Let yourself be charmed by the beautiful mountain village of Vrådal! Here, as a senior, you can experience beautiful nature, enjoy good food and frolic in a rich selection of activities.
Where will we seniors travel next? you ask. To historic Straand Hotel in Vrådal in Telemark! Here, the activities are lined up right outside the hotel door. Vrådal is far too beautiful to stay just one night, our visitors say. Below is therefore a suggestion for a three-day stay (two nights) with varied experiences. You can also scroll down and read more about suitable activities for adults. Welcome to the family-run hotel in the heart of Telemark!
Welcome to Straand Hotel! Here we have taken care of guests since 1864, so you as a senior are no older than the hotel! Here you are in good hands. After check-in, we recommend enjoying a good lunch in the piano bar, or the rooftop terrace in the summer. After the food has settled down and you have felt the relaxing atmosphere, we recommend a pleasant walk on the hotel grounds – for example down to the water and Lake Nisser, or with poles on a leisurely round of Nordic Walking in easy terrain. After exercise, you can stop by our neighbor Sølvsmedtunet, where locally produced jewelry and gnomes live in beautiful harmony.
In the evening, we serve a delicious dinner in the restaurant at the hotel. The evening is often rounded off in front of the fireplace in one of the atmospheric lounges, where you can relax with something good in your glass and recharge for tomorrow’s excursion.
Start the day with a good breakfast buffet, before embracing one of the many experiences that lie ahead. We suggest the following activities after breakfast: Climb aboard the veteran boat M/S Fram in the summer and join the lock cruise! Here you sail around the beautiful inland archipelago on Lake Nisser, and you can have food served on board (must be ordered in advance). After the boat trip, you can rent one of our golf carts and drive across the lock in beautiful scenery to Vrådal Golf Club’s beautiful 9-hole golf course on Fossøy. Alternatively, you can rent an electric bike at the hotel and embark on a leisurely ride on nice roads around Vrådal, for example along the water to Galleri Sanden. Or you can pick out one of the local peaks and go hiking in the mountains, preferably with berry picking in the autumn. Before dinner, it’s nice to unwind a bit – perhaps in the sauna at the top of the mountain by the ski resort, or with a sauna and quiet swimming strokes in the hotel’s indoor pool. End an active day with a delicious dinner in the hotel’s restaurant, taste local produce and drinks – and head inside for landing in one of our historic living rooms in the evening.
After a relaxing breakfast, you have the morning to gather some more cultural impressions from Vrådal: How about a cultural and art walk down to the city center? Our neighbor Sølvsmedtunet is a must if you haven’t had time to do so until now. In the city center you will also find Galleri Samvirke with works of art, as well as an exhibition of fairy tale cartoonist Louis Moe’s pictures in Vrådal Tourist Information. Then you walk to the hotel for check-out and a nice closing lunch, before you say goodbye to Vrådal for this time. With a replenishment of both tranquility, nature, movement and culture, you are left with memories that are good for body and soul!
Here in beautiful Vrådal you will find an eldorado of activities that are suitable for both those who want to go on a trip, and those who just want to enjoy the tranquility of the local area and relax in one of the historic lounges at Straand Hotel.
Put on good shoes and explore the many great hiking trails right outside the hotel. Here you can stroll in the woods and fields, experience fresh air and enjoy the view of lakes and mountains. Choose between leisurely hikes or slightly more vigorous peaks. We are happy to help you with good tips!
Whether you thrive best on country roads or gravel paths, Vrådal offers beautiful cycling routes for all tastes. Rent a regular bike or one of our new e-bikes and experience nature at your own pace – with the wind in your hair and a smile in place. Straand Hotel is also the origin of a national HUBRiding concept with recommended driving routes for car and motorcycle enthusiasts. Press the button below and find inspiration for driving and cycling routes that give you rich experiences starting at Straand Hotel!
With poles in your hands, the trip is both easier and more efficient. Nordic walking is a wonderful way to exercise, while taking in the beautiful surroundings around Straand. Fresh air, good movement and pleasant company – what more could you want as a senior?
