Sustainable living is a big commitment in Sweden. Reusing, recycling and repurposing are part of everyday life here. So much so, that communities have even taken to repurposing old railway lines and turning them into tourist routes. If you are looking for an off the beaten path adventure head to Skåne, Sweden’s southernmost region and go on a trolley cycle ride.
Skåne is a quick day trip from Copenhagen and is a landscape rife with farms, forests, creeks, lakes, rivers, streams, beaches, and the Baltic Sea.
Draisine | A Brief History of The Trolley Cycle
Back in the 1800’s rail travel began giving way to the automobile. As trains routes were abandoned in favor of faster and more convenient cars, the railway tracks fell into disrepair. They became overgrown and rarely used. Enter the environmentally friendly Swedish mentality. In the 1970’s communities along the abandoned train tracks decided to repair them and turn them into trolley cycling routes.
Trolley cycles are bicycles designed specially to ride the train tracks. These bikes are easy to peddle and its virtually impossible to topple over making it safe and fun for people of all ages. Built with a bike seat, peddles and handlebars for one, and a bench seat that fits another adult or child. These special bicycles were modeled after the draisine – an old auxiliary rail vehicle invented by Karl Drais. Draisine were utilized by rail service personnel and transport crew to maintain railway infrastructure.
The draisine is allegedly the first commercially successful two-wheeled, steerable, human-propelled machine. the draisine is also known as a hobby-horse or dandy horse.
There are many trolley cycle routes to choose from around Skåne. We rode a route beginning in Tomelilla. The ride was sublime. We passed farmland, forests, creeks, and lots of animals.
It was peaceful and we had perfect weather. We stopped for a light picnic snack at the end of the line.
Practicalities | Where To Find A Trolley Cycle
Trolley cycles can be found in a number of places in Skåne. The routes are varied in topography and length of the route. Trolley cycling is the perfect adventure for friends, families, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
Looking for a place to unwind, recharge, and commune with nature, but still want the comforts of a bed, a down comforter, and a gourmet meal? Look no further than The Glass Cabins at Baldersnäs Herrgård.
Sunlight peeking through. The Glass Cabins at Baldersnäs Herrgård
THE SECRET TO HAPPINESS
Sweden is often rated as one of the happiest countries in the world. Living a balanced life between work and play is a key factor in that rating. And part of living a balanced life in Sweden has to do with making nature a part of your life. Swedish people love, and appreciate nature. Swedes like to be outside biking, walking, skating, hiking or camping. This connectedness to nature is a significant part of Swedish culture.
This connection to nature is so significant to the Swedish way of life, that in 2017, Swedish researchers decided to try to measure the precise effects of nature on a person’s happiness and health.
Lake view from the Glass Cabin at Baldersnäs Manor.
THE 72 HOUR CABINS
The Glass Cabins (also known as the 72 Hour Cabins), were the brainchild of two researchers in the field of stress management. Walter Osika and Cecilia Stenfors developed a program were they brought together 5 people from different backgrounds, different countries and different stressful jobs. The idea was to place the individuals from all walks of life into nature for 72 hours.
For 3 days, or 72 hours, the subjects lived in cabins made of glass. The subjects unplugged their technology and engaged in simple outdoor activities, such as skipping stones on the lake, hiking, swimming, fishing and cooking over a fire. The purpose of the glass cabins was twofold – the researchers wanted people to be comfortable enough to relax, but they also wanted to make sure that nature was always present. The comfortable beds inside cabins with glass walls allowed participants to sleep under the stars and wake to the natural rhythms of the Earth.
The Glass Cabin inviting nature inside
Nature from all angles
THE RESULTS
Good news! All 5 participants in the 72 hour study demonstrated a decrease in anxiety, blood pressure and heart rates. They relaxed. They de-stressed. Participants reported a better overall sense of well being and peacefulness. Those results alone would be sufficient to render the experiment a success, but in addition, participants also reported an increased feeling of creativity and improved problem-solving.
