Family Holidays in Pärnu and Pärnu county

Family Holidays in P채rnu and P채rnu County ADVENTURES OF THE ELEPHANT BOY

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Potties

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greenery. He’s often thought he should do something about the garden – cut back the branches and mow the lawn – but if he did he’d feel sorry for al l of the trees x x x x axn d bx u s h ex s x x and flowers. x x x x x x x x x x x x x Besides, his x x x x x garden is home x x x x x x to xlots of x x lovely x x x little x birds, x x who x x x x x make their nests in x x x x its branches.

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Potties

Family-friendly dining in Pärnu and Pärnu County Baby-changing facilities

Kivisildnik

has four huge legs, two massive ears and a super-long trunk. Beneath the trunk he has a mouth which is always turned upwards in a smile.

It’s always mumbling something, too – he does tend to think Ammende Villa x x x out loud.

Bravo Café x x x x Microwave oven

That’s not just some story, either – the curative qualities of the local mud have been scientifically proven. There may only be one of these mystical elephants left in Pärnu, but the tranquil ambience of the 1950s is unchanged, and the town’s spas continue to treat people to this day.

IN THE WORLD

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Children’s menu

They appeared out of nowhere, bringing with them a sense of lightness and geniality. That said, over the decades they’ve quite literally stamped their mark on the sea, which is what makes Pärnu’s therapeutic mud some of the most health-giving on the planet.

Jõulumäe Recreation Centre x x x Lembitu Holiday Home x the x only x Pärnu Pärnu’s a bit like that. It’s Lepanina Hotel x x x x the world. It’s like a pair of that Maria in Farm x x shoes x fitFarm you perfectly – not too loose, Markna x x x not too Nurmeveski Guesthouse x x x lined tight: just right. Its streets are Sassi Farm x x x with trees which silently watch over life Rannahotell x x x x the Many Strandin Spa and town.

Conference Hotel of them x x have x taken x Surfhunt x xwhere you’ll upLodging residence in its parks, Tervise Paradiis Spa Hotel and x x x x Water Park Tervis Medical SPA hotel x x x x Vango Farm x x x x Viiking Spa-Hotel x x x x Villa Andropoff x x x Villa Artis x x x x Villa Eeden x x x Villa Flora x x x Villa Marina x ofxthe smallest x x Elephant Boy lives on one Villa Wesset x x x x and indeed loveliest streets in Pärnu. He Vita House x x

High chair

Pärnu is famous for its mystical elephants. You’ve probably seen a magnet on a fridge belonging to some professional pilgrim or recognised philosopher of a gorgeous little elephant with a shining star on its brow.

That’s one of Pärnu’s elephants, who first appeared on the beach of this cosy seaside resort in the early 1950s.

Extra bed

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Children’s menu

Family-friendly accommodation in Pärnu and Pärnu County

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3 MAKES PERFECT It was a glorious summer’s morning.

Elephant Boy was fast asleep in his bed when he awoke with a start and stampeded to the bathroom. Only when he was halfway through brushing his teeth did he remember it was summer break time and that there was no rush to go anywhere.

But since he’d already gotten up, Elephant Boy decided to make the most of the day.

He went out into the garden, picked a trunkful of peppermint and raspberry and blackcurrant leaves, took them back inside and lined his favourite teacup with them. As he poured hot water over them the room filled with a delicious scent. Having drunk his tea, he set about clearing the table – which is when the accident happened. As he picked up his teacup it slipped out from between the curls of his trunk and fell to the floor, where it shattered into hundreds of little pieces. Elephant Boy was downhearted, but immediately had an idea: he’d go to the Mary Magdalene Guild in the Old Town and make himself a new cup.

It wasn’t long before Elephant Boy was on his bike and cycling towards the guild, saying hello to everyone along the way.

He soon found the pottery, since it was there that he’d made himself the teacup he’d just broken. The place was always full of excited children busily crafting themselves something new.

The potter handed Elephant Boy a lump of clay, and the teacup-making began. Last time it had taken him quite a while; this

time the potter had barely turned his back and Elephant Boy was done.

He’d fashioned an intriguingly shaped handle fo r t h e c u p which would be easy to grasp with his trunk. The potter placed the cup in the oven to dry.

While that was happening, Elephant Boy decided to pay a visit to the pearl workshop on Rüütli Street. Threading the tiny white beads with his trunk was a fiddly business, but he’d soon made himself a lovely little necklace.

After that he decided to drop in on the Venus Bastion blacksmith and see if he couldn’t learn some of the tricks of his trade. From the sidelines it all looked quite easy; in reality it was rather complicated.

Elephant Boy came away from the smithy though with a brand new nail, which he was very proud to have made.

LIKE A Whenever Elephant Boy got near anything wet, he took to it like a fish to water. There weren’t many people in the town who had more fun on the waterslides at the aqua park, and there certainly wasn’t anyone who could make a bigger splash.

