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The Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum is a short ride from Riga. An open air museum can be hit or miss. But I can recommend this to anyone. It is so interesting, but please wear sensible shoes, as you are walking around a wood. Spread across 213 acres of lush woodland are over 118 homesteads, churches and windmills from all across Latvia, which provide a fascinating insight into centuries of rural local life. The exhibits are organised according to administrative regions, drawing attention to variations in building design and living arrangements. I was fascinated by this museum.  We were so lucky that we had beautiful blue skies and warm sunny weather.

What I also liked was just walking around the trees. And this reminded me of my childhood. When my sisters and I were younger we used to run around a woods near my grandparents.

I had been given a two hour window to get around the open air museum. I just started walking to see what I could and I wanted to see the as much as I could.

And what I also liked was seeing staff dressed in traditional clothes and also working on the gardening and using old tools like they would have done had they were living during these times.

I was pleased to reach the windmill at the back of the open air museum. But I had no idea how steep this would actually be.

There is a lovely lake to just sit and enjoy. I would also suggest taking some insect repellent. As a few people in the group did get nasty bites.

The open air museum is open from 10 am to 5 pm daily. This is the website if you would like any further information. To travel here by local transport. You can catch the Bus Nr.1 from the old town and the stop name is Brīvdavas muzejs – Open air museum.