Incredible right? What fantastic news. It only takes 3 days for each us to become healthier and happier. With a simple prescription of some nature in your life, you too, can reduce stress and find more joy.
I had to see the cabins for myself.
The Glass Cabin
DALSLAND, SWEDEN
I headed up to Dalsland in western Sweden to the Glass Cabins located on the Baldersnäs Herrgård country estate in Dals Långed.
I was met by the lovely and charming, Susanne Björk Jensen who showed me around the estate and then gave me a tour of these amazing, innovative glass cabins.
Baldersnäs Herrgård is a beautiful country estate from the turn of the century that has been transformed into a luxury hotel. It sits on a peninsula surrounded by nature’s bounty.
Lake Låxsjön
The estate sits adjacent to a nature preserve where The Glass Cabins are located.
The first cabin sits on a small bluff overlooking Lake Låxsjön. The first cabin is a quick jaunt from the country estate offering an easy journey up for a gourmet meal, a massage or a delicious cup of morning coffee in the English garden.
The cabin has many lovely large trees and offers a sweeping view of the lake. My tour guide, Susanne spoke of waking up there with a mist on the lake, the sounds of birds greeting the dawn, a hint of sunlight peeking up from behind the forest trees. It sounded like a little slice of heaven.
Lake view from the Glass Cabin
The property and nature preserve are both spectacular and the cabins ease gently into the landscape. The cabins are inviting with simple decor and muted soft colors. The simplicity evokes a Zen like feeling. Very inviting. Very relaxing. I wanted to jump right in the bed and take a nap. Curtains are provided along the glass walls to allow for privacy. Even with the curtains pulled, however, the glass ceiling still allows nature to envelope you.
The Glass Cabin. Interior.The Glass Cabin. Interior
The second cabin is approximately 200 meters away and sits atop a small hill surrounded by trees. The second cabin was more secluded than the first cabin, yet it too sported a lovely view of Lake Låxsjön. The second glass cabin also has the added bonus of being steps away from the sauna on the lake.
Lakeside sauna. Baldersnäs Manor.The Glass Cabins at Baldersnäs Herrgård
The original glass cabins used in the experiment are located on a private island of Henriksholm, in south-east Dalsland. These glass cabins are remote, accessible by boat and should be booked well in advance.
A second set of glass cabins can be found in the center of Dalsland region near Lake Iväg. Those cabins must be booked through Dalsland Activities.
The reason I like the glass cabins at Baldersnäs Manor is that in addition to unplugging and unwinding by inviting nature into your room, one can also relax by golfing, taking a yoga class, enjoying a massage and/or partaking in a gourmet food and wine experience featuring local foods.
The Glass Cabins are just a 2 hour drive from Gothenburg.
The Glass cabins at Baldersnäs Manor can be booked by contacting;
When we visited Croatia we opted to forego the more well known spots like Dubrovnik and Hvar in exchange for visiting Croatia’s many national parks. The biggest concentration of national parks lie in the northern part of the country so we made Dalmatia, namely Zadar, our home base as Zadar was within a few hours drive from each of the parks we wanted to visit. After Plitvice, Krka National Park was next on our Croatian bucket list.
Krka National Park
I will say that in general, when cruising about Croatia and neighboring Bosnia Herzegovina, waterfalls are everywhere. You see them along the side of the road, but a few are standouts and Krka National Park offers 7 waterfalls (buk or slap) in one park.
The Park
Krka is the second most visited national park in Croatia afterPlitvice with over 1 million visitors each year. Krka has become so popular in recent years that it has begun to limit the number of visitors each day to 10,000. My advice, get there early or book onlineto reserve space. And bring your swim suit, because unlike Plitvice, at Krka, you are allowed to enjoy the cool, refreshing waters. At least for now.
