Posted by jackie | Under Culture
Monday Jul 26, 2010
With the help of Car Plus Vacation, Explore West Sweden sent our contest winner Mary on her dream trip to Gothenburg! We wanted to find out just how amazing her trip was so we asked her a few questions. Enjoy!
1) what was your first impression of Sweden? I was taken by how well kept everything was there. Anywhere you looked it could have been a view from a postcard.
2) What was on your itinerary? We began our tour in Gothenberg, then headed north along the coast. After we got our Volvo loaner, we visited Klädesholmen, the Nordic Watercolor Museum (and saw an Andrew Wyeth exhibit, funnily enough), Handelsman Flink on the Flatön island, and the Vitlycke Museum in Tanumshede. Later we traveled to Fjällbacka and tooled around the village while waiting for our ride out to Väderöarnas Guest house. On our way back for one last night in Gothenberg, we stopped for lunch at Villa Sjötorp.
3) What was the greatest culture shock that you saw/experienced while in Sweden? Coming from the sometimes chaotic New York City, I was surprised to see such order in Gothenberg. It was evident that the Swedish Government devotes a great deal of resources to making the country a pleasant place to live.
4) The beauty in making your own travel itinerary is that you could tailor your trip to your liking – What was your favorite part? I appreciated getting off what I would consider the beaten path and seeing the Swedish countryside and the more remote sights. We traveled the backroads instead of the E6 whenever possible and enjoyed the farmlands.
Posted by jackie | Under Art
Tuesday Jul 20, 2010
As the third most populated city in Sweden after Stockholm and Gothenburg, Malmö is a vibrant place to take in the sights and sounds, even for a few days! One sight that can’t be missed would be the Moderna Museet (or Modern Museum) located in the old Rooseum building. The collection at the museum features pieces by Marcel Duchamp, Louise Bourgeois, Pablo Picasso, Niki de Saint Phalle, Salvador Dalí, Carolee Schneemann, and Henri Matisse just to name a few!
An amazing exhibition that is currently being shown at the museum is called SPECTACULAR TIMES, a collection focused on the French, American, and Swedish art scene of the 1960’s. This was the first time that artists broke free “from the confines of the canvas and frame” to incorporate their art into society through more unconventional means.
An official excerpt from the museum’s Web site states:
“The 1960s were an age of shiny, polished surfaces, large cars and Hollywood glamour, but also of arms race, fast food and the start of a numbing standardisation. While Öyvind Falhström outlines the game rules of the new world, artists such as Lena Svedberg and Lena Cronquist tantalisingly reveal the darker side of consumerism – alienation, isolation, anxiety.”
SPECTACULAR TIMES at the Moderna Museet runs now through February 2011.
Posted by jackie | Under Culture
Thursday Jul 15, 2010
Congratulations to our winner Jennifer Huber! You have won a copy of Stefan Edman’s new book, Koster Sea : the First Marine National Park in Sweden. Be sure to check out CarPlusVacation for a chance to win a trip to West Sweden!
Posted by jackie | Under Way Out West
Wednesday Jul 14, 2010
And the countdown begins for the Way Out West music festival! We are about a month away from the epic show set to kick off in Slottsskogen city park in central Gothenburg. For three days, the city becomes a centralized home for top national and international artists. With performances by M.I.A., Iggy & The Stooges, The Chemical Brothers, Lykke Li, LCD Soundsystem, Paul Weller, Pavement, La Roux, Girls, The xx, The National, Jens Lekman, Miike Snow, Imperial State Electric, Jónsi, The Drums, Mumford & Sons, Real Estate, Surfer Blood, The Radio Dept., Konono No1, Rango and Cymbals Eat Guitars, its no wonder that this is one of the best urban music festivals in Europe, now in it’s fourth year! Tickets for the event are on sale now.
See you there!
The Details
When: Friday 13th and Saturday 14th August, with club performances from the evening of Thursday 12th until Saturday 14th
Where: Slottsskogen city park in central Gothenburg.
Tickets: 1,390 Swedish crowns (£115) for a full two day festival pass including club performances. Ticket sales at Eventim: Telephone +46 771651000.
Posted by jackie | Under Gothenburg
Monday Jul 12, 2010
The Feskekorka, a fish market in Goteborg, is a building steeped in history. Since it resembles a Gothic church, the old fish market has garnered the name Feskekorka, which translates to “fish church” in English and worship these sea creatures they do. Since it was built in 1840, the building has gained popularity among tourists who visit West Sweden as it serves as a thriving seafood market and an accompanying restaurant inside as well- not only is the grub delicious but the building is absolutely picturesque. The bold design of the building is a reflection of the architect’s inspiration by the Norwegian wooden stave and Gothic stone churches. In addition to fish and seafood, a huge variety of local produce is sold daily at the Feskekorka, this is a must see destination for anyone in Gothenburg.
