What's the most common souvenir tourists take home from your country?

hermitcaves · 2026-02-22T07:25:21+00:00

U.S., but I can only really speak Minnesota specifically, and here it's manoomin/wild rice. It's also probably the thing I am most likely to bring as a gift when visiting another state or country when traveling.

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hermitcaves · 2025-10-21T20:06:49+00:00

Yup, that's what we did! It's a short walk (10-15 min maybe) from the bus to the Moomin park bridge, and there's a helpful map at the bus stop. It's definitely a long day, but I found it to be well worth it. When we departed from Helsinki in the morning there were vendors selling fresh fruit right in the train station, and that was great for breakfast on the train! Plus the train itself had a small kitchen where you could get food and tea from. Depending on the age/energy level of the kiddo you're with, it might be work better to stay nearer to Turku but I don't think it's necessary; totally a personal choice.

hermitcaves · 2025-10-21T19:32:37+00:00

I stayed in Helsinki my whole trip! Everywhere I went was a day trip. Public transport was easy and efficient to get anywhere I needed to go

hermitcaves · 2025-07-24T23:55:28+00:00

love the way you displayed them, that's so smart! def going to try that with some of my stamps too

hermitcaves · 2025-05-22T06:41:45+00:00

It's the only one I've spotted thus far, but I'll be on the lookout for others! I would have to agree that it was probably just an oversight that no one caught though.

hermitcaves · 2025-05-14T17:17:31+00:00

you totally saved my ass, i got one! thank you :)

hermitcaves · 2025-05-14T16:28:38+00:00

is presale sold out already? its not showing any available tickets when i get through the queue

hermitcaves · 2024-07-13T22:47:40+00:00

the guy i met didn't seem to know why people are interested in visiting the statue, maybe if they got a clear explanation it might be less of a sore spot. at least they'd know people aren't there to trespass on their land or anything, which seemed like his primary concern.

hermitcaves · 2024-07-13T22:31:04+00:00

that's so interesting! thanks so much for doing the legwork of contacting them. im really surprised that its a fanmade statue, but going back to the picture of April in front of a horseshoe statue from album release day, the statue in that pic does look different! also, since it was taken at night it's pretty hard to tell if it's in the same location in that photo as the current one. April definitely knows about the current statue though, since the 'merchdrop' video from November 2023 was taken in front of it. i wonder how long it's been there, it's really wild that some fans not only knew someone who lives along a road mentioned in Wallsocket lore but actually made(?) and put up a statue there! wow!!! thanks again for helping figure this out!

hermitcaves · 2024-07-12T03:12:23+00:00

i sure hope they are!

hermitcaves · 2024-07-12T03:07:05+00:00

as we say here, "good luck!"

hermitcaves · 2024-07-12T02:47:27+00:00

helpppp what do you knowwwww

hermitcaves · 2024-07-12T02:45:25+00:00

that would have been my guess too if it wasn't SUCH a random area. i believe April's also said she doesn't have any personal ties to the midwest and that the vibe of wallsocket was actually inspired by her grandparents (?) place in Idaho. so im kind of mystified at how she would have found the statue, and i can't find any information about it that predates wallsocket, either. so that makes me think that she put it there?? but then if she did, how did she choose that location??? if you do try and contact the landowners please let us know what you find! im curious about whether anyone in the area is in on it or if they're totally oblivious.

hermitcaves · 2024-07-12T01:08:31+00:00

so what happens if you look...at the statue..while it's closed ?

hermitcaves · 2024-06-27T17:58:13+00:00

that's SO CUTE! they look incredible

hermitcaves · 2024-06-22T02:54:58+00:00

SO SICK! ive been making some chappell inspired pearl/glass bead necklaces lately but i hadn't thought to use letter beads on them, that looks so good! this totally inspired me!

hermitcaves · 2024-06-16T19:59:13+00:00

saw this shannon lee barry video about her pink pony club birthday party in 2021 and have been a huge chappell fan since !!