Even prior to being designated a national park in 1985, the area’s splendor was enjoyed for centuries. The highlight of the park is its river and 7 major waterfalls. The Krka River, the source of the all the falls, is over 74 kilometers/46 miles long.
The protected flora and fauna is lush. The park is very clean and you will see fish, various birds, butterflies and dragonflies flitting about.
Within the park, Krka is accessible by a network of planked walkways, hiking trails, cycling trails, roads and boats. One can also add a 5 km/3.1 mile hiking and cycling path from Skradinski Most (Skradin Bridge) to Skradinski buk. Visitors who wish to hike or ride along the trail can purchase their tickets at the reception at Skradinski Most or online.
The park is unique in that in addition to its stunning topography, it also houses 2 monasteries and Roman ruins. Both monasteries, Visovac and the Eastern Orthodox Krka Monastery, date back to the Middle Ages. Burnam, the Roman ruins, date back to 33 BC.
Getting There
From the nearest town along the highway, Šibenik, you will see signs for the park and a specific exit heading to Skradinski Buk.
The road will lead you straight into Lozovac and a large parking area. You will see a ton of tour busses, people, and parking attendants.
After you park, you will find a building where tickets are sold. You cannot miss it. The town is tiny. You will also see a very long line. Leave some of your people in the line and send someone else to get the tickets. The line is for either the bus or the boat (at Skradin) to take you to the falls. As this is one of the most visited sites in Croatia, in high season, the lines can be long so best to have someone saving your spot, while someone else queues for the entrance tickets.
Your entrance ticket includes the bus ride. It does not include the boat ride. As we arrived late, we opted for the bus but I really wanted to take the boat up the river. If you want to take the boats then stop in the town of Skradin to purchase your tickets and catch your boat.
Once the bus or boat lets you off, you have a short walk to the planked walkway around the park on the Skadinski Buk trail. The trail is a 1900 meter/1.1mile long loop leading you around the most amazing spots, rapids, waterfalls and gorgeous flora and fauna. Bring water. The trail is not suitable fo those with limited mobility. The trail is not that difficult in terms of intensity, it is just crowded, hot, and hilly. And there is water on each side of you and no barriers.
INSIDER TIP: If you really just want to swim and see the falls, you can skip the trail and the crowds and walk in the opposite direction of the trail behind a building there are steps which go directly to the falls and lagoon.
Sites In The Park
When people talk about Krka, they are usually referring to the famous Skradinski buk also known as Krka’s Blue Lagoon. Skradinski buk and its adjoining lagoon are the falls that you see on all the postcards and in Instagram stories.
Most people do not explore the other parts of the park. I do recommend that if you have the time, you explore the entire park. To see it all properly plan for a minimum of 2 days.
SKRADINSKI BUK
On the way to the famous falls and lagoon, there is plenty to delight your senses.
The crowds move slowly, but that is ok, it means more time to enjoy your surroundings. After about 30 – 40 minutes you will reach Skradinski buk. Skradinski buk is insanely pretty. Again, it is the stuff of postcards and Instagram moments.
And note that Croatia is hot in the summer and the water is cool, refreshing, inviting. We were so hot that once we reached the falls we cold actually feel the cool air. Believe me, all you want to do is get in that water. But first, you have to carve out a spot among the crowds.
The area as you arrive at Skradinski buk is crowded and dusty. There are a lot of people roaming around and unfortunately on the approach side of the lagoon it is difficult to find a spot to leave your belongings where you can see them while swimming. This means that at least one member of your group must stay behind to watch your valuables. If you are traveling solo I suggest asking someone to watch your belongings. You should not leave valuables while you go for a swim with your group. It stinks that you cannot all go in at the same time, but you risk losing all of your belongings if you do.
INSIDER TIPS:You will see a bridge where everyone is taking photos. Cross the bridge and on the other side there is a lot more room to carve out your niche and spread out a blanket. The best part, it is in the shade and along the lagoon so you can see your people as they swim in the lagoon and you can take photos.
