A view from the King's Manor to the river. Photo: LikeFinland.com
Would you believe that it is possible to relax in the nature so near Helsinki? But it is, at least in our Star Destination, Restaurant Kuninkaan Lohet, which is located by the rapids Vantaankoski in Vantaa, north of Helsinki.
They have two unique buildings, a historical factory building Vanha Viilatehdas (Old File Factory) and an idyllic Kuninkaan Kartano (King's Manor), a manor with lovely, renovated rooms and cabinets.
Nowadays this lovely Gustavian atmosphere is suitable for organizing parties both for families as well as corporate and other groups. All rooms have even up-to-date conference technology for business meetings.
Delicious lunch on the Manor's sunny terrace at the end of April 2019. Photo: LikeFinland.com
In the surroundings of the Old File Factory and Vantaankoski rapids (fast flow in the river), they have a nature trail, that is worth experiencing. The King's Manor, the Old File Factory and the flowing Vantaankoski form together a historical milieu in the nature but still near the highways of Helsinki area.
While enjoying nature's relaxing feeling, you can also enjoy lunch with pure tastes and components. It’s now served in the King's Manor on the hill, but in June the lunch will be available by the rapids in the Old File Factory with it's large summer terrace. The lunch buffet is served around the year, either in the manor (autumn, winter, spring) or in the factory (summer). In spring time it’s possible to have a lunch on the Manor’s warm, sunny terrace, too!
The premises of the King's Manor were renewed in cooperation with the National Board of Antiquities in late summer 2018. The Manor is now more practical both for customers and employees. Photo: LikeFinland.com
The history of the area goes far. It is an old ironworks, a file factory of the Dahlfors’ company by the rapids. The factory was still running in the 1960’s. The file factory is from 1890s, and there are still old times things for restaurant guests to see. The manor's main building dates back to the early 20th century. It was originally built as a Swedish-speaking folk school, but Mika Turunen, Managing director of the Restaurant Kuninkaan Lohet, tells that there was also a tavern even in the early 18th century in this area.
The manor house expanded to be more practical
The Restaurant Kuninkaan Lohet is a venue for parties, meetings and banquets. The manor's premises were expanded in cooperation with the National Board of Antiquities last year. Changes and extensions have been made in lobbies, kitchen, social facilities and the location of the buffet.
All in all, the Restaurant Kuninkaan Lohet offers a variety of premises either for a few people or family parties, up to groups of 140 people - or even bigger groups, depending on the arrangements.
Rooms and cabinets for different needs. Photo: LikeFinland.com
Kuninkaan Lohet is located in Vantaa, that is a city with many popular tourist destinations. And many of them are internationally popular too, such as Science Center Heureka, Finnish Aviation Museum and Flamingo Entertainment Center. So, this Kuninkaan Lohet environment and services consist a good supplement for Vantaa experience!
Vantaa is a former rural municipality of Helsinki, and the manor and the ironworks are fixed part of the local history. It's nice to see that is being developed on a long-term basis. Mika talks about a comprehensive nature experience and, in cooperation with educational institutions, he is estimating what today's young people want from this kind of experience destination in 2025.
Activities
Besides parties and food experiences close to nature, Kuninkaan Lohet offers activities both for private and business customers. A new activity is a real “extreme survival game” in Vantaankoski's nature! In the game the participants are divided in teams, and they need to solve a problem related to fictional car crash and give first aid, find the way out of the woods, crossing the river... Very exciting!
The teams get help from a real nature guide, that is hired for this experience. Other activities, such as the paddling with solo canoes, you can find here.
The Restaurant Kuninkaan Lohet is an experience-filled, natural and historical restaurant and event destination for various family and private events, meetings and corporate events. Kuninkaan Lohet also has sauna facilities in both the King's Manor and in the Old File Factory.
Kuninkaan Lohet offer you both daily lunches (Monday-Friday year-round) and also popular themed dinners and weekend brunches. Please, see the schedule below or at Kuninkaan Lohet website here.
Text: Anne Kinos-Järvinen / original Finnish text: Henri Elo
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UPCOMING EVENTS IN MAY AND JUNE 2019
Sat 25.5., 15.6., 6.7., 20.7. Viilatehdas' Summer Brunches on Saturdays (www)
Fri 17.5. Lasilliset Juicea (Glass full of Juice) – a musical about legendary Finnish artist Juice Leskinen (www)
Fri 24.5. Viilatehdas' Summer Party (www) – Comics MC Ali Jahangiri, Antti Haapala and Ursula Herlin, the band Jusba Humaljoki Duo!
