insideKENT Magazine Issue 46 - January 2016 | Page 104

GETAWAYS
PLAN YOUR summer

holiday cont.

Family
The summer holiday might be the only time of the year when you can really
spend some quality time together as a family, and if that’s the case then
you want it to be special. Doing things together, discovering new places,
making memories that will last for a lifetime… that’s what a family holiday
is all about.

Adventure
We know that beach holidays aren’t to everyone’s taste and the idea of
lying about doing nothing at all is anathema to some, so if that’s the case
for you, you should book yourself onto the adventure of a lifetime. You’ll
certainly be doing something, no matter where you choose to go!

Disney is, of course, the ultimate family destination for kids of all ages.
Depending on your budget, your timetable, and your preference for a plane
or a train, you can visit Orlando, Florida, USA and immerse yourself in the
original Disney World, or you can stay closer to home and opt for the
Parisian version. Either way, Mickey, Minnie, Anna, Elsa, and hordes of
other Disney characters will be on hand to ensure your stay is a once in a
lifetime, never to be forgotten, utterly spectacular family holiday.

Burma in Southeast Asia is a tourist hotspot for those who like to live life
on the wild side. The most popular way to explore this stunning country is
by bike, and by booking into hotels along the way (book in advance if
possible, as some of the larger cities are busy places); this way you can
cross discover the culture, history, and splendour of Burma. You can book
through a specialist travel operator, or you can travel independently – just
how adventurous do you want to be?

Sardinia is another excellent
place to take the children.
Choose between the family
friendly beaches or perhaps
life on the farm where you can
really get stuck into the day
to day running, feeding piglets,
wild boar, sheep, lambs,
donkeys and more.

The Azores might be a Portuguese archipelago (an island chain) in the
Atlantic, but it’s 900 miles away from its mother country, and doesn’t look
much like the beach and city filled Portugal we all know. This is a wild and
romantic place to visit, a place that is all rugged volcanic landscapes and
forests, and where a pirate’s galleon sailing over the horizon would certainly
not look out of place. It’s also where you can let your adventurous spirit
run free. Abseil down waterfalls, jump off cliffs, slide down naturally formed
water chutes, and climb back up again using your wit and skill. And there’s
much, much more besides.

Fuerteventura, one of the
Canary Islands, is a wonderful
destination for families. With
lovely beaches, a good choice of food (including more familiar fare for the
less adventurous diners), and plenty of activities this is the island that has
it all (including beautiful weather in the summer months!).

If the idea of spending up to eight hours a day on a horse and sleeping in
a shepherd’s refuge, or making your own camp when there is nothing else
to hand appeals, you will want to follow the Andorra Trail. This is a 350kilometre journey from the Mediterranean and into the Pyrenees. At your
highest altitude you’ll be 3,000 metres up, and you’ll visit Spain, France,
and Andorra as you go. The trip only runs from June to September, as it
becomes too tricky at other times (some places are only accessible by
horse even when the weather is hospitable), and it is highly recommended
that you do this in a group with a knowledgeable guide!

Jamaica is a nature lover’s paradise, and it’s an ideal place to bring the
family, no matter what their ages. It’s laid back and beautiful, and you can
enjoy paradise beach time, go exploring (where else can you feed
hummingbirds or travel down the Rio Grande on a bamboo raft?), or learn
about the country’s fascinating history. Make your time away from home
something special.

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