Lisa Khajavi asked:


Arenal is one of the most exciting and sought after destinations for the ultimate Costa Rica vacation. Arenal and the nearby town of La Fortuna offer a wide range of hotels and activities that rival any top vacation destination. It is impossible to ignore the allure and majesty of the Arenal Volcano itself. The volcano and its abundant natural hot springs, provide the stunning backdrop that makes this natural wonder an absolute must-visit in Costa Rica. Considered extinct in modern times, this sleeping giant awoke with a vengeance on July 29, 1968 with a large eruption which destroyed three villages and killed 87 people. The current eruption period in the 7,000 year history of this picture-perfect conical volcano now produces daily displays of red-hot lava tumbling down the slopes with the signature rumblings and ash columns towering above. It is the youngest and most active of Costa Rica’s volcanoes, and is said to be one of the tenth most active in the world.

Lake Arenal, Costa Rica’s largest lake is a beautiful complement to the southwest slope, not only for its natural beauty, but for the array of activities it offers as well. Additionally, the post 1968 effect tripled the area of the lake which provides hydroelectric power for Costa Ricans. Sources site between 40% and 70% of all power produced in Costa Rica comes from Lake Arenal hydroelectric.

Activities for the region are many and varied, including hiking, canopy zip-lines, white water rafting, scenic river floats, horseback riding, ATV tours, hanging bridges tours, sky-trek, sky-tram, bungee jumping, canyoning/rapelling, mountain biking, fishing, bird watching, naturalist tours, butterfly gardens, botanical gardens, Cano Negro National Park, hot springs, windsurfing, and kayaking. The shores north of Tilaran are world class windsurfing territory, and the lake boasts great rainbow and brown bass fishing, as well as kayaking and boat tours. The level of adventure can be from mild to extreme and anything in between. After a day of exhilarating fun you can return to your hotel ready for pampering. My favorite hotels in Arenal offer spas that bliss you into relaxation leaving you refreshed for whatever is in store for the evening or the following day.

Top on my list is the Arenal Kioro. This lovely hotel really has a beautifully complete experience for clients with particular focus on excellent service, all the while reducing environmental impact as much as possible. The landscaping and views are wonderful, with ample trails with plant species marked enabling you to explore a bit on your own without even leaving the property. The spa services are lovely and professional, complimenting the private elegant hot springs flowing from Titoku, which means ‘Water of the Gods’. The wonderful advantage here is the intimacy with the hot springs being on site and enjoyed only by hotel guests. Some of the other hot springs in the area are nice but you feel at times like one in a herd of so many. The cuisine at the Kioro restaurant ‘Heliconias’ is excellent, which is especially important as cuisine and service are still evolving in Costa Rica. It is so nice to have the option to explore more rustic cuisine in the area, but know you can have a great meal right at your hotel, especially after a day full of activities. All rooms are considered suites because they are truly expansive and boast super panoramic volcano and mountain views. You have views from everywhere: each suite, the pool and bar as well as the restaurant. The comments again and again from guests revolve around the attentiveness of the staff. Staying at the Kioro is a truly lovely experience all the way around.

Another wonderful place to stay, very intimate and charming with a Balinese feel is Arenal Nayara. With only 26 ‘casitas’ you have a wonderful private feel. Each casita has a balcony with Jacuzzi for two and lovely views. The swim up pool bar is surrounded by views and lush landscaping, with the Altamira restaurant above providing indoor/outdoor dining with views to die for. Again as with Kioro, the comments are always so nice about the staff, and the overall feeling is cozy and romantic. The décor is very inviting with warm earth tones, and rounded Indonesian style beds and chairs to snuggle into. For a boutique feel, with views, nice restaurant, friendly attentive service, lovely pool and spa services you can’t go wrong.

Getting to Arenal…

Whether you arrive by air or ground, the scenery will take your breath away. The distance from San Jose is 191 km, which by ground takes 3.5 to 4 hours. The trek is lovely, but very twisty and prone to occasional blockages due to any number of things. In Costa Rica the roads and bridges are much less than spectacular, with many potholes and narrow one way bridges, and no shoulders. If you have plenty of time, it is scenic and adventurous, but since most of us appreciate maximizing time in our destinations, flying is the superior way to travel. I certainly savor it! Arriving on Nature Air will give you the gorgeous bird’s eye view of the area and save three to three and a half hours of travel time. The flight time from San Jose is 25 minutes, and as you descend you feel almost a part of the lush landscape. The airstrip is just outside of la Fortuna and is known by locals as ‘El Tanque’ which is named for the large water storage tank nearby. Most hotels will arrange pick up for you, whisking you away to your Arenal hotel in 10 to 15 minutes on average. If you are thinking of a visit to Costa Rica, or a return visit, Arenal is a must!