Fri 14.6. Stand Up Grill (www) – Comics: MC Ali Jahangiri, Mikko Vaismaa and Fredi Lilius
More events at Restaurant Kuninkaan Lohet here
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Restaurant Kuninkaan Lohet
Voudintie 1 (Kuninkaan Kartano) / Kuninkaantie 28 (Vanha Viilatehdas)
01740 VANTAA, FINLAND
Homepage and how to get there (www)
Facebook (www)
Instagram (www)
Phone +358 (0) 9 253 253 00
E-mail: myyntipalvelu(a)kuninkaanlohet.com
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We have chosen Kuninkaan Lohet as the Destination of the Month in May 2019. Kuninkaan Lohet is our Star Destination and media customer.
LikeFinland.com is a nationwide leisure time media and search service of Finnish destinations. You can like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
Our main website in Finnish is KivaaTekemista.fi.
Suomen Tivoli Tour 2019 has started. The funfair depot in Tuusula, on the horizon, has been left behind.
There is one sign of summer - or at least start of spring - that one can recognize on the road - and it can not be mistaken.
Eetu, 7 years, told me many times at the beginning of April, which kind of funfair tour trucks he had seen on the road of 45 in Tuusula - and which machines or rides they were carrying on.
This is a new funfair field in Vanhankylänniemi, Järvenpää, by the lake of Tuusulanjärvi. Photo: LikeFinland.com
We - as a LikeFinland team - experienced a nice and funny funfair day in Järvenpää in April 13th, 2019. The weather was not so nice. It was around +5 C degrees, but were well prepared with beanies and wool trousers!
So, time passed quickly. We spent in Suomen Tivoli funfair in Vanhankylänniemi around three hours. The boy liked more quick rides like Gravitron, Mega Hip Hop, Roller Coaster, Sombrero, Spider and Twister.
Aada, 11-year girl, liked more rides with nice wies, like Star Flyer (launced in 2018) and Ferris Wheel.
Rides of Suomen Tivoli. Photo: LikeFinland.com
We enjoyed delicious meals of Suomen Tivoli. Especially my Premium Burger was very tasty and juicy! Funfair manager Lulu Sariola told us that the burger is developed by Suomen Tivoli's own kitchen.
The Grill wagon is completely new, and in this season there is also a new Candy wagon as well. :)
Tasty meals in Suomen Tivoli. :) Photo: LikeFinland.com
You can see more info of Suomen Tivoli Tour 2019 here. The funfair is staying in Jyväskylä until May 19th.
After Jyväskylä, Suomen Tivoli is directing to Oulu. The tour through Finland will reach Rovaniemi by Midsummer - with nightless nights in Finnish Lapland.
Suomen Tivoli is the biggest travelling funfair in Finland.
Text and photos: Henri Elo / LikeFinland.com
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We have chosen Suomen Tivoli Tour 2019 as the Destination of the Month in April 2019. Suomen Tivoli is our Star Destination and media customer.
LikeFinland.com is a nationwide leisure time media and search service of Finnish destinations. You can like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
Our main website in Finnish is KivaaTekemista.fi.
The feeling in the evening in Mariehamn - there must be some mysterious or romantic! Photo: LikeFinland.com
We, as a LikeFinland team, were thinking, which could be a nice, different, relaxing and not so expensive winter holiday destination for two school age kids and an adult.
The mainland of Finland is quite familiar for us – of course not all destinations – but then… as we all know, the kids are dreaming ship cruises - and many adults too! It is a fixed part of Finnish “tourism culture”, built-in to the Finn’s mind, could I say. :)
Leaving from Turku by a cruise ferry on Monday morning of the winter holiday, "sportlov", as they say in Åland. Photo: LikeFinland.com
From Helsinki to Tallinn, to Stockholm. From Turku to Stockholm and so on. But then there is also Mariehamn, the capital of our lovely Åland, partly independent province of Finland!
Yes, the kids will get their ferry cruise – and we all get our Mariehamn.
Our absolute favourite in Mariehamn was Mariabad Spa and Waterpark – Badhuset Mariebad. We visited there two times!
