Lapland holidays & Cabin

Posts Tagged ‘lapland holidays’

The ski slopes in Yllas have seen a lot of changes over the last couple of years with new and improved restaurants, storage space and changes and improvements to the ski shop. Yllas is also home to the largest runs in Finland with 62 slopes and 30 lifts.  The lifts are now also new and improved increasing the capacity to carry more skiers. The ski slopes also run ski schools for families, individuals, and children and with experienced staff, the ski school has an excellent reputation.

I so miss Lapland  now that we sre home but I have also noticed the weather cooling down and thoughts of frosty Lapland come to mind. Those husky dogs will be zooming through the snow capped forests, Santa will be sturring from sleep and the skiers will be out in force. How lovely to be in Lapland for the first snow, when the first flakes fall softly. The first snows arrive in late October, early November the snows will not stick but by the middle of November the frosty snow will win and begin to collect around the forests and streets of Lapland

Our journey home after our holiday in Yllas Lapland

We spent the next couple of days relaxing whilst the children played in the forests of Lapland, I took the time to pick some fresh wild berries that grow everywhere around the cabin in the undergrowth (simply delicious). We hired some bikes and went on a ride and the children simply enjoyed themselves in and around the cabin. Our last night (Tuesday 24th August) was spent at the local pizza place down by the supermarket. The pizzas are beautiful and the restaurant was very quiet except for a couple of locals. I took some photos on our last night of Yllas fell and the ski slopes from the restaurant where we were eating and reflected on our lovely holiday and all the things we had done.

The view accross the ski slopes Yllas Lapland

The view from the restaurant over Yllas fell Lapland

I never really want to come home from Lapland because it really does feel like my second home, I just love everything about Lapland, the food, the people, the countryside and their values and traditions. I always come home feeling like I can’t wait to go back again.

August 18th 2010 (Wednesday)

The day began like every other holiday, in a rush and trying to remember if we had everything we needed. After boarding the plane to Helsinki airport we settled back and tried to enjoy the plane journey. I hate flying and I get through it by plugging my ears and covering my eyes as we take off,  as if not looking and hearing will make it all better somehow.

The plane took off for Helsinki at about 4pm and we landed in Helsinki 2.5 hours later. Helsinki is a lovely airport but on arrival it was more important to collect the bags and get the car than to have a look around and I vowed to have a good luck on the return journey. We picked up the paperwork for the car and found a very pleasant yellow mini bus awaiting us, I nicknamed it the yellow submarine.

The Yellow submarine

Kids at Helsinki airport

We were all tired and hungry and decided to stop off at the nearest Macdonalds which had just shut it’s restaurant for the night but luckily opened it’s drive through. We ordered a meal for 8 and settled the kids on one table and the adults on the next. After a good meal we endeavoured to set off through Laplands countryside on a twelve hour bus drive, I didn’t know how I felt about the journey other than it would be an experiece and all experiences,  good or bad are worth having in my book. However 12 hours in a little bus is quite a long time and I learned through those twleve hours how slow time can actually go. Dozing on and off through the night we all awoke at certain times hoping that hours had passed but time went slowly until dark gave way to light and we all had the pleasure of Laplands scenery                                                                                                     

The beautiful scenery in FinlandBeautiful Finland

 We crossed the border between Sweden and Finland and the roads were reletively quiet. The scenery in Lapland is beautiful, the lakes and rivers are clear and the green countryside stands out against the backdrop of beautiful hills. Our last stop was at a little garage in Lapland about an hours drive from Yllas our destination. There really wasn’t much point in breakfast although it was about 6am because none of us felt like we knew what time of day it was and this was the only leg of the journey where the tiredness really hit home and I would have done anything for a bed, any bed. Back in the car and an hour later we reached our destination. We decided to stop off at the large supermarket a ten minute walk from the cabin and stock up on essentials before we all got too settled and fell asleep. The supermarket was even more deserted and I think we were the only ones in there. The supermarket stocks most items from home and also has clothes, shoes and Christmas items,  in fact the supermarket is huge and you can spend a good hour just wondering around. 

