Kalajoki, Finland – This is as far north as we’re going to get on this trip. So this is my best chance to sample some Lapland specialties at Ravintola Pihvitupa. We started with smoked reindeer soup, followed by Finnish squeaky…
No Crowds
Kalajoki, Finland – One of the things I love about Finland is that there are no crowds, anywhere we go. I have written about this before, but it continues to astound me. This is one of the best, most popular…
Goodbye to Åland
Åland, Finland – Today we said goodbye to Åland and our sweet little farmhouse here. We loved the island life! Next stop: Kalajoki on the northwest coast. Here is a pic from the long haul north. P.S. Photo taken at…
Lumparby Ollas
Åland, Finland – Here in Åland, we are staying in a farmhouse in the tiny village of Lumparland. There is not much here, save a church, a food market and the delightful and dangerous Lumparby Ollas Cafe. Several things to…
Stallhagen Brewery
Åland, Finland – In 2010, wreck divers salvaged old bottles of beer and champagne from a 19th-century shipwreck off the coast of Åland. Scientists analyzed the contents and local Stallhagen brewery re-created the historic beer. For those of us who are…
Mariehamn Maritime Quarter
Mariehamn, Finland – The capital of Åland, Mariehamn is a seafarer’s paradise. The waterside Mariehamn Maritime Quarter has long been a center of boat building. Nowadays, the atmospheric quay has ship-building workshops alongside art galleries, cafes and local boutiques. You…
Family Fun in Åland
Åland, Finland -While I have been busy writing, my intrepid research assistants have also been hard at work. They have been investigating family fun in Åland. More specifically, they can now report on Åland’s best mini-golf, water park and amusement…
Kastelholm & Bomarsund
Åland, Finland – We had an amazing day with our “Finnish cousins”, taking in all the Åland highlights, including Kastelholm & Bomarsund. Our first stop was the 14th-century Kastelholm castle. The second stop on Åland was the picturesque Jan Karlsgården…
Åland Islands
Åland, Finland – We are bound for the Åland islands — the Finnish-owned, Swedish-speaking, autonomous archipelago in the Gulf of Bothnia. Google it.
Bengtskär Lighthouse
Bengtskär Lighthouse, the tallest lighthouse in Scandinavia, the gateway to the Archipelago Sea. We made the 25km journey from Hanko to admire this beaut and climb to the top. The 360-degree view from the top is worth the climb. And…