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TravelFinland<br />
Archipelago<br />
Adventure<br />
The waters off Helsinki consists of around<br />
330 islands, providing a getaway from the<br />
hustle and bustle of the city<br />
by Susanna Ping<br />
Pihlajasaari is the most popular island among Helsinkians<br />
to spend a sunny summer’s day. The island is famous<br />
for its picturesque sandy beaches, as well as its rocks<br />
on the other side of the island, both of which offer great<br />
spots for sunbathers and swimmers. The island is perfect for<br />
day-long picnics but, if you want a day off from the kitchen,<br />
then you can enjoy the delicacies of the restaurant Pihlajasaari.<br />
Kaunissaari is situated on the crest of the high seas and<br />
provides amazing views. In fact, the island is one of the<br />
farthest islands from the city, with the ferry trip lasting around<br />
40 minutes. The island is known for its long beaches and<br />
rich fishing grounds. The diversity of flora and fauna is also<br />
impressive and many campers head to the island to enjoy<br />
them.<br />
Vartiosaari’s history is very intriguing. It is believed that the<br />
island was used as a guard ground to warn locals of imminent<br />
attacks during the Viking Age. A warning fire was lit on a rocky<br />
hill that soars to 32 meters above sea level. A thousand years<br />
later, the island has become a popular site among Helsinki’s<br />
bourgeoisie, who built villas there. Nowadays, the opulent<br />
berry and mushroom crops attract visitors during the summer<br />
and autumn months. The winter creates a superb setting for<br />
skiers and skaters.<br />
Seurasaari is one of the few islands you can reach by foot. One<br />
of its exceptional features is its open-air museum in which the<br />
traditional Finnish way of life is celebrated. The houses, manors<br />
and outbuildings have all been relocated from around Finland.<br />
There are currently 87 separate buildings that offer a glimpse<br />
into Finnish countryside life from the 18th to the 20th century.<br />
Sail Away<br />
You might have heard that Finland is ‘the land of a thousand<br />
lakes’*, but did you know that Finland also has a coastline<br />
strewn with tens of thousands of islands? Finland’s Baltic coast<br />
is a perfect travel destination for anyone looking for a sailing<br />
experience with a difference.<br />
The Finnish coastline stretches from the eastern Gulf of Finland<br />
to the western edges of the Åland islands and then north to the<br />
far end of the Gulf of Botnia. The shortest route to cover the<br />
whole coast is a mere 660 nautical miles. But what miles those<br />
are!<br />
Exciting Sea Scapes<br />
Time spent on the water is, of course, what you like most about<br />
sailing, and so here you are in for a treat. No two minutes<br />
will be the same – in the Finnish sea waters you are actively<br />
sailing all the time: get a thrill out of trimming the sails as the<br />
wind and your course constantly change and practice your<br />
navigational skills along a total of over 10,000 km of marked<br />
channels as you brush past some of the 80,000 islands! And<br />
never even think about putting on the autopilot because taking<br />
the helm is so much fun.<br />
88 | EXQUISITE<br />
EXQUISITE | 89
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