The Runde island on Sunnmøre has the Norwegian Sea as its nearest neighbor. One of the most important nesting places for puffins is found on the west side of the Runde mountain. The S-shaped road on the mountain slope in the picture above is the road up to the plateau and the two peaks on Rundefjellet. The first part is paved and quite steep. Further up to the plateau, the trail is paved with stone slabs to withstand the 40,000 - 50,000 people who visit the island annually in

Just behind Løvenskiold shooting range at Fossum is a dammed lake which has previously been a source of drinking water for parts of Bærum, but which is now an idyllic swimming area. The dam and the beaches next to it have become nice places for recreation and swimming. You can get here from Fossum by walking on paths through the forest, or from Skytterkollen on forest roads. There are paths along the water so it is possible to walk around the island. A round trip takes about

Do you consider a two hours hike with a non-stop sea view to the lovely blue Mediterranean and one of the most beautiful coastlines of Spain a good idea, you should try the route between Villajoyosa and Benidorm. Bring your swimming suit or go for a naked swim. Being almost halfway between Benidorm and Villajoyosa, the beach of Torres on the picture over is a natural place for a rest. Here you can enjoy a refreshment at the restaurant at the camping site nearby. You may of co

Half an hours drive north of Alicante and some few kilometers south of Benidorm you'll find the fishing village Villajoyosa which means "The happy village". Tall, thin and colourful as they are - originally painted this way to make it easier for the fishermen finding home. The old city center with its narrow streets and picturesque houses is on the Unesco's World Heritage list. The original character of the city has been very well preserved du to the protection of the buildin

The coast northeast of the Calpe cliff is wild, beautiful and accessible. You don't get the long, soft, sandy beaches, but instead you can enjoy small coves and bays, some with sand, others with stones and gravel. There are three restaurants you can visit. A nice two hours trip. The trip starts right next to the Calpe cliff in the bay called Cala Caleta (or Cala de la Calalga). In the picture above you will see the parking lot at the right hand side and the Calpe cliff in the

When you are under the steep mountain wall of the Calpeklipp, it seems unbelievable that in about an hour you can stand on top and admire one of Spain's most beautiful coastal areas, but thanks to a tunnel and a little bolted rope, you reach one of Ernest Hemmingway's favorite places. The Calpe promontory is a conservation area that will be preserved as it is for future generations. It belongs to the Alicante area in the Valencia region. To get into the area, you have to go t

Cala de Muraig was once a nest for smugglers. It is easy to understand when you see how difficult it is to access this place. Even when you lean out over the ditch 100 meters above the beach, you don't get a complete overview. Today it is a holiday paradise. The underwater caves are a mecca for divers. The beach faces south-east and is shadowed in the afternoons for large parts of the year. Thus, morning and noon is best for sunbath. From the top of the cliff you only see par

A sunny day when the wind is not to hard, you should take the Kosterboat to Nordkoster. It's an island free from cars where you can go on trails and gravel roads, enjoy the silence and dream of past times. Nature ranges from lush forests to plainland and Danish sandy beaches in minature. On the east side it is easy to find a sheltered bay as the dominant wind direction is from south-west. Even in high season it's easy to find a place where you can be for yourself. Because the

Saltö is an idyllic island with a beautiful sandy beach and nice hiking opportunities. If you like snorkeling, try the snorkel trail. The beach at Saltö is one of the finest in the area. It is located south-facing and thus sheltered from norhern winds. If you go west along the beach, nature changes. Here you will have a great view to the archipelago and to one of the gateways to the Kosterhavet National Park, which has about 12,000 different species. In the pebbles it is nice

Strømstad has many nice beaches, but those of Capri are perhaps the most beautiful. Here you can see the "Sekken" and the archipelago that merges with the Hvalerøyene on the Norwegian side. Capri is a nature conservation area with a distinctive nature. Here you will find both a sandy beach and a beach with smooth rocks. If you want to lie in the shade of a tree and look out over the sea, you can retreat to the open pine forest right behind the sandy beach. Or you can find a p

Källviken has its own pizza restaurant and rooms and cabins you can enjoy with views to the beautiful archipelago of Bohuslän, but you can also have nice walks in the woods and fields. At the top of the hill you get a wonderful view to sea. In the first and last part of the trail you go through a dark forest. The trail is marked with white marks on trees and rocks. Here and there the sun passes through the tree crowns and creates beautiful patterns in the green forest ground.

