Discover new sides of Dalarna with your family this summer. Make Furudal and Johannisholm your basecamp for exciting, fun and magical experiences. Check in to The Mangévie in a charming old schoolhouse, walk among cows and learn to make fire. Or camp out next to Lake Venjan and try your hand at archery and look for moose and beavers with Johannisholm Adventure.
Davy and Evi Meersman run The Mangévie in the forests outside Furudal, north of Rättvik. The Belgian family fell in love with Dalarna and started a bed and breakfast in 2019 in Furudal’s old schoolhouse, which they’ve transformed into modern and family-friendly accommodation. There are five apartments with their own bathrooms and fully-equipped kitchens. The blackboard still hangs in the classic old schoolroom - now the dining room - and you can book breakfast and dinner here. The large garden includes a mini farm with goats, rabbits, hens and ducks.
Davy and Evi also offer a wide selection of different activities - in addition to the gorgeous Belgian pastries and pralines they serve in the little café. Join a fishing adventure where you can catch and grill your own fish with a guide. Learn to make fire with a fire steel, and enjoy your grilled sausage even more knowing you created the fire that cooked it. Experience a barbecue evening in their traditional wooden Sami barbecue hut.
They serve delicious dinners in the barbecue hut, and there’s plenty of room for energetic children to run around and play in the surrounding garden.
Eat outside by the waterfall
If you’re staying at The Mangévie there are several wonderful outdoor activities close by. Lake Oresjön, a lovely swimming spot, is just 15 minutes walk. A day trip to Ärteråsen summer pasture farm to wander among the cows or a magical evening with a picnic with a view of the Styggforsen waterfall are two other great tips. If you want to explore the area on your own you can hire bikes, stand-up paddleboards and canoes.
Orsa Grönklitt is nearby, offering a wide range of activities such as hiking trails and mountainbike cycling. Exciting experiences also await at Högt & Lågt climbing park in Rättvik.
Wild adventures in the great outdoors at Johannisholm
After a couple of days in Furudal it’s time to explore further. Steer your course southwest towards Johannisholm, which is between Mora and Malung and within walking distance of Lake Venjan. The outdoor-loving Schofield and Bloomfield families have created a true adventure oasis here. Check in to one of their cosy cabins next to the beach and then decide on one of the many activities on offer. Paddle a canoe, head out on a four-wheeler or go mountainbiking. In the evening you can light the barbecue in the grill hut - or fire up the sauna and hot tub.
The area in and around Johannisholm has lots to offer in terms of outdoor activities and sports. Forests, lakes, hills and mountains create a varied, exciting arena for anyone wanting to get out and explore. Take a peaceful morning walk and look for birds before heading out in a canoe in the evening to look for beavers. Join a Pirate Adventure, try out a climbing wall and archery or quad safari. Every evening they organise games such as volleyball and football. You can also build your own raft or paddle on the lake.
Meet fairytale characters and paint your own Dala horse
There are numerous other family-friendly outings within easy reach of Johannisholm. A day out at Sagolandet Tomteland in Gesunda is, quite literally, an enchanting experience. In the large outdoor park you’ll meet gnomes, trolls, fairies, dragons, princes, princesses and other mystical fairytale characters in a magnificent interactive kingdom. Sweden’s most famous horse, the Dala horse, is made in Nusnäs. At Nils Olsson Dalahästar you can follow the journey from piece of wood to finished horse. You can also try your hand at painting your own horse - try to copy the original decoration or let your creativity run wild.
