For small people

Calla Lavardo Beach - A ten minute stroll to the local beach - although it may take a bit longer to walk back! The record is seven minutes , can you beat it? Loads of water sports, banana boat, canoes etc, plus a very good diving school

Universal Mediterranea, Salou, Costa Dorada, Located just over two hours away in Salou. The largest theme park in the Mediterranean boasts a beachside location and a huge variety of rides and journeys of adventure through the lands of Polynesia, China and Mexico, the Mediterranean and the Far West. The park is open from 10am to 7pm and costs from E23 (about £14.50) for a day pass. For further details visit www.universalmediterranean.com.

Water World, Ctra, Videreres, Lloret de Mar. Europe's premier water park offers the ultimate in thrill rides from river rafting, roller-coaster and kamikaze water slides, wave pools, whirl pools, family pools, mini golf and the tallest bungee tower in the world - 80m of pure adrenaline! A free bus departs from Lloret bus station every 30 minutes from 10am - 5pm. Special afternoon rate available. www.waterworld.es.

Bowling Lloret, Carretera de Blanes, Tel 972 362 077. Large bowling alley on the edge of town. Open 12noon - 12pm, April to October.

Bacelona zoo - A real treat, take a look at their execellent web site http://www.zoobarcelona.com/ZOO_Barcelona/English/English.asp

Gnomo Park, Ctra de Lloret a Blanes, Lloret de Mar. Fun adventure park ideal for families with younger kids. indoor and outdoor playground, ball pool, animal farm, interactive games, mini-bowling area, amusement arcade, mini-golf. Free bus departs from Lloret bus station every 30 minutes, 9.30am - 5pm.

Karting Formula, Ctra, Videreres, Lloret de Mar. The Michael Schumacher's of this world will love this 625m super go-kart circuit. Baby go-karts on a 200m circuit are available for young children. Snack bar available, including pool tables and arcade games. Free entrance to circuit. A free bus departs from Lloret bus station every 15 minutes. Open 9.30am - 12am.

Marineland, Ctra Malgrat a Palafolls, Tel 937 654 802. This exciting aquatic wonderland features wild water rapids, a children's water park, water slides, boat pool, mini train, pelican enclosure, dolphin and sea lion shows and a parrot park. A free bus departs from Lloret bus station every 30 minutes from 9.30am - 1.30pm and 2.45pm - 7.30pm. Special rates for children aged 4-12. No food or drink is allowed in the park. www.marineland.es

Mini-Golf There are several mini-golf courses around town. The largest is Mini Golf Riera, Avinguda Just Marles,

Glass Bottom Boat Tours The Costa Brava's turquoise blue waters are bursting with life and there is no better way to explore the hidden coves and small islands of this region than a boat tour. There are a number of glass bottom boat tours available from the Platja de Lloret (main beach) Nautilus Seaview, www.nautilus.es, features a submarine style cabin two metres below sea level for spectacular views of the ocean flora and fauna. Departs Platja de Lloret, 10.00am, 12 noon, 2pm, 4pm daily, Adults: E11.00 (about £7), Children: E7.50 (about £4.80), Infants: E1.00 (about 90p).

El Parc De Les Aus, Ctra de Cabrils, Viilassar de Mar Admire over 300 species of local and exotic birds in the tranquil gardens of one of Europe's largest bird-watching sites. Excellent facilities for children including play areas, pony rides, a mini train, inflatable boats, trampolines and a special hands-on section where youngsters are invited to touch and feed the animals. Closed Mondays. Free parking. www.elparcdelesaus.com.

For not so small people

The Coast: Costa Brava – literally the Brave Coast is one of the most striking parts of the Mediterranean.

Drive - Take the road from Tossa de Mar to Sant Feliu de Guíxols is one of the most breathtakingly beautiful stretches of coastline. The road twists and turns its great fun as there is a bit of a drop if you get it wrong. It meanders through red cliffs with lush pine and cork groves on either side, splendid views from the headlands that protrude into deep clear blue water.

Spanish Grand Prix Circuit- Spain’s premier racing circuit is about an hour away, go by train if you are going for the F1. Lots of interesting racing through out the season
http://www.circuitcat.com/ingles/index.asp

Marimartra Botanical Gardens - You dont have to have green fingers to appriciate this garden http://www.jbotanicmarimurtra.org/eng/menu.htm

Sant Feliu de Guíxols - busy fishing port with a fine beach, and there is an attractive market place, good and moderately priced restaurants in the old town behind the attractive sea-front promenade.

Santa Pol - is a tiny resort with a superb beach.

S'Agaro - Home to many Hollywood stars in the '50's. Access is restricted but its only a short walk to some very nice coves.

Palamós - super old town and some very reputable restaurants, a the daily catch is auctioned to the public on the quaysides in the afternoons – great sport!

Calella de Palafrugell - charming, with arcaded whitewashed houses, and five small beaches, and a Botanical Garden at Cap Roig.

Llafranc and Tamariu - Two lovely old villages, with good restaurants. The view from the lighthouse at el Far de Sant Sebastià is worth the assent.

Aiguafreda, sa Tuna, Fornells, and Aiguabrava. Are all worth the time to discover.

L'Estartit - Has a wide beach and whitewashed old town – take a boat to the wonderful Illes Medes, a cluster of protected islands with coral reefs that offer some of the best diving in Europe.

Torroella de Montgris - worth a visit, with its porticoed plazas and narrow streets and a 13thC castle.

L'Escala - A target on the tourist map, try to avoid busy months or go early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

Empúria. - The site of Greco-Roman ruins.

