters, snorkel in crystal-clear shallows, and relax on sun-warmed sand—Padva Beach in Raseborg is a peaceful summer dream on the South-West coast of Finland.
What You’ll Find in a Finnish Sauna: A Simple Introduction
Curious about what awaits inside a real sauna? This beginner‑friendly guide shows you what you’ll find in an authentic Finnish sauna.
I Stood Barefoot in a Midwinter Forest — and Discovered the Power of Skin-to-Nature Contact
This personal story explores the quiet power of reconnecting with nature—skin to earth, moment to moment.
10 Great Reasons to Visit Lapland in Summer
Summer in Lapland is bright, peaceful, green, and dreamlike in its beauty. While many associate Lapland with winter, snow, and northern lights, summer reveals an entirely different side—one that many Finns return to year after year. Here are ten compelling reasons why summer is the perfect time to head north. Read to the end for […]
Oulanka National Park: Stunning Cliffs & Roaring Rapids
Oulanka National Park is a true paradise for hikers and nature lovers, mesmerizing visitors with dramatic landforms, towering cliffs, and mighty rapids. Its vast network of trails offers something for every level of ability, and the park is dotted with an abundance of rest areas and wilderness huts. Famous for its suspension bridges, rugged canyons, […]
A Majestic Giant: The Rotomänty Pine, Salo
The large, beautiful city of Salo, is gently waking up to spring. In Finnish, the word salo means a vast, wild forest, and true to its name, this coastal city between Turku and Helsinki has no shortage of woodlands. While browsing a topographic map near the villages of Kisko and Suomusjärvi, I stumbled upon something […]
Embraced by the March Baltic Sea: Early Spring Beauty at Porkkalanniemi in Kirkkonummi
At the tip of Porkkalanniemi, a peninsula stretching into the Baltic Sea in Kirkkonummi, you’ll find the Porkkalanniemi recreation area maintained by Uuvi (Uudenmaan virkistysalueyhdistys). The area offers several parking areas, marked trails, and rest stops—provided you’re willing (hopefully without motion sickness!) to navigate the winding, narrow road that demands constant attention. Last week, we […]
Wine in the Woods: A Unique Forest Experience in Nuuksio near Helsinki
I walk along a forest path, take a deep breath, and let the scents of the woods fill my lungs. Our small group has arrived at the edge of Nuuksio National Park—a park just a half-hour drive (and a slightly longer train+bus ride) from the bustling center of Finland’s capital, Helsinki. It’s hard to believe, […]
