Vardåsen – local hill to climb or go slaloming

Vardåsen is our local slalom hill. It’s seen here from the fjord, with Sheeps Inn just above the sailboat masts to the left of the photo. Although this is a fun slope in winter, it is at least as popular during other seasons, as the view of the countryside and Oslo fjord is spectacular once you’ve climbed to the top. There are marked trails. Do remember to bring a picnic and water bottles to refresh you before the descent. You may like to record your climb in the tourist book found at the top most point on the hill.

The picture above shows a group of adults and children walking up the slalom hill on an October evening. Even quite young Norwegian children enjoy this climb and the satisfaction of reaching the top! Our local sports clubs organize races up twice a year which kids down to 5 years old take part in. Once a year in autumn there is a magical torch-light procession to the top – then many hundred people walk up.

If you drive round Heggedalsveien from Heggedal village, especially at weekends or on fine evenings, you will often see rock climbers making their way up the very steep side of Vardåsen hill. If this is your sport, you might like to try yourself?

You see the 5 kilometer walk from Sheeps Inn to the bottom of the Vardåsen hill. There is then a steep climb up to the top of the hill. If you prefer, it is possible to drive past Gulhella and down to the railway station in the valley. You could then leave your car there.

The views to the east of the Oslo fjord are quite magnificent but it is also well worth while to cross the hill to the top of the steep cliffs to the west. These cliffs are popular with rock climbers and on fine evenings it is often possible to watch the climbers from Heggedalsveien road.

During winter, it is possible to enjoy slalom or snowboarding on the Vardåsen ski center. However then you should drive through the town of Asker to the parking lot at the centre.

Drøbak Christmas Shop – all year round!!

If you come to Norway in November and December, you will find Norwegian julenisser (Christmas elves and Father Christmas) everywhere – and lots and lots of seasonal decorations on sale in the shops. But these might be more difficult to find at other times of the year. So a visit to the Christmas Shop and Father Christmas post office in Drøbak town is the answer. See opening times on the website. Drøbak is a very pleasant small town on the east side of the Oslo fjord. If driving there, be aware that there is a genuine (and Norway’s only) traffic sign telling motorists to take care as Santa may be crossing the road!!

You might like to visit the Akvarium beside the harbour while you are there: open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. year round with extended opening till 6:30 from 1st April – 31st August.

The Christmas Shop, Havnebakken 6, 1440 Drøbak

GPS Coordinates:
59° 39′ 46.746” N
10° 37′ 42.7476” E

From Vollen it is easiest to get to the town of Drøbak by driving south to Sætre and taking the Oslo fjord tunnel. There is no longer any toll levied on this tunnel but take care not to exceed the speed limit. An alternative even more scenic route to the tunnel is to turn left at Slemmestad and drive through the small villages of Nærsnes, Båtstø and Sætre, to where you join route 23 for Drøbak.

In late June and July there is a weekend ferry service between Vollen and Drøbak.

Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park

Kistefos Museum and Sculpture Park is well worth the 70 minute drive from Vollen. In the autumn of 2019, the utterly amazing TWIST bridge gallery was opened. This has since been acclaimed as one of the two must-see buildings in Norway and one of the most fascinating constructions in the world. But apart from the Twist, there is the Industrial museum, and a wonderful park to wander through. You will find exciting installations and sculptures by Norwegian and international artists for the whole family to enjoy. Several are interactive and enchant adults and children alike. The park is open from the third week of May to the end of the first week of October. There is a café, picnic area, children’s adventure park and gift shop. On warm days children will want to have their swim suits to be able to play in the amazing water and mirror fountain! On the day you drive to Kistefos, you might want to visit Hadeland Glass Works which is nearby.

Petroc Sesti’s

“Energy-Matter-Space-Time”

Olafur-Eliasson

“Vewing Machine”

Jeppe Hein’s

“Path of Silence” – bring swimsuits and towels!

Oldenburg-&-van-Bruggen

“Tumbling Tacks”

Ilya Kabakov’s

“The Ball”

Ilya Kabakov’s

“The Ball”

Bjarne-Melgaard’s

“Octopus”

Tony-Cragg’s

“I’m alive”

Kistefos-Museet,
Samsmoveien 41, 3520 Jevnaker

GPS Coordinates:
60° 13′ 27.0192” N
10° 22′ 17.5296” E

We suggest that you take the direct route (in blue) driving the E16 to Norderhov and then turning right into road 241 to the Kistefos Museum. When returning you might like to take the grey route which takes you through Hønefoss (direct translation Hen in the Waterfall) admiring the famous waterfall in the town centre.

The lakes, Steinfjorden and Tyrifjorden are very beautiful – named fjords because of the steep hills rising on all sides.

Oslo fjord boat museum in Vollen (Oslofjordmuseet)

For most Norwegians, boat life means having your own boat – be it a little sailboat for a youngster of 9, an 8 foot rubber dingy with a small outboard, a competition yacht, a day cruiser and many many more. To learn more about these, visit Vollen’s Oslo Fjord Museum. There are special events on Sundays for children depending on the season – most associated with the sea. You will find a brochure about these events in the apartment.

When visiting the museum, children can construct their own wooden boat and try it out for seaworthiness in the special basin. As grandmother, I can enthusiastically recommend this, especially on a rainy afternoon. The children buy a ticket for kr. 40,- and are presented with a hammer. They then go down to the workshop where they can (with a little help for the youngest) study the construction diagram, choose their materials and set to work at the real carpenters’ tables. Once completed, they can check seaworthiness in the big tank and practice loading up the propeller to see how far their boats can travel. Pride in personal achievement is at an absolute premium! And best of all, they take their boats home to bring out to the real sea on a later occasion.

There are also lots of exhibits to look at and various skills to practice – such as trying the rowing simulator or (for strong children and adults) attempting to pull up loads of bricks.

Beside the cafeteria, there is a fascinating museum shop where, apart from gifts and souvenirs,visitors can browse an extensive selection of books on marine subjects.

Visitors to Vollen who are interested in Polar History, will be fascinated to learn that Vollen is preparing for the return of a very famous ship. The Maud Returns Home expedition left Norway in June 2014 with tug and barge to cross to Canada and there bring the Maud up to the surface, load her on the barge and then begin the long, slow voyage back to Vollen where she was build for Roald Amundsen in 1918 after his successful race to the South Pole. The expedition successfully brought Maud to the surface in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, Canada. In 2016/17 she overwintered there before being slowly tugged towards Greenland. In summer 2018, Maud was proudly sailed into Maud Bay outside the museum in Vollen where she was feted and greeted by thousands of people both in accompanying boats and along the shore. At present, in 2019 and 2010, she is being treated and worked on further south on the peninsular in a marina at Tofte. It is planned that a special building will be constructed to house Maud at Vollen in the coming years.

Of course big boats, cruise ships, oil platforms, cargo boats are always interesting – and you’ll find them all in the Maritime Museum in Oslo.