Joanna James
A severe lack of kid-friendly activities can often lead to disaster on family trips. Vilamoura, in Algarve, Portugal, however, has plenty of fun entertainment for children of all ages, here's a few!
Take your kids on a boat ride along the breathtaking Algarve coastline, filled with caves, rock formations and secret grottoes that are kindling to a child's imagination. The scenic boat ride is only made more magnificent by close encounters with dolphins, whales and turtles. There's a BBQ lunch at the end of the trip, on a private beach – after all, a delicious meal is a recipe for a happy troop!
Vilamoura's Family Golf Park is great fun for the whole family! The park is one of Algarve's best mini golf courses and features beautiful landscapes packed with great obstacles, water features and even a few birdhouses! The park echoes Ancient Rome in its design, inspired by the Roman ruins that occur in Vilamoura. In addition to the family-friendly golf courses, there is also a kiddie's play area, a games room and a snack bar!
You can never go wrong with a beach day! Pack up the beach-wear, get some buckets and spades for the kids, and head on down to one of Vilamoura's two gorgeous, golden beaches or to any of the numerous, spectacular Algarve beaches. Vilamoura's Praia da Rocha beach offers some amazing beach activities during the summer including volleyball, scuba try dives, surf try outs and lots more! For a special treat, you can even take your kids down to Salema beach, an hour's drive from Vilamoura, where genuine footprints of dinosaurs are actually imprinted on the flat rock found on the western end of the beach!
Go-Karting is undeniably one of the best and most exhilarating ways to spend a day. The go-karting track, Karting Almancil, isn't located in Vilamoura, but is a short distance away and easily accessible. There is a junior kart track for 7 to 12-year-olds available, as well as, two-seater karts where you can drive with your kid securely seated in the back! Experienced karters, those above the age of 13 can try out the adrenaline filled main track, on either 390cc karts or 200cc karts!
Vilamoura is home to the stunning Formosa Natural Park where kids, beginners and the experienced cam=n trek along the picturesque countryside, up magnificent mountains and past scenic coastlines and unforgettable views, on the back of a horse! Trained, professional riders will guide you and your family along the way! The park itself is a great place to just relax and have a picnic or go for a walk with your family.
Vilamoura's Aquashow water theme park is a sure fire way to make sure you and your kids make some unforgettable memories! The park is open from May to September and features a host of slides in every shape and form imaginable, exhilarating roller coasters, kamikaze shoots of towering heights and tropical pools complete with artificial waves.
Perhaps the most unique and memorable activity available for the family, Zoomarine offers private interactions with dolphins. Zoomarine is a world-famous environmental education and marine life rehabilitation centre. Among its many attractions, it also features rides, pools and slides, as well as, shows featuring Sea Lions, dolphins and birds of prey. The centre is a fantastic place for children to learn about marine life and marine ecosystems as well. The main attraction of the Zoomarine, however, is its Dolphin Emotions centre where you and your kids can interact with dolphins and get some great pictures to show off when you get back home!
Many Algarve family resorts, such as the Anantara Vilamoura Algarve Resort can help you plan out and arrange the perfect family vacation, including all these activities and more, into your day's schedule.
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