Also, bring water, water shoes, a blanket, a picnic. They sell all of it there, but you will pay tourist prices.
VISOVAC MONASTERY
After your swim, you may want to take a boat up river to Visovac Island and monastery. Visovac first welcomed its religious inhabitants in the late 1400’s. At that time Franciscan monks decided the island location was perfect for a hermitage where monks could study in solitude.
By 1576 building of the existing monastery was complete. Over the centuries, the monastery acquired a rich collection of paintings, relics and folk art. The monastery also has a small museum featuring historic church clothes, manuscripts, and rare books, including an illustrated copy of Aesop’s Fables printed in 1487.
Photo credit: hotelroomsearch.com
Visovac is still an active church and the priests who live there maintain a lovely flower garden worth having a look. They also perform mass if you are there on a Sunday. Mass is held at 11am every Sunday all year long.
Visovac Island is only reachable by boat. You can take the excursion boat from Skradin or special monastery mass boats from Brištane on Sundays.
ROŠKI SLAP
The waterfall Roški slap can be reached by road and by the excursion boats from Skradin. We drove into the park at Roški slap and then made our way down to the famous falls. The drive past Laškovika was stunning.
The natural beauty of Roški slap can be viewed year round.
Photo credit: np-krka.hr
BURNAM
If archeology is your thing, you have 2 sites to visit at Krka. The first, Burnum, was a Roman military camp. The ruins and archaeological site are located above the canyon and waterfalls.
These Roman ruins officially date back to the year 33 BC, but many archeologists believe the site may be even older. Several Roman legions were located there in succession. the spot was chosen for its vital access to the river which was used for transportation. Also, its gorgeous!
Today, one can visit the ancient amphitheater which still holds concerts on special occasions and a smaller museum which holds the artifacts found on site.
The closest entrance to Burnum is at the Puljane enterance and one must take a car to get there.
Photo credit: TotalCroatiaNews.com
Photo credit: np-krka.hr
OZIDANA PEĆINA CAVE
The second archeological site in Krka is the Oziđana Pećina cave. The cave is located near the very top of the canyon, on the left bank of the Krka River, just above the Roški slap. I could not get it to show up on Google Maps, but the park will have information on its exact location and whether it is open to the public or not. Because it is a working archeological site, it may be closed to the public at times.
The site displays artifacts and evidence of human settlement – things like ceramic dishes, stone artifacts, and human and animal bones dating back to the Neolitihic period from about 5000 BC to about 1500 BC. The Hvar and Danilo cultures are featured prominently.
I am claustrophobic, thus, this was not on my list to see even though I’d love to see the artifacts. The cave is 59 m long/7 m wide/2.5 m high tunnel. No thanks.
KRKA MONASTERY
The Krka Monastery is a Serbian Orthodox monastery dating back to the 12th century. The monastery has had several reincarnations over the centuries, but was originally built on top of a Roman site and has catacombs underneath that can be explored.
The monastery is dedicated to the Archangel Michael and is considered the best known example of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Croatia. The monastery is officially protected as a significant historical site.
Like Visovac, Krka Monastery is still in use, thus, visitors are limited to visiting the catacombs and the church in the company of a national park employee. There are also restrictions on what can be photographed. On site there is a tiny souvenir shop which sells religious artifacts and wine made by the priests.
To reach the Krka Monastery you can take a car or the boats from Skradin. When driving, follow the signs to Kistanje. From there you will see additional signs for the monastery. Parking is limited.
INSIDER TIP:After your visit, if you head down toward the falls, you can stop at a newly constructed viewpoint stop for cars offering a different view and perspective of the monastery. Great photo op!
Prices
The park entrance ticket includes access to the entire park, including an expert presentation at Burnum, another presentation at the mills at Skradinski buk, Roški slap and Oziđana Pećina Cave, access to all walking trails in the park, and bus transport from Lozovac to Skradinski buk and return.
Park entrance prices are subject to change so always check the website for the most recent prices.
