insideKENT Magazine Issue 70 - January 2018 | Page 104

GETAWAYS
HOLIDAYS OFF THE BEATEN PATH cont.
Elsewhere
ALICANTE, SPAIN DUBROVNIK, CROATIA
Located in Spain’s southeast, the
province of Alicante is where the Costa
Blanca (White Coast) is situated. Here
you will find perfect beaches with soft
sands and seas that are great for
swimming and snorkeling, or generally
splashing about in. Historical cities and
towns abound in Alicante too and there
are a number of tourist hotspots here
including Benidorm for some lively
entertainment…if that’s your cup of tea. Croatia is a truly diverse holiday destination
thanks to its historical, architectural and cultural
influences from the Turks, Romans, Franks, and
the Napoleonic French. It has an unparalleled
history and stunning coastlines that hug the
Adriatic. Here you’ll find towering mountains,
pretty little villages, unspoiled spots and
mesmerising azure seas.
If not, The Museum of Alicante can be
found within the walls of Santa Barbara
Castle at the top of Mount Benacantil,
and what makes this special place even
more family friendly is that it’s all free
to enter. Within the museum you’ll find
10 different exhibition halls that tell the
story of the castle and the city it
overlooks. You can walk to it, or drive,
but the best way up is in the lift.
Something else that the whole family
will enjoy are the Canelobre Caves in
Buscot. You can book into a guided tour
and discover stalactites and stalagmites
lit up by coloured lights. Alicante is also
home to a theme park: Terra Mitica, and
a huge water park: Aqualandia, as well
as plenty of gorgeou s villages such as
the stunning Guadalest.
The world is a big old place and if you want
to take a jaunt further out than Europe, there
are some spectacularly beautiful and exciting
places to take the family.
Dubrovnik is a particularly beautiful and
fascinating spot for a family holiday. Walk the
medieval walls and do your best to touch the
gargoyle at the main gate to the city, which is
said to bring you luck if you can stand on it.
Croatia is now a rising star in wine making
circles too, so you might want to try some of
the many wine tasting tours that are on offer
in the area. The kids won’t miss out as there are
lots of things to learn as you go. You can always
take them to visit the Franciscan monastery in
the Old Town, with its Old Pharmacy Museum.
The Old Pharmacy has been operating for over
700 years and is one of the oldest pharmacies
in Europe, so you can chart the interesting
changes in medicine from 1317 to the modern
day. And as for beaches, take your pick – some
are mainly the preserve of tourists – the ones
with the fun inflatables, deck chairs, games and
the cafes, but explore a little further and you’ll
discover much quieter places if that’s your
preference.
The Galápagos Islands
Alicante, Spain
THE GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS
Croatia
104
When it comes to wildlife watching, there is
probably nowhere as famous in the world as
The Galápagos Islands, a remote archipelago
in the Pacific Ocean, which is technically part
of Ecuador and it is as stark and as beautiful
as it gets. There is wildlife everywhere, and it’s
not just the famous Galápagos tortoises either
(although these magnificent creatures will be
there for you to see); there’s the wonderfully
named blue-footed booby birds, penguins,
sea lions and humpback whales as well to
name just a few. The lava formations and
cactus forests are awe inspiring, and for older
children especially, this is the holiday of a
lifetime.