Elephant Boy had decided that the next day would be one of his in-the-water days. He’d even bought himself a white bathrobe to use on such days, since it was perfect for going from one aqua park to the next, shrugging it off and jumping into the water.

Once he’d done everything he needed to that morning, Elephant Boy headed straight for the Estonia Therms Sauna and Pool Centre. He knew only too well that a sauna wasn’t just a place to scrub yourself clean, but to cleanse your soul, too – and that there was a sauna to suit everyone’s taste at the spa. Personally, he liked them all – the

TO WATER Finnish, steam and salt saunas – as well as the Japanese bath and the jacuzzi and the pools.

His appetite wet, Elephant Boy decided to try the muds for which Pärnu was so famous. They were particularly well known for it at Tervis Medical Spa Hotel, so he headed there – and soon found himself covered in warm mud! It was actually quite exciting. They wanted to wrap him up in a warm blanket, too, but since they couldn’t find one that was big enough, they just stuck to the mud.

Next, Elephant Boy went to paradise – or rather the spa hotel and water park called Tervise Paradiis. He knew it was the biggest aqua park in the country, and loved its waterslides, jacuzzis, saunas and outdoor pool. It was always full of visitors, young and old, big and little.

Everyone there always felt like they were in paradise.

On his way back from the blacksmith’s Elephant Boy collected his new teacup from the guild before heading home.

There he decided to put his new cup to the test straight away – so he placed a dollop of blackcurrant jam in it, poured over some hot water and waited. And in a couple of minutes his tea was ready to drink. It always tastes better from a cup you’ve made yourself.

Handicraft workshops 1 Jaroslavna MTÜ Pearl workshop, Rüütli 25, +372 580 94 465, www.yarila.ee 2 Mary Magdalene Guild, Uus 5, +372 553 6321, www.maarjamagdaleenagild.ee 3 Venus Bastion Smithy, Õhtu 1, +372 510 6657, www.sepakunst.com

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Pools and waterparks Estonia Therms Sauna and Pool Centre, Pärna 12, +372 447 6905, +372 447 6870, www.spaestonia.ee Strand Spa & Conference Hotel, A.H. Tammsaare pst 35, +372 447 5370, www.strand.ee Tervise Paradiis Water Park, Side 14, +372 445 1666, www.terviseparadiis.ee Tervis Medical Spa Hotel & Sauna Centre, Seedri 6, +372 447 9440, www.spatervis.ee

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5 BEACH, PARKS, YOUR HEART’S DESIRE! As the sun rose the next morning it found Elephant Boy in his kitchen making muffins for his friends Mikk and Kerli, who he was planning to show around Pärnu. Though the town’s full of cosy cafés, he knew that there was nothing nicer than homemade muffins, and he packed them up to take with him.

Mikk and Kerli were delighted to see their friend, and together they set off for the beach park 1 . There you can climb on the benches, have a picnic at the stone tables and splash about in the fountain. The best bit is the playground on the beach side of the park, where there are all sorts of attractions designed

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to build up your strength and balance and knowledge.

From the park, Elephant Boy took his friends across to the beach, where they headed straight for the water. It was very warm, and after a lovely swim they walked along the promenade 2 enjoying an ice cream until they reached the yacht club 3 , where they had fun in the boat-shaped play area and on the yachting simulator.

From there they continued on to the playground in the Vallikääru trench 4 . Mikk and Kerli didn’t know anyone who was as good at pushing people on the swings as Elephant Boy. Mikk then asked him where he could go skateboarding in Pärnu, since it was one of his favourite pastimes.

Elephant Boy took him straight to Munamäe skatepark 5 – and Mikk couldn’t believe his eyes. It was amazing!

CAN Of course they can! Elephant Boy’s a regular visitor to Pärnu’s museums.

There’s always something he wants to find out about. So it was this morning when he found an old coin in some dresser drawers in his attic – and went along to Pärnu Museum on Aida Street to enquire what it might be. You’ll find some amazing old board games there, dating back to the Middle Ages, plus there’s an interactive timeline running along the wall, and a wild animal display.

Elephant Boy spotted a smart-looking man in big glasses and went up to ask him about the coin. When he’d looked the coin over, the man took off his

BE EXCITING TOO? glasses and explained to Elephant Boy where the coin had come from: it was made of silver, and around a hundred years old. Excited at this news, Elephant Boy decided that from that moment on he would learn as much as he could, about everything, and become as smart as the man from the museum.

Next, Elephant Boy took himself to the Mini Zoo on Akadeemia Street. It has lots of glass display cases of all sizes, each of them containing a fascinatinglooking spider or some other bug. Some of the bigger cases have snakes in them – stripy ones, colourful ones and even some shiny ones. They didn’t seem to know much about the beach or the playground or Pärnu’s cafés, but for all that they seemed to enjoy living at the zoo, thought Elephant Boy.

