Southern Norway - Norway - page 230

historic center, with its old wooden houses, and stroll its long sandy beach,
Sjøsanden.
At the southernmost point in Norway is Lindesnes Fyr ( & 38-25-77-35 ),
Norway's first lighthouse, dating from 1656. Inside is an exhibition of light-
house artifacts. Admission is 30NOK ($4.25) for adults and free for children
under 12. It's open July and August daily 9am to 9pm, June and September daily
10am to 7pm, and May daily 10am to 6pm.
In summer boat trips are offered to visit the archipelago of offshore skerries
(isolated rock islands). Visits are possible to Lillesand to the east and to the
island of Brogøy, which lies right off the coast of Kristiansand and offers many
scenic strolls and places for sunbathing. You can sail aboard the MS Maarten
from Kristiansand daily in the summer at 10am and 2pm. The trip costs
170NOK ($24) for adults or 80NOK ($11) for children. Departures are from
the fish quay. This is the best bet for passengers who'd like to absorb some of the
scenery of the rugged southern coast of Norway.
SHOPPING
The largest shopping center in southern Norway lies 12km (7 1 ⁄ 2 miles) east of
Kristiansand. Steen and Strøm Sørlandssenteret ( & 38-04-91-00 ) offers 100
stores plus 10 restaurants and cafes, even such centers as a solarium. Closer to
the center of town is SlottsQuartalet, Tordenskiolds 9 ( & 38-02-79-99 ), at the
top end of the Markens pedestrian street. You'll find various shops and cafes
here.
WHERE TO STAY
Clarion Hotel Ernst The only hotel in town with a doorman, the Ernst
first opened its doors in 1859. It's been the city's favorite traditional stopover
ever since. Even though it's received frequent renovations since then, its owners
have taken care to preserve its classic look. Beautifully run and managed, it is
preferred by those who shun the more sleekly modern look as exemplified by the
Radisson SAS Caledonian Hotel. All the bedrooms come in different sizes with
different color schemes, but each one contains a midsize, well-maintained bath-
room with a tub/shower combination. The location is ideal, lying 180m (600
ft.) from the central bus terminal, rail station, and ferry dock. It is the only hotel
in the area that has a restaurant and bars that rival the drinking and dining facil-
ities at the SAS Caledonian.
Rådhusgaten 2, N-4611 Kristiansand S. & 38-12-86-00. Fax [phone]. www.ernst.no. 135 units. Sum-
mer 1,140NOK ($162) double; off season Sun-Thurs 1,220NOK ($173) double, Fri-Sat 895NOK ($127) dou-
ble. AE, DC, MC, V. Parking 110NOK ($16). Amenities: Restaurant; 2 bars; nightclub; limited room service;
babysitting; laundry service/dry cleaning. In room: A/C, TV, dataport, minibar, hair dryer.
Quality Hotel Kristiansand This modern establishment bills itself as
a “children's hotel.” Of course, adults can stay here too. The hotel is one of Sør-
landet's biggest, lying 11km (6 3 ⁄ 4 miles) east of the town center. The building is
new, and the bedrooms are freshly and comfortably furnished with cheerful pas-
tels and wooden furnishings. Rooms feature private bathrooms with tub/shower
combinations. Everything is geared to families with children, including a large
playroom, organized kiddie activities, and even a special buffet for youngsters in
the dining room. Visitors can also take advantage of toys located on the grounds,
which are provided by the hotel.

Kids