Sweden’s Dalsland is the place for an unforgettable family holiday (and here’s why)

Endless forests, beautiful lakes and the coolest outdoor activities: the province of Dalsland in western Sweden has everything for a fantastic and adventurous family holiday.

Lady Lemonade’s mamablogger Cynthia discovered this beautiful part of Sweden together with her husband Jeroen and their two daughters Reva (10 years old) and Lucy (9 years old). It was a trip you will never forget.

By boat

A fun and relaxing way to travel to Sweden is by boat. From the Netherlands you first go by car to the port in Kiel (Germany) and from there you sail with the Stena Line ferry to Göteborg in less than 14 hours. We thought this was ideal: you drive your own car and sailing on such a large boat is a great experience for the children. And it goes smoothly too, because the boat leaves at 6:45 PM and you arrive in Sweden at 9:15 AM the next day.

Reva and Lucy were very curious about where to sleep, so we first looked for our family cabin. It was fully equipped, with a nice bathroom with all the trimmings. For Jeroen and me there was a double bed and the girls slept in a single bed upstairs or downstairs.

When the boat was ready to sail, we took a quick look outside on the upper deck. Super impressive, such a big boat that leaves the harbor. Then it was time for a buffet. One big party for the kids; they just scooped their favorite food on the plates with a delicious ice cream for dessert. The view while eating was of course spectacular in the middle of the sea. We did go to bed on time, because we had to get up early the next day. After a good night’s sleep we enjoyed the extensive breakfast buffet and before we knew it we arrived in Gothenburg.

Camping Ragnerud

Less than a two-hour drive from Gothenburg lies the province of Dalsland, a fantastic region with enchanting lakes and miles of forests. The magical views you encounter along the way are insane. Our first stop was the small town of Högsäter, where we would spend two nights at camping Ragnerud in a cozy, characteristic Swedish cottage.

The campsite is located in the middle of beautiful Swedish nature on Lake Ragnerud and the Kroppefjäll nature reserve. You can rent different types of houses. There are also plenty of camping spots: a favorite spot for people who travel by camper.

The campsite is run by the young couple Marielle and Linus and they make sure you have everything you need. This place is great for kids – there is so much to do. You can rent a boat, fish, canoe, hike, swim in the lake, play miniature golf and there is a large playground. For some extra relaxation, dive into the warm sauna.

Don’t feel like cooking? Then you can enjoy a delicious meal in the campsite’s atmospheric restaurant, where you can enjoy traditional Swedish dishes prepared with locally produced ingredients.

Hiking and canoeing with the kids

From the Ragnerud campsite you can make the best hiking trips along the lake or in the adjacent Kroppefjäll nature reserve. Are you really a fanatical hiker? Then the famous Pilgrim route is recommended, which is no less than 100 kilometers long.

Our eldest daughter Reva turned out to be a born hiker: she was impossible to keep up with. We walked a beautiful route along the lake and sometimes really had to stop to enjoy the fantastic views. Swedish nature is breathtaking!

A canoe trip on the beautiful Lake Ragnerud should not be missed during your stay here. Together with our girls we went two by two in a canoe on the water. Put on life jackets, bring a packed lunch and start paddling. There is a small island in the middle of the lake, which we sailed to. A perfect place to enjoy a delicious lunch.

A day in Dalsland Aktiviteter

The Dalsland Aktiviteter activity center is about a 30-minute drive from the campsite. This outdoor paradise in the middle of the Swedish forests is a treat for children. Activities here include mountain biking, archery, horse riding, ax throwing, zip lining, bushcraft and kayaking. There is a climbing park, there are moose and if you want you can spend the night in a mega tipi tent.

Eddy, outdoor expert, works at the center and went into the beautiful woods with us. He told us all about the animals and life in the forest and how to survive in the wild nature. During the walk we all collected ingredients that we later used to make a fire ourselves. The girls picked up reindeer poop from the ground, collected moose hair and went hunting for tree bark. Super nice to see Reva and Lucy so busy in nature. Then it was time to chop a large portion of wood for the fire that we were going to make later. With a magnesium fire starter in hand and all found ingredients, the competition ‘Who makes the fastest fire’ could begin.

