Asker Things to Do

As it's too early in my stay here to have "seen it all" I have only so far identified the following museums here - and it's a mouthfull for a small community:
The Asker Museum - Valstads Collections,
Blakstad Hospital Musum,
Dikemark Hospital Museum,
Jansløkka School Museum
Labråten - author Garborg's home at Hvalstad
Sem Sawmill museum
Strandsitterhuset at Konglungen,
Vollen Coastal Cultural Centre.

Huset i Vollen ("The House" at Vollen) is a cultural heritage-protected building and remains an active commercial trading house. It used to be the main trading post in Vollen. Nicely preserved wooden architecture. You can go in and chack out the art and crafts shops, a little gallery etc here.

Maize (corn) is a novelty in Norway in the sense that the northernmost maize fields in the world are located here around the Oslo Fjord and that it hasn't been a crop of commercial interest until lately.

Ringi Farm just up from Tanum Asylum /refugee centre makes a roaring business out of growing maize, having people come and pick the maize for themselves (at NOK 25 per kg, about a third or fourth of the rate of old, vaccum packed ones in a grocery), and selling BBQ'ed corn on the cob right in the field. The maize variety is Ruuthsbo. They provide bags for picking, fresh maize recipies and other info. I noticed that immigrant families had great fun picking loads here - a slight touch of home?

Opening hours during picking season: workdays 14-18, Sat-Sun 10-18

If you are from the south you may not be very impressed by the trees and bushes and general plant life at Øverland Arboret. However, the place has a significant number of species, some exotic (more than a 100 foreign trees), and it is very well designed. Best of all - it is always open.
Good place for a walk, with children, a pram or even good for wheelchairs.

The Coastal Trail is a trail (good guess, yah?) that starts from Oslo and follows the coast (another good guess, yah?) all the way to Larvik and beyond. However, it is not yet continous, so check local advice before you set out...

It is a recreational long-distance trail more than a challenging hiking trail, and winds its way between houses, harbours, patches of forests, beaches and cliffs. Can also be biked, but do so with care, it's a walkers trail. You can walk any part of it, of course, accessed by public transport as it is here and there. There is a continous trail section through Asker's shoreline which is well signposted and easily accessible. Local places of interest are signposted.

That's what they advertise, too, the only of its kind. And perhaps not that frequenmted either? Anyway, the guided tour is by appointment: call 66776940.
There are two permanent exhibits, one showing the development of bee keeping, materials and equipment till today, and one that shows bee keeping as it was in 1890.
Through activities offered in the museum you get to know your cute frioends, the bees, honey tasting, candle making from beeswax and lots of other "bee-things". Nothing said about the flower part in the official information....

Blue mussles are plentyful in the Oslo Fjord. Due to the small tidal range they are generally found below water line at all times, so healthy, but still easy to pick.
You can steam them according to your special recipe (picnic!), fry them in a pan or BBQ them on the embers of your bonfire.
Mussles may be poisoned by algaes and their condition are therefore monitored right here at Vollen, Asker on a weekly basis. The status is available in the local newspaper "Budstikka" - title Blåskjellmelding on the back page - or on www.matportalen.no/ or phone 82033333 or NRK text TV page 588.

This could be an off-the-beaten-track tip as few tourists would come here apart from those dragged there by Norwegian friends.
The western islands of the Oslo Fjord can be reached from Sandvika harbour (Kadettangen, Rigmorbrygga) and there is the odd departure from Holmen also. For time tables consult my transportation tip on this schedule.
MS Rigmor and MS Rigfar will take you on a scheduled trip to the key western Oslofjord Islands of Borøya, Brønnøya, Ostøya, Langåra, Hareholmen and Høyerholmen. The passengers are mainly bathers , sunseeksers and picnickers along with some bikers (three of the islands are suitable), local house and summerhouse owners, campers and anglers. At least three of the islands are great for camping - bring your own tent and other gear for overnighting. There are no restaurants or shops - it's all bring your own.
The boats start running 20 May and get a busier schedule from 23 June until end of service 21 August.
MS Rigmor is the oldest ferry in daily operation in Norway - 75 years old in 2005. Instead of jumping off at one of the islands, you can also do the circuit to all the islands just for the sightseeing and arrive back to Sandvika 1 1/2 hrs later.
You can also charter the boats for your own itinerary or pick-up/drop off. Especially MS Rigfar is well equipped and suited for a group up to 35. Both ships can organise full food and drink services.