Island Vacations With A Difference

There are 7 Canary Islands and each one of them is different despite all of them being Spanish territory.

Where are they? A long way south of spain. They are totally Spanish in their language and culture but geographically right next door to North Africa.

Tenerife is one of the largest of the 7 islands and its main attraction has always been the climate. Being on the same latitude as Florida will give you an idea of the kind of weather enjoyed in Tenerife.

Most of the year it is like springtime. The flowering bougainvillea is everywhere and can range in colour from a pale pink to a deep purple.

From June through to early September, however, it does become quite hot.. In August a normal day will hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The wonderful thing about all the Canary Islands , and Tenerife in particular, is that all the normal things you'd expect on a holiday island are there, i.e. plenty of choice of long sandy beaches, pebble beaches, water sports, boat trips catering for a family outing or the more raucous , party on board type. (make sure you choose the right one) but there is so much more that is often missed.

Hotels range from the cheap , small 'pensions' for a few euros per night , to the grandest 5 star hotels with all the usual modern luxuries such as spas, gyms, massage and beauty salons. Obviously incredibly beautiful swimming pools and even shops. You have a great vacation without leaving the grounds of your Hotel, but that would be such a shame.

If you have good sea-legs I'd highly recommend the kind of day trip by boat that advertises seeing dolphins in their natural habitat. The Ocean. !!!

When my daughter lived on one of the other islands, Gran Canaria, I would often visit her travelling by Jetfoil, a very fast hydrofoil. The journey used to take about one hour. On one of my trips to visit her I was dreamily gazing out of the window, enjoying blue sky and sea when suddenly in the distance , I noticed 4 dolphins rising up out of the water , then diving back in , one after the other...

I honestly cannot describe how it made me feel to see this family of dolphins leaping into the air with no trainer in sight, no hoops for them to jump through just gorgeous creatures doing what comes naturally to them. It 's a sight I will never forget.

Back on the island of Tenerife, if sun, sea and sand is not to your taste day after day., then a journey up the mountains is surely for you. The views are amazing.

The best way of seeing the island is to hire a car. If you really, really dislike driving in a foreign place , then there are lots of different coach trips that will take you around, but driving yourself, having the freedom to stop wherever you like , take photos etc., is a great experience.

When you drive up the mountain roads, leaving the views of sparkling seas behind you, the scenery soon becomes that of fantastic forests.

You may see cars parked at the edge of some of these forests, because just a short walk from your car you'll find clearings in the woods with barbeques ready built just waiting for you to use if you've remembered to take your food with you.. There's plenty of room to kick a ball around and there are wooden tables and benches there for you to take a break from driving. Of course there's no shortage of fuel for the BBQ . Wood everywhere!

If you want to keep on driving higher into the mountains (and you really should-------it's fabulous) you will eventually come to the crater.......the mouth of the volcano.. and keep driving with volcanic rock all around you, blue skies above you. (you've already driven through the clouds ) Eventually you'll arrive at a cable car station with a rest room , cafe, bar and of course for the fearless the cable cars that will take you to the tip of the marvellous Mount Teide.

The drive back down the mountain is just as spectacular.! Through the clouds down past the forests till you are looking down on the ocean once more. Aaaah ! Wonderful. !