Spain’s ruggedly beautiful Costa Brava, the sunny “Wild Coast” stretches for 160 km along Catalonia’s northeastern shores from Port Bou on the Franco-Spanish border to Tossa del Mar just north of Barcelona. Lined with green hillsides, craggy, wild cliffs, sandy inlets and caves, this is an adventure travelers paradise, where all manner of water sports, cycling and hiking are found.

On this jagged coast, L”Estartit is a diver’s heaven with an abundance of wrecks to explore in the crystalline waters. Just a mile offshore, the Medes Islands, a small archipelago of seven islets and a few reefs, features one of the richest marine reserves in the Mediterranean. Here, snorkelers and divers of every level delight in the thousands of fish and plant species that inhabit the submarine caves and crevices. To the south, Tossa del Mar, with its 12th Century walled town, its narrow, twisting streets and its lovely sandy beaches is one of the most attractive of the coastal villages and offers excellent opportunities for windsurfing, sailing, snorkeling and boating.

On the northern coast, Figueres, the birthplace of Salvador Dali, houses a most unique museum created by the artist – a surrealistic fuchsia building topped with gigantic golden eggs. Dali is buried here in an unmarked crypt. Just a few miles away, Cadaques, Dali’s childhood home, is the epitome of a postcard-perfect Catalan seaside village, with its striking white houses with tiled red roofs, its splendid old church and winding cobblestone streets to the backdrop of towering mountains and the cobalt blue sea. Situated on a breathtaking bay, Rosas, Catalonia’s oldest town was a Greek trading post over 2000 years ago. Across the bay, the village of Empuries is the site of many ancient, romantic cultures: Originally a small Phoenician trading post, it was replaced by the Greek colonial village of Emporio in the 6th century BC and 4 centuries later it had become a Roman naval port. The ruins of an acropolis and of beautiful Greek and Roman villas dot the area.

Away from the coast, a very different Spain greets you. Here, you’re deep in Catalonia, with its ancient traditions and ambiance. Banyoles, a historic lakeside town north of Girona dates from 812, has developed around a Benedictine monastery. Its old town is crammed with fascinating ancient buildings centered on a lovely arcaded square, and its lake offers every kind of boating, from rowing to pedal boats.

En route from the Pyrenees to Barcelona, Girona, an unspoilt, more intimate urban center than its sister, Barcelona, is a quaint ancient city founded by the Romans which later became a Moorish stronghold. The meandering Onyar River runs through the town, flanked by pastel-colored houses from the Middle Ages perched on the site of the old city walls. This charming, medieval town, with its genuine Gothic character, has a present-day personality rooted in the Middle Ages. Wandering around its winding, old cobblestone streets, you suddenly discover a section of ancient Roman ramparts, or at another turning a magnificent 12th century cathedral or the ruins of the 12th century Arab baths. The “Call”, the old Jewish quarter, is a wonderful characteristic labyrinth of steep streets and ancient buildings, a perfectly preserved enclave which was the heart of Jewish life in the north and the seat of the Iberian Hebrew intellectual, Rabbi Moses Maimonides.

Inland from Spain