There are only couple of weeks of summer vacation left and then we all get back to studies or work. However, the weather is still amazing and we should take maximum advantage of these sunny days, because well, “winter is coming”! So here are few ideas on how to spend the last days of summer near campus:
Enjoy some water sports in Keilaniemi. In sports center Laguuni, you can try wakeboarding, SUP boarding, kayaking or have fun in aquapark. I love SUP boarding, it challenges your balance and activates your core! I hope to try wakeboarding in the upcoming weekend as well!
More info here: https://laguuniin.fi/en/
Play mini-golf in Tapiola area. Could you get your ball to every hole just with 2 shots? Challenge yourself and think every hit through! Tapiola Minigolf is located in a scenic location in Tapiola right next to the Otsolahti lake.
More info here (in Finnish): https://tapiolanminigolf.com/
Have some treetop adventure in Leppävaara area! There are eight high ropes courses at Huippu center. There are also two short training courses where the instructors can show the beginners how to use the harness and safety system. If you come during the working days, you can get a 4€ discount with your student card.
More info here: https://www.seikkailupuistohuippu.fi/cms/en/
Enjoy sunny day in a swimming pool, ride the sloped or try aquajogging (vesijuoksu)! Visit Leppävaara´s swimming hall that has a great outside pool area where you can enjoy fresh air while swimming! Remember to show your student card for a discount!
More info here: https://www.espoo.fi/en-US/Culture_and_sport/Sports/Sports_and_Recreation_Facilities/Swimming_halls/Leppavaara
Ride on your bicycle around Laajalahti! Ride through Laajalahti Nature reserve, stop to admire Villa Elfvik, then stop at Gallen-Kallela museum then ride through lovely small bridges and stop at Munkkiniemen beach to have some ice-cream or maybe even to swim! You can also visit Alvaar Aalto’s studio nearby in Munkkiniemi by attending a guided tour. More information here: https://www.alvaraalto.fi/en/location/studio-aalto/Finally ride through lovely peaceful islands of Kuusisaari, Lehtisaari to come back to Otaniemi. The whole circle is around 13 km.
And finally you can just gather your friends and go for a picnic and play some games at the Otaranta or in Alvarinaukio. It is also great just to take a blanket and a book and enjoy some time by yourself and recharge. Have a great rest of the summer!
Daria Babanina
Master’s student of Real Estate Economics at Engineering School