Vacation sorted
We finally made decisions about our summer vacation last weekend. After some consideration, we decided we’ll go to the Åland Islands. As we had also considered a road trip in Eastern Finland and hubby really wanted to visit the Maritime Centre Vellamo in Kotka we also decided to take a weekend trip to Kotka in July.
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In a few weeks, we’ll head to Kotka on Friday and spend Saturday exploring Kotka and the nearby Hamina. In Hamina, I want to visit the Fortress Trail and the old center of Hamina. On Friday we’ll have dinner at Keisarinsatama and on Saturday at Vausti. On Sunday we’ll drive back home.
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Then, when our summer vacation starts in mid-August it’s time to head to Åland. As we take the ferry from Turku in the morning, we’ll spend one night in Turku. Once on Åland, we’ll stay in Mariehamn for two nights at Park Alandia Hotel. Then we’ll stay at Pensionat Stalldalen for two nights after which we return to Mariehamn for a final night at Hotel Pommern.
I’ve made a preliminary plan of what I want to see and do on Åland. In Mariehamn, we’ll visit the museum ship Pommern, the Maritime Quarter, and stroll along the shoreline and in the center. There are a couple of interesting restaurants in Mariehamn that I’d like to visit. Pub Niska that serves flatbread style pizzas, Boquerian, a tapas restaurant that I’ve read good reviews about, and Kvarter5 that seems interesting and has good reviews. There are also a few cafes and a gelateria in Mariehamn that seem interesting.
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Sites we’d like to visit outside the capital include Kastelholm Castle Åland’s only medieval castle founded in the 1380s. There is also an open-air museum and prison museum near the castle. The Bromarsund fortress ruins and surrounding grounds also seem like a place worth visiting. If we feel up for a hike, Godbyrundan looks interesting. Käringsund on Eckerö looks like a nice little place to explore for an hour or two, as does Lappo on Brändö. Other fun activities could be visiting a beach or taking a boat tour. A must-do for foodies like us is dinner at Smakbyn. Another interesting food-related visit outside the capital is the brewery and pub Stallhagen.
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I’m so excited about our upcoming trips, let’s see what kind of adventures we’ll end up having.