A crazy water slide as well as a pool from inside to outside were really relaxing. You just watch the sea and the ice, the sea nature, which is living its calm and cold season. And you enjoy when the warm water lubricates you, getting your soul to rest.
Mariebad, we love you! A water slide with speed metrics and a pool with a sea view! Photo: LikeFinland.com
We liked very much the short distances of Mariehamn. One can just walk to anywhere. Even the Western Harbour, where the big ferries arrives and leave, is less than 1 km or 15 minutes walk from the city centre.
Of course, if you want to go to the biggest shopping mall, Maxinge, in this amazing island, you may take a taxi or car, or a bike. Maxinge is located approx. 3 km north from the centre.
But there are services like shops and restaurants, cafeterias, in the centre also. Many are open in winter time too. Two nice shopping malls Sittkoff Gallerian and Zeipels are there for you!
Our renovated hotel was nice, comprehensive and reasonably-priced. Park Alandia Hotel has a restaurant, bar with outdoor terrace and live music Wed-Sat round the year as well as conference facilities, pool and sauna. Photo: LikeFinland.com
We enjoyed our time in a fully renovated traditional hotel, Park Alandia Hotel. It is located in the middle of the centre, Norra Esplanadgatan 3. We got good sleep in our comfortable beds in the nice, renovated hotel room. It was even hard to distinguish if the hotel was completely new or renovated.
The restaurant was good with classic meals as well as vegetarian meals. The breakfast of the Park Restaurant gave a good start for the days in our 2-nights mini holiday!
We enjoyed also other restaurants like Pizza Diablo and Sittkoff Gården. All these places to eat were reasonably-priced.
Another favourite for kids, besides Mariebad, was Åland Maritime Museum – Ålands Sjöfartsmuseum. It is located a little bit north from the Western Harbour.
They have been also thinking kids in the museum, because there exist interesting “Give it go” activities (these are for any ages people!) around museum:
“At Åland Maritime Museum we want you to learn the ropes. Climb the mast, tie knots and try to steer a ship in the simulator. The hands-on activities are all around the whole museum and are great fun not just for kids.” (sjofartsmuseuum.ax)
Åland Maritime Museum offers to see and explore for people of all ages. Photo: LikeFinland.com
My kids were keen to hunt all the treasures from the mysterious holes:
“Follow Ruby the ship’s rat and look for the nifty rat holes hidden in various places around the museum, discovering the exhibitions as you go along. Return your answers to the front desk and receive your prize from the treasure chest.”
Maybe the trickiest task was to choose a nice prize after the successful hunt. :)
Finally we spent time downstairs in a place called “Ruby and the Sea”:
“Ruby and the Sea, the imaginative children’s room at the Maritime Museum presents a fascinating world both under and above the surface of the sea. The sea has moved in and the kids get to discover all that might hide on the sea bed – wrecks, fish, corals, sea creatures and even secret mermaid grottos.”
There was one disadvantage in our museum visit. We had just roughly an hour time to explore. The museum is open daily 11-16 (winter 2019).
You should reserve more time for this museum, which was chosen as the Museum of the Year in Finland 2016! A re-opening of the Museum Ship Pommern, next to the Maritime Museum, will be held in May 1st, 2019.
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This is not the end of Mariehamn experience!
We were really positively surprised that there were a toy store called Dillen with a wide selection of toys both for boys and girls. At the same time there have been closed many toy stores in the Finnish mainland.
Pearls of Dillen. Photo: LikeFinland.com
Maybe the family company culture is so strong in Åland that they can retain their shops and keep them open around the year with some mysterious “archipelago energy”. Good for tourists! :)
Aada, 11 years old, was also interested in nice shops of Sittkoff Galleria. Most of the shopping possibilities and restaurants in the centre are located along the walking street, Torggatan, or nearby. Photo: LikeFinland.com
Friendly Felicia and Didrik at the Visit Åland tourist info told us that there is even a skiing resort in Åland! Photo: LikeFinland.com
Good to know!
Mariehamn is worth a visit all year round. In summer time you can enjoy nice hiking, biking or motorcycling trips in different parts of the island.
And don’t forget a lovely Eckerö area in the western side of Åland, with Eckerö’s beautiful beaches like Degersand, historical Post and Custom’s House by the seaside, and a theme park for the whole family, Smart Park, opened in 2015.
In the eastern side of the island, Sund area, there are castles and fortresses like Kastelholm Castle and Bomarsund Fortress.
