| The Baltic might not be the first place that comes to | | | | Today, Vaxholm has about 10,000 year-round |
| mind when considering a luxury yacht charter | | | | inhabitants and many visitors, especially during the |
| vacation, but during the short Scandinavian summer, | | | | summer. The harbor is right in the center of this very |
| it's a magical place with warm breezes and almost 24 | | | | walkable town, so you can easily stroll around and |
| hours of daylight. The best time to visit is June to | | | | take in the sights. There are several shops, |
| September, and like everywhere else in Europe, July | | | | restaurants, cafes, a few grocery stores, a liquor |
| and August are the most crowded. For a totally | | | | store and a pharmacy. Notable sights include |
| Swedish experience, visit during Midsummer (usually | | | | Bogesund Castle (built in the 1640s) and the Vaxholm |
| around June 20th), the longest day of the year | | | | Citadel (built 1833-1863) which is no longer used for |
| (even as far south as Stockholm, summer nights | | | | military purposes but instead houses a museum, shop, |
| never get completely dark, the sky just takes on a | | | | bistro and B&B. |
| deep blue tint for a few hours before the sun comes | | | | Grinda lies about 2 hours from Stockholm and its |
| back up again) and one of the most celebrated | | | | several sandy beaches and rocky outcrops make it a |
| holidays in Sweden. To avoid the crowds, visit in | | | | popular swimming destination for Stockholmers. The |
| September (or even at the end of August) when the | | | | island is small, only a 15-minute walk across, and has a |
| warmth of the summer still lingers and you will have | | | | pub, grocery store, and a well-known hotel and |
| more space. | | | | restaurant, Grinda Wärdshus, housed in an Art |
| Begin your trip by spending a few days exploring | | | | Noveau building from 1908. There are kayaks |
| Stockholm, the beautiful capital of Sweden, before | | | | available for rent from the hotel, and they can also |
| heading out on your yacht. The Stockholm | | | | arrange activities such as rock climbing or archery. |
| Archipelago is about 150 miles long by 50 miles wide | | | | Sandhamn (Sand Harbor) on the island Sandön |
| and contains around 30,000 islands and islets, some | | | | (Sand Island) is your last stop before heading over to |
| verdant with luxury hotels, shops and restaurants, | | | | Gotland. It is also the "yachting capital" of Stockholm's |
| others just a bare rock. You don't have to go far to | | | | archipelago - the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS) |
| get to Fjäderholmarna (the Feather Islands). | | | | built their club house here in 1897 (still in use) and |
| These 4 islands lie 25 minutes from Stockholm, and | | | | their many annual races attract sailors from around |
| you might be tempted to keep cruising since you | | | | the world. The most well known is perhaps the 2-day |
| only just started, but they are well worth a stop. | | | | race "Gotland Runt" (Round Gotland). This particular |
| Fjäderholmarna is home to several restaurants, | | | | event is also famous for the many parties taking |
| cafés, a seafood smokehouse (with a | | | | place in Sandhamn both before and after the race. |
| restaurant and take-out shop), shops, local artisans, | | | | The town has many restaurants, bars and shops, as |
| an outdoor theatre, and Mackmyra whiskey distillery, | | | | well as a few hotels and museums. There are also |
| where you can tour the facilities and try their | | | | several sandy beaches on the island, and the largest, |
| products. | | | | Trouville, is only a 20-minute walk from downtown. |
| Vaxholm, about an hour by boat from Stockholm, | | | | With more than 60 guest harbors in Stockholm's |
| was founded in 1647 and has been an archipelago | | | | archipelago, there are many more places to visit and |
| hub since the late 1800s when it was discovered by | | | | sights to see, but we are heading out on the open |
| wealthy Stockholmers who built vacation homes on | | | | sea to explore the island of Gotland. |
| the island and started spending their summers here. | | | | |