Just in the nick of time Elephant Boy remembered that he’d brought his muffins with him.

Within moments of him taking them out they’d disappeared into his and his friends’ bellies! In the evening he walked his friends back to the hotel they were staying at. As they said their goodbyes they gave him a big hug by way of thanks for his hospitality and wished him a happy summer.

Museums Playrooms 8 Hüppa Playrooms, Riia mnt 129 and Hospidali 3, +372 527 8011, www.hyppa.ee 9 Mini Port Playground, Lai 11, +372 563 04 479, www.portartur.ee 10 Pärnu Keskus Playground, Aida 7, +372 445 9677, www.parnukeskus.ee

11 Lydia Koidula Memorial Museum, Jannseni 37, +372 443 3313, www.parnumuuseum.ee 12 Pärnu Museum, Aida 3, +372 443 3231, www.parnumuuseum.ee 13 Museum of New Art, Esplanaadi 10, +372 443 0772, www.chaplin.ee

MiniZoo 14 Mini Zoo, Akadeemia 7, +372 551 6033, www.hot.ee/minizoo

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7 YOU NEVER GET TIRED OF There’s one seriously fun place in Pärnu – the Trampoline Centre on Lai Street, which is the biggest play area in the whole of Pärnu. There are all sorts of trampolines there, some of them so big that a whole herd of elephants could jump up and down on them at the same time!

Elephant Boy’s thought about that from time to time, but he enjoys jumping around with the other kids more. His favourite attraction at the centre is the inflatable dragon, which has its own slide.

Family-friendly dining in Pärnu

If you like ten pin bowling as much as Elephant Boy does, you should head straight for Perona Bowling or Tervise Paradiis as soon as you arrive in Pärnu. If you prefer minigolf, on the other hand, head for Strand Spa & Conference Hotel – you’ll find an 18-hole indoor course waiting for you. Bear in mind that those of a more nervous disposition should psych themselves up before they play, because the course is designed like something out of a scary movie!

Trampoline Centre Trampoline Centre UP, Lai 10, +372 443 3002, www.batuudikeskus.ee Bowling Perona Bowling, Metsa 13a, +372 442 0410, www.peronabowling.ee Tervise Paradiis bowling, Side 14, +372 445 1666, www.terviseparadiis.ee Bicycle Rent Baltreisen Bicycle Rent, Rüütli 21, +372 569 6970, www.baltreisen.ee Sun Rent Bicycle Rent, Tallinna maantee 1a, +372 507 4004, www.forrent.ee Tõruke Bicycle Rent, +372 502 8269, www.bicyclerental.eu Minigolf Strand Spa & Conference Hotel minigolf course, A.H. Tammsaare pst 35, +372 447 5370, www.strand.ee Adventure and team games 360 Kraadi Seiklused, +372 566 32 979, www.360.ee Act Management, +372 506 5384, www.act.ee Seikle Vabaks, +372 565 00 550, www.seiklevabaks.ee Vaba Aja Ekspert, +372 562 22 951, www.seltskonnamängud.ee Tennis Pärnu City Centre Tennis Club, Ringi 14a, +372 521 5524, www.parnutennis.ee Pärnu Tennis Hall, A.H. Tammsaare pst 39, +372 442 7246, www.tennisehall.ee Pärnu Tennis Centre, A.H. Tammsaare pst 18a, +372 506 7742 Water Sports Aloha Surf Centre, Pärnu beach, +372 569 41 133, www.aloha.ee Hobirent, Paide mnt 11, +372 534 78 671 Lustipark, Paide mnt 4a, +372 555 75 791, www.lustipark.ee Wakepark OÜ, Lai 2, +372 525 5666, www.wakepark.ee

Family-friendly accommodation in Pärnu Ammende Villa, Mere pst. 7, +372 447 3888, www.ammende.ee Carolina Hotel, Ringi 54b, +372 442 0440, www.carolina.ee Green Villa, Vee 21, +372 443 6040, www.greenvilla.ee Hotel Legend, Lehe 3, +372 442 5606, www.legend.ee Inge Villa, Kaarli 20, +372 443 8510, www.ingevilla.ee Jaani Guesthouse, Suur-Kuke 29B, +372 443 3239, http://www.hot.ee/s/sarn1/ Yacht Club Guesthouse, Lootsi 6, +372 447 1740, www.jahtklubi.ee Lembitu Holiday Home, Lembitu 30, +372 516 4025, www.lembitu30.ee Rannahotell, Ranna pst 5, +372 443 2950, www.rannahotell.ee Strand Spa and Conference Hotel, A.H. Tammsaare pst 35, +372 447 5370, www.strand.ee Tervise Paradiis Spa Hotel and Water Park, Side 14, +372 445 1600, www.terviseparadiis.ee Tervis Medical Spa Hotel, Seedri 6, +372 445 0111, www.spatervis.ee Viiking Spa Hotel, Sadama 15, +372 449 0500, www.viiking.ee Villa Artis, Amandus Adamsoni 1, +372 447 1480, www.reiser.ee Villa Eeden, Riia mnt 57, +372 443 6222, www.inglipuudutus.ee/villaeeden Villa Flora Apartment, Papiniidu 52, +372 521 8988 Villa Marina, Kapteni 4, +372 511 5770, www.villamarina.kauni.com Villa Wesset Hotel and Restaurant, Supeluse 26, +372 697 2500, www.wesset.ee