The Lapland Log Cabin

The site of our cabin was a welcome relief as we were all very tired and in some desperate need of some rest, the kids of course were still full of the joys of spring and went off to play.We decided to take it easy today simply because we had been travelling for half a day and the kids were quite happy to go out and play, there had been a frost in the night but that was now clearing and the day was pleasant. Lapland has had a really warm summer with temperatures of 30 degrees and more and the days were still quite warm although you could feel that distinctive nip in the air and it was a good job I had packed lots of jumpers because it certainly wasn’t going to be bikini weather. The Lapland Log Cabin is situated in Akaslompolo in Yllas and it is the most peacful of places, if you stand still you cannot hear another sound and very few cars go up and down the roads. This is what makes it a great place for the kids to play and play they do, whilst us adults had a well earned rest and unpacked.After showering and feeling much better we all decided to go and have dinner at Jullis. Jullis is a smart little bar/restuarant that is open in both the winter and summer months. In the summer months Jullis is vertually empty except for a few locals but in the winter it is the skiers favourite place to be. It caters for all taste buds with some fantastic traditional Lapland fare for those that want it and some more traditional English food for others and they do the most amazing ice cream for the kids. I had my usual large pizza and wonderful chips and ate the lot, the portions are large and they certainly are not mean. We all wondered back to the cabin feeling very comfortable and thoughts of bed began to wonder into mind. It was about 9pm and was still light, Lapland has the wonderful midnight sun in the months of June and early July where the sun doesn’t disappear and there is 24 hour light but in the month of August the nights begin to get dark and the sun finally sets around 11pm. We all retired to bed early that night even the kids were tired and we all had a lot to do the next day. There was lots to do and we all wanted to make the most of our time in Lapland and do as much as possible. The cabin is like home from home, it has a T.V and video and it is a really good idea to take over a collection of DVDs for the nights when you get the chance to sit down and relax. It was lights out at 9pm and none of us took much persuading.

Friday 20th August 2010

We all had a really good night sleep and decided to go into Kalari. Kalari is the nearest large town and you can shop for things such as furniture, things for the house and bits and pieces. The kids came along and we had a good look at all the finish furniture. Once again the scenery was breathtaking and the drive was lovely, the weather was fine and quite warm and the roads were really quiet. The Reindeer hadn’t seemed plentiful until we got out onto the open road and there they were. It is the rutting season and the males and females form seperate herds, they will once again come together as one group in the winter months when the rut is over. The Reindeer come in different shades of brown and you will commonly get the white Reindeeer. They love nothing more than sitting on the small hills by the roadside just looking out over the scenery, unfortunately the odd one or two will have a bad day and decide to walk into the side of cars but most often than not they remain on the side of the roads and sit happily. One of the reasons they are attracted to the roadside is to escape the black flies which are bothersome in the summer months and to feast on the rich moss growing by the side of the roads.

The Reindeer in Lapland

The kids went back and played in the woods and forests whilst us adults caught up on some important jobs, the kids had the most wonderful of times playing carefree and getting the chance to stay up late until 11.30pm watching videos. After some relaxation and reading we decided to pop down to the posh restaurant where the prices are a bit more expensive but the food is fantastic. Pipola is a great place to be especially around New Year when you can book tickets and spend new year eating good food and listening to great music. We managed to get a glimpse of the Northern lights a couple of New years ago as well as watching the fireworks and it was truly magical. The food is absolutely great too and they do some really nice foods, especially the steak and garlic potatoes.

Pipola Restaurant in Yllas Lapland FinlandPipola restaurant Lapland Finland

Pipola restaurant

 We all retired to watch a video and chill out and the children played and watched videos before retiring to bed, we decided to visit the wildlife park the next day and see all of the fantastic animals

21st August (Saturday)

We rose when we felt like it and we certainly weren’t awoken by anything else. Tom our son put breakfast on and I went for a wonder, I took some pictures of the scenery and the log cabins that are nestled back in the forests and out of sight. There were not many people in the Lapland log cabins as this is effectively out of season, only the people that have realised the magic of Lapland make the effort to come in the summer  and I kind of hope the magic of this place is never released because it is magical and I want it all for myself.