Boat Prices – The Skradin excursion boats are not included in the price of your park entrance ticket. All visitors must acquire or purchase their tickets in a Krka National Park branch office in Skradin before boarding the boat. Visitors who purchased their tickets online can board the boat directly with their printed ticket or the bar-code on a smart phone.
As with the park entrance ticket, always check the website for the most recent boat prices. Also, your ticket price will vary according to the location within the park that you choose to visit.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
Rules
While swimming is allowed, and is a definite highlight, there are other rules inside Krka that are strictly enforced:
One must not stray from clearly marked bathing areas.
You are not allowed to dive into the swimming area.
You are prohibited from hunting, catching, frightening or disturbing the wild animals.
You must not pick or damage indigenous plants.
You must not break or damage the travertine.
You must not camp or light fires outside of clearly marked areas.
You must dispose of waste in clearly marked garbage bins.
You must not stray from the clearly marked trails.
All dog must be kept on a leash and have a muzzle on at all times. Dogs are not permitted on Visovac Island.
Drones or other unmanned aerial equipment are not allowed in Krka National Park.
As you can see, Krka offers so much more than the one waterfall and lagoon. Skradinski buk is awe inspiring and it seems to stop visitors in their tracks, but it is shame that most people never explore Krka beyond Skradinski buk as there is so much to see and do. If you do visit Krka National Park, I hope that this information may inspire you to look beyond the waterfall.
The Wadden Sea National Parks make up the largest system of intertidal sand and mud flats in the world. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their protection of numerous plant and animal ecosystems, the parks stretch from The Netherlands, through Germany and up to Denmark. The Wadden Sea National Parks are home to countless birds, shellfish, fish, harbor and grey seals, and porpoise.
The area is a birdwatcher’s paradise as it is a popular destination for birds to breed, nest and moult. The parks are also an important winter home for migrating birds. It has been reported that at times, there are as many as 6.1 million birds in the Wadden Sea sanctuary and approximately 10-12 million migrating birds pass through every year. Without the Wadden Sea sanctuary, many European bird species’ survival would be in danger.
If you like birdwatching, a good time to visit is in the spring and autumn. There are so many starlings on the island of Rømø, that many people make a specific trek to the island to witness the phenomenon called The Black Sun. The Black Sun occurs when thousands of starlings murmurate in such a large number that they actually black out the sun.
Starlings murmurating. Photo credit: visitdenmark
The best time for witnessing the Black Sun is early morning and late evening. We were not there at either time but we were able to catch a group of starlings as they prepared for their evening jaunt.
Esbjerg – Things to Do
We started out in Esbjerg. Even though it is the fifth largest city in Denmark, Esbjerg, still feels a bit like a sleepy fishing village. Located north of the island of Rømø, Esbjerg was once Denmark’s biggest fishing harbor. Today it is a popular summer destination for both Danes and Germans. One of the most famous landmarks in Esbjerg is the Svend Wiig Hansen sculpture Mennesket ved Havetor or Men By The Sea.
The men are 9 meters tall and constructed of white concrete. Quite imposing, it is said that the men can be seen from 10 kilometers out at sea. Staring out to the sea, rigid with blank eyes they reminded me of modern incarnations of the heads on Easter Island. They did not evoke happy feelings in me, but instead a feeling of numbness and dread.
According to the artist, they are meant to illustrate the meeting between mankind and nature. The men are seated to represent a time before man rose up and “got dirt” on their hands. For Wigg Hansen, once men rose up and started creating, that was when where things started to go wrong. I find this to be an odd perspective coming from an artist.
Wiig Hansen decided to make the sculpture with 4 men because he felt 4 was more harmonious then an odd number. Again, that concept feels rigid and controlled to me. I guess I am not the right audience for this particular piece, although its sheer size was impressive.
In addition to public art, Esbjerg offers many active pursuits.
