Bleikøya is an island in the inner part of Oslofjord, about a 45 minute trip by ship from Oslo, Norway.
I visited the island while in town to cover the music festival Øyafestivalen for Nordic Spotlight in August 2015. Temperatures that day were optimal for exploring -- blue skies and warm air -- and I had some time to spare, so I ventured out of the city for sightseeing.
The trip on the boat to the island was comfortable and fun, and I was happy to see so many people out enjoying the beautiful weather and the city's new public swimming hole.
When I got to Bleikøya it was populated with people who had the same idea I had to enjoy the nature of Norway, on land...
...and in the water.
Rather than sandbanks, Bleikøya has seashells. Aren't they lovely? Glad I brought water shoes with me for wading!
On the trip back to Oslo proper, I got a great view of the Oslo Opera House and the huge floating sculpture She Lies by Monica Bonvicini, which is made of stainless steel and glass panels and anchored in the fjord.
If you ever get the chance to visit Oslo in the summertime, do yourself a favor and visit one of the many islands in the Oslofjord. They're magical!