Ammende Villa, Mere pst 7, +372 447 3888, www.ammende.ee Bravo Café (Kaubamajakas), Papiniidu 8/10, +372 444 3045, www.kohvik.bravoclub.ee Cafe Peccadello (Kaubamajakas), Papiniidu 8/10, +372 445 5927, www.peccadello.ee Yacht Club Restaurant, Lootsi 6, +372 447 1760, www.jahtklubi.ee KuuMoon children’s café, Kuninga 32, +372 447 0042, www.kuumoon.blogspot.com Mahedik, Pühavaimu 20, +372 533 38 958, www.mahedik.ee Mama Toni’s Gelato, A.H. Tammsaare pst 6, +372 530 62 481, www.mamatonis.ee Passion Cafe, Hospidali 14, +372 442 6202, www.passioncafe.ee Restaurant in Rannahotell (open in summer), Ranna pst 5, +372 443 2950, www.rannahotell.ee Restaurant Edelweiss, Kuninga 15, +372 442 0600, www.edelweiss.ee Restaurant Embecke, Rüütli 44, +372 447 8911, www.pergohotels.ee Restaurant Wesset, Supeluse 26, +372 697 2500, www.wesset.ee Steffani pizzeria, Nikolai 24, +372 443 1170, www.steffani.ee Sõõriku bar, Pühavaimu 15, +372 444 5334 Tervise Paradiis à la carte restaurant & Neptun grill, Side 14, +372 445 1600, www.terviseparadiis.ee For further options, see the table at the end of the booklet!

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13 LET’S HEAD OUT INTO Once you’ve seen everything you want to see in the town itself, why not head out into Pärnu County? Elephant Boy knows lots of places around and about to have fun. And since he normally sets out from the west, we’ll follow in his footsteps!

TOWARDS TÕSTAMAA If you head towards Tõstamaa you’ll find there’s plenty to do for young and old alike. For example, you’ll always find someone speeding around the track at the Audru course in Papsaare.

Elephant Boy hasn’t tested out his skills there yet, but he definitely will when he grows up.

If anyone shows off in front of Elephant Boy, he always tells them to go and prove how brave they really are at Valgeranna Adventure Park. It’s a real challenge whatever age you are.

Although there aren’t any monkeys in Pärnu County (that we know of!), there is a monkey railway at the park – but what exactly that is you’ll have to find out for yourselves!

You should also make sure you visit the Valgeranna viewing tower, playground and beach. From t he t o p o f t he tower you get to see just how beautiful Pärnu County is. And if the sun’s getting a bit much for you, why not cool down with an ice cream or jump into the water? Elephant Boy normally does both – even when it’s not that hot!

Anyone who’s interested in trains should definitely head for the Lavassaare Railway Museum. Elephant Boy loves it there. It has the biggest exhibition of steam trains and wagons anywhere in the Baltic States.

Accommodation Maria Farm, Kõpu, Tõstamaa, +372 523 6066, www.maria.ee Sassi Farm, Kabriste, Audru, +372 5646 7301, www.sassitalu.com Surfhunt Guesthouse – Hundimaja, Rannaküla, Varbla, +372 565 5606, www.surfhunt.ee Villa Andropoff, Valgeranna, Audru, +372 444 3453, www.andropoff.ee Dining out Cotze diner, Varbla mnt 16, Tõstamaa, +372 5691 0594, www.hot.ee/cotze Maria Farm café, Kõpu, Tõstamaa, +372 523 6066, www.maria.ee Varbla Holiday Village pub, Rannaküla, Varbla, +372 445 8149, www.varblapuhkekyla.ee Villa Andropoff Restaurant (open in summer), Valgeranna, Audru, +372 444 3453, www.andropoff.ee Doberani Beach Café (open in summer), Doberani tee 1, Valgeranna, Audru, +372 5453 4475 Museums Audru manor & museum, Pärna allee 14, Audru, +372 5559 9302, www.audru.ee Lavassaare Railway Museum, Ülejõe 1, Lavassaare, +372 527 2584, www.museumrailway.ee Tamme Farm herb garden, Malda, Audru, +372 562 5307, www.tammetalu.eu Tõstamaa manor, Kalli mnt 13, Tõstamaa, +372 534 68 635, www.tostamaa.ee

