Smaller than its neighbour, Mallorca, Menorca is one of the Balearic Islands of Spain. It is quite green and natural with a more rugged landscape, secluded coves and some pebble but mostly golden, sandy beaches. There are 46 beaches in total, which are quiet and unspoiled, perfect for families with young children. Water-based activities are numerous and include sailing, kayaking, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, snorkelling, stand up paddle boarding, wind-surfing and kite-surfing to name a few. Stone structures and monuments, which date back thousands of years, can be found dotted around the island. Taulas are altars, constructed in a T-shape with two enormous pieces of stone, Talayots are watchtowers and the Navetas are buriel chambers. There is a prehistoric village near Son Bou, now completely deserted and full of beautiful wild flowers, which has some incredible rock structures to view. If you appreciate gin, then a visit to the Xoriguer gin distillery is a must. You could visit the caves of Cales Coves, which is a prehistoric site with over 100 caves and some incredible rock paintings dating back to the Bronze Age. There is some good shopping to be done on the island, and one town in particular, Ciutadella, is full of stylish boutiques and trendy little tapas bars. There are many annual festivals and events, some of which include the Sant Joan festival in Ciutadella which takes place in June and involves mock battles, processions, jousting and an incredible fireworks display. Throughout December there are many elaborate nativity scenes, performances, market stalls and festivities with activities for the whole family. If you are travelling with kids, a visit to the water parks is a must. Aquarock is in Calaβn Bosch and there is another park in Calaβn Forcat. Manorca airport is located just 4.5 km from Mahon, the capital. You could also reach Menorca by ferry, from Barcelona to Ciutadella or Mao, which will take between 3 β 8 hours depending on whether you take the fast or slow ferry.
