The Kopparnäs-Störsvik recreation area 50 kilometres West of Helsinki is one of the biggest outdoor destinations in the Western Uusimaa region. In addition to 721 hectares on land, the area consists of islands and large water areas as well. Over 15 kilometres of unbuilt shoreline make it a perfect destination for day trips by the sea.
<span aria-label="Continue reading Feel the sea at the Kopparnäs-Störsvik recreation...
If you are looking for versatile outdoor opportunities in the capital region, but want an alternative to the often crowded Nuuksio area, the Meiko recreation area in Kirkkonummi is something for you. It has three marked routes, but is also very accessible for off-track activities, such as berry picking or even snowshoeing!
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National parks in Finland are attracting millions of visitors every year. There are 40 national parks in Finland, all of them distinct from one another. Which are the most visited national parks in Finland? What are their special characteristics? When was the oldest national park established? Which is the biggest? Read more to find out which national park you should select as your next vacation destination!
The...
The river Vantaa (Vantaanjoki) runs for 99 kilometres (62 mi) through the capital area, providing excellent fishing, hiking, and general adventure for all ages. One the best places to enjoy the river is by the Vantaankoski rapids where nature meets old Finnish industry.
Rapids rarely freeze even in the coldest of winters even though the water flowing through the rapids may actually be below 0°C (32 °F),...
The Linlo island in Kirkkonummi, little more than 40 kilometres west of Helsinki, is a less known outdoor destination next to the popular recreation area of Porkkala. The island is perfect for day trips in a beautiful and versatile archipelago setting.
Linlo is located next to a small-boat harbour, Linlo Marina, and can...
Iso-Valkee is a beautiful little lake with sandy beaches, lean-to shelters and a nature trail. This area is especially popular among swimmers and divers, ice-skaters, dog owners and geocachers. The trail around the lake is 3,7 km long. Water in the lake is crystal clear, which is not that common in the Finnish lakes.
I went to Iso-Valkee in November, a day before the snow, and I didn't see any swimmers. The lake was partly open as it is up to 24 meters deep and has some natural springs. But...
Pääjärvi recreation area is a perfect spot for day visits or short overnight stays, when you want to be out in the nature in Southern Finland. Pääjärvi provides clearly marked trails and nice resting spots around the lake. It's a good place for picking berries and mushrooms, hook and line fishing, skiing, cycling, swimming, and camping. Pääjärvi is also a multi-cache location, in case you are into geocaching.
I headed to Pääjärvi last weekend to enjoy the autumn day and have a...
Whether you prefer a slow, gentle stroll along the seaside or a more strenuous trail running experience, the Rantaraitti (seaside promenade or the waterfront walkway) in Espoo, Finland's second biggest city is the thing to do. It literally has it all: possibilities for berry and mushroom picking, cycling, running and walking, the sea and forests, gentle paved and accessible paths as well as demanding trails in the adjoining forests, fishing and bird watching opportunities, benches...
Kauniainen is Finland's smallest municipality, only 6km2 (2,3mi2) in diameter, located in the middle of another municipality, Espoo. It has a lovely small lake area that is perfectly suitable for a lazy stroll to enjoy the absolutely huge spruce trees and leafy green oak trees. The area is only about 15km from the centre of Helsinki and easily accessible by car or by public transport, so a perfect place for a quick relaxing visit.
My friend and I were in the area when we, quite literally,...
We were on a roadtrip from Jyväskylä all the way to Enontekiö in north western Lapland, and we wanted to visit Hepoköngäs along the way. We knew the largest free-falling waterfalls in Finland were somewhere in the Kainuu region just above the midriff of Finland so we took out an old-fashioned map and checked out that it was located in Puolanka, about 100km above the town of Kajaani. Yes, it was sort of along our route (it wasn't really… the detour added several hours to our travel...
