Living like the happiest people in the world on vacation? This dream comes true in our summer house on the west coast of Finland. A simple wooden cottage, a hot wood-fired sauna with access to the sea. Sauna beer. Fishing from the jetty. Smoke oven. Barbecues and long days that never end. Comparatively few mosquitoes due to the seaside location, occasional moose and northern lights - even in summer - and of course a notorious outhouse. Lots of time and peace and quiet. It's the simple things, the close contact with nature, that make it so appealing. Playing darts or cards, reading, walking or jogging. Having time for yourself and your family. And of course picking blueberries. Going on excursions in the surrounding area. Having a chat with strangers and realizing that we all tick in the same way. That seems to be the lost happiness we're looking for. Just being who you are. You can find that again in Finland!

Simply spend some time in this enchanting place or as a stopover on a longer Scandinavian tour. A stay on the west coast of Finland is always worthwhile. Most people here speak Swedish. And English, of course. Often even German. The people are friendly and welcoming. Often interested in tourists. Nykarleby or Uusikaarlepyy (in Finnish), the smallest town in Finland, is particularly suitable for running everyday errands, shopping, drinking coffee or eating ice cream and chips at the market and meeting other people again. An hour's drive away is a large amusement park, Powerpark, if you're in the mood for adventure. There are plenty of hidden and touristy sandy beaches, as well as snow and ice in winter. Here, the frozen Baltic Sea fascinates with its enchanting winter landscapes; of course, ice bathing and, for fishing enthusiasts, ice fishing/pimping are not to be missed.