Rokiškis with Children

Have you ever said to yourself, “I will never go here again or come back”? Apparently so. Some of us say this when we don’t like the place we’re visiting, others – when we go to study. However, the wheels of life turn and sometimes to return is the most beautiful and long-awaited action in the heart, which you only enjoy even more every day. This happened to the charming Raminta Katinienė, who comes from the city of Rokiškis itself. As Raminta says, “This city is very, very close to me. Although I went to study in the capital and said: “I will definitely not return to Rokiškis”, but over the years, I realized that the peace of the city, short distances fascinate me more than the busy life of the capital”.

After returning to live in Rokiškis and working in one of the city’s kindergartens as a preschool teacher, Raminta used to observe and admire mothers who actively spend time with their children. Having become the mother of two stepchildren, Davydas and Radvilė, she can no longer sit quietly at home, she wants to work, drive, do things, although sometimes the household and all other things in life come first, than traveling or other activities. And when you are active yourself, like-minded people appear. That’s how Raminta met another mother, Lina, in the Rokiškis mother’s club, who raises her daughter Gabija, together they make travel and leisure plans and invite them to visit the most beautiful places in Rokiškis with their children.

Liongins Shepka Sculpture Park

This time, Raminta and Lina decided to get to know the objects of Rokiškis city more carefully, although they have been there many times, but always in passing. So, after eating some snacks, they prepared to start their day trip from the Liongin Šepka Sculpture Park, otherwise called simply “Sculpture Park” by the townspeople (locals). Since 2001 carvers, during open-air events organized by the Rokiškis Region Museum, create sculptures with a new look at the work and life of the godmaker Liongins Šepkas. Currently, the park is decorated with more than 100 functional sculptures.

If you come with a car, you can leave it in the parking lot of the Rokiškis Culture Center, since the park itself does not have a separate parking lot. Parking is free, convenient for everyone and you should not limit yourself in time.

About the Sculpture Park

The sculpture park is very large, it has many different sculptures, so you and your children will look at them, talk and discuss what the sculptures depict. The environment of the park is well-maintained, the paths are paved with cobblestones, so it is convenient to ride with children in strollers, bicycles, scooters, etc. Here you will often see many benches, on which grandmothers or mothers often sit and chat with children.

In this park, we can see a youth space and other active leisure facilities – fitness equipment, basketball and tennis courts. There is also a playful, interesting and colorful track made by volunteers from Rokiškis, so that children can spend their time having fun counting, playing various invented games, because there are many options for what to do on the track.

Children Entertainment

When entertaining with children, we know that a mother’s backpack has to hide not only the essentials, but also the entire restaurant.

You can have picnics in this park, the grass is specially prepared for that, don’t forget your blanket and enjoy a picnic among the beautiful sculptures. And if you’re hungry and didn’t take anything, you can also order a meal from a “fast food cart” located in the market area right next to the park.

Here you will also find an extremely important thing for everyone – a toilet that is unlocked and can be used by everyone (more suitable for bigger people). And if you want a tasty and warm meal, there are two pizzerias located near the park.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Traveling with Children ®” attractions map.

Tales and Magic of Shutters

Rokiškis is unique in that the traffic usually goes one way – so we go around the main streets and reach the biggest street – Respublika, which is lined with houses with decorated shutters.

Rokiškis is the only one in Lithuania that can be called the city of painted shutters. The houses on the main street are decorated with shutters. The idea of ​​reviving the tradition of home decoration came in 2003 to the artist Arūnas Augučius, and in 2005 the painting of shutters turned into a project that has been successfully implemented for 15 years. Children will love to observe and develop their imagination, what is painted in those shutters and with such strokes. The view is definitely worth seeing for everyone and admiring. The project of shutters is expanding and does not stop at one street, you can see the unique shutters in the streets of the Republic of Rokiškis, Kaunas, Kęstutis, Ėuolai, Sodų, Vilnius, Mikėnos and in the windows of houses in the villages of Jurgiškiai, Kamai, Antakriaunis, Bajori, Salai, Šetekšnai in the Rokiškis district.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Traveling with Children ®” attractions map.

In the Lap of the Museum in the Rain

If the weather doesn’t cooperate (which is becoming common lately), the next stop Rokiškis Regional Museum. You will drive to the huge gates of the museum, park your car there, and you will be able to walk to the Manor homestead in a few minutes. There is always a pleasant view for the eyes – a beautiful territory of the manor and a direct view of the Rokiškis manor. You will travel on a path that can be used by both bicycles, strollers and other vehicles. Children really like to run on the cut grass and sit on the benches, of which there are quite a few.

As you walk towards the main building, you will see the old wooden building that used to house the old Rokiškis Music School and currently the administration of the Rokiškis Museum. Other exhibitions are held in other buildings, architecturally responding to the ensemble of the manor.

Technology-enhanced expositions

Upon entering the Rokiškis Regional Museum, you will be greeted by a large stuffed bear – although it looks like a real bear is standing, but children will not be able to take their eyes off it. And so that you don’t get the impression that there is no life here, you will be immediately greeted by the elegant employees of the museum.

When asked what the current situation is at the Rokiškis manor museum, the employees say that during the quarantine they really did not sit idly by, but tried to make sure that the visitors who came would find a lot of new things.

Therefore, when you come to the museum, you will find exhibits supplemented with various technologies. If you want to dig deeper, the information terminals provide more information than the exhibit cards or audio guides that the museum has had for more than 10 years. Therefore, children will touch the screens receptively, listen, because we know very well that modernity and technology are necessary for children.

