-Things to Do on Tromøy

Tromøya is an adventure in of itself.  Arendal is a 20 minute car ride or boat trip away to a charming fishing village full of hip shops, restaurants and even a mall.
Our favorite activities around Tromøya are boating and sea kayaking!  Los Hytta has its own private dock and a boat available to renters.

Take a boat out to the nearby islands to sunbath and swim. Another fun boat trip is to boat straight across the fjord to the quaint fairy tale town of Nearestø.  Walk up the hill to visit Tre Stuer (The Three Living Rooms) for tea, coffee and cakes on the back lawn overlooking the bay.  The views directly back towards Los Hyttaaand Mokkalasset lighthouse are breathtaking.  Enjoy a very elegant dinner at Tre Stuer in the evening or book a private event anytime.  The gift shop is full of home decorating delights.
Ocean fishing is very popular! Our 80+ year old friend lives near the bridge and knows the best bait and fishing spots. Or set your crab traps to fetch the next day.

Sea kayaking is just incredible to us. Wind your way out under thebridge and follow the coast admiring the ocean side homes.  Being eye level with the wild swans that glide faster than you can paddle is humbling.   There is a bird sanctuary island to the Northeast that you can’t miss because the seagulls are so loud. You can get so close by kayak that you can see the nests.  Continue all the way around the tip and down the other side of the island.
You can bike all the way to Arendal along the main road mostly on a bike path or wind your way through the center of the island.  There are stops on the Northeast side to discover new beaches or swimming spots.

Beautiful trails for running or biking wind through a dense shaded forest which is perfect on a hot sunny day. Enjoy the refreshing wild berries and cherries. 

A fun outing is to visit Bjellandstrand gård for lunch. www.bjellandstrand.com It is near the historic Tromøy Church, pass the sun flower fields and you’ll come upon a working farm from 1650 turned garden restaurant.  Stroll through the rose garden, visit the farm animals and greet the funny pigs or walk down to the beach.  The gift shop is full of Norwegian cultural items. Don’t forget to buy their homemade fresh bread to take home.
Hotel Arendal Herregaard would be a nice place for dining out or to book a spa experience. They cater food too if you want a catered event at Los Hytta.

The beaches and forest paths at Hove Camping are another fun outing. These shallow beaches are ideal for small children and the forest paths are a wonderland of twisted trees bordering the coastal beaches with round rocks.

There are grocery stores and gas stations on Tromøya for quick shopping.
Or rent the Lille Torungen Lighthouse for a dinner party at the top of the lighthouse. They have removed the giant light and replaced it with a round table with 360 degree views.
Click here to read a story about our family’s dinner party event at Lille Torungen Lighthouse.
For more ideas go to http://www.arendal.com/ontime.asp?doc_id=24&lang=en

-A Walk from Los Hytta

A day is not complete without a walk around the tip of the island straight from Los Hytta. There are three different walks to choose from. 
Start off to the South East to face the sunrise and wind your way over the rocky ledges that lead to an inlet where you can start your day by snacking on wild raspberries and a morning swim in the protected bay.   There is a little dock and diving board there that our family loves to use for a dip in the clean ocean water after a run in the forest.
Head out towards the North side for an incredible walk around the very most tip of Tromoya. The West side of the tip leads you through paths that lead to other cabins along the coast, up a hill that gives you a direct view of the lighthouse Mokkalasset (the farmer’s poop pile – directly translated.) The rocks out here are spectacular with different colors and patterns. There is another small lighthouse here that you can climb up and sit at the railing to take in the spectacular views and watch the boats come in and out of the sound to Arndal.  Continue around the tip and find the marker that tells the story of the sunken Fredensborg Slave Ship.  Keep following the marked blue painted spots on the rocky coast trail that will guide you on the wisest route around to the other side of the tip where more charming Norwegian cabins are nestled behind the rocks.
Your third option is the last tour in the opposite direction!  An entirely new experience.

Take a thermos and treats to prolong your experience.  Or find a protected ledge on the East side to sunbath or read a book.