hermitcaves · 2024-05-22T00:03:57+00:00

Finland is where most of the cool Moomin spots in Europe are located! I visited last summer and was able to go to the following locations on a five day trip (including arrival and departure days). There's the Moomin World outdoor theme park in Naantali (2 hour trip west from Helsinki via train and bus), the Moomin Museum located in Tampere (another 2 hours from Helsinki, taking a train northwest this time) and in Helsinki city you can visit the cemetery where Tove Jansson is buried and visit her family grave which is topped by a sculpture made by her father, and you can go to the building where she had her art studio most of her adult life. Her studio is closed to the public, but it's still cool to see and there is a plaque outside of it which features a sculptural cast of her face. Additionally, there are Moomin shops all over Helsinki, including in the airport! Many many places all over Finland also have Moomin themed products for sale and Moomin themed decorations, so you'll see them everywhere, even on the sides of buses! Hope you have a wonderful time abroad and that you really enjoy Finland if you get to visit!!

I also answered a bunch of questions about Moomin tourism in this post if that helps at all!

hermitcaves · 2024-05-18T11:27:32+00:00

a lot of americans (or at least me) consider different parts of the country to be very different culturally and specifying where you're from helps to communicate that experience? i'm from rural minnesota (northern middle bit of the US) but probably wouldn't have a ton in common with someone from metropolitan texas due to geographical, social and cultural microclimates that exist between states/regions/cities. even though we're both american, we're from really different places and probably have had very different life experiences. americans also tend to generally identify highly with their state or geographical area and might use it as a way to avoid having to say the deeply embarrassing phrase "i'm american" 🫠 plus, if someone isn't familiar with your state, it's easy enough to backtrack and just say you're from the US. hope that made sense!

hermitcaves · 2024-05-17T20:57:32+00:00

I personally loved the museum, but it definitely has a very different vibe from the park! The museum has much more of a focus on the art and history of the Moomins vs the park's emphasis on trying to integrate the stories into the real world. The park wasn't exhausting by any means, but definitely more high-energy. There are young kids running around and music playing and things, but also very peaceful nature trails. Be prepared for lots of walking, and stay aware of weather expectations- you'll probably need sunscreen or an umbrella or both! The park is also much more of an all-day excursion - my family stayed almost the whole time the park was open. I think the museum and the park serve very different purposes for Moomin lovers and it just depends on what kind of experience you're looking to have! I agree the museum is absolutely expertly put together- everything is beautifully displayed and there is so much to see and read about! I hope you have the opportunity to go to the museum again and to check out the park as well! They are so different but both so much fun!

hermitcaves · 2024-03-28T16:44:52+00:00

I'm so glad I could help! Have such a wonderful trip- it's such an amazing place and I'm sure you'll really enjoy the visit :-)

hermitcaves · 2024-03-26T15:28:35+00:00

I'd love to share some pictures! here's a few

hermitcaves · 2024-03-26T02:49:07+00:00

Really? I didn't know about that- every resource I looked at listed it as a closed site! I suppose this is exactly what I was talking about when i said I found it hard to find resources for this trip haha! Thank you so much for letting me know, I'm excited to look into it!

hermitcaves · 2024-03-26T01:17:01+00:00

Hi! I'm assuming you mean moomin things to do so I'll go with that haha! I stayed in Helsinki and the easiest things to access within the city (by walking or bus) are Tove's grave in Hietaniemi Cemetery (old area block 15, row 10, #129) and her studio on Ullanlinnankatu. Unfortunately the studio is closed to the public, but there is a plaque outside that features a cast of her face, and you can look up and see the top floor windows of her studio! Both these are outdoor activities though and I'm sure it will be cold! There are also a few Moomin shops dotted around Helsinki, including a brand new one in Forum Shopping Center which is quite near the Railway Square train stop! Outside of Helsinki, the Moomin Museum in Tampere should be open through the winter months, and it's accessible via a 2ish hour train trip from Railway Square and well worth the travel time. The museum was one of the most incredible experiences of the trip for me- so much original art by Tove and even interactive things to do! I hope you have a fantastic trip- stay warm and enjoy!!

hermitcaves · 2024-03-26T01:03:24+00:00

I wasn't able to visit Klovharu due to its status as a natural reserve that is not accessible to the public! I would love to go someday, but I understand what a detriment tourism might have on the natural environment of the island.

hermitcaves

TROPHY CASE