Enjoying the beaches in Tenerife

When Robert was a toddler we took him to Ireland and he was entranced by the sea. He stood at the side of the water just watching and then started to pick up some pebbles and throw them in. He has loved the sea and the beach, wherever they may be, ever since.

So, when we decided to go to Tenerife over Christmas, we knew that the sea would be a popular destination. However, we didn't know how impressive it would be and how we would all be happy just to sit and watch the remarkable waves, crashing onto the shore.

We stayed in an apartment near the San Miguel golf course, about five to ten minutes from the shore. This was not a beachside location - the terrain near the water was coarse and pebbly. It was also wonderful and a magnificent place for walking.

[caption id="attachment_1024" align="aligncenter" width="940"] We had a lovely walk above the sea, and them made our way down to the water's edge[/caption]

We love walking with the kids, especially when there's no rush and no particular destination! Instead we just traipse along for the fun of it, enjoying the views and the chat. Obviously this has become easier since the children got older, but it really is a great part of family time, and something we don't often get to do together at home in busy London.

So, on the first day, we walked along to the marina and watched the waves crashing as we did so. We had competitions to see who could throw their stones the furthest and enjoyed the sun on our faces.


Another day we walked in the other direction, which was even more impressive. I hadn't expected Tenerife to be so beautiful and we were overwhelmed by the extremely clear water, the endless views and the huge numbers of differently shaped rocks.

Of course we also we couldn't holiday in Tenerife without visiting some "proper" beaches and we loved these too. We'd also recommend both the ones we tried out.

[caption id="attachment_1026" align="aligncenter" width="768"] Robert loved bungee jumping at Los Cristianos[/caption]

We spent one gorgeous hot day in Los Cristianos, about 15 minutes from our apartment. It was a beautiful sea front, with loads of sun loungers and sand. It was also extremely busy, packed with tourists (as you'd expect), but it was all nice and clean and had a fun atmosphere.

That was fine for us. Robert built some sandcastles, we all paddled and Jess and I enjoyed lying in the sun (not something we'd be doing back home in December!). Robert also enjoyed trying out some bungee jumping and the assistants there were incredibly friendly, showing him how to do turns and tricks.

[caption id="attachment_1027" align="aligncenter" width="940"] The beautiful beach at Playa del Bobo[/caption]

The second beach was one we visited by chance, as Jess told you in her blog post on when things go wrong on holiday. The Playa del Bobo, on the Costa Adeje was utterly gorgeous. We loved paddling in the waves and the beach was enormous. It was less busy than Los Cristianos, but also surrounded by some lovely shops, restaurants and ice-cream bars. It also featured the most marvellous views and was a real treat.

So, Tenerife went beyond our expectations, despite missing Mount Teide! We thought it was a great place for a family holiday, easy to eat out, with lots to do for all ages and breathtaking natural beauty. It was also so lovely and hot! We'd love to go back.

More on Tenerife:

Robert tells you about Siam Park Waterpark

Jess explains how a trip to Mount Teide went wrong...

We've joined up with the lovely Country Kids this week - pop over there to see more outdoor fun.