When you think of the Algarve you think of the glorious beaches, the famous golf courses and the wonderful food on offer. Of course there is a lot more to do here than sunbathing, golfing and eating if you have the time or inclination to do so!
If you want to find a nice bottle of wine to accompany your dinner then it is worth taking part in the Cliff Richard vineyard tour. The winery is located in Guia, northwest of Albufeira and produces the Vida Nova wine produced by Cliff Richard. You can experience an exclusive tour of the vineyards and enjoy tasting the wine which is vinified, matured and bottled on the estate.
Just a 10 minute drive from Guia you will find an exciting day out for the children in the form of Zoo Marine- a leisure and entertainment sea- life park. The park has daily shows featuring dolphins, sea lions and tropical birds as well as large aquariums with sharks and all manner of marine life. In addition to its zoological areas the park offers a huge range of facilities for fun and leisure including outdoor swimming pools, fairground rides and eating places.
For the older children head to Almancil Karting for a fun day out for all the family. The track is a replica of the former Brazilian F1 track ‘Jacarapegua’ so it is quite a complex circuit. The Karting is surrounded by a western themed park with large cafeteria, mechanical bull and childrens circuit.
Just 5 minutes drive away in Quarteira is the perfect place to cool off in the ‘Aqua show’ waterpark. The park has Europe’s biggest watercoaster, slides, waves and exotic birds and is open from 1st June until 30th September.
There are various shows and festivals which take place annually in the Algarve and are worth a visit if you happen to be visiting at the right time. The yearly sand festival is a popular choice and usually takes place from May to September and is held in Pera in the Central Algarve. The festival is open every day from 10am until midnight and as well as amazing sand sculptures you will find live music, arts and crafts stalls and food and drink available. It is a good place to visit in the evening when the sculptures are lit up and the DJ is there playing music.
The Olhao seafood festival is not to be missed and usually takes place mid August for 5-6 nights. There is a fantastic atmosphere with a huge range of shellfish available cooked in a traditional manner. The festival is open from 7.30pm until 1.30am and you need to get there early to get a good seat so you can sample some delicious seafood whilst watching the live entertainment which starts around 10pm and has previously featured Boney M and Melanie C. There are also stalls selling regional sweets handicrafts and cakes. The adult entrance fee of 12 euros includes a souvenir ceramic mug, 100g of prawns and one drink.
If you find yourself in the Algarve on New Years Eve then the place to be is the fisherman’s beach in Albufeira which hosts a concert and spectacular fireworks display every year. In 2006 150,000 people converged on the beach to watch Melanie C in concert. Contact the Albufeira Camera (council) for information.
If you are considering buying property abroad, the Algarve has a lot to offer and is an ideal location for your dream home in the sun.
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