Posted by jackie | Under Culture
Thursday Jun 24, 2010
On Car Plus Vacation you create the itinerary for your dream vacation in West Sweden and then submit that opportunity to win that trip! You also get a Volvo to cruise around in for the duration of your stay. We are hosting a giveaway of Stefan Edman’s new book, Koster Sea : the First Marine National Park in Sweden. Edman is one of Sweden’s most prominent nature writers, having published over 35 books!
We have 3 copies to give away, all you have to do is post a link to your itinerary that you created on Car + Vacation in the comment section below no later than July 15th for a chance to win, it’s that easy! We will randomly select 3 winners! Good Luck!
Here is more information on the book:
Did you know that crabs walk for miles across the seafloor carrying their “babies” under their abdomen, that sea cucumbers spit out their guts to defend themselves or that ordinary shrimps perform a sex change midway through life?
These and many other interesting and amusing facts are presented in this book about the Kosterhavet Marine National Park — a wonderful, diverse world, full of contrasts, all within a surprisingly small area. Most of the aquatic environments that are typical of the west coast are found here alongside some unusual and unique habitats, among them the only living coral reef in Sweden.
Posted by jackie | Under Drink, Food
Monday Jun 14, 2010
If you are looking for a world-class menu and a decadent wine selection in vibrant Gothenburg, then you have to try Basement. This bold and enjoyable bar is the product of the well-renowned owner and award-winning chef Ulf Wagner, who takes pride in his restaurant. Have a show to catch after dinner? Basement has a great three-course Theater Menu each night from 5:30 pm so you don’t have to miss your evening matinee! With a sommelier on staff, the bar has some great wines to choose from as well. Wagner uses top quality ingredients in his variety of dishes which proves to only exceed customer expectations. If you’re really feeling adventurous, you can opt to try a specially composed “Wagner’s Choice” which is a four, six, or eight course meal! Overall, this isn’t your Grandmother’s Basement, it’s the hottest spot in town.
Posted by jackie | Under Culture
Friday Jun 4, 2010
Even though we are in the year 2010, there is now a chance to go back and experience the grooving 1970’s at the newly-unveiled exhibition at Molndal’s Museum! The museum decided that this year’s exhibition would honor the colorful decade of tie-dye and disco by showcasing many iconic pieces of 70’s pop culture that will be on display for the public from now until March 20, 2011.
More than just a nostalgic walk down memory lane, this exhibit is fun for the whole family! In addition to the exhibit, there is a children’s pillow room as well as a series of lectures in the Fors café. The 1970’s theme will be carried throughout other parts of the museum and will be the focus of this year’s Culture Night in Kvarnbyn on September 3rd. Check out the microsite!
Posted by jackie | Under Nature, Outdoors
Tuesday Jun 1, 2010
Kosterhavet National Park is the first national marine park of Sweden and was inaugurated in September 2009. It is located in Strömstad and Tanum municipalities in Bohuslän, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It consists of the sea and shores around the Koster Islands, however excluding the islands themselves. We got to sit down with Martin Larsvik
one the head Marine Biologist at the park.
How long have you been working as a marine biologist? How long at this reserve?
I have been working as a marine biologist since 1991. In 1992 I started at the Lovén Centre Tjärnö, which is close to the Kosterhavet Marine National Park, inaugurated in 2009.
Can you describe the sea life around the park?
In the Kosterhavet Marine National Park there are about 6000 marine species. More than 200 of those have not been found elsewhere in Sweden, but can be found further west in the Atlantic Ocean. There are, for instance, large brown macroalgae (kelp), sponge animals, polychaete worms, crabs, starfish, sea cucumbers and fish. The most spectacular species is the eye coral (Lophelia pertusa), forming coral reefs at a depth of 85 meters.
I heard that the park doesn’t allow cars? Is that true? Is there protection from all sorts of pollutents?
Motor vehicles are only allowed on roads, but since there practically are no roads, we can say that the park doesn’t allow cars. But the park allow for motorboats, and there is no regulation of what kind of fuel the motorboats can use.
What are some of the most unique creatures you have come across?
There are several species which have been discovered by science in the area close to the Lovén Centre. One is a 9 mm long polychaete worm without mouth or gut.
What do you think about the oil spills off the coast of the US? How traumatic is that for sea life?
Considering the very large volume of oil that have been spilled, I think it is traumatic. Long-term effects of toxic compound of the oil accumulated in the food web, is believed to be more detrimental than the more easily seen short-term surface and shore effects.
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by jackie | Under Accomodations
Monday May 17, 2010
As a little kid we all built forts out of couch cushions and dreamed of our family living just like the Swiss Family Robinson above the rest of the world in the trees. Well now that dream can be brought to life.
Yes, as adults we can live amongst the majestic oak trees in ‘Seventh Heaven’. ’Seventh Heaven’ is the latest addition to the treetop house hotels in Ugglum. The hotel at the Islanna Café & Lantkök, Ugglum. The brand new treehouse has a large balcony that lets you grab your sleeping bag and sleep under the stars! Word has it that they even hoist breakfast up to you in a basket!
This treehouse should be opening soon but in the meanwhile you and your loved ones can stay at the existing tree house Hotel Andrum outside Falköping.
