This is a fun place with a lot to do for kids. For parents, there is a TV, couches, and internet,…read moreso time doesn't feel as uncomfortable. I would caution against birthday parties there, though. We had one for our daughter and the party place was filthy: old ice cream stain drippings on *every* chair, the wall, and all kinds of old food dried on to the curtains separating the rooms. It looks like they wipe off the tables only and sweep the floors. There was day old popcorn under our table when we came in for the party at opening. Disgustingly dirty and NOT where children are eating.

Sailing the seas! This ship is awesome! I took it to get from Helsinki to Tallinn, Estonia and back…read moreagain. They have two departures daily. It's a two and a half hour ride from one port to the next. The ship is mainly composed of vehicular traffic, with several decks of cars and trucks. But the top 5 floors of the ship or so are for passengers! On board, you'll find duty free shopping, bars, nightclubs, slot machines, performances, and plenty of restaurants. I had the seafood buffet while riding from Tallinn to Finland, and I gotta say- I highly recommend it. They served up several types of fish, caviar, pate, bacon & eggs, franks & beans, and everything else you could ever imagine for a Scandinavian breakfast. The entertainment on board was nice- live bands, singing American songs in English. We found the chairs comfortable, with plenty of space to stretch out. The view from the sun deck was expansive, with great views of the Bay of Finland. It was cold out when I went, and the ship burst through solid ice. The crew was nice-Be sure to meet the Viking Cat! They were accommodating and pleasant through the voyage. The voyage price was quite reasonable, and I felt safe on board the ship. The ship was quite clean and well picked up. They offer a luggage room that is locked up during the duration of the journey, so you can stash your large bags and explore the ship.

The capital area has lots of beautiful islands. Many of them are private but some are open to the…read morepublic. One of them that it definitely worth a daytrip is Iso Vasikkasaari on the coast of Espoo. Several times a day a ferry leaves from Otaniemi, Haukilahti and Matinkylä to bring visitors to the island. For the timetable click here. Adults pay 5 € for a return ticket, children just 2€. Especially on weekends and when the weather is good the ferries are normally full. So try to get on board before Matinkylä. Luckily the island is big enough to never give you the feeling of being overcrowded. There are nice smaller and bigger beaches and several idyllic places along the water and further inside on the island. On the South-Western side the sailing boats at the wooden pier give you the feeling of being somewhere at the Mediterranean Sea rather than in Finland. Closer to the harbor you find a cozy restaurant serving meat and fish dishes. You can of course also just enjoy a cold drink in the shade.