Lapland cabins hidden away

A Lapland place of heaven

Lapland

 We set off in the yellow submarine and headed for the Konijankan wildlife park, In  the winter months there is a fantastic sledge run for the kids and an open fire for the adults to toast sausages and watch the children have fun.  When we arrived it was evident that there was not another single person there and we had the place to ourselves. We paid and went to see all of the weird and wonderful animals. There is a fantastic place for the kids to play, some swings and there was a dog, an alsation I think that had a poorly eye and a fondness for stones that the kids were more than happy to throw for him.  The sledge run looked quite different this time, mainly because there was no snow but it was just as magical.

A beautiful peacock in LaplandKonijankan wildlife park

The ski mound when covered in snow is a whole heap of fun The resident pig

The new baby at Konijankan wildlife park

The cool camels at the wildlife park

After a lovely day at the wildlife park, we decided to go and have a drive and look around. On the way back we stopped off at an isolated fishing lake where there was one man enjoying catch after catch of fish, a perfect place to obtain your supper. The peace and tranquility was amazing.

A peaceful place to fish in Lapland

 The kids stopped off at the local park on the way back home and we were quite happy to let them have a little fun, because there is little traffic in Lapland, it is quite safe and nice for a change to allow the kids the freedom they want. Later that evening after a shower and a well deserved sauna, we headed off to a local pub/bar down by the supermarket.

The wonderful bar restaurant situated by the supermarket

 This bar/restaurant backs out into the shopping complex where there are many lovely shops that have the most unusual things. If you are looking for something really special, this is the place visit.

A little shopping complex in Yllas Lapland where you can purchase some wonderful and unusual objects.

We entered the bar about 8pm and quickly set about ordering, in the winter months they have the most delicious chicken wings complete with scrumptious chips. The menu for summer was just as delicious and again lots of food. I ordered a chicken burger and chips and just couldn’t finish it although I really wanted to. The kids had a basket of chicken strips and chips and they enjoyed it so much they had seconds. The bar/restaurant opens up onto the shopping complex and you can wonder through and do some shopping. After a lovely meal we all decided to go back and watch a video and relax, tommorow we endeavoured to go up to the ski slopes and go on the gondala lift which takes you up the mountains to the top of the ski slopes where the scenery is breathtaking. The ski centre is open in the summer months for those wanting to go and see the slopes. The Gondala lift will take you to the top and you can walk back down the slopes or get the Gondala lift back down again.

There is the option to get married in the traditional wooden chapel at Lainio snow village or the ice chapel. As the snow falls softly outside, you can say or renew your vows and there really is nothing more magical. You can then stay on and get involved in some of the other activities going on at Lainio snow village and stay in one of the special rooms. Read More

The Lapland Log cabin is self catering and has full cooking facilities, it is always a good idea to go down to the local supermarket when you arrive in Lapland to stock up on essentials. It is really nice to eat out at some of the local restaurants which cater for all taste buds and do some fantastic childrens meals. We usually make sure we have breakfast items and something to snack on should we become hungry and also you will want to get some drinks. The supermarket in Yllas stocks everything you will ever need and is a huge complex where there are other shops selling clothes and other items.

The history of the sauna goes back over a thousand years and the institute of the sauna is very strong in Lapland with most if not all homes having sauna’s. The local hotels also have sauna’s and the holiday experience wouldn’t be the same without experiencing the sauna.  The benefits of a sauna have long since been known and today we are aware of how beneficial the sauna can be to both health and vitality. Read more

Lapland celebrates Easter, Christmas, New Year and has many celebrations of it’s own and at the core of all of Lapland’s celebrations are family and nature. Christmas is less about materialism and more about spending time with family and friends and looking towards the future with optimism. Lapland’s big Christmas celebrations take place on Christmas Eve where they will share a meal with family, sing songs and play games and of course the children play a huge part in this. Children are loved and cherished in Lapland and if you holiday there, you will find the children will be absolutely welcomed. Read Rest Article