As for the tour, start by climbing the stairs, where you’ll be greeted by various exhibits and a kid-friendly big screen where you can create your own coat of arms. Every exhibition will surprise children, they will want to touch and look at it, assures Raminta. “And the built-in screens with moving images left a great impression on the children, they couldn’t take their eyes off them” – this is Raminta’s joy.

Museum Expositions and Deers

Walking around the museum, you will visit the exhibition of Liongin’s Shepka’s carvings, the manor’s dining room, the count’s clothing collection room, the huge art gallery of the manor and the conservatory. And if you go down the stairs, you will come to an exhibition of 99 stuffed birds, which the children will also really like. Although the mansion is in a state of panic, you will also find a children’s playroom here (but visitors are not allowed in it at this time), it can be used to celebrate birthdays or other family celebrations.

After seeing all the exhibits and with full pockets, they will see you off with smiles and remind you that you can also visit the exhibition of prequels on the territory of the museum, feed the fallow deer and take a walk around the territory of the estate itself. When the children have fed the big-eyed fallow deer, swing on the swing, you can rest and sit in the “Hare park”, where the carved sculptures of hares are located, a bench will invite you to rest for a minute.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Traveling with Children ®” attractions map.

Velykalnis Recreation Area

After having fun on the playground, getting stronger and the weather nicer, travel to the Velykalnis resort. The environment exudes such peace, which was created by the community of Velykalnis itself. The environment is maintained, organized and has its own rules with signs (no smoking, no littering). What also fascinates the locals here is that when everyone comes, they feel respect for the community and really sincerely follow the rules, when you don’t come – you won’t find a single piece of garbage and the like.

So, there is a large parking lot at Velykalnis rest area and we start our walk around the area. The paths are paved with pebbles, leading to the pond, where there is a swimming pool, a bridge, and to the volleyball courts and the children’s play area. You will really be impressed by the ready-made volleyball courts with soft beach sand. Stay there for a while, run around barefoot and enjoy as if we were at the sea.

About the Area

Raminta continues with her children towards the children’s play area, and on the way she stops at the outdoor toilet. I am impressed by the fact that it is very neat, nicely arranged and maintained, although it is not suitable for babies, but it is suitable for slightly older children. There is a toilet on one side and shower cabins on the other, as various outdoor volleyball competitions are held here. Finally, you will reach the children’s play area, where you will find something to do from the youngest to the grown-ups. First, try the outdoor playground with slides (a bit steep, so not very safe without parental supervision). During the summer season, Velykalnis recreation area offers even more entertainment: you can go boating, water bikes. Various activities are also held here: exercise, meditation and the like.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Traveling with Children ®” attractions map.

Rokiškis Lake

The environment is organized, the paths are paved with cobblestones, so it is convenient to visit with strollers, bicycles or other wheeled vehicles. You will be impressed by the well-kept beach and sand, as if by the sea, so you will feel like you are at the seaside of Lithuania. The lake shore is suitable for both smaller children and older adults. New big bridge with chairs, will like it very much.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Traveling with Children ®” attractions map.

Zanapolis Manor

The road to Zanapolis Manor is on a gravel road, but very picturesque roads. There are no directions to the mansion, so just rely on the coordinates. Cows graze on the roadside, and here is a herd of beef cows. So you’re driving right. After turning again into the forest, the road starts to narrow and it’s no longer so comfortable to ride, but the “extreme” is enough for everyone, and suddenly a hare will jump across the road, maybe it’s a Rokiškis hare? Proceed with caution, slow enough in some places if you don’t want to delay the fun of the mud as well. However, after a kilometer of the test road, you will see fences on the roadside, behind which deer can be seen in the distance.

About the Manor

You will not find cobblestones and smooth sidewalks here, as you will have to explore the wild nature. First, go to the first enclosure and you will hear a low voice shout “come on, come on” (“camon camon”). It turns out that this is how both red deer and Highlands are used to come to their owners. Well, after a few shouts, the braver red deer will come to show their beauty. Reluctantly, but the desire to taste carrots, cabbage and other vegetables, which could be brought to the waiting room, brings the animals to the visitors. The view is definitely worth the extreme road.

After admiring the nature, go to see the whole farm with the owner of the manor, Daina. First of all, you will be brought to the deer sorting area, it’s fun for children to hide in the labyrinths. You, the parents, will be surprised at what kind of work is done here, how much energy and time is needed to make such a farm work. And somewhere in the distance, you will hear an earth-shaking rumble. It turns out to be Horn, who weighs over 2 tons, but he imagines that he is a cute little bull. There are about 10 people like Horn and 5 other babies living here. Hearing the creaking of bread bags, everyone takes slow but firm steps towards the visitors. Of course, only the bravest dare to give bread from their hands, but whoever dares, experiences for a lifetime.

More information with exact coordinates of this location can be found in the “Traveling with Children ®” attractions map.

The ruins of Onuškis Manor

There are links to the Onuškis mansion, so you can easily find it. However, the ruins of the mansion are located on a hill. Not everyone with children will dare to climb up to take a closer look. Onuškis manor has its own history. Look into it before going here: there are no roads, so it is not very convenient with children’s transport. It is better to go for a walk.

This article is author’s work and was prepared by “Traveling with Children ®”. Copying and using without permission is strictly prohibited.

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