(Helsinki - Kouvola – Mikkeli – Savonlinna – Jyväskylä – Tampere – Helsinki, approx. 1300 km) Helsinki and Lakeland Finland are a dream destination for family travelers; beautiful nature, safety, versatile services and destinations quarantee a successful holiday for the whole family! This tour gathers all the best amusement parks, zoos, hotels especially designed for family needs – not for- getting the best restaurants in town! Travel with own or rented car – moving is made easy and heavy traffic is rarely seen on this tour!. Welcome to the Helsinki & Finnish Lakeland adventure! Helsinki For Families Linnanmäki Amusement Park is probably the most fun place in Helsinki for kids and adults alike. But there’s plenty more fun to be had in Helsinki! For a real adventure, pack your flashlights and jump aboard a ferry to Suomenlinna to explore the bastion walls there. On sunny days in summertime you should try swimming in the outdoor pools at Kumpula or the Swimming Stadium. Do you still have time to play? Check out the brand new Angry Birds playground in Espoo, the climbing walls at Salmisaari or the skateboard parks in the Eläintarha and Kalasatama districts. Did we forget something? Well, of course, animal lovers should not miss Helsinki Zoo on Korkeasaari Island or the Museum of Natural History. Text: Heidi Kalmari / Matkailulehti Mondo – Mondo Helsinki Travel Guide Helsinki for Families Options for Accommodation Sokos Hotel Vaakuna - Located in the centre of everything. The present ambience of the hotel, completed in 1952, is a splendid show of Finnish design traditions. The hotel is protected by the National Board of An- tiquities. Holiday Inn Helsinki City Center - Scandinavian-style guest rooms overlooking Helsinki Music Centre and Finlandia Hall or bustling Eliel Square. Located next to the Central Railway Station. Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel, Helsinki - Blends harmoniously the rich historic tradition of a 1917 structure with a modern design and features a convenient city centre location. Hotel Arthur – Privately owned, cosy, non-smoking hotel is located close to the Railway station in the very heart of Helsinki. Hotels in Helsinki We Warmly Recommend Linnanmäki Amusement Park has been entertaining families since 1950. The biggest selection of rides in Northern Europe offers something for everyone, from the wild and crazy to the nice and easy. You can also come to Linnanmäki simply to enjoy great food and the magical atmosphere. The Kattila restaurant complex houses six restaurants under the same roof. Children's Town (Helsinki City Museum) is located in the Sederholm House. This new kind of children’s museum invites children of all ages and their families to experience the history of Helsinki first-hand. A stone’s throw from the Sibelius Monument is Café Regatta (Merikannontie) where you can enjoy delicious cinnamon buns in an idyllic setting. In the yard you can even grill sausages while admiring the view to the sea. Helsinki Zoo is also located on an island, Korkeasaari. In summertime you can travel to the zoo by ferry from the Market Square and Hakaniemi Market. Winter World Helsinki - Unique Lapland has brought the wonderful Lapland winter into the city of Helsinki. Ice Bar, Igloo Hotel, joyful winter activities and husky-sledding are waiting for you all year round! Heureka, The Finnish Science Centre, is a hands-on exhibition and action centre. Astronomical movies and science programmes are shown in the Vattenfall Planetarium. Helsinki’s shoreline and archipelago are perfect for enjoying outdoor recreation, swimming and nature walks. The most popular swimming beach is Hietaniemi Beach, or “Hietsu” as it is known locally. Experience Eventful Helsinki Search for Events in Helsinki General Information Planning your stay in Helsinki: www.visithelsinki.fi/en www.facebook.com/visithelsinki www.youtube.com/Visithelsinki https://twitter.com/HelsinkiTourism Traveller Discussions Helsinki Mobile Apps Helsinki City Tourist Information Unioninkatu 28, Helsinki Tel: +358-9-310 13300 Email: [email protected] Other Tourist Information Centers in Helsinki: Helsinki Region Tourist Information - Helsinki-Vantaa airport (Terminal 2 – Arrival Hall 2A) Tourist Information - Central Railway Station Public Transport Taxis, car rentals and parking Experience Wireless Helsinki Travelling in Finland by train or airplane Route recommendation: from Helsinki to Kouvola take road number 7. Kouvola for Families Welcome to Kouvola region! I you have taken road 7 to Kouvola, on the way in Elimäki (25km from the Kou- vola centre), is located Arboretum Mustila, which houses the oldest and largest park of different wood spe- cies. There are three different hiking routes in the park, as well as a one kilometer path with questionnaire for families. Continue your way towards the centre of Kouvola from Arboretum Mustila. Options for accommodation Sokos Hotel Vaakuna – Located in the centre of Kouvol (Hovioikeudenkatu 2) Cumulus – By the railway station in Kouvola (Kouvolankatu 11) Tykkimäki