To the south of Koknese, the Destiny Garden is on an island that is surrounded by the waters of the Pļaviņas hydroelectric power plant (there is a bridge to the shore).  The aim of this fundamental open-air object was to commemorate people in Latvia who suffered because of totalitarian regimes.  The first work here began in 2008, and the designer of the landscape was a Japanese landscape architect, Shunmyo Masuno.  Work on the garden continues, but it is already a popular tourist destination.  The first permanent structure is a terrace that offers a view of the Koknese castle ruins and the local Lutheran church.  This means that there will be something new each time that people visit the park.  People are invited to bring rocks for this nationally important location that commemorates Latvia’s history.

The café is located at the 125th km of the Vidzeme Highway (A2).

Latvian cuisine: Cod liver salad, cold soup, dumpling soup, grey peas with bacon, manna, farmer’s breakfast, baked pike filet, crepes, potato pancakes, stacked rye bread, cottage cheese dessert with strawberry sauce.

Kandava is first mentioned in the articles in 1230. In 1253 the Livonian Order built a stone castle at the upper part of Abava valley shore, at the foot which of an urban area formed. In the 17th century Kandava became an important trading centre. The plague epidemic and developments of World War I hit the town and its people hard. Kandava got the town rights in 1917. During soviet Soviet times, Sports Complex of Jaunkandavas agricultural Technical School became a popular training venue.

The trail tells about grey dunes which have survived thanks to the border restrictions and the presence of military. The trail starts from the parking place at the mouth of the Užava river. It is one of the few natural rivermouths in Europe. One can also see the „tacis”, an industrial installation for lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) fishing during their spawning migration period. The 3km long trail is circular. It winds for 1.5km from the Užava rivermouth to the North, along the coastline (the beach is covered with sand and pebbles), and returns to the starting point by a gravel road through grey dunes. Along the trail, one can observe a distinct white dune with rare plant species Linaria loeselii, Lathyrus maritimus, Anthyllis arenaria, Tragopogon heterospermus. About 1km from the rivermouth, in the sea, one can see a wrack of a sailing ship (parts of frame). The visibility depends on the flow of sand in the sea. The way back opens a beautiful view of the range of grey dunes. Unfortunately, Scots Pine starts taking over the area. There are three important biotopes of EU significance: „Fixed dunes with herbaceous vegetation 2130”, „Decalcified fixed dunes with Empetrum nigrum 2140” and „Dunes with Salix arenaria 2170”, forming a unique mosaic. Typical species here: mountain Alison ‘(Alyssum gmelinii), Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla pratensis), Sand Pink (Dianthus arenarius), Rosemary Leaved Willow (Salix rosmarinifolia), Dark Red Helleborine (Epipactis atrorubens), Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylus uva-ursi).

As a former military site, some military constructions can be seen here like horseshoe-shaped sand ramparts by the road in gray dunes. They were built to disguise military vehicles in case of sea attack. By the Kangroti graveyard, towards the Užava river, there is an underground pillbox. It is a one-man fortification to fire along the coastal perimeter.

The Mouth of River Užava walking route is in the nature reserve „Užava”

When you travel along the northern shore of Lake Sauka where the road to Klauce crosses your road, you will see the Sauka Lutheran Church among the trees. This is the third church at this location. It was opened in 1827 and can mostly be viewed from the outside. The altar is decorated with sculptures of St Peter and St Paul, as well as the altar painting “Jesus on the Cross with Mary and John,” which is by J. Doering. The organ was built by craftsmen in Jelgava, and the pipes were manufactured in Sauka.

This is a farm which produces beef. You can take a tour, during which you can learn about, taste and purchase untraditional herbs and exotic tea plants.

The G.F. Stender Museum is at the former Laši pastoral estate, 500 m to the Northeast from the Nereta-Ilūkste road. Gotthard Friedrich Stender (1714-1796), also known as Old Stenders, was the author of the first broader Latvian language grammar book (1761), the first Latvian-German and German-Latvian dictionary (1789), the first Latvian primer (1782), and the first illustrated primer, “ABC of Pictures” (1787). He worked as a pastor in Sēlpils and Sunākste and was born at the Laši pastoral estate, at which one of the buildings now contains a small museum. A memorial stone (sculptor I. Folkmanis, architect N. Tamane) is alongside the Nereta-Ilūkste road.

The café is located the Krūziņi guesthouse in the centre of Dundaga.

Latvian cuisine: Sauerkraut soup, grey peas with curdled milk, roast perch or cod, sorrel soup with potatoes.

Special foods: “A tower of cottage cheese” or crème from the ingredients of the Dundaga Dairy.