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By Mary Gostelow | Editor-in-chief of WOW.travel, the online magazine of kiwicollection.com
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travel packages available for these properties.
The resort has one of the finest watersports facilities in the entire Mediterranean; powder-white sandy beaches and crystal blue seas offer windsurfing, sailing, water skiing and so on. Leisure Land is on on-property facilities with go-karting, bowling, ice skating and a dedicated evening music bar (there is also a football field where many a First Division player on vacation here will use for practise). You certainly never have to leave this campus, which attracts many of Europe's top families year after year for their summer vacations. There are in fact seven different hotels strung around the resort's 55 acres: rooms in the Villa del Parco are handiest for the Thermae del Parco Spa, where many facilities are outdoors, under the pine trees. It is fun to try the five-bath treatment, from hot to cold temperatures.
Such an elegant centre-city institution has everything, including, during the summer, a teen concierge. Claudia Manser - currently finishing school exams - was 2005 concierge, and she recommends shopping at Topshop (great nail bar), Carnaby Street and Liberty's, and Urban Outfitters. Visits to the Tower of London and the V&A (Victoria & Albert) are surprisingly enjoyable, as is hanging out at Portobello market or walking along the Thames' South Bank. Wagamama is a young favorite eating place, also the Morelli ice cream parlor at Harrods. Choose a conservatory bedroom near the hotel's 24-hour fitness center.
The fairytale stone castle, built in 1888 for railroad king William Van Horne, begs to be explored - there are masses of nooks and crannies, and impressive halls. You have large indoor and heated outdoor pools, a hot tub and a bowling alley with glow-in-the-dark night bowling. Enjoy the snow sports or, depending on the season, sensational cruising the rapids, hiking and mountain biking. In addition, it is only 15 minutes' walk to Banff's safe main street, with plenty of surf/snowboard style and trendy brand-name clothing stores, plus a movie theater, skateboard park and hockey rink. Suite 997 is fun: it is two-floor, the bedroom reached by a spiral staircase.
Off-road driving, falconry, clay-pigeon shooting and fishing - and golf, horseback riding and a renowned spa are on the cards here (the resort is developing a Leisure Passport for you to perfect as many skills as you can). Get rooms in the modern Braid House block, near the big indoor pools. There are 850 acres to explore, and escape your parents - but you might all meet up for dinner at Andrew Fairlie's Michelin-starred restaurant.
Anke, the resident marine biologist, leads highly popular diving and snorkelling session, and sailing is high on the list here (those hobie cats can really clip along). How about a dolphin cruise in the afternoon, or Ashtanga yoga with Dr Vijay? At night, Cinema Paradiso is fun, lying out under the stars watching a classic movie, and do not forget to try eating your way through some of the over-60 ice cream flavors. And if you still get bored, there is the book and DVD library. The all-island tropical resort - which has a charming Robinson Crusoe feeling - is car-less, so you have your own ancient black bike. Choose one of the villas with private pool.
Wave running on the beach, dozens of different water activities, tennis and golf are just a few of the activities on offer here - and only a few minutes' away, by car, you have hours of happy browsing and shopping at Mizner Place. You also have a unique introduction to early 20th century history, for this is the resort that the somewhat-eccentric Addison Mizner - after whom that mall is named - built this in 1926. (What would he say if he knew that the exterior of what is now five separate, but integrated, hotels is now being repainted from its previous all-strawberry mousse color to a delicious and warmer salmon mousse hue, with mayonnaise-color highlights?) WOW's favorite rooms are high up in the tower, for the Intra-Coastal Waterway views.
The Laguna Art Outreach Association brings a variety of classes so you can learn how to paint the beautiful Laguna Beach coastline. Similarly, the resort is partnering with the Ocean Institute, a local non-profit organization that offers marine biology education programs. You learn extensive details about the Pacific Ocean and its creatures - and take our docents' complimentary Tidepool Tours to learn about the species that live in the famous pools along the shore. The resort offers beach volleyball and frisbee, and, nearby, you can arrange surf lessons and rentals of boogie boards and kayaks. All this while your dear mom might be enjoying a 90-minute anti-ageing facial in the Spa Montage. All resort bedrooms are ocean-facing.
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