Vene Farm garden, Soomra, Audru, +372 517 0517, www.venetalu.ee Handicraft workshops and art studios Pootsi carpet workshop, Pootsi, Tõstamaa, +372 524 4296, www.tostamaa.ee Tõstamaa Handicraft Centre, Varbla mnt 24, Tõstamaa, +372 566 82 283, teopaik.blogspot.com Golf Audru Golf, Lemmetsa, Audru, +372 505 9868, www.audrugolf.ee Motorsports Audruring, Audru, +372 516 8582, www.audruring.ee Pärnu Go-Karting, Kaubasadama tee 18, Papsaare, Audru, +372 505 0433 Nature centre Varbla Nature Centre and information point, Paatsalu, Varbla, +372 676 7161, www.rmk.ee Animals Maria Farm, Kõpu, Tõstamaa, +372 523 6066, www.maria.ee Hiking trails Nedremaa seaside meadow and educational trail – ca 3 km Soontagana stronghold – ca 3 km Soontagana-Kurese-Mihkli-Salumäe hiking trail – ca 3 km Boat trips Antsu Fishing Farm, Lao, Tõstamaa, +372 529 5109, www.kalastustalu.ee Kipperi Holiday Home, Kabriste, Audru, +372 566 62 678, www.hot.ee/kipperi Merelaiu Holiday Village, Tõlli, Tõstamaa, +372 553 0850, www.hot.ee/merelaiu Ojako Tourist Farm, Marksa, Audru, +372 508 4585, www.ojako.ee Paatsalu Recreation Centre, Paatsalu, Varbla, +372 513 8000, www.paatsalu.ee Horseback riding Maria Farm riding centre, Kõpu, Tõstamaa, +372 523 6066, www.maria.ee 30 Sassi Riding Tourism Farm, +372 564 67 301, www.sassitalu.com Adventure trails and parks 31 Jõekääru camping, Nurme, Sauga, +372 443 0034, www.joekaaru.ee 32 Valgeranna Adventure Park, Valgeranna, Audru, +372 562 22 855, www.valgerannaseikluspark.ee

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15 TOWARDS Once he’s explored the western part of Pärnu County, Elephant Boy normally heads towards Tori, which is rich in cultural heritage and boasts some stunning natural settings.

If you’re curious about the way people in Estonia lived 200 years ago, visit the Carl Robert Jakobson farm museum in Kurgja. It’ll give you a great idea of the furniture and everyday items people used at the time, and tell you a bit about their lives. You’ll see some restored farm buildings, a cowshed, barns and a mill, as well as farm animals. And if you let them know you’re coming well enough in advance, the people at the museum will offer you some traditional Estonian food.

Soomaa in early spring is the kind of place where the water rises really quickly, covering a lot of the land.

There’s so much water, in fact, that the villagers can only get around by boat!

Soomaa National Park was set up to

TORI

preserve and study this amazing natural phenomenon. You can go canoeing in the area and explore its hiking trails.

Tori is an exciting place in Pärnu County.

Elephant Boy’s been there lots of times – mostly because of the horse stud there. They might not have trunks, but he feels right at home with the horses. The ones at the Tori stud are very friendly and are happy to take people on little rides. Whether that’s in the saddle, in a carriage or in a sled depends on you and the time of year.

Tori even has mysterious places, like the one that’s called Tori põrgu or “Tori’s hell”. It’s been called that for hundreds of years, too. It’s a mystical place – a cave opening in a bluff running along the local river bank.

A Stone Age theme park is being built at the meeting point of the Pärnu and Reiu rivers. So far, educational trails and picnic areas have been completed.

Stone Age huts will be put up soon, too.

Accommodation 1 Markna Tourist Farm, Tammiste, Sauga, +372 534 56 053, www.marknatalu.ee 2 Nurmeveski Guesthouse, Nurme, Sauga, +372 515 4118, www.nurmeveski.ee 3 Vita Guesthouse, Kurena, Are, +372 509 1568, www.vitamaja.ee

Dining out Halinga restaurant, Loomse, +372 449 7200 Kodukõrts, Jõesuu, Tori, +372 446 6435, www.kodukorts.ee Café Florinda, Pärnade pst 2B, Paikuse, +372 445 2662 www.kohvikflorinda.com Sindi Holiday Home (open in summer), Kalamaja tee 1, Sindi, +372 447 4347, www.sindiforell.ee Museums 8 C. R. Jakobson farm museum, Kurgja, Vändra, +372 445 8171, www.kurgja.ee 4 5 6 7