Easter comes!
You get more information of the Easter weekend in Åland here: Visit Åland - Easter
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CONTACT INFO OF STAR DESTINATIONS
Visit Åland, Åland's tourist info and webpages (VisitAland.com in English here)
Visit Åland's FB and Instagram
Storagatan 8 (open in winter season Mon-Fri 9-17)
22100 Maarianhamina, ÅLAND - FINLAND
Phone +358 (0) 18 24000
info(a)visitaland.com
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Park Alandia Hotel (ParkAlandia.com in English here)
Park Alandia's FB
Norra Esplanadgatan 3
22100 Maarianhamina, ÅLAND - FINLAND
Phone +358 (0) 18 14130
info(a)parkalandia.com
The sun came to greet us last day. We enjoyed our mini holiday in Mariehamn, Åland. Thanks! Photo: LikeFinland.com
Text and photos: Henri Elo / LikeFinland.com
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We have chosen Mariehamn and Åland in winter time as the Destination of the Month in March 2019. Visit Åland and Park Alandia Hotel are our Star Destinations and media customers.
LikeFinland.com is a nationwide leisure time media and search service of Finnish destinations. You can like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
Our main website in Finnish is KivaaTekemista.fi.
If you wish to experience something new on your trip to Lapland, let us introduce you the Elves Hideaway! This year-round-open home nest of elves will surprise you: it is more than elves, and it’s not a traditional amusement park, but it is very much culture and even more nature.
The Elves Hideaway is a large area with many kinds of attractions. Even the unique buildings in this area are worth to see. There is of course a shop with eternal Christmas, restaurant and cafe, but there actually is the elves hideaway, too! You can only reach the hideway via secret tunnel, but luckily you’ll get an elf to guide you! There are work shops and guided trips to children and people of all ages.
And the nature! These Elves will take you winter fishing, ice swimming, to sauna with peat or honey body mask, Lappish ceremony by Shaman… or if you wish a drive in this magical forest, you can choose huskies, reindeer or snowmobiles! The Elves Hideaway is an excellent destination for a day trip besides skiing. It is located only 8 kilometers from Levi Center.
And if you wish more of this peace and quiet, you can even stay there! The Boutique Hotel Taivaanvalkeat wishes you welcome. What a lovely place to hide away!
Read more on their homepage https://www.lapintonttula.fi/en/ ”Elves hideaway is an attractive destination based on stories, fantasy, culture and mythology of Lapland. It doesn´t compete with traditional amusement parks. There are two strong traveling trends in Elves hideaway: nature and culture. It will be open all year round and it invites travelers from all continents, both adults and children.”
Contact information:
Palosaarentie 30
FIN-99140 Köngäs
tel +358 16 6510 500
The Elves Hideaway is a LikeFinland ⭐ Star Destination ⭐
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LIKE FINLAND STAR DESTINATIONS IN LAPLAND - THOSE WE HAVE SELF VISITED & TESTED AND CAN WARMLY RECOMMEND!
Guesthouse Lomamaja Pekonen – Pekonen offers accommodation in cosy and clean apartments and cottages in Muonio (www)
Kierinki Village – Autenthic village in Lapland in Sodankylä area (www)
Pörröporo – Reindeer meat store and cafeteria in Pello, Western Lapland: Authentic food from forest, fells and lakes (www)
Elves Village – Experience for the whole family in Köngäs, Kittilä (www)
Lapland's Nature Experience – Unique experiences in winter and summer activities in Levi and in the whole Lapland (www)
Check all our Star Destinations at LikeFinland.com
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Photos: Elves Hideaway Village
Text: Anne Kinos-Järvinen (original Finnish text: Anne Kinos-Järvinen / article in Finnish)
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LikeFinland.com is a nationwide leisure time media and search service of Finnish destinations. You can like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
Our main website in Finnish is KivaaTekemista.fi.
One of Finland’s absolute natural beauties is the highland of Pallas-Ounas-fells in the municipalities of Muonio and Enontekiö in northwestern Lapland. The area is also known as the Fell Lapland.
In the area you can find one of Finland's most popular hiking and skiing trails in the fell area, Hetta-Pallas. It goes northward from Hetta, over the Ounas fells and further over (or by) the Pallas fells, up to Pallas Nature Center. Of course, if you wish, you can continue your journey from there to fell Olos or down to the center of Muonio! The route can be travelled in either direction.
