Europe Explored » deck chairs https://europeexplored.com Travel through the most beautiful places in Europe Sun, 08 Sep 2013 13:36:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=3.6 Top 5 beaches on Britain’s South Coast https://europeexplored.com/2012/09/26/top-5-beaches-on-britains-south-coast/ https://europeexplored.com/2012/09/26/top-5-beaches-on-britains-south-coast/#comments Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:42:42 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=11535 With ‘staycations’ on the rise and the UK become increasingly popular for holidays both with tourists from abroad as well as with locals, it is time to celebrate the UK’s many excellent holiday destinations. There is no more quintessentially British choice for a holiday than a trip to the seaside and the UK boasts some […]

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With ‘staycations’ on the rise and the UK become increasingly popular for holidays both with tourists from abroad as well as with locals, it is time to celebrate the UK’s many excellent holiday destinations. There is no more quintessentially British choice for a holiday than a trip to the seaside and the UK boasts some truly superb beaches from the mysterious smugglers’ bays and coves to the west in Cornwall, to the jaunty stretches of shingle with deck chairs and piers east along the coast to Sussex. Here are five of the best to suit all types and tastes of beach-goers.

Camber Sands beach

Best for: windswept romance and adventure
The most easterly of the top five, in East Sussex is the seven miles stretch of soft golden beach known as Camber Sands. Clamber down the dunes which form a protective mountain created by the wind whipping the sand off the beach and building up; look out for the skylarks that dive and swoop on the winds across the vast expanse- it can be a mile and half to the sea when the tide is out. A great place for long walks, kite flying, strolling or horse riding in the surf or, at the end of an action packed day, cuddle up behind a wind breaker at the quieter western end of the beach and watch the sunset.

Camber Sands beach, England, UK
Camber Sands beach, England, UK by davharuk

Brighton Beach

Best for: trendy weekend break or traditional family fun at the seaside
A speedy ninety minutes south of London by car or train sits the groovy town of Brighton in Sussex, recently voted within the top 10 best weekend break destinations. Popular since the 1960s as a seaside getaway, Brighton remains charmingly retro with lines of Vespas parked along the seafront; the famous and well maintained Victorian pier is packed with amusement arcades and fairground rides not to mention the obligatory candyfloss and sticks of Brighton rock. Daytime family fun is guaranteed on the pebbly beach dotted with stripy deck chairs and couples or groups of friends will find the promenade and The Lanes well stocked with cool bars and night clubs, excellent seafood restaurants as well as a huge range of hotels and B&Bs for those making a weekend of it.

Brighton Beach, England, UK
Brighton Beach, England, UK by Alpha

Studland Bay

Best for: peace and quiet and getting back to nature
Studland bay is four miles of beautiful white sand lapped by calm water which is generally warm in summer, attracting swimmers and seahorses. The beach backs onto a protected nature reserve of dunes and heath, conserved by the National Trust and home to many varieties of wildlife. There are three sections of beach, the very northern tip, near to the Sandbanks chain ferry, is a designated naturist spot; Knoll Beach is the main section with a cafe and boat hire and further down is the smaller, shadier South Beach. Walkers will enjoy a stroll east for about a mile along the cliff path to catch excellent, dramatic views of Old Harry’s Rocks, great chalk chunks that have broken away from the cliff and now stand alone in the blue waters.

Studland Bay, England, UK
Horse riding at Studland Bay, England, UK by jennicatpink

Salcombe Sands

Best for: fashionable sailing-club life and water sports
The charming town of Salcombe is a summertime home from home for many city dwellers in need of some relaxation; it is packed with trendy shops, cute cafes and superb restaurants serving fresh seafood. Salcombe South Sands is in a little sun trap of a cove, with rays and water as warm as the Mediterranean in summer. Around the headland- an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is North Sands. Both beaches are extremely popular with water-sports enthusiasts with canoes, kayaks and catamarans for hire, the waters are packed with windsurfers and sailing boats. It is possible to book on to power boating and sailing courses and even go scuba diving around nearby shipwrecks.

Salcombe Sands, England, UK
Salcombe Sands, England, UK by yellow book

Porthcurno, near Land’s End

Best for: magical mysterious hideaway bay
At the very westerly tip of the Cornish south coast, near to Lands End, Porthcurno bay is surrounded and protected by granite cliffs; it has soft, pristine white sand and turquoise waters. When the tide is out, explorers can walk around to neighbouring beaches including a nudist one, look out to sea to spot pirates or search for dragons in the caves. Up above on the cliffs sits the famous Minack Theatre, home to open air dramatic productions and, on the other side stands Treryn Dinas, the formidable Iron Age fort from which the ocean views are unrivalled.

Porthcurno Beach, Cornwall, England, UK
Porthcurno Beach, Cornwall, England, UK by Karen Roe

About the author: Ashley Auckle works with B+B Weymouth, a boutique Bed and Breakfast in Weymouth, Dorset: https://www.bb-weymouth.com/

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Aquapark Tatralandia – the largest thermal park in Central Europe | Slovakia https://europeexplored.com/2010/05/17/aquapark-tatralandia-in-slovakia/ https://europeexplored.com/2010/05/17/aquapark-tatralandia-in-slovakia/#comments Mon, 17 May 2010 15:47:48 +0000 Claire https://europeexplored.com/?p=184 Aquapark Tatralandia is a resort destination in Slovakia that is known for its thermal mineral Springs. As a result of the 60.7°C thermal water, the Aquapark Tatralandia is open all year round. It is also considered to be one of the largest aqua parks in all of Slovakia, and the surrounding countries. Photo by Claire […]

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Aquapark Tatralandia is a resort destination in Slovakia that is known for its thermal mineral Springs. As a result of the 60.7°C thermal water, the Aquapark Tatralandia is open all year round. It is also considered to be one of the largest aqua parks in all of Slovakia, and the surrounding countries.

Aquapark Tatralandia, Slovakia
Photo by Claire (Europe Explored)

Located just beside the Holiday Village Tatralandia, countless people make their way to the aquapark every single year in order to relax in the pristine hot mineral waters which abound within the park. In order to ensure that your trip is enjoyable, there are also a number of resorts, hotels and boarding houses that can be found in or around the village. However, most people who choose to visit the aqua park tend to stay in the nearby town of Liptovský Mikuláš which offers even more amenities and accommodations.

Not only are there a number of pools to swim in, there are also toboggans and other nearby attractions that will keep you busy for days. It is also interesting to note that there are several pools that can be found within the Aquapark Tatralandia that also contained seawater. There are also lots of playgrounds for kids and adults as well as Relax centre with Sauna World.

Playground in Aquapark Tatralandia, Slovakia
Photo by Claire (Europe Explored)

The area in which the Aquapark Tatralandia is located, is known as one of the most mountainous regions in all of Slovakia. As such, while you are relaxing in the warm waters of the park, you can overlook the picturesque landscapes of the surrounding foothills and peaks. But don’t worry if you get tired of swimming, because there are plenty water slides, deck chairs as well as cafés that can be found in and around the area. For your safety, each one of the pools is monitored by a certified lifeguard.

So whether you are a resident of Slovakia, or just visiting the country for the summer, choosing to stop by and check out the Aquapark Tatralandia will be a very rewarding experience for any traveller with or without kids of any age.

The basic whole-day admission is €19. You can find more information on the official site of Aquapark Tatralandia.

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