Attractions Nurmenuku Recreation Centre, Kiisa, Sauga, +372 507 7851, www.nurmenukupk.ee Sindi trout-fishing, Kalamaja tee 1, Sindi, +372 447 4347, www.sindiforell.ee Canoeing rides Edela Loodusmatkad, Jõesuu, Tori, +372 525 1113, www.loodusmatkad.ee Jõesuu Jõematkad, Jõesuu, Tori, +372 507 1445, www.joematkad.ee Püstkojamatkad, +372 553 0643, www.pystkojamatkad.com Soomaa.com, +372 506 1896, www.soomaa.com Soomaa Kanuumatka- ja Saunakeskus, Rätsepa, Tori, +372 514 8751, www.veelaager.ee Tori Kanuumatkad, Tori, +372 511 4253, www.tori.ee Vardja Farm, Kanaküla, Saarde, +372 502 9570, www.web.zone.ee/vardjatalu Animals C.R Jakobsoni farm museum, Kurgja, Vändra, +372 445 8171, www.kurgja.ee Nurmenuku Recreation Centre, Kiisa, Sauga, +372 507 7851, www.nurmenukupk.ee Hiking & educational trails Kaisma health trail – 6 km Paikuse Stone Age educational trail (starting from the Sindi-Lodja bridge), Paikuse, www.paikuse.ee Tammiste hiking trail – ca 3 km Soomaa National Park: Hüpassaare – 4 km Ingatsi educational trail – 3.6 km Koprarada – 1.8 km Kuuraniidu – 1.2 km Lemmjõe educational trail – 5.7 km Meiekose educational trail – 2.8 km Öördi – 1.2 km Horseback Riding Käära Holiday Farm, Vihtra, Vändra, +372 508 6784, www.kaarapuhketalu.ee Laane stables, Võlli, Tori, +372 528 6284, www.laanetallid.ee Tori Horse Stud, Tori, +372 503 1892, www.torihobune.ee Nature Centre 20 Soomaa Nature Centre and information point, Tipu, Kõpu, +372 435 7164, www.rmk.ee

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17 TOWARDS Once you’ve explored the area to the east of Pärnu, you might want to head south towards Latvia. There’s enough to see and do here to fill up an entire year! But if you’re not going to be there that long, have a read of what Elephant Boy recommends if you’re heading towards Kabli.

A good place to start out and get to know the area is the Kabli Nature Centre and information point operated by the State Forest Management Centre. Here you’ll find out what there is to discover south of Pärnu. There’s lots of information available, including brochures and films. The Kabli educational nature trail starts at the centre, and not far from the trail is the Kabli bird-watching tower. Elephant Boy’s climbed up it many times.

KABLI If you want to see how beautiful a lake in the middle of a forest can be, find your way to Lake Rae. It has a diverse landscape, a specially built fishing area, hiking trails, swimming areas and more.

On the slopes of Allikukivi valley you can even investigate an underground cave – but if you do, make sure you take a torch with you!

If you were to ask Elephant Boy what he associates most strongly with this part of Pärnu County, there’s no doubt he’d say Jõulumäe Sports Centre!

What he likes so much about it is that alongside amateurs like him, you often see real sports stars there, too.

Nature centre Kabli Nature Centre and information point, Häädemeeste, +372 676 7933, www.rmk.ee Animals Palu Ostrich Farm, Kanaküla, Saarde, +372 521 3447 Vaike Farm, Sigaste, Saarde, +372 566 28 445, www.hot.ee/v/vaiketalu Hiking trails Jõulumäe Sports Centre hiking trails – 1-25 km Kabli educational nature trail – ca 1.8 km Kilingi-Nõmme hiking trail – ca 5 km Laiksaare educational nature trail – 2 km Nigula Nature Reserve viewing tower Lake Rae hiking trail – 1.7 km Rannametsa-Tolkuse educational trail & viewing tower – 2.2 km Sports Jõulumäe Recreation Centre, Leina, Tahkuranna, +372 445 6117, www.joulumae.ee

Where’s Elephant Boy going today?

Kabli and its beach are inseparable. There’s a great playground at the beach, which becomes a venue for open air concerts in summer. Elephant Boy comes to lots of them, so you might see him here!

Accommodation Lepanina Hotel, Kabli, Häädemeeste, +372 446 5024, www.lepanina.ee Vango Holiday Farm, Laiksaare, Saarde, +372 510 4292, www.vangopuhketalu.ee Dining out Restaurant Julie (only in summertime), Kabli, Häädemeeste, +372 446 5024, www.lepanina.ee Ikla Kantiin, Ikla, Häädemeeste, +372 445 8100, www.premium-7.ee Kilingi Villa Café, Pärnu tn 47, Kilingi-Nõmme, +372 505 0897, www.kilingivilla.ee Café Rõõmuallikas, Valga mnt 3, Saarde, +372 583 37 791, roomuallikas@gmail.com Lemmeranna Guesthouse café (only in summertime), Majaka, Häädemeeste, +372 530 14 400, www.lemmeranna.ee Triinu Pub, Kilingi-Nõmme, +372 445 9848, www.catering24.ee Hikes and Bog-shoeing Seikle Vabaks, +372 565 00 550, www.seiklevabaks.ee Canoeing rides Livonia Matkad, Urve tn 5, Kilingi-Nõmme, +372 566 91 318, www.livoniamatkad.ee

co l o u r

it i n!

