Jyväskylä Region

Day 1

Begin your adventure at the Mäki-Matti Family Park, a cherished destination since 1979. The park features two wooden buildings with playrooms, a kitchen, and toilets, as well as an outdoor play area with playgrounds, fields, a barbecue spot, and a stage. The park’s warm and communal atmosphere makes it a favorite among families, and visiting is free.

Next, head to the Harju Tower and Natural History Museum. The Harju Tower, also known as Vesilinna, is a water and observation tower. You can take a lift to the top and enjoy panoramic views from its 34-meter height. Downstairs, explore the Natural History Museum, dedicated to the diverse nature of the Jyväskylä Region and environmental protection, offering interesting information for the whole family. Entry is free year-round.

Continue your day by exploring the Craft Museum of Finland and the National Costume Centre, located on the pedestrian street in the city center. The museum offers a variety of experiences, including the Open Workshop, where you can create new crafts, and the Sense Space, which allows you to experience the world of crafts with all your senses. The museum features both permanent and temporary exhibitions and has activities for the whole family.

Finally, end the day at Tuomiojärvi Lake and Lehtisaari Island. Tuomiojärvi is one of Jyväskylä’s main lakes, with a popular beach that has lifeguards in June and July. The beach offers amenities like a pier, platforms, dressing booths, toilets, a lifeboat, a life buoy, and a kiosk store. On Lehtisaari Island, maintained by the Jyväskylä Parish, you can enjoy activities such as swimming with buoyant belts, sauna, pancakes at the campfire site, canoeing, rowing, outdoor games, and relaxing with fair trade coffee from the cafe. All activities, including the sauna and boat transport to the island, are free. The boat departs from the Viitaniemi pier every even hour, with life preservers provided.

Jyväskylä Region

Day 2

Start the second day by heading to The Ysitien Lemmikki petting zoo in Laukaa. Ysitien lemmikki has been a purveyor of joy and experience since opening in 1982. The zoo is an ideal destination especially for families with children, but all those with an interest in animals are welcome. Among the zoo’s animals are a cat, a pony, llamas, a donkey, sheep, goats, ducks, bunnies, peacocks, hens of various breeds, boars, Mangalica pigs, reindeer, etc.

Only 6 km from the petting zoo, is the delightlful Nokkakivi Amusement Park. It is the favorite of young children, offering nostalgic, old-time fairground experience. The park is home to a Ferris wheel and other classic rides. Calm and safe, the park is a fantastic opportunity to let the children run wild to their heart’s content. Nokkakivi Park is even home to the only genuine hedge maze in Finland! In the high season, dedicated Park Princesses welcome children and their families to a day of fun.

Jyväskylä Region

Day 3

On the third day, head to Maauimala activity park in Jämsä, 50 km southwest of Jyväskylä. The Maauimala activity park is centrally located outdoor sporting facility offers great opportunities for sports and recreation. In the heat of the summer, you can enjoy the sun on the park’s many laws and take a swim from time to time. After a run, you can stop by to try the exercise equipment in the outdoor gym or let the children enjoy the playground. The exercise park is also home to Finland’s largest outdoor Bukk Off Ice game park for hockey and floorball training. Another opportunity at the exercise park is the pump track course to test your balancing skills, which can be used e.g. riding a bike, a kick scooter, or a skateboard. Across the road is the Traffic Park that allows children to learn about traffic rules and practice their driving skills with pedal cars.

If you didn’t get enough of cute animals yeaterday, you can head to the Moose Manor for an educational and fun zoo tour and a delicious meal.

Jyväskylä Region

Day 4

On the last day, take a 1 hour drive to Saarijärvi. The Activity Park Veijari, is, true to its name, dedicated to activity; adventure and motion in the fresh outdoor air, in nature. Apart from the numerous activities, the park is also home to a host of friendly animals, the atmospheric Kappelilampi summer café by the pond, as well as the restaurant’s delicious selection.

For nature enthusiasts, a visit to one of the region’s national parks is easy to combine to this day. Only a 30 min drive away, is the magical Pyhä-Häkki National Park, with it’s ancient forests. The park has several trails of dirrefing lengths to choose from.