Family Adventures with Madrid & Beyond
May 5, 2023 by Perrie Hartz
For those looking for a memorable summer adventure in Europe that the entire family can enjoy, bespoke luxury tour company Madrid & Beyond offers incredibly personalized, highly curated itineraries that include activities throughout Spain and the Balearic Islands sure will thrill families of all age groups.
Menorca
For travelers with small children, the sunny island of Menorca, a bit more off the beaten path that its bigger, more well-known sister Majorca, is a quiet, stunning, and charming summer destination that families of all ages will enjoy. Boasting luxurious properties, peaceful beaches, and an abundance of outdoor activities to choose from including private boat excursions, Madrid & Beyond’s Menorca itineraries immerse families in the essence of Menorca.
Sevilla, Spain
Madrid & Beyond organizes a special guided tour of Sevilla’s historic Alcazar, which includes the chance for children to dress up as knights and princesses as they tour the incredible place and learn all about its rich history. And no visit is complete without getting lost in the maze! Curious fact for TV lovers: in more recent times, the Alcazar was the ancestral home of the Martell family and kingdom of Dorne in HBO’s Game of Thrones. After leaving the Alcázar, families will climb aboard a horse-drawn carriage and visit two of Sevilla’s most family-friendly sites. The Maria Luisa Park is the green lung of Sevilla and a vast “children’s playground”. Your guide will highlight many of the park’s curiosities as you head to the Plaza de Sevilla.
Costa Brava, Spain
Madrid & Beyond’s curated excursions to medieval villages in the Costa Brava include private sailing experiences and walking tours sure to interest the older children and the teens of any family travel group. The first stop of the day is Peratallada, one of the most beautiful Medieval villages in the region, which looks straight out of a fairytale. Here, stone masons still practice their ancient craft and are happy to show visitors around their workshop. Next, you’ll head to Pals for a short walk through its beautiful historic center, perched on a hill surrounded by plains of rice paddy fields.
Lunch is a fantastic local meal of fresh seafood, as Palamos has one of the best fishing ports in the region and still holds traditional auctions for their produce. Next, you will head to a nearby port and board a traditional sailing boat for a private sailing excursion along the Costa Brava, where you’ll experience a new perspective of the scenic coastline and see Las Islas Medes, a small craggy cluster of islands known for its fascinating underwater caves and tunnels. Once a hotspot for pirate attacks, now the fortress can be seen from all angles. Don’t forget your swimsuit, as you’ll have the opportunity to swim in these wonderful coves and inlets!
Ronda, Spain
Perhaps Andalucía’s most well-known white village and one of Madrid & Beyond’s favorite destinations in Spain, Ronda stands on a towering plateau, which is divided in two by a plunging river gorge known as El Tajo. Although popular with visitors, Ronda has a special charm and makes a wonderful country interlude on your family travels. The town boasts many cultural landmarks and is also currently establishing its reputation as a first-class producer of red wines.
Families may prefer a gentle stroll around the town at their own pace, but for a more in-depth tour, Madrid & Beyond recommends an expert local guide. On the tour you will take in the ‘New’ Bridge, the town’s charming park, the views of the Tajo, and the bullring, one of the oldest in Spain. (Ronda is considered the birthplace of modern bullfighting, and its bullring is possibly the most beautiful in Spain.)
After leaving Ronda and heading for the region’s countryside, families will enjoy some of the best walkings in southern Spain, with a great variety of landscapes, from pastoral river valleys to impressive rocky limestone summits. The walk is a pleasant circuit which takes in a good cross-section of these landscapes and can be done in anywhere between 4-5 hours.
White Villages in Andalucía, Spain
There are officially 17 white villages in the Andalucían mountains, and Madrid & Beyond encourages families to explore the breathtaking views and enchanting villages of the beautiful Sierra de Grazalema, taking in some of the most spectacular scenery in Andalucía. Traveling through olive groves, then rolling meadows, cork forests and mountainous terrain, you can visit a number of Andalucía’s white villages in one day. Perhaps the most beautiful of the white villages, Zahara de la Sierra offers incredible views, a fairytale castle, and an 18th century olive oil mill where you’ll get to sample oils produced from the olives of the local region. After working up an appetite, your family will then enjoy a spectacular lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant (subject to availability.)
Contact:
Madrid & Beyond
Email: info@madridandbeyond.com
Website: https://www.madridandbeyond.com/