camping – Next to the Tykkimäki amusement park area Orilampi holiday centre – Selection of different accommodation from huts to the camping Orilampi holiday centre is located north from Kouvola, in the edge of the Repovesi National Park. Orilampi scenery represents the Finnish wilderness area at best. Hotel Orilampi is known for delicious food and cruis- es in the nearby lakes during summertime. We Warmly Recommend Kouvola Museum Quarter The old railway engineer´s wooden house district was preserved as a memory of Kouvola´s railway history. The early 20th century wooden houses are now workshops and shops for artists and artisans, and museums telling the story of the City of Kouvola. The Quarter is in the close vicinity of the city centre, adjacent to the Kouvola Hall. Kouvola Art Museum Poikilo, which has facilities on two floors, was built in 1987 as a part of Kouvola's cultural centre, Kouvola-talo – the Kouvola House. Kouvola House, which was designed by Erkki Valovirta, is regarded as one of the most beautiful post modern buildings in Finland. There is a café in the Kouvola House. Model Railroad Museum Every child, no matter whether young or old, is allowed to hold the steering-wheel of the trains in Model Rail- road Museum - or even run his own engines on his own tracks! Tykkimäki Amusement Park Hop aboard a great adventure in Tykkimäki amusement park! All 40 rides, numerous different games and services guarantee wonderful days in the Tykkimäki area. Travelling from Kouvola onwards, take road n:o 360 (turn from road 15 towards Mäntyharju). After Vuohijärvi village, drive approx.. 8 km and turn right to the Repovesi National Park. Repovesi National Park From the Repovesi National Park crossroad, travel approx 3,5km to the Lapinsalmi parking area. From the area, you may enter the national park by hiking to the Lapinsalmi suspension bridge or to the “Ketunlenkki” ferry. Scenery in Repovesi consists of broad, uninhabited forest areas, steep cliffs and dozens of clear lakes and ponds. From Repovesi, continue the road 368 to the Orilampi Holiday Centre. General Information: Planning your stay in Kouvola region: www.visitkouvola.fi/en Tourist Information in Kouvola Kauppalankatu 5, Kouvola, Finland Tel: +358-2061-55295 Email: [email protected] Travel Advice: We warmly recommend road 370 (continues as 368) to the Repovesi National Park and further to the Mikkeli Region. Distance from Repovesi to Mikkeli is roughly 135 kilometres. Mikkeli for Families Located in South-Savo by the Lake Saimaa, Mikkeli is among the largest holiday cottage areas in Finland. Also one of the most popular amusement parks, Visulahti, is located in Mikkeli. Visulahti area offers camp- ing and cottage accommodation in the park premises. Available for families are also the water park Dino- sauria, Wax Museum, XON-park for wilder dreams, beach areas and loads of other activities. Why not also taking advantage of the numerous cottages in Mikkeli region. For families, many cottages offer opportunities for swimming, sauna, and a free use of a row boat. Also fishing trips, fishing equipment, canoes and kayaks are often available. See also the nature routes in the area from here. Options for Accommodation Original Sokos Hotel Vaakuna and Hotel Cumulus are family-friendly hotels located in the centre of the City of Mikkeli. Juva Camping – Located 44km from Mikkeli to the North in Juva. This four star camping area offers camp- ing site services and cottages. Check also the 53km “Squirrel Route” (Oravareitti) paddling route, that travels between Juva Camping and Sulkava municipality. Equipment for the route may be rented from Juva Camp- ing. Rock and Lake, Kangasniemi. Beach villas for rent. Also fishing services and horseback riding available. Hotel Heimari – Located in the shores of Lake Saimaa 10km from the City of Mikkeli. This hotel offers af- fordable accommodation options and a large yard area for outdoor activities (swimming, minigolf, beach volley etc.) Villa with a private beach is an affordable, Finnish luxury product available for everyone! Just remember to book your cottage early, as the best ones are often booked weeks or even months in advance. We Warmly Recommend Visulahti is an amusement park for the whole family. Try the Dinosauria water park, numerous climbing-, jumping- and adventure rides. Also accommodation is available in the amusement park premises. Oravareitti Canoeing Route leads through rivers, small lakes and rapids from Juva to Sulkava. The attrac- tive route is suitable even for first time paddlers and families. The route is safe, with interesting sights as well as resting places and accommodation along the route. Anttolanhovi offers accommodation and countless activities for its visitors. Rent a canoe, bicycle, use the day spa, or reserve a tennis court. Also the Finnish speciality – smoke sauna – is available upon order. Mikke sightseeing train travels conveniently between all sights in the city of Mikkeli. Hop on from the library near the market square, and take a full 45 minute tour through the city.