Swimming A popular destination in Esbjerg is the Svømmestadion Danmark. Svømmestadion is Denmark’s largest bathing and swimming facility. It is an indoor pool and waterpark – perfect for Scandinavia’s fickle weather.
If you want to spend your days outside, there are a number of options for cycling along the beautiful Jutland coast.
Cycling
The North Sea Cycle Route website can help you plan your perfect cycling adventure. The website offers cycle routes for everyone from beginners to experienced cyclists. There are a total of 1133 km/704 miles of cycle routes to peddle and enjoy the gentle Danish countryside. A popular routes for more experienced cyclers is Cycle Route number 1. Running from the German/Danish border, Cycle Route 1 is 560 km/348 miles.
If you are looking for a more relaxed family cycle trip, the Panorama routes are the way to go. There are 16 routes under the Panorama Route umbrella. The routes are circular and designed to accommodate families.
Photo credit: hwww.visitvejle.com
Each route is between 20 and 50 kilometers long. Most will take you along the Wadden Sea coastline. These routes are more suitable for beginner cyclers and families and every routes have restaurants along the way. There are numerous options for bike rentals in Esbjerg, but two that come recommended are PJ Ferie and Fri Bikeshop Fanø.
Boat Races
If you happen to be in Esbjerg in July, head to the beach to watch the The Tall Ship Races. These magnificent ships with their huge white sails look dramatic racing each other on the Wadden Sea. The race starts in Sunderland, England, sails to Esbjerg, Denmark, then on to Stavanger, Norway with the final leg ending in Harlingen, Netherlands.
Photo credit: Niche Travel Design
Sand Castles Of Sorts
If you are in the area from May to August, a friend told me not to miss the Søndervig Sand Sculpture Festival. Alas, we were too early, but these sand sculptures look unbelievable. More sand sculptures, than castles, these three dimensional sand masterpieces look worthy of another trip. This year’s theme is Wizardry and Magic. Here are photos from last year’s festival.
Hikingis a popular activity in the Esbjerg area. Both the Marbæk Nature area and the Kongeåen river area offer many trails to choose from.
Marbæk – Photo credit: visitesbjerg
Photo credit: visitvejen
If you want to mix it up after cycling, hiking and site seeing, take a canoe ride.
Canoeing A canoe trip on the Kongeåen, will put you smack dab in the middle of history as the river historically marked the border between Denmark and Germany until the reunification in 1920.
A recommended route for your canoe trip along the Kongeå river begins atSøengevej, just east of Vejen. This is recommended because there is any easy launch pad into the water and the site has ample picnic tables and parking.
Photo credit: Foldingbro Camping
If you launch from Søengevej you will actually begin your trip on the Andst Å river for about 30 minutes cruising past the Knag Mølle (Knag Mill) and then meeting up with the Kongeå river. If you want to take a break and have a picnic, you can stop at Hermansens Høj, just past the Knag Mølle. Hermansens Høj offers picnic tables and fire pits for cooking if you want to grill your lunch.
There are numerous places along the way to drop off a car if you plan on only going one way on your trip. Most pit stops offer shelter, fire pits for cooking, tables and toilets.
Fishing They say that the fish are so plentiful in and around Esbjerg, that no one returns from a day of fishing empty handed. There are over 15 different type of fish in the Esbjerg area and one can fish for both fresh water and sea fish. Some of the popular fishing spots are Sneum Stream, Varde Å, Ribe Vesterå, If you plan on fishing, you will need a license which can be purchased at www.fiskekort.dk.
Photo credit: Lars Lundsgaard
The many options for fishing include fish farms where you can rent equipment. If you prefer a fish farm, head to Tjæreborg Fiskpark or Nebel Lake Put & Take
Hjerting Beach Park
The most popular beach in Esbjerg is by far Hjerting Beach Park. At Hjerting one can swim, play beach volleyball, nap in a hammock, or stroll along the the 660 meter wooden promenade. If the tide is low, you can sit on the sea platform. If you miss the low tide, you can still enjoy the platform but you will have to swim out to it.