Next to the traditional Hotel Pallas there is one of the three Nature Centers in Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park. The other two are located in Hetta (Enontekiö), and Äkäslompolo (Kolari), on the slopes of fell Ylläs. There is a nice and easy parking lot at the Pallas Hotel and Nature Center, and it’s also a starting point of several hiking and skiing trails, which are of many different lenghts.
There are also a couple of ski lifts to take the skier or boarder up to the snow on the slopes of the National Park.
We interviewed Paula Pekonen, an experienced travel entrepreneur from Muonio, who told us about snowshoeing on the slopes of Pallas. The photos are Paula's magnificent, atmospheric pictures from her last year’s trip to the fells, including photos with her French client.
According to Paula, January-February, partly during the polar night period (the sun doesnt't rise), is a wonderful time for snowshoeing, especially at Pallas.
“The days are still short, and as the sun sets, the colors of the sky and the atmosphere on the fells are incomparable. The snowy trees are like some fairy tail creatures. The peace and silence that prevails there is empowering. Also the blue twilight is worth experiencing. - - Unspoilt nature, no traces, silence, calm, unspoken peace around… you can really feel being only a small part of this nature and universe.”
“January-February is the coldest time in Lapland. When Muonio shows a -30 degree frost, up on the fell Pallas there is about 10 degrees warmer."
On very cold weather skiing might not be so nice because the skis won’t slide so well and the freezing air is difficult to breath. Quiet snowshoeing, on the other hand, keeps you warm and does not get you breathless. Nature is still sleeping in the winter, and it attracts with its calmness and with it’s pastel blue and grey colors. The Pallas hotel is still closed at the time, so there will be only few hikers then. That's part of the charm of the area, to hike in your own peace. "- But remember -!- It is important to have enough food and warm clothing with you, because you can't warm up indoors if you get cold", Paula reminds.
However, there is no such a big risk of getting lost there, because the open fells are easy to navigate and the visibility even to the Hotel is good. If the wind blows too much, the hiker can take a route downward in the forests' shelter, where the wind does not bite that much.
Accessibility is pretty good, because you can start snowshoeing right from the parking lot, just pick your direction!
Very important thing to remember is, that the weather can change quickly and therefore its safest for beginner to snowshoe with a guide or a more experienced hiker, especially for longer trips. It is not worth to go on a strange terrain alone!
Paula wants to remind us, that in the fell area of Lapland, there is the cleanest air in the world.
Paula Pekonen is the entrepreneur of the Lomamajat Pekonen / Cabin and Apartment Accommodation at the Muonio Center in the center of Muonio.
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LIKE FINLAND STAR DESTINATIONS IN LAPLAND - THOSE WE HAVE SELF VISITED & TESTED AND CAN WARMLY RECOMMEND!
Guesthouse Lomamaja Pekonen – Pekonen offers accommodation in cosy and clean apartments and cottages in Muonio (www)
Kierinki Village – Autenthic village in Lapland in Sodankylä area (www)
Pörröporo – Reindeer meat store and cafeteria in Pello, Western Lapland: Authentic food from forest, fells and lakes (www)
Elves Village – Experience for the whole family in Köngäs, Kittilä (www)
Lapland's Nature Experience – Unique experiences in winter and summer activities in Levi and in the whole Lapland (www)
Check all our Star Destinations at LikeFinland.com
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Did you know this about Pallas?
- The Pallas-Ounastunturi National Park was one of the first national parks in Finland in 1938. The park was enlarged and the name changed to Pallas-Yllästunturi National Park in 2005.
- The Olympic fire of the only Olympic Games in Finland was lighted at the highest peak of fell Pallas in Taivaskero on 6.7.1952. From Pallas's slopes it was first run to Tornio, where it joined the Olympic fire from Greece, continuing its journey to Helsinki.
- The area of Pallas and Jeris has been one of the most important training places of the Finnish skiing legend Juha Mieto. He calls the area his second home (Yle 2012).
Photos: Paula Pekonen
Text: Anne Kinos-Järvinen (original Finnish text: Henri Elo, interview of Paula Pekonen / article in Finnish)
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LikeFinland.com is a nationwide leisure time media and search service of Finnish destinations. You can like us on Facebook or follow on Twitter and Instagram.
Our main website in Finnish is KivaaTekemista.fi.