Planning a trip in the Glasriket - we've tested the 'trip planner'

Did you know that you can plan a trip in the Glasriket region using a digital trip planner, which delivers a ready-made route with activities and accommodation? We used it to plan one of our days in the Glasriket region of Småland. Here's how it went!

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Planning a trip in Glasriket in Småland

We visited Glasriket with our motorhome a few weeks ago, in co-operation with Destination Glasriket, which is an association of the Småland municipalities of Emmaboda, Lessebo, Nybro and Uppvidinge, in Kalmar and Kronoberg counties.

During one of the days we tested Glass Kingdom Travel Planner, which is a tool for planning your stay in the area. After all, the Glasriket region is full of attractions: glassworks, galleries, museums, shops, moose parks, restaurants, cafés and much more. So how do you organise your visit? Well, for example with the trip planner!

Planning a trip in the Glasriket - with the trip planner

The Glasrike website has a fun (and very useful!) trip planner, which allows you to easily plan your visit to the area. By setting the dates of your trip, it will automatically help you to include only activities and places that are open at the time of your trip. If you do not know exactly what you want to do, you can get a proposal based on your preferred preferences (dates, areas of interest, mode of transport and preferred accommodation). Here's how to do it:

1. Go to The Glass Kingdom website
2. Hold the arrow over "Journey" in the menu and select "Create Trip Proposal"
3. Choose the date of your trip
4. Select areas of interest
5. Choose your mode of transport (motorhome, car or caravan/tent)
6. Choose how you want to live
7. Ready! Show me my route!

Travel planning can now be done! You will receive a nice map that you can send to your email.

Do you want to modify, or choose your own destinations? No problem! You can tick off destinations you don't want and add new ones by clicking on "Add destination" or "Add area of interest". You can also go directly via Map of the glass kingdom, if you want to see the geographical location of different attractions and accommodation.

When travelling in the Glasriket, we used the trip planner on one of the days. We first tried randomising activities and routes based on areas of interest. Fun! However, we chose to modify afterwards, so that the route suited us. This is how our route turned out, which we then followed:

Start: Real motorway service area Mundekulla Vildmarksby

We started our day at Real motorway service area Mundekulla Vildmarksby, which is a free and scenic car park, without services.

From the car park, we drove up to the restaurant, which is located in a beautiful yellow house, where we met the CEO of Mundekulla. Here we also got to meet the gardener, who enthusiastically told us about the cultivation of edible perennial plants, which are then used in the restaurant.

Stop 1: Mundekulla EcoTower

Travelling time from Ställplats Mundekulla Vildmarksby: 3 min

We had booked a tour of the Mundekulla EcoTower, which is a very original building. It all started when a young boy named Berndt Elmberg longed to see what was "beyond the forest". One day I'll build a tower, the boy thought, and so he did.

Can you now see what lies beyond the forest? Yes, you can, and there is ... even more forest! Today, the tower has been renovated into a hotel, and you can book accommodation in the tower here.

Carl-Johan Lindblom, who is the CEO of Mundekulla, also showed around some other parts of the large area that is Mundekulla. Here you will find many various accommodation options, conference facilities, restaurant and café open on Saturdays in summer.

It used to focus mostly on retreats and group activities, but now it has opened up to individual visitors, and this activity will increase more and more.

Stop 2: Johansfors Gallery

Travelling time from Mundekulla EcoTower: 22 min

Our journey continued to Johansfors Gallery, which is located in a beautiful villa in Johansfors outside Emmaboda.

Here we met Scottish Duncan Timms, who together with his wife Liz, displays a large and exciting collection of glass. Here you can see glass art from Sweden, but also from the UK. A very nice visit!

Stop 3: Erikshyttan

Travelling time from Johansfors Gallery: 8 min

When planning a trip in the Glasriket, you naturally want the places to be in the right order and at a suitable distance. When we did our planning Erikshyttan perfectly into the route, and therefore it became a stop here. Erikshyttan is a fairly small cabin and the furnace was not running when we were here, but we looked at beautiful glass and had a nice chat.

Stop 4: Magma Art Glass

Travelling time from Erikshyttan: 8 min

The next stop on the way was Magma Art Glass, which is an absolutely stunning studio hut. This is where advanced art glass is made, often in the form of large pieces, and it is really exciting to see the glassblowers in action. In addition, there is a nice shop and a large garden, where the art glass is displayed in a delicious environment.

Stop 5: Don Camillo Pizzeria

Travel time from Magma Art Glass: 8 min

Since we were (as usual) a bit optimistic about the time, lunch was quite late. But we really wanted to eat at Don Camillo in Kosta. A lot of good pizza here, and affordable too!

Stop 6: Hantverkshuset and Målerås Läder

Travelling time from Don Camillo Pizzeria: 19 min

Målerås is home to Målerås Glassworks, which is known for its special animal motifs. But there is more to Målerås! Here you will also find The Craft House, which has a wide range of crafts in different materials such as ceramics, metal, leather and textiles.

Also in Målerås are Measuring locks Leather, a genuine family business that has been making bags since 1947. You'll find women's bags and briefcases, but also wallets, belts and much more.

Conclusion: Uvapark car parks

Travelling time from Hantverkshuset and Målerås Läder: 24 min

The day ended at Uvaparkens caravan parks in Fröseke - a very nice place with ten pitches for motorhomes, right on Lake Uvasjön.

Here we also took the opportunity to go for a little hike in the Hinkaryd nature reserve, and after that it was nice with dinner in the motorhome!

Planning a trip to the Glasriket - some more tips

We must say that it is very easy and convenient to plan a trip in Glasriket using the trip planner on the Glasriket website! We like that you get a nice itinerary to follow and it is also good that all opening hours are entered into the system, so that you can plan attractions that are sure to be open when you get there.

Although not everything is open all the time, the Glasriket is a destination that can be visited all year round! Try the trip planner next time you plan to roll there! Here you will find several tips on experiences in the area:

We would also like to end by suggesting a little gem of a shop that you can find in Orrefors, not far from Orranäs Glassworks: Antiques and Design Orrefors.

In this shop you can find real treasures, in the form of quality glass from local glassworks that are no longer in production. Stop for a chat with Susanne - she can tell you stories about everything in the shop, and you'll leave feeling both a little wiser and a little happier.

More tips for planning a trip to the Glasriket?

Do you have any other tips for planning a trip to the Glasriket? Please let us know! By the way, have you ever been to the Glasriket region in Småland, or would you like to go there?

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Things to do in Glasriket - 25 tips for sights and experiences Visiting Kosta in Glasriket - a gem in Småland Visiting a moose park - moose safari in Glasriket moose park Sauna rafting in Småland - a magical experience at Ödevata farm hotel Glasshouses and glassworks in Glasriket - guide with map Fika and restaurants in Glasriket - 7 places you don't want to miss