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19 The island of Kihnu is the pearl of the Gulf of Riga. There are four villages on the island, whose residents divide up the duties between themselves so that everything gets done. For example, the harbour is in the village of Lemsi; Sääreküla has the island’s bigger shops; Linaküla has its church, cemetery and museum; and Rootsiküla has its lighthouse and a memorial stone to Kihnu Jõnn, a famous seaman also known as the Forest Captain.

At Metsamaa Farm they’ll be able to tell you everything you want to know about the lives of the islanders. You’ll hear about the way they knit on frames, the special way they celebrate weddings, the traditional clothes they wear, the songs they sing and the games they play. As soon as Elephant Boy visited Kihnu he wanted to become an islander!

tools, ploughs and more. Catching fish and other animals is no easy task, and has always been vital for the people on the island.

Kihnu lighthouse has long been important to the islanders, too. And not only the islanders – without it, anyone caught at sea when it’s dark and stormy could very easily lose their way!

To find out more about Kihnu, the best thing to do is to go to the island, hire a bike and ride from one place to the next. Elephant Boy’s done it many times, but he always takes one day out each summer to revisit the island and take another two-wheeled tour of it.

No visit to Kihnu is complete without popping in to Kihnu Museum. There are some fascinating displays of fishing nets and other equipment, seal fishing

Accommodation Look: www.visitparnu.com Dining out Kurase Café, Sääre, Kihnu, +372 525 5172, www.kihnurand.ee Rock City Guesthouse tavern, Sääre, Kihnu, +372 446 9956, www.rockcity.ee Sights Kihnu Museum, Linaküla, Kihnu, +372 581 88 094, www.kihnu.ee Metsamaa Heritage Culture Educational Centre, Rootsiküla, Kihnu, +372 513 4555, www.kultuuriruum.ee Lighthouse, Rootsiküla, Kihnu, www.kihnu.ee Bicycle rent AS Kihnurand, Sääre, Kihnu, +372 525 5172, www.kihnurand.ee Kuraga B&B, Rootsiküla, Kihnu, +372 529 1492, www.kuraga.eu Pihlaka B&B, Linaküla, Kihnu, +372 528 8258, pihlakakodumajutus.onepagefree.com Rock City Holiday Village, Sääre, Kihnu, +372 446 9956, www.rockcity.ee Harbour guesthouse, Sääre, Kihnu, +372 509 2567, www.sadamamajutus.com Visit Kihnu OÜ, Ülemetsa, Kihnu, +372 562 18 860, www.visitkihnu.com

Elephant Boy’s earliest memories of winter aren’t the greatest – his trunk had never felt anything as cold or wet as snow! Plus it kept going up his trunk, too, which made him sneeze terribly!

But as he watched the kids playing in the snow Elephant Boy realised all the things you could do with it, and soon fell in love with the Estonian winter. And luckily Pärnu and the surrounding area have everything you need to make the most of the season.

You simply have to see Pärnu in winter to appreciate how beautiful it is. Its snow-covered streets, Christmas music echoing from distant windows, gingerbread baking in nearby kitchens… and all the while the snow keeps on falling.

Pärnu County has a lot of very good skiing tracks, but if there’s enough snow and you’d prefer to make your own way, you can always hire a pair of snow shoes. They’re like boots with tennis racquets stuck on them to make it easier and safer for you to walk through snow.

Have you ever heard of kick-sledding, or a kick-sled? If not, you’re missing out!

A kick-sled is a great way for one or two people to enjoy the fun that winter has to offer.

If you’re too worn out from all the excitement for anything that energetic, there are other ways of getting around in Pärnu County – on a dog-sled, for example, or taking a sleigh ride. All you need to do is lay it down, hop on, make the right kind of noises to get the animals up and running and off you go! (And before anyone asks: no, Elephant Boy doesn’t take people on rides!) You can also ride a tractor in Pärnu County. A tractor safari will set your heart racing as soon as it starts up!

Of course, Jõulumäe Sports Centre attracts winter sports enthusiasts from far and wide. Here you can go skiing, sledding and skating, and even try your hand at curling. They use artificial snow here when the winters are mild, so you can always use the facilities, whatever the weather conditions.

