very cheap things to do with 9 yr old boy

Okie Gramma · Post by **Okie Gramma** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:20 am

Hi, Im new here, visiting my grandson for the summer (his mom and stepdad too) and I need advice on fun things to do that don't cost a lot. We went to Heureka and he like the outside things best, like the wind machine. He likes to run and climb, is into Bionicles, anything to do with animals. We gewt around on public transport and are in Espoo.

Thanks

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sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:59 pm

First place that come to mind is..
http://www.serena.fi/index.php?lang=en_EN

But as you live in Espoo why not pop into the Tapiola Graden Hotel and check some of the brochures there.
Or even ask the receptionist I expect they get asked every day by guests with kids in tow.

EP · Post by EP » Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:31 pm

Certainly far from very cheap, but Linnanmäki amusement park is once-in-a-summer place for 9-year-olds. Then Korkeasaari Zoo, and Sea Life aquarium that is on Linnanmäki premises.

sinikettu · Post by **sinikettu** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 2:40 pm

Okie Gramma wrote:. We went to Heureka and he like the outside things best, like the wind machine.

Check the list of whats on now at Heureka

http://www.heureka.fi/portal/englanti/

Xochiquetzal · Post by **Xochiquetzal** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:55 pm

Markantanpuisto is a park where the major playground manufacturers show their latest jungle gym designs. It's easy to get to by bus and completely free.

The Tapiola Asukas Puisto in Northern Tapiola gives out free lunches to the kids every weekday (bring your own plates/spoons) and is the site of a large series of play areas. Again, easy to get to and completely free.

Haukilahti, in Eastern Espoo, has a really nice shallow sandy beach protected by a breaker wall. It's easily accessible by the 10 bus from Tapiola (5 minute trip). You can find it on a map - it's right next to the Swedish school.

A nice half day trip would be to walk along the marshland Nature Preserve of Laajalahti Bay. There's a bird viewing tower looking over the bay and 3 kilometers of walking on a boards across the marshlands. You could start at Villa Elfvik and end at Otaniemi - with easy transport back home when you're done viewing the birds.

Krisztina · Post by **Krisztina** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:08 pm

this is Helsinki, but reachable with local transportation:

http://www.hel2.fi/tourism/EN/ohjelmaa_ ... word=taide

2 pages!

Okie Gramma · Post by **Okie Gramma** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:48 am

Thanks everybody, we went to Marketanpuisto yesterday and had a lot of fun.

Okie Gramma

karen · Post by **karen** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:41 pm

How long will you be in town, Okie Gramma? I'm in Texas until July 3. I'd love to meet you if you're still around when I get home. I'm your daughter's neighbor from down the street, sort of.

Okie Gramma · Post by **Okie Gramma** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:12 pm

I'm here until the 23rd of August, would love to meet with you. I think we're going to in-laws on the 10th thru weekend.

karen · Post by **karen** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 7:44 pm

I have a car. Maybe you, A and W could ride with me and my kid to Porvoo if you haven't been there already. It's beautiful in the summer. There are other places we could go, too.

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 9:49 pm

Okie Gramma wrote:I'm here until the 23rd of August, would love to meet with you. I think we're going to in-laws on the 10th thru weekend.

I suggest a trip on 51 towards Fiskars, Lappohja beach and Hanko
and on the way you could stop over our place...in Inkoo and check out the new mall as well as drop by on us

..

karen · Post by **karen** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 11:43 pm

Good suggestion, Raam. I've been wanting to visit Fiskars for a while.

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:41 am

You can get to Suomenlinna with the regular ferry which costs a normal bus ticket. Take a picnic, a kite, swimming trunks, a pocket lamp.... my kids loved (still do) hiding in the tunnels under the fortress and playing "pirates". There is a small beach there for paddling and on a breezy day the kite flying is terrific. All for free.

Seurasaari open air museum is also free entry (but you pay to visit the interiors of the buildings, kids are free I think). Take peanuts to feed the squirrels. Nice place to walk, picnic.

Matinkyla also has a nice beach, bigger than Haukilahti (and there is a cafe with a huge outdoor area, better than the grotty terrace in Haukilahti). There are buses going down there and I guess it is just about walkable from Iso Omena. There is a life-guard in summer. Usually tons of other kids. http://www.espoo.fi/default.asp?path=1; ... 6161;70021

There are skateboarding parks all over Espoo: Leppavaara, Espoonlahti etc... also free.

There is usually a "Legoland" play area UNDER Hakaniemi market square in the summer. It is not free but the entrance ticket gives unlimited access to all the activities (Lego, trampolines, etc). There is a snack bar . Mine used to love it. Haven't seen any advertisements for it this year but it is an annual thing that lasts all through the summer vacation. All indoors so good on a rainy day. Like today. Found it: http://www.leikkiluola.fi/

Espoo has a car museum. A 9 yr old would enjoy it... old cars, motorbikes. Can't remember the address but it is towards Espoonkeskus. http://www.saunalahti.fi/automuse/txteng.htm

Glims homestead museum is also in Espoo near Jorvi hospital. Another open-air museum where they have some outdoor activities for kids during the summer, and maybe summer theatre. Another place to run around, explore. The Jorvi buses stop outside. http://www.espoonkaupunginmuseo.fi/sivu ... 1241;91306

If I think of more I'll post them

sammy · Post by **sammy** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 12:06 pm

penelope wrote:Seurasaari open air museum is also free entry (but you pay to visit the interiors of the buildings, kids are free I think). Take peanuts to feed the squirrels. Nice place to walk, picnic.

Another spot for almost quaranteed squirrel-spotting is the so-called Rhododendron park (Alppiruusupuisto) in Haaga - the best way to get there might be the local M-train, the park is near the Huopalahti station. There's nothing much there except the plants and (the squirrels) but it is somewhat strange and exotic to find such a "jungle" of huge Rhododendron bushes in the middle of an ordinary pinewood forest; still it may be a bit hard to find, though, so consult a map before you go. The blooms are already gone, though. The peak time was before Midsummer. But the squirrels are there and I'm sure they won't mind a nut or two

Suomenlinna http://www.suomenlinna.fi/ truly is a heaven adventurous kids, so many places to explore... but do mind the dangerous spots - in a few places, the old fortress walls drop quite steeply, without any fences at all.

Okie Gramma · Post by **Okie Gramma** » Thu Jun 28, 2007 8:28 pm

I haven't had a chance to get on the internet for a few days, thanks for all the tips. Karen, AQ told me who you are, I'll be glad to meet you and your son.

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