With a video full of wintery pictures of beautiful snowy Finland, we wish everyone very happy holidays. Remember to share your enjoyment of the outdoors with everyone.
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Happy Holidays 2018!
Magic of the giant’s kettles in Askola
A lot of people will know the story about Jack and the Beanstalk. When the seeds grow into a stalk, Jack climbs up and ends up in the house of the giant. In some versions, Jack is hidden in the giant's kettle but the giant smells him in his house. This story really comes...
Snowmobiling in Lapland – Pyhävasa wilderness hut
Snowmobiling in Lapland is a bucket list thing to do for any petrol head or those who want to really experience Lappish nature in the winter, outside of Hullu Poro. Skiing is of course a nature lover's number one option and snowshoeing comes as close second, but there are somewhat limited number of kilometers that you can cover with them - or at least what I can cover with them. Snowmobiling is a great option for seeing the nature and reaching your destination when...
Find your own lucky stone at Lampivaara Amethyst Mine
As children, we have all found treasure in the most bizarre places. Sometimes it probably was an amazing stick, a slimy toad, or even a shiny rock. However, most of us forget about our dreams of finding jewels and precious stones when we grow up. We advocate finding your inner child every now and then, so we decided to go and dig for treasure at Lampivaara in Lapland. (more…)
Iso-Valkee is a spectacular little lake with nature trail and lean-to shelters
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 has traces of the ice age
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...
Juveninkoski waterfall in Jämsä
Juveninkoski is a waterfall located in Jämsä. It gets its water from a small Nytkymenjoki river in the village of Partala and it is the largest waterfall in Central Finland. The water plunges down a rocky cliff for about 7 metres. Juveninkoski is a nice sight especially in spring (April-May) when the water level in the river is higher. I mean, let's be honest here, Finland is not exactly the go-to country for waterfalls, but it's nice to have some beautiful rapids to see. I visited this...
The Rantaraitti seaside promenade in Espoo shows you the best of the capital area
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...
The Finnish sauna experience
Did you know that sauna is a Finnish innovation? The earliest versions are believed to be from 7000 BC, but one of the first written mentions of what is believed to be the sauna customs of the forefathers of the Finns was written by the Nestor the Chronicler in 1112:
“In the country of Slavs I saw wooden spas, very much warmed up, where people took their clothes off, poured leaven on themselves, took some brooms or some sticks, and were whipping themselves” K.J. Erben...
Cranberries are the world’s healthiest food
Cranberries are said to be the world's healthiest food. This is of course open for debate, but nobody can deny that cranberries have very good fiber content, very low sugar content, and they are known for their concentration of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrients. This superfood grows in bogs and the best part is that in Finland anyone can go and pick them.
I have recently been picking cranberries at Torronsuo National Park. In some years bogs have red mats of cranberries, but...