Tell me where to go!!

Penny_Farthing_2

Hi
I was hoping that someone who's travelled about a bit could point me in the right direction for where to go next summer, please.
There are 2 adults and a 16, 15 and 10 year old. The kids are not stereotypical teenagers and this is the kind of thing we like:

sun but not hotter than about 30ish
beaches - relatively quiet
waterparks/watersports/diving/snorkelling
wildlife/natur/gardens
hikes and bikes
teenagers are doing geology/geog and DH likes that too-all would enjoy a good volcano!!
I'd like not to cook every night

Thanks to advice from this forum, last year we had a fantastic holiday in Olu Deniz half board doing snorkelling/scuba, Dalyan boat trip, Ephesus and Parmukale (sp?). That holiday was via Mr Tesco and we'd need to be budget-conscious. Also we have to go in school summer holidays.

I was wondering about America or Italy but I'd really appreciate some pointers.

Thanks v much.

richardw

There's Mount Etna in Sicily.

kalaika

From your description my first thought was Hawaii... until I read your line about being budget conscious! Apparently Honolulu is a bit 'mainstream USA city-esque' but the Big Island has the Hawaii Volcanos National Park

hartcjhart

no volcano but
Mojacar area on the costa almeria in Spain has the other bits,BUT, to make the best you need to hire a car

Leper

I'm with Hartchart here. Mojacar Playa is the ideal spot for a family holiday for the following reasons:-

1. You have a choice of several beaches.

2. Walks are as difficult or as easy as you wish.

3. There are several free childrens play areas along the Playa.

4. Vera Aquapark is a short bus journey distant.

5. Mojacar Playa is on the doorstep of Cabo de Gata National Park.

6. There are several scenic drives inland and along the coast.

7. Mojacar Pueblo is within 1.5 miles and is accessible by public bus @ €1 per person.

8. Eating out is cheap; a 3 course meal (decent food, not fast-food) is available at around €10.00.

9. For lovers of physical geography:- Mojacar Playa is on a continental fault causing 'raised' beach i.e two continents colliding over millions of years causing sections of the beach to rise.

10. Rental of apartments is not too expensive.

11. Costa Almer!a has the driest and warmest climate of mainland europe.

ixia

Somewhere on the amalfi coast in Italy. You could take in Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius easily accessible by train.

miamoo

You would have to consider the temperatures though if you have to go August, Italy, spain, greece would top 30 degrees in August, not really hiking weather. What about going in October break? All the places suggested fit the bill that time of year

Penny_Farthing_2

Kalaika, I'll look at USA/Hawaii as having 3 boys, I think it would be relatively cheap to feed them there and that might hopefully balance out some other travel expenses. I also thought about the Grand Canyon/ Yellowstone National Park and we'd love to visit the Harry Potter theme park but I imagine all this would cost a fortune, even if we stayed in motels/camped.

Thank you for your detailed reply - Leper. I'll have a scout about. I've never been to Spain and I know full well that those Costa Blanca 1970s skyscraper resort images that jump into my head are just my own ignorance. I would also love to visit the Alhambra. Is there good snorkelling in the area, do you know?

Ixia - I would love to go there but I once priced up a short trip for myself and my DH for his 40th and it was ruinously expensive. I'll take another look though.

Miamoo, October is out as I teach and I want to go for more than 6 nights - though I take your point about the weather.

Well, that's plenty of food for thought..........

cclarke12

If you fancy the Alhambra (which is really wonderful) then you could go for the Lecrin Valley which is 20 mins from Granada and the Alhambra, 20 mins to the coast (Costa Tropical - still very Spanish) and 20 mins from the Alpujarras and not much further to the Sierra Nevada. It is about 1h 30 mins from Malaga airport. The villages of the Lecrin Valley are very Spanish and laid back with not many tourists (i.e. real Spain!). If you search for Via Sur Andalucia you will find a site with rental properties on there and lots of information on the area.

Penny_Farthing_2

My geography is utter rubbish - I thought the Sierra Nevada was in America. See - I DO need to travel more!!:rotfl:

I'll give it a look.

jackieblack

Penny_Farthing wrote: »

My geography is utter rubbish - I thought the Sierra Nevada was in America. See - I DO need to travel more!!:rotfl:

I'll give it a look.

No, you are correct, there is a Sierra Nevada in America!
The 400 mile Sierra Nevada mountain range is in California - Yosemite, Sequoia and King's Canyon National Parks are in the SN, with contigious USAs highest mountain, tallest waterfall and the world's biggest tree (according to Lonely Planet!