Lapland is famous for being the home of Santa Claus. Some kids are too big to believe in him. Others stay awake all night on Christmas Eve. Either way, this part of Finland is an enchanting place. If you decide to make the trip to Santa’s snowbound home on holidays to Lapland but also want to see some other places, make sure you read up to see other places too and make most of this trip as one of your family’s memorable vacations.
Levin Lapinkyla
Image by F.Fischer used under the Creative Commons license
When you travel to the other side of the world, you should always take some interest in its indigenous wildlife to get a better appreciation of the country you’re visiting. In Lapland, the area this is best done at is the Levin Lapinkyla farm, a brilliant family friendly attraction that offers the chance to get up close and personal with alpacas, goats, gerbils, bunnies and Guinea pigs.
Lainio Snow Village
Image by A.Smitt used under the Creative Commons license
The wonderfully beautiful Lainio Snow Village will give you and your family a chance to take part in an authentic experience for Lappish peoples. The village is built from snow and ice, so don’t be surprised to come across an ice hotel with an ice bar and restaurant made from blocks of the stuff. A collection of ice sculptures can be found this place, but your kids will probably be more interested in using the snow slides that branch from room to room. The downside of the snow village is that entry is expensive at high season, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience you might like to consider if you’re heading to Lapland.
The Northern Lights
Image by F.Fischer used under the Creative Commons license
Treat yourself and the whole family to experience neither a supernatural nor a magical scene in Lapland holidays. Experience an abundance of arctic snow and the heart-felt inspiring Northern Lights that dance green and purple across the night sky. This is the ideal family break for Christmas or the winter season. You will be amazed as Nature puts on its very own light show. The only snag is that they can be very unpredictable as to when they occur, but the “performance season” kicks in from last week September or early October to late March. October, November, February and March are believed to be the best times to witness this display. Pray for clear skies, even though, because clouds conceal the lights.
Arktikum
If you’d like to take in a bit of the area’s culture and learn about its history, take your family to the Arktikum Science Museum. This beautiful place, located on the bank of River Ounasjoki, is the fourth most popular tourist spot in the region. You’ll learn about the locals’ lifestyle and traditions in a graceful, serene environment. Meanwhile, the building’s design has its own quirkiness: the museum tube is also called the “Gateway to the North,” since the entrance foyer is at the southern end, and the exhibition space is tucked away below the ground to imitate the hibernation of animals when the winter is upon them.
Lapland may hold a little less magic for the older generations who have grown out of St Nick, especially for the kids. They leave out cookies to help Santa through his many tasks on Christmas Eve. However, it still bears all the charm of the Christmas movies and provides compelling reasons to hit the snow this winter.
Let’s face it, young or old, we all like Santa!
Have planned a vacation in Lapland yet?
What are your favorite places to visit in Lapland?
Share your thoughts and comments with us.
How beautiful! I would so love to see the Northern lights. I will have to keep Lapland on our wanderlust list.