The island of Rømø is by far the most desired summer destination of the Wadden Sea area and it is easy to see why upon arrival. The place is tranquil and soft on your senses.
Photo credit: Niche Travel Design
Photo credit: Niche Travel Design
Photo credit: Niche Travel Design
Rømø, Denmark
Photo credit: Niche Travel Design
Rømø connects to the mainland by a 10 km causeway (and this is Denmark so of course there is a cycle lane). Traveling along the causeway one senses that you are leaving the hustle and bustle behind. The landscape is flat and consists of mudflats, marshland. The sea wraps itself around you on each side, the sound of birds calling you to their island.
The reason that so many Danes and Germans flock to Rømø each summer is obvious. Like Esbjerg, there are many things to do, however, where Esbjerg feels like a cool city summer escape, Rømø feels remote, removed and relaxed. Esbjerg has restaurants and clubs. Rømø has forests, marshlands and a really big beach.
Hjemsted Oldtidspark
Want to travel back in time with your family? Head to Hjemsted Oldtidspark an historic theme park covering life in the Iron Age. The park is located on the archeological site of an actual Stone Age village from 2000 years ago.
There, one can explore the underground museum with reconstructed graves, the Roman catapults, and a working iron workshop. You can learn crafts, hunting, fishing, agriculture practices and learn about cloth making, weaving and archery.
If you really want to understand life in the Iron Age, Hjemsted Oldtidsparkoffers longer stays and in one of the park’s houses onsite. These stays fill up quickly in high season so if you are interested, book well in advance. You can read more about long term stays here.
For a bit of history of the island, visit the beautiful Sea Captain’s House. This national museum was a whaler’s home in the 1700s. Here you will learn about the important whaling industry that dominated the area’s economy in the 18th century.
The house has a breathtaking view of the Wadden Sea and is furnished with typical 18th century furniture and paintings. There is also a gorgeous wall tiled with Dutch tiles from the period. The barn contains an entire whale skeleton and there is a fence built of whale bones up the road from the museum. Interesting, albeit a bit creepy too.
The grounds and the view are quite nice, and weather permitting, it would be a very nice place for a summer picnic. There is also a cafe on site that serves lunch.
Photo credit: rømø.dk
Drøhse’s House Drøhse’s House is one of Rømø’s oldest houses dating back to 1672. The baroque house is a well-preserved depiction of life in the 17th century. The house was a private residence for the upper class of Rømø throughout the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries.
In addition to the whaling industry, lace was a significant contributor to the island’s economic history. Drøhse’s House provides a peek inside a traditional trading house, and houses a number of exhibitions focusing on lace and lace making, textiles, furniture and glass. An added bonus, in the summer months, lacemakers can often be found working in the house.
A second bonus, be sure to visit the Lace Garden whose landscape was designed to resemble a 200-year-old Rømø lace pattern.
The museum is located on a pedestrian street at Storegade 14 in Tønder.
Rømø Labyrinth Park Looking for something to with tweens and teens, the Rømø Labyrinth Park is fun for teens and adults alike. Photo credit: visitdenmarkPhoto credit: visitdenmark
Puzzles, labyrinths and games, the park is designed to encourage teamwork and cooperation. And you can play their own game krolf – a mix between croquet and golf.
And One of My Favorite Activities: Exploring and Looking For Adorable Cottages
We visited the area off season. The many cafes, galleries and excursion were not open for the season, yet, we still enjoyed our time and I must say that I understand the pull of the area.
I want to return and rent an adorable thatched roofed cottage in the woods. I envision spending my days walking on the beach, going on an oyster safari, vacillating between all the active pursuits and reading a good book. In the evenings I’d watch the starlings murmurate and ponder the wonders of nature. It is said that the Waddden Sea casts a spell on its visitors. I, for one, am spellbound.
Niche Travel Design 