Skiing tracks & ski hire 1 Hiiekivi Tourist Farm, Suurejõe, Vändra,

+372 517 9458, www.hiiekivi.ee

2 Jõulumäe Sports Centre, Leina, Tahkuranna,

3 4 5 6

+372 445 6117, www.joulumae.ee Skiing trips Soomaa.com, +372 506 1896, www.soomaa.com Kick-sled trips Seikle Vabaks, +372 565 00 550, www.seiklevabaks.ee Soomaa.com, +372 506 1896, www.soomaa.com Dog Sled Rides Sleigh rides Mutimuudi Kennel, Laasi farm, Muti, Tori, Keskküla Farm, Leina, Tahkuranna, +372 510 7544, www.sleddogs.ee +372 539 82 280, www.hot.ee/k/keskkulatalu Snow-shoeing Laane Stables, Võlli, Tori, Seikle Vabaks, +372 565 00 550, www.seiklevabaks.ee +372 522 6538, www.laanetallid.ee Soomaa.com, +372 506 1896, www.soomaa.com Maria Farm, Kõpu, Tõstamaa, Tractor safari +372 523 6066, www.maria.ee Tori Horse Stud, Tori, Tõhela Tractor Safari, Tõstamaa, +372 503 1892, www.torihobune.ee +372 539 53 416

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They appeared out of nowhere, bringing with them a sense of lightness and geniality. That said, over the decades they’ve quite literally stamped their mark on the sea, which is what makes Pärnu’s therapeutic mud some of the most health-giving on the planet.

That’s not just some story, either – the curative qualities of the local mud have been scientifically proven. There may only be one of these mystical elephants left in Pärnu, but the tranquil ambience of the 1950s is unchanged, and the town’s spas continue to treat people to this day.

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So, friends, that’s our little trip around Pärnu and Pärnu County. What happens next is up to you – and how well you can convince your mum and dad or your grandparents that Pärnu is the best place in the world for families with kids!

Ammende Villa Bravo Café Yacht Club Restaurant Jõulumäe Recreation Centre Kilingi-Villa Café Kuumoon Café Lepanina Restaurant Julie Maria Farm Restaurant Passion Café Raehoovi Café Rannahotelli Restaurant Restaurant Edelweiss Restaurant Embecke Restaurant Wesset Sassi Farm Tervise Paradiis Restaurant Vango Farm Villa Andropoff

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www.rannatee.ee

P.S. Elephant Boy says hi!

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Family-friendly dining in Pärnu and Pärnu County

Kivisildnik

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Rooms for people with allergies

Ammende Villa Carolina Hotel Green Villa Hotel Legend Inge Villa Jaani Guesthouse Yacht Club Guesthouse Jõulumäe Recreation Centre Lembitu Holiday Home Lepanina Hotel Maria Farm Markna Farm Nurmeveski Guesthouse Sassi Farm Rannahotell Strand Spa and Conference Hotel Surfhunt Lodging Tervise Paradiis Spa Hotel and Water Park Tervis Medical SPA hotel Vango Farm Viiking Spa-Hotel Villa Andropoff Villa Artis Villa Eeden Villa Flora Villa Marina Villa Wesset Vita House

Baby bed

As unbelievable as it sounds, Pärnu some other family event being held here, County has 250 km of coastline. And and since they always offer delicious that’s not just any coastline – it’s the local treats, Elephant Boy is always in Romantic Coast Road. There are lots attendance! Although the coast road is of lovely sights along the road, as well as marked by signs, Elephant Boy knows his exciting historical locations and buildings way around these parts without them, and much more. Barely a weekend goes he’s been here so often. And if you by that there isn’t a concert or fair or follow his example, you won’t regret it!

Pärnu is famous for its mystical elephants. You’ve probably seen a magnet on a fridge belonging to some professional pilgrim or recognised philosopher of a gorgeous little elephant with a shining star on its brow.

That’s one of Pärnu’s elephants, who first appeared on the beach of this cosy seaside resort in the early 1950s.

Extra bed

THE ROMANTIC ROAD

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FINLAND NORWAY Tallinn ESTONIA Pärnu

RUSSIA

SWEDEN LATVIA

DENMARK

LITHUANIA

BELARUS POLAND

GERMANY

UKRAINE CZECH REP.

Pärnu Visitor Centre Uus 4, 80010 Pärnu, Estonia +372 447 3000, +372 5330 4134 info@visitparnu.com parnu@visitestonia.com

www.visitparnu.com www.visitestonia.com

Published by the Pärnumaa Tourism Foundation and Pärnu City Government.

Illustrations: Jasper Zoova Texts: Väravamäng Translations: Luisa Translation Agency Photos: Aivar Ruukel, Ivar Kadak, Sirje Lillemets, Tervise Paradiis, Valgeranna Seikluspark Design: Areal Disain Print: R.M.S.R. © 2013

Child Friendly Cities