Francisco

Max Clarke asked:


Having now accepted our status as dedicated, if frazzled and rapidly aging, parents, my partner and I are devoting time to planning some activities for wet weekends and hyper half-terms joined by nephews and nieces.

In our former, almost forgotten, ‘couple’ life we lived in London. Those days (as I like to remember them) were filled with friends, posh restaurants, cocktails, super-cool bars, exhibitions, theater, and lazy Sundays reading the papers. I did watch too much *** and the City though. In reality, much of my spare time was spent attempting to crawl out of bed in my tiny flat in one of the most unfashionable parts of outer East London. My most cultural achievement was to make it to the corner shop for some bread and Heat magazine before lunchtime.

However, I thought London was the best city in the world then (New York a close second) and I still do. Our lives may have changed forever but our capital can still keep us entertained with little H tottering along too. It is a fantastic place for young children and these are my top ten activities if you ever find yourself in the big smoke with little people.

1Tiny tots love vehicles so even your journey can be fun. Riding on a train, London bus or taxi, taking the tube or DLR (where you can pretend to be the driver) or just watching the traffic or trains will entertain many little ones. You probably won’t find it quite as fascinating.

2If your little tinker is getting really serious about transportation, the newly-reopened London Transport Museum in Covent Garden may be ideal. Exploring the link between transport and the growth of modern London, there are many regular features that will appeal to children, such as costumed characters, and special activities during school holidays like building a bus. ‘London’s Transport in Miniature’ will be running on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March 2008 at The Museum Depot at Acton, demonstrations of steam and electric train collections on the Museum’s miniature railway.

3The London Aquarium on the South Bank of the Thames has nearly 400 species on display in over 2 million liters of water. Seeing anything from sharks and stingrays to moray eels and piranhas, your little fish are sure to enjoy the multi-sensory journey which includes a pool where they can stroke a range of friendly creatures and regular talks and feeding sessions. Captain Pugwash and his crew are in residence every day from Saturday 9 February to Sunday 24 February.

4Still lurking on the South Bank, the Tate Modern has a lot to offer families with children. The building itself is a brilliant place for older children to explore. Every weekend the ‘Start’ team are on hand to provide exciting games to play in the galleries, mainly for the over fives. They will be running special activities during half-term week. ‘What Can the Matter Be?’ is a talk and demonstration uncovering some of the secrets behind the gallery’s collection to be held on Saturday 23 February.

5Escaping the hustle and bustle of the South Bank with your brood for half an hour may well appeal. The London Eye (on the South Bank opposite the Houses of Parliament) is an exciting experience whatever your age. Although it does only travel at 0.6 miles per hour – twice as fast as a tortoise sprinting, according to their website – so it’s not for speed freaks. The views are outstanding and on a clear day you can see around 40km from the top, that’s as far as Windsor Castle. The capsule’s are quite cool too.

6Two of the best free attractions in London have to be the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum in South Kensington. At the Natural History Museum, Harry and the Dinosaurs will leap into real life for your tot after seeing the big softy Diplodocus and super-sensing T.Rex (who’s a bit scary for very little ones). The life-size model of a blue whale is awesome and there are fun activities planned every day (including talks, behind-the-scenes tours, Explorer backpacks and a science discovery centre). Ice Station Antarctica is a temporary interactive exhibition running until 20 April (extra charge applies).

The Science Museum’s Launchpad gallery has been updated recently and is aimed at ‘curious and creative 8-14 year olds’ who want to explore the world of physics. It’s packed full of exhibits, shows and demos. The Garden and Pattern Pod are two interactive galleries designed for younger children. There are numerous daily activities and events and also an IMAX 3D cinema making this an inspiring day out for everyone.

7I might be biased as I lived there for a while, but Greenwich is one of the most beautiful areas of London and ideal for a family trip to the capital. It has everything you’ll need for the day from the wide open spaces of the park, the Royal Observatory and National Maritime Museum, OLd Royal Naval College and university buildings, to high street shops and restaurants, independent boutiques and bistros, a lively market and riverside walks. An unexpected highlight for our funny little man is the Greenwich Foot Tunnel, where you walk under the River Thames.

8Wicked, The Lion King, The Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing, Billy Elliot…you can’t go wrong with one of these West End shows.

9London is full of green spaces and parks – ideal for letting energetic monsters let off steam. You might even get the chance to lie down for a while. Hyde, St James’, Green and Regent’s parks are all easily accessible.

10Nestled within Regent’s Park is London Zoo which recently won a number of awards at the Visit London Awards, including the ‘Kids Love London’ award. There’s so much to see here including the new £5.3m enclosure Gorilla Kingdom, the Ambika Paul Children’s Zoo, Butterfly Paradise, Meet the Monkeys and Clore Rainforest Lookout.

We’re lucky enough to live within an hour’s drive of London so I’m hopeful that H will grow up feeling part of this wonderful city. Kids really do love it.



Sara