After checking out Stæteren Gård on on Friday, we were excited to share take Maddie and Ada on the same hike. But we were also nervous; though they’ve gotten much better at walking long distances in the past month, hiking isn’t something that I would say is a top five thing they wanted to do on a weekend.
We told them about the giant chest of toys that awaited them at the cabin and the end of the hike, and asked them what it would take to get them up the hill. Their consensus—candy, specifically, lollipops and chocolate.
Ada decided that candy gave her energy, and it made for a pretty entertaining hike. Here she is taking off after a couple of licks of her lolly pop.
Later in the day, Ada discovered that a pretty red rock gave her energy too. So, she put a rock in her mouth and ran up the hill to our cabin.
But in the end, Ada’s energy ran out, and as was to be expected, we ended up with a toddler on our shoulders.
Still, the whole hike took just over an hour, and we arrived at Sæteren Gård in plenty of time to get some ice cream sandwiches before the cafe closed, and then took to exploring the cabin.
Here were are opening the giant toy chest:
And checking out the sleeping loft.
Right outside the cabin was a wonderful low ropes course, which Ada and Maddie enjoyed tremendously (Ada more than Maddie).
Soon it was time to start dinner, and so we lit some candles
The name of our cabin is Envetyrhytta, which translates to Adventure Lodge.
The toy box had all the major fairy tales covered. Here are the Billy Goats Gruff, with hand carved goats, and an adorable troll with button eyes.
Red riding hood and the big bad wolf are deep in conversation.
If you’re interested, here’s an outtake from the Red Riding Hood puppet show Ada and Maddie put on.
The Princess and the Pea. The pea was a rock Ada found outside the cabin.
Again, I’m amazed by how much Norway seems to understand the needs of children and accommodates their needs. I’m sure there are nice huts to be found in New Zealand, and even along the Appalacian Trail, but I don’t think any of them would be stocked with half a dozen fairy tales’ worth of dolls and puppets.
Though our cabin didn’t have running water or electricity, it had a ton of charm, one cute troll, and six bird houses on the front, including one very large owl house. Here are a few more photos.
Maddie swears this owl coat hook was in her classroom in last year.
This whimsical mural was on the wall.
Maddie’s entry in the guest book
The next day, Ada went back to play a bit more on the ropes course.
And then it was time to make our way back home.
Here’s to camping out at many more hyttes this year, and seeing what they are like in the winter.
A Year in Norway 