If you ask me, Finland is the perfect travel destination for families. I joke that you can find a changing table and an highchair also in a snow desert there. This year we made a resolution to explore Finland more and share its beauty and its hidden treasures.
On this weekend we are visiting the region of Kotka-Hamina , about km from the capital area where we live. If you wish to follow our trip live, head out to my Instagram account. And if you wish to see much better pics, make sure to follow the official feed of Visit Kotka-Hamina. We started our holiday by driving to the Valkmusa National Park. Now, nature is the best aspect of Finland to enjoy. Finnish people themselves are children of the forest.
Life here is tightly connected to raw and sometime rough nature. Nature trails luontopolku are one of our regular family activities and we often walk the same trail in different seasons, to witness its natural cycles and spot new details. Walking the Simonsaari nature trail in Valkmusa. We walked the 2,5 km Simonsaari trail, which was suitable for both children.
We crossed many open areas and only a minor portion of this trail went deep into the forest. We saw cloudberry plants for the first time up close. If you visit in late summer, bring a basket along as this place is mining field for blueberries which can be freely picked in Finland. After our family hike, we had an hour to kill before checking-in into our accommodation and wandering we discovered the hidden pearl of cafe Villa Monkholma.
The owner shared her exciting story. She left a hectic and successful career in the capital area to move to Kotka, renovate and re-open the cafe 3 months ago. The building used to host a restaurant in the 90s, but was closed and stayed so for years.
