It’s a busy winter’s day at Lippajärvi in Keski-Espoo. A pensioner couple are out Nordic walking, a dog strolls along with its owners at a casual pace, and a young father pushes a buggy on the way to the local shop.

Sports massage therapist Ami Suojanen, who moved to Lippajärvi a year and a half ago, has also set out on a walk. She has no complaints about her new home region.

“I really like it here. There are good services and opportunities to exercise in nature right next door, and nothing is far away,” Suojanen praises.

In Suojanen’s opinion, the best part about the Lippajärvi residential area is the Lippajärvi lake itself and the Vilniemi beach, where you can easily take a quick swim straight out of the sauna.

“I throw on my sauna bathrobe and walk to the beach in a couple minutes!”

During the winter, you can ski, skate, walk and fish on the lake’s ice. During the summer, you can enjoy the warm days while swimming, rowing and fishing – as if you are at your summer cottage.

“It feels unbelievable that there is such a wonderful lake with clean water right here in the middle of Espoo. I feel no need to leave to get to be near the water, since there is such a place right by my home,” says Suojanen.

There is another lake at the northern edge of the district, Pitkäjärvi, and its official beach is located at the Laaksolahti sports park. There, you can go ice swimming during the winter.

The walk continues from Vilniemi beach to Aurora school. Recess has just begun and the yard is full of primary school students. The new school building was completed in 2016, allowing the schoolchildren of Lippajärvi to work in fantastic, modern spaces.

The same building also hosts a maternity and child health clinic, pre-school and daycare, of which there are several in the area. The lower secondary school is located within a walking distance in Järvenperä, and the closest upper secondary schools are in Kauniainen and Viherlaakso.

Opposite the school are a K-kauppa grocery store and Posti service point. The larger grocery markets, flower shop, R-kioski, Alko and a popular Nepalese restaurant are located in the Lähderanta shopping centre, a short walking distance away.

It is easy to get to Lippajärvi by car along Turuntie, and Ring III is nearby. On the other hand, public transportation works so well in this part of Espoo that Ami Suojanen has given up her own car.

“I can get everywhere quickly by bus, such as the Sello shopping centre, Myyrmäki and Kauniainen. Jorvi hospital is also right around the corner,” Suojanen says.

During the summer, however, Suojanen travels by motorcycle. Ring III clears the route to everywhere.

Lippajärvi is the ideal place to live for those people who enjoy nature and exercise. Ami Suojanen prefers to go out along the jogging paths of Pitkäjärvi beach and the forests of Aurora park.

“There are a lot of beautiful environments and protected natural areas here. Every time, I can find a new path through the local woods that I have never walked before,” Suojanen says.

The Myllykylänjoki river, also known as Glimsinjoki, starts from Pitkäjärvi and acts as the border of the Lippajärvi area to the west. It is a diverse waterway and one of Espoo’s most valuable natural sites.

“The first time I happened upon the river, I was amazed by how beautiful and untouched it is. I’ve even seen a couple of otters there,” Suojanen says.

The Myllykylänjoki river, also known as Glimsinjoki, starts from Pitkäjärvi and acts as the border of the Lippajärvi area to the west. It is a diverse waterway and one of Espoo’s most valuable natural sites.

“The first time I happened upon the river, I was amazed by how beautiful and untouched it is. I’ve even seen a couple of otters there,” Suojanen says.

Aurora park, also known as Träskända park, is the area’s attraction. At its heart, the Träskända Manor stands proud; its most famous owner was once Aurora Karamzin. Nowadays, the manor is owned by the City of Espoo.

“There are many interesting buildings in the park, as well as other culturally and historically significant sights. The manor’s café offers delicious salads in the summer,” Suojanen says.

Alexander II, the Emperor of Russia and Grand Duke of Finland, visited the manor in 1863 when taking part in a hunting trip.

For this reason, the street names of the area are often related to hunting: Ajojahdintie (chase street), Riistatie (game street), Jahtimestarintie (hunt overseer’s street) and so on. The renovated Lumo home rental apartments of Linnustajankuja 2 are located in a central place in Lippajärvi, right by the glimmering lake and daily services.