Close by you will find Vrådal Golf Club, which is located in scenic surroundings out on Fossøy. Rent our own golf cart and drive from the hotel to the golf course. Then you will come to one of the most beautiful 9-hole courses in southern Norway. A perfect activity for those who want to combine a little exercise with social fun and maybe a coffee break in the sun afterwards.
Try Vrådal’s popular mountain sauna, which is a breath of fresh air and a warm experience at the same time. Enjoy the warmth, the scent of wood and the silence as you look out over the mountains. For the daring, it might be tempting to take a dip in the water afterwards? Bring a packed lunch and finish with a nice meal in the shelter located right next to the mountain sauna.
When the forest is full of blueberries and lingonberries, just bring the team and go outside. There is something very special about filling the basket with your own berries and maybe tasting a little along the way. A quiet and enjoyable activity for both young and old.
Vrådal is rich in both culture and history. Visit the lock museum and learn about the history of timber floating and the lock boats. Look at jewelry, elves and try on the Vrådal sweater at Sølvsmedtunet or say hello to the Smørbukk statue in the center before you wander into Galleri Samvirke and look at the art there. Vrådal has, among other things, a collection of fairy tale drawings by the Danish-Norwegian artist Louis Moe. Also take a trip to Galleri Sanden, where you can look at and buy art as well as buy local rhubarb and strawberry juice.
The veteran boat M/S Fram sails on the lakes Nisser and Vråvatn, and the trip starts just below Straand Hotel. The season lasts from May to October with scheduled and sightseeing tours in the beautiful inland archipelago. If you want to combine tour and dining, it is possible to order food in advance and have it served on board. On this tour, you will gain insight into Vrådal’s history with timber floating and a lock system that first opened in 1867.
Start the day with a refreshing bath in the hotel’s swimming pool or enjoy the afternoon in our sauna. Here you can lean back in a sun lounger, read a book and let your shoulders lower. Pure well-being in quiet surroundings.
With us, meals are about more than just food, they are about togetherness. Enjoy a delicious afternoon tea with good friends, taste the Straand burger or a classic sausage in bread with the grandchildren, or treat yourself to a better dinner in the restaurant or on our beautiful panoramic roof terrace. Here you will find something for all generations.
At Straand Hotel, we know how to celebrate life’s small and big occasions. How about dinner in our beautiful restaurant, Bestemorstua, atmospheric wine cellar, a pleasant team in Stabburet, or barbecue on the terrace on a warm summer evening? You can also bring your closest and good friends on an “anniversary cruise” with our historic boat M/S Fram, an experience you will never forget.
Lars Arne and Katrine Straand in the picture are the 5th generation at the family-run Straand Hotel in Vrådal.
The cheerful couple carry on the hospitable heritage with both respect for traditions, but also the ability to renew. The hotel has been welcoming guests since 1864, so you are in safe hands from arrival to departure.
Do you want more information about experiences and activities for seniors in our region? Then you get expert help from our Travel Trade Manager Sigrid!
As a senior, you can experience beautiful nature, enjoy good food, participate in activities such as golf, hiking, rent an electric bike, Nordic walking, lock cruise (boat trip) with M/S Fram, mountain sauna, berry picking, art and cultural walks and much more. This makes for a varied and lively, eventful holiday.
Booking is easily done via the booking form on the hotel’s website, where you choose the check-in and check-out dates, the number of adults (and possibly children), and then submit the request to reserve your stay. You can also book through your tour operator.
After arrival, it is recommended to enjoy a good lunch in the piano bar or on the roof terrace, follow local activity or stroll around the area with a beautiful view of the water towards the mountain, before ending the day with dinner in the restaurant and snuggling up in front of the fireplace.
The day starts with a rich breakfast buffet, followed by experiences such as a lock cruise with the veteran boat M/S Fram, golf on Fossøy, cycling, hiking, sauna, or other outdoor activities. The evening ends with a delicious dinner in the hotel’s restaurant.
You can visit the Lock Museum to learn about the history of timber floating, experience local jewellery and art exhibitions at Sølvsmedtunet, say hello to the Smørbukk statue, as well as go on art and cultural walks in the city centre and at galleries such as Galleri Samvirke and Galleri Sanden.
