Family Winter Holiday To Lappland
- 27/10/2011
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A couple of years ago we went to Lappland on a family winter holiday to visit Santa’s village in the North Pole. We flew from Dublin to Helsinki and from there we took an overnight train to Rovaniemi. We had rented a log cabin for a week in the Ounasvaara Ski Resort.
The overnight train was an experience in itself and the children (aged 4 and 6) and my husband (James Bond for the night), were so excited that they found it very hard to sleep. However, bright and early (12 hours later) we got to Rovaniemi.
The weather was a cold minus 20 degrees but it was beautiful with clean snow and ice everywhere. Lots of layers of clothes were worn for the duration of the holiday but I don’t think the children felt the cold much while they played outside in the snow.
Our accommodation was very cosy and had its own sauna. The holiday resort itself was situated three kilometres from Rovaniemi Centre in Ounasvaara village.
During our stay we tried out some skiing on the Ounasvaara slopes. There was a winter sports rental shop so we could have tried ice-skating, snow shoe walking, sledges, snow mobiles etc but we decided to stay with the skiing and got some lessons as well for the children. And oh how we all loved it despite some sore bottoms.
Sitting in the ski cafe after the long hours of fresh air on the slopes having a cup of warm juice and delicious Finnish meat-pies was just so relaxing. What an experience! The sauna back at the cottage was lovely therapy for our sore limbs and frozen fingers and noses.
We also visited Rovaniemi City and where else but Santa Clauses Village and Santa-Park, situated close by.
The Santa-Park is an underground park with lots of Santa related activities in it. It was magnificent and the children and ourselves enjoyed it and got into the early Christmas spirit with the help of Finnish Christmas songs constantly playing around us –and all the next day in our heads.
In Santa’s Park there was this amazing sleigh ride (took roughly about 3 minutes) which took us through the magical Christmas with toys and Christmas figures and stopped in the elves workshop where our girls were able to take part in making some Christmas toys with the elves. An Elf’s head was what they actually built and the girls were able to take them home with them at the end.
Further along the children were able to join in and decorate some gingerbreads. Mmm the smell in that kitchen was just so nice. There was also an Elf’s school where the children took part in some of the Elves lessons. They learned how the elves listen and look on children if they have been good for Santa! Interestingly, the good behaviour didn’t last very long and the elves were all forgotten again. Lastly and the most awaited was of course meeting Santa. It was a great day and we were well shattered after it. It was worth it girls were beaming after their meeting with Santa!
Beside the Santa-Park is Santa’s Village with lots of little shops full of Tourists souvenirs and gifts as well as some factory outlets. Time for some shopping for me, while the girls and my husband went to check out the very cool Arctic Winter Wonderland. I missed it but I heard that the slide in there was one of the best slides ever and ice figures were amazing.
A highlight of our holiday was a dinner in Lordi’s restaurant. Does anyone remember those scary Finnish monsters that won the Eurovision in 2006? Well, some of their show costumes and mask were hanging on the walls in the restaurant but regardless we still managed to swallow our dinners and the children were having such a laugh picking the mask they would want to wear. The food was basic and now I read that restaurant has since closed down… we survived it anyway.
A must when visiting Lappland is to travel like the locals by snowmobile, husky or by reindeer safari which we chose. It took about an hour and half. Sitting in the reindeer pulled sledge we were whisked away to a campfire in the middle of the snowy forest where we had hot drinks and barbequed our own sausage on a campfire.
Our week in Lappland was very enjoyable but the extra activities added some cost to the holiday. Loved the cottage where children had room to play and watch some DVD’s (were able to rent them on the reception of the resort) while we adults relaxed in the sauna and did some rolling in the snow straight from the hot sauna in true Finnish tradition (when in Rome). Hrrrr, it was cold. The resort also had a swimming pool, spa and children’s indoor play centre. Overall there was plenty to do for the whole week and more if we would have had the time. At the end of our holiday instead of travelling 12 hours back James Bond style we flew back to the capital and spent two nights in Helsinki (lovely city) before flying back home to Dublin.
Some links for you in case you decide to take a trip to Lappland:
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