Our second home is situated in a village called Vena with about 400 permanent residents. The village is surrounded of forests and farmland.
What we like most about the area is the closeness to nature. Only a couple of minutes to a forest with tracks for jogging, endless possiblities for hiking, picking blueberries, lingonberries and mushrooms or with some luck you might see roe deer, elks, foxes and many different birds.
The area of Småland is known for a vast amount of lakes. There are many possiblities to swim in fresh water. The nearest beach is 5 min by car.
In Vena there is a petrol station, a church and school. There is also a narrow-gauge railway between Hultsfred and Västervik and during the summer the small train stops in Vena.
http://www2.visithultsfred.se/en/to-do/a585004/narrow-gauge-railway-between-v%C3%A4stervik-and-hultsfred/showdetails
Hultsfred is 10 km away and there are supermarkets, library and indoor swimmingpool
http://en.visithultsfred.se/
From Hultsfred you can go on a 12 km ride with a handcar on the narrow gauge railroad which is fun. Bring your picnic and stop for a swim at Hesjön.
http://www2.visithultsfred.se/en/to-do/a415740/handcar-on-the-narrow-gauge-railroad/showdetails
In Målilla, 20 km, you can come close to elks at Målilla moose farm.
http://www2.visithultsfred.se/en/to-do/a629109/m%C3%A5lilla-moose-park/showdetails
In Målilla there is also a possibility to watch speedway.
http://www.dackarna.nu/
For more things to see and do have a look at
http://en.visithultsfred.se/
Further away, 20 km, is Vimmerby. Known for Astrid Lindgren World. Astrid Lindgren was a well known author writing books for children like Pippi Longstocking.
Almost all Swedish families go there at least once on holiday.
http://www.alv.se/
For more things to do around Vimmerby look at
http://www.vimmerby.com/
Even further away at the Baltic sea, about 1 h by car, is the lovely town of Västervik and 1,5 h away is the town of Kalmar with a mediveal castle and a 6 km bridge
to the island Öland.
If you like fishing, like our oldest son, there are many lakes where you can go fishing for pike and pearch if you buy a permit.
http://www.hultsfred.se/kategori/invanare/kultur-fritid/motion-sport-friluftsliv/fiske-motion-sport-friluftsliv/
You won't lack things to do, but you will also have the possibility to relax and breathe fresh air.
Linköping airport with direct flights to Amsterdam. 1,5 h by car.
It is rural and a car is necessary.
We would love to meet you if you are in the area! Don't hesitate to contact us.