3 Best Sights in Southwestern Coast and the Ålands, Finland

The Pommern is one of the last existing grain ships in the world and the only four-masted steel barque remaining anywhere. Once owned by the sailing fleet of the Mariehamn shipping magnate Gustaf Erikson, the ship carried wheat between Australia and England from 1923 to 1939. The ship has reopened after extensive restoration work at a new, more accessible dock just below the Åland Maritime Museum, where you'll find a fascinating collection of seafaring items and a great children's section. The Pommern includes interactive aspects that describe the hardships of life on board the ship as well as an audio tale for children by Karin Erlandsson called Ruby's Voyage.

About 8 km (5 miles) from the village of Kastelholm in Sund are the scattered ruins of a huge naval fortress, which was built by the Russians in the early 19th century. It was only half-finished when it was destroyed by Anglo-French forces during the Crimean War. The fortress is open for touring at all times and has explanatory signs. An informative visitor center presents the history of Bomarsund and the circumstances in which it was attacked. Cross the short bridge over the channel to visit the secluded cemeteries of the fortress's diverse former occupants.   

Eckerö is a small coastal community some 40 km (24 miles) northwest of Mariehamn and the site of one of its most interesting and unusual attractions: the Post and Customs House. The grand building, designed by Carl Ludvig Engel, who also planned Helsinki's Senate Square, was constructed in 1828 and houses an artists' residence, with exhibition space, a gift and book shop, and café. The building was a hub on a postal route that took mail by small boats and overland from Stockholm, crossing Åland to Turku and onward to the Russian capital at the time, St. Petersburg. A similar system persisted until 1910, when Åland was still part of the Russian Empire. The route extends for 65 km (39 miles) through the islands and is marked with information signs at places of interest.