Half-term comes in late October or early November and presents another opportunity for me to spend quality time with my 12 year-old son, Jack. Half-term in the Algarve presents a bit more of a challenge for family-friendly activities now that the weather and the swimming pool has cooled down! So, I went in search of alternative activities that wouldn’t break the family budget.
3D ART Museum Portimão
A friend recommended the recently opened 3D Fun Art Museum in Portimão. I remember, as a child, somewhat grimacing at the thought of my parents dragging me around yet another museum, but the word museum doesn’t really do this place justice. The place is full of interactive art, ideal for taking a whole host of amazing pictures.
Unlike traditional museums, here you can touch and become part of the art, making it fun for all ages. Although we had seen the odd poster advertising the ‘museum’, we were surprised to find only a handful of people inside. Admittedly, we were in August, when most people are enjoying the outdoor weather, but as a day out, it couldn’t be beat.
We bought the family ticket (two adults and one child for €32), which we deemed to be excellent value for money. If you are looking for something fun for all ages, this truly was a day for laughter. The photo of me in a tutu still has pride of place, and of all the activities we enjoyed, this was my son’s favourite.
Mini golf
If you think once you have played one, you’ve played them all, I urge you to try our favourite destination, Eden Alvor, formerly known as Golfland.Why? You may ask. This oasis of beauty is perfect for all ages and has something for the entire family.
This place has recently undergone something of a transformation. Jack’s grandmother spent most of her time enjoying the beautifully manicured plants, where the owners have gone to some length to create a tropical paradise, while Jack enjoyed the well-designed holes, resplendent with a whole array of crocodiles, waterfalls and other entertaining features. As for Dad, the restaurant, which is open both for lunch and dinner, serves up some of the best food the Algarve has to offer.
Eden Alvor comes out with a whole array of packages, including nighttime golf. To add to the experience, they have now created a delightful spa, ideal for those wishing to escape the rigours of the golf course and have several massages on offer. The whole experience made for an entertaining day out.
Pickleball
Being avid tennis players and having tried the increasingly popular padel, our interests were piqued when we heard about pickleball. The sport combines tennis, badminton and table tennis, but being less strenuous than its counterparts, it makes it ideal for the whole family, regardless of age.
The Pickleball Clube Alvor offers an excellent rate of €5 for a two-hour session for one adult, and children 14 and under pay as little as €3. Bats and balls can be hired for just €1. If you aren’t quite ready for Wimbledon, this offers an excellent alternative and a lot of enjoyable activities for the entire family.
Animal rescues in the Algarve
If, like us, you happen to be animal lovers, why not take the children to one of the animal shelters in the Algarve? Not only is it rewarding to bring some happiness into the lives of these animals, many of which have had troubled backgrounds, but we also found it highly educational for children and teaches them the special bond that can be had between animals and humans.
Having two rescue dogs of our own, Jack and I like to venture to both the Tiny Shelter in Guia and the Wigglestail Animal Sanctuary in Foz do Ribeiro. In both areas, there are some lovely walks to be had, so if you feel you can give up a few hours of your time, we as a family find it a very rewarding experience. In addition, there are numerous ways to support these shelters, which are run by volunteers and receive little funding; they are grateful for any assistance one can provide.
Mikki Place to Stay
Located around five minutes from Zoomarine Algarve, it is in essence an area for guests travelling with motor homes or caravans, so when our friends invited us for lunch here, saying Jack would enjoy it, we weren’t sure what to expect.
It wasn’t long after arriving that we realised that we had entered a whole different world. It’s hard to explain, without actually visiting, but the words quirky, calming and intriguing all come to mind.
There are some pretty garden areas, all adorned by the owner Mikki’s imaginative sculptures, with the centrepiece being a uniquely designed swimming pool, which somehow made you forget you were just a stone’s throw from the main road. It really was like entering a whole new world. For children, there was plenty to explore: ‘a library’, two pool tables, a darts board, table football … certainly enough to keep us entertained.
As for the restaurant and the invited lunch, the building wasn’t much more than a hut, but the pork schnitzel was one of the best I had eaten and incredibly good value. Not what I was expecting, but would I go back? In a heartbeat.
Golf and mini golf adventures
With Jack just starting out on his golfing ‘journey’ and having a Dad more adept at losing his balls than ever achieving a hole in one, we were determined to find a non-pressurised environment, where depositing multiple balls into the water would be the norm, while still representing good value for money.
With this in mind, we found two perfect locations in the Amendoeira Golf Resort, with a 9-hole Academy course and the Balaia Golf Village with its 9-hole course. Both courses are ideal for a seasoned golfer trying to hone his short game skills, or for those, like Jack, just starting out, not having to worry about hitting the odd errant shot. The Academy course, nestled next to its more illustrious neighbouring courses, is extremely picturesque and offers a variety of holes, including those with water. At a starting price as low as €17 for two rounds, it offers excellent value for money and is an ideal starter course for any child taking up the game.
Surprisingly, we had the place to ourselves, which further eased the nerves, and, with the other courses on the resort fully booked, we were happy to have this little ‘paradise’ to ourselves. The Balaia course, while busier and slightly more expensive at €22.50, still offered great value, with a friendly atmosphere in both the clubhouse and the bar.
David Woodward – Hotelier and Author of Confessions of a Waiter