We imagine that if it is as cold as everyone says it is in Lapland, we are going to need to put layer and layer of clothes on every time we leave the hotel or Lapland Log cabin. It is cold in Lapland and the winter weather is harsh with temperature dropping in extreme cases to -50 in the winter months. The temperature on average is more like -20 to -30 and yes it is cold but the air in Lapland is dry and you won’t experience that cold damp feeling the U.K weather can bring, you will just feel that ice cold. As far as clothes are concerned, there are absolute essentials you will need but apart from that just make sure that you wear lots of layers and your normal winter clothes will be absolutely fine. For children make sure they have lots of thin layers, the ides is that air will trap between the layers and warm the body. The essentials are a waterproof ski jacket, ski gloves, hat, good snow boots and waterproof trousers, preferably the padded variety that will add some warmth. As long as you have the essentials and wear your layers underneath, you will be well protected against the harsh Lapland winter weather.

Many people worry that Lapland is not a place for babbies and small children but it is absolutely fine for both babies and small children and you will see whilst you are there that many people take babies accompanied with their pram and will happily push the pram in the snowy conditions. You will again need to make sure your baby has the correct clothing but as long as they are well protected from the elements there is absolutely no reason for why they cannot enjoy a holiday in Lapland. As for small children, they also will very much enjoy a holiday in snowy Lapland, although children do feel the cold quicker than the adults, as long as they have the correct clothing, they will be fine.

The food is also another subject people worry about when travelling to Lapland or any new country but Laplands food is fantastic. You can enjoy traditional Lapland fare but there are other things on the menu that will cater for the more conservative taste buds. The children are also well catered for with lots of kiddies favourites and some of the best ice cream in the world. The water in Lapland is considered the purest in the world and can be taken straight from the tap and you will certainly not be ill from drinking their water. The supermarket in Yllas is also great offering most of the foods you can obtain from back home. If you stay in one of the Log Cabins, you may decide to eat out part of the time and self cater for the rest. There are full cooking facilities in the cabins and having one or two meals in the cabin whilst the log fire roars is magial.

Yllas is renowned for being a village you will fall in love with. There is only a population of about 400 locals and in the summer months you can drive for miles and not see another car. In the winter months, Yllas is never hugely busy and the ski slopes in December are extremely quiet.  Everything is within walking distance and for the activities that are not, a transfer is included. Yllas is a beautiful  pretty village where time seems to stand still and as you sit and watch the twinkly snow falling softly outside, you really can almost be convinced you are in another world.

The weather is turning in Lapland and winter threatens to start emerging but not quite yet. The summer is still hanging on in there and summer activities are going on. Winter 2010 will be here and for the people of Lapland that means 200 days of long winter. The caravans in Lapland are still parked and red squirells scuttle along making the most of the warm weather and thinking about collecting their nuts and finding a trusted dry warm home for the winter. The Arctic hare slowly moves from place to place and really doesn’t mind that people stop and look in wonder at its sheer size. The Arctic hare is as big as a small dog and you really have to see it to believe it. One summer holiday we went on,   Lapland decided to have the mother of all downpours and as we all ran for cover into the nearby restaurant, there stood the biggest Arctic hare you have ever seen sitting amongst the trees in the forest looking as though he or she was thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Up on the hillsides where the caravans are parked wild mushrooms and berries are still growing and the famous cloudberry will soon be collected and used in some of Laplands wonderful food. The cloudberry which doesn’t grow many places in the world, grows natuarally in Lapland and is used in both sauces and accompaniments to meat.

We are due to go on our annual holiday to Lapland this summer, although a little later in the year I am sure the weather will still be warm and I can say hello to the great big hare. First I must get the kids school clothes and get prepared for the end of the summer holidays where we will all enter that great big wheel that will turn violently until we all get a little rest come Christmas, why does time go so fast.