If you want a little nostalgia and like to be reminded of how it was when Fornebu was the country's main airport and the only place where something was open on Sundays - or if you just want to do something - take the family to the Nansen Park at Fornebulandet. Fornebu is an exciting urban development area where more than eight thousand residential units and countless commercial buildings will be built. Fortunately, city developers have taken care of the opportunities for recr

The old town of Altea is one of the best preserved original coastal towns in Spain. It is also considered one of the most beautiful. In the picturesque narrow streets you will find countless little cozy shops with arts and crafts. The church with the distinctive blue dome is a landmark. Altea has been populated since 500 BC. In the 1600s a double fortress wall was established around the church and the buildings on the top as protection against pirate attacks. Today there are

The beaches in the inner Oslofjord are special. In many places, slanted slate layers are eroded to quite flat, but rough rocks. Occasionally you will find soft sandy beaches with wide-open grasslands inside. The slates erodes into gravel of small flat stones. Some of the beaches are covered with this kind of gravel. If you follow the coastal path along the beaches between Vollen and Slemmestad, you can find small beach crabs or admire the views to Oslo, Nesodden and the islan

On sunny days it often becomes crowded on the largest beaches such as Hvalstrand and Sjøstrand. If you want more privacy, Elnestangen might be a good option. In the mornings it's nice on the southern beach. You'll have a view to Nesodden and towards Drøbak. Especially in the cold season it is popular to fish from this beach. At four o'clock p.m. when the breeze comes, you can find shelter on the northern beach. Here you have evening sun till nine or ten o'clock p.m. If you ma

The coastal path from the picturesque fishing port Selläter to Strømstad city passes through several beautiful beaches. Here you can take in the scent of the sea and enjoy the view of Bohuslän's archipelago accompanied by the sounds of seagulls. The horseshoe-shaped port of Selläter is well protected from wind and waves. Selläter beach is the first you'll meet when you start on the coastal path. Along the first part of the coastal path, you pass several small piers. And later

Many people know Vollen right outside of Oslo as a beautiful little "southern village" with white wooden houses. The beaches and the terraced rocky beaches are not as well known. On the sandy beach of Vollen the children can wade on shallow water and play with a shovel and bucket. If you go to the left you will find a bathing ladder. If you go to the right you will find a completely different terrain. Here the mountain has been eroded by the natural forces to a relatively fla

A short bus ride from the city center in Oslo, you will find a place oozing with old grandeur and the intrinsic beauty of nature. What once was a residence and tumbling space for a single-family, now is a museum and a place for everybody. The little house at the beach was probably used to relax after a good dinner, and maybe they took a swim on their private beach. Or maybe they used this little bathhouse instead? They could choose as they wished. Originally Bogstad was a sma

Twenty minutes drive from Sandvika you will find an idyllic spot in the woods. A walk around the lake takes about two hours. In the summertime this is a nice place for a swim. Here you can eat under the trees, fish, swim, walk a little or just enjoy the quietness of the woods. In the fall you can enjoy the colors. More excursions: www.turideer.com Excursion of the week: Burudvann in Bærum Suitable for: Everyone. It is only 700 meters from the parking lot to the lake. Baby car

Despised by someone, loved by others. Only New York has more skyscrapers per square meter. Benidorm was the first holiday paradise in Spain. This was where Franco wanted to build the tourism industry. When you see the beaches, it's easy to understand. Benidorm has two long, wide beaches: Poniente at 3 km and Levante at 2 km. Between them is a cliff with the old town, the church and the main shopping street. Spaniards prefer the poniente part, while foreigners gladly go to lev