On the campfire we were allowed to work with a pan to make our lunch, pancakes with bacon. We ended this wonderful day with archery, ax throwing and moose feeding.

Sleeping in Bed & Breakfast Kroppefjall

After a few nice days at the Ragnerud campsite it was time to leave for our next accommodation: Kroppefjäll Bed & Breakfast. After a half hour drive we arrived at our destination and we received a warm welcome from Eva. The attractive B&B is located in a great area, by the Kroppefjäll forest and on the Mörttjärn lake. There are red houses on the site: they used to be built as a sanatorium for patients with tuberculosis. The altitude and the fresh forest air of this environment had a healing effect. Around the B&B there is a walking route named after Doctor Saedéns Runda, he was the leading doctor at the time. In short: a very special history.

The four of us slept in a spacious family room. Also useful to know: dogs are more than welcome at this place!

Afternoon cycling and cooking outside

In the afternoon we went cycling. Eva had given us all kinds of tips and we even got a delicious cinnamon roll and drink for the road. Our first stop was the beautiful atelier of Kerstin Ljungqvist. This creative woman paints amazing works of art and she knows everything about plants and herbs.

Eva also made us stop by the local supermarket to pick up a special key. This gave us access to the reconstructed former Dals Rostock station, only in mini format. Reva and Lucy wanted to go in right away. The height is 1.44 meters, so it is quite a challenge for parents to move through the small station. Everything is in miniature format: the furniture, the kitchen, the waiting room, the counter and the bedroom. After a nice afternoon we arrived back at our B&B and it was time to eat. Eva had made us a bag with all local ingredients, which we used to bake burgers in the fantastic backyard. The outdoor life in Sweden is really so nice and relaxed!

Sleep on the water

The next day a new adventure awaited us, because we went for a night back to nature. From the Bed & Breakfast we drove for 45 minutes to our next accommodation, one houseboat. This house on the water is fixed on a sturdy wooden platform and can be rented from the family business Stugbaat. With a speedboat the cottage is sailed to a beautiful spot on Lake Lelång, where you will be anchored.

The cottage is simply furnished: it has a table, four chairs, a kitchen and four beds. The toilet is outside on the deck.

Once we were installed, we went outside for a drink. Jeroen taught the girls to fish in the meantime and I enjoyed the magical view. The endless lake, only greenery around you… at such a moment you really feel one with nature.

The next morning Jeroen treated himself to a refreshing dip in the water; him rather than me!

Sleeping on the water for a night was a great experience, you are completely away from it all. It was also an unforgettable time for our daughters. Watching birds, fishing, drawing lying on the outside deck, playing games: it was all so relaxed.

From nature to the beautiful city of Gothenburg

The next day we went to our final destination, Gothenburg. I had already heard a lot about this Swedish city. In the middle of the center we stayed one night in the beautiful Scandic Rubinen hotel, where we had a nice family room. The extensive breakfast buffet in this hotel was a gift; wonderful to start your day like this.

I really wanted to visit the popular neighborhood of Haga. Here you will find the nicest coffee shops and shops. We drank delicious coffee at the famous Café Husaren. If you’re here and you’re in the mood for a treat, get the mega-sized XL cinnamon bun. Delicious! A little further in the district you will find Tredje Långgatan. There are plenty of restaurants here, such as Kafé Magasinet and Tacos & Tequila. Gothenburg is incredibly kid-proof, because there are playgrounds all over the city.

Extra tips: spend a day at the amusement park Liseberg (located in the center), visit the Universeum or take a look at The Museum of World Culture. Also very nice was the Trädgårdsföreningen Park. You can visit the Palm House here. If you fancy a good lunch or coffee, pull up a chair at the Rosenkafeet, where you can sit outside very nicely. Even though we were only in Gothenburg for a day, this relaxed city leaves us wanting more.

At the end of the day it was unfortunately already time to drive to the port by car, where the Stena Line ferry would leave for Germany. How we enjoyed this fantastic tour, Sweden has really stolen our hearts. The amazing nature, the incredibly nice people, the versatility of the country: we will definitely go back.

Planning a holiday to West Sweden yourself or would you like more information? Here you will find everything about it.

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