Roses - a large town with lots to do and has a long white beach, but probably not worth the aggravation of trying to find somewhere to park.

Aiguamolls de l'Empordá - a nature reserve great for spotting rare birds.

Cadaqués - Port de la Selva and Llançà - the nicest of the resorts on the Cape. The towns are delightful, especially if you can make an off season visit.

Portlligat and Cap de Creus - beautiful, barren and wind-swept.

Venture a few kilometres inland to find appealing rolling agricultural land and ancient stone villages, the area has an atmosphere far different from the coast.

Monells is a tiny village with a double-portico square, one café, two restaurants, - just superb.

Cruilles- has one remaining medieval observation tower and an impressive Romanesque church on the outskirts of town.

Peretallada- the name means cut-in-stone, and many of the narrow streets and building foundations are just that, carved right into the bedrock. The town is a delight, and there are plenty of restaurants.

Pals- lovely and worth a visit, particularly off-season.

Ullastret- Medieval town surrounded by several layers of perimeter walls. The ancient Iberian settlement of Ullastret is close and very interesting.

Figueres- is a relatively big and bustling town famous for its Dali Museum the Teatre-Museu Dalí, also has Toy Museum to keep kids happy. Not forgetting Europe's largest fortress, the Castell de Sant Ferran.

Castelló d'Empúries, with its 13C Church of Santa Maria

Perelada, site of an impressive castle now turned into a casino; and Vilabertran, with its large 11C monastery.

Lladó d'Empordá- a Medieval village boasts a good restaurant and a jazz bar.

Besalú- boasts some monuments completely out of proportion to its current status as a small agricultural village. The 11C fortified bridge alone would put this town on the map, but Besalú also boasts the remains of a Mikwah, or Jewish ritual bath house, two large Romanesque churches, an 11C hospital and a 12C monastery. Despite the odd busload of you-know-whats, the place is utterly authentic.

Banyoles- Medieval town nearby is a environmentally protected lake with amazingly clear water, marvel at the view of the distant snow-peaked Pyrenees.

Santa Pau- is a fortified medieval village with lovely square and flower-draped wood balconies in the heart of the Garrotxa Volcanic Park. It is well worth exploring the the Garrotxa region with rolling hillsides, pristine stone villages, fabulous food and drink.

Caldes de Malavella- A spa towns with hot springs. Many of the spa towns here and in the nearby Montseny Mountains have flamboyant art-nouveau spa hotels specializing in all sorts of hydrotherapy, mudbaths, messages, and other health treatments.

Girona- overwhelmingly beautiful Medieval city. Girona, stands fortress-like on a hill at the confluence of two rivers, the old-town's Medieval wall protecting the monumental legacy of its erstwhile inhabitants.

The Mountains: The Pyrenees form an integral part of the Costa Brava, but surprisingly few tourists venture more than a few kilometers inland from the beaches. This is a shame - for the tourists. The interplay between sea and mountain, or if you prefer, sailor, farmer, and hunter, is what forged the spirit and character of the Catalans. A visit to Catalonia without visiting the mountains is quite simply a mistake.

Olot- is as good place to start as any, a prosperous town completely surrounded by volcanic cones masked by lush vegetation. The old town is full of fashionable shops and squares, some flanked by art-nouveau buildings, and there is a good museum and botanical garden. Hit the road from Olot in any direction and you are bound to see great mountain scenery dotted with huge stone masias (farmhouses) and unspoilt Medieval villages.

Sant Joan de les Abadesses- is best reached from Olot by way of the Vall de Bianya on the C-153. While Sant Joan is not the most exciting of mountain villages (in fact it's rather a dull) the fabulous monastery here is absolutely first-rate. The 200 peseta entry free combines a visit to the Church, consecrated in 1150, with its stunning polychrome wooden altarpiece representing the Descent from the Cross, cloisters with fine capitals, and a small museum with an interesting, if poorly labeled, collection.

Camprodon- lies to the north of Sant Joan. This prosperous village has a tall 15thC arched bridge with a defensive tower, a couple of worthy Romanesque chuches, and some art-nouveau villas. But perhaps more importantly, Camprodon is the springboard for some worthy excursions. The most challenging of these (for the winding road) is the 15-km stretch to Beget, a lovely stone and slate village staddling a stream with an elegant parish church conserving magnificent 11thC frescos. Beget is not unique in Catalonia, but for my tastes, it is near perfect.
Nearby Molló is also worth the detour, and you can cross into France 10 km beyond at the Coll d'Ares, or go up the other scenic valley to the ski resort at Setcases.

Ripoll- is admittedly a rather gloomy industrial town, but do make a point of seeing the main portal of the monastery, one of the single most important Romanesque monuments in Spain. The adjacent Museu dels Pirineos has an ecclectic and fun collection ranging from metal work (for which Ripoll was famous in the 17thC) to assorted Civil War memorabilia.

Ribes de Freser- is a pleasant riverside town with a busy outdoor market... but Ribes is best known for the Cremallera, a private railway line that climbs spectacularly for 45 minutes into the valley of the Santuario de Núria, a favorite spot for hikers. The Cremallera is highly recommended.

Puigcerdá- is the last major town in the Province of Girona, and is reached from Ribes de Freser by way of a scenic high mountain road. Roadsigns point to picturesque villages of slate and stone, such as Dòrria and Toses, at 2000 meters altitude. Recently, Dòrria's hermitage was found, during some long-overdue routine cleaning, to have some perfectly preserved frescos dating from the late 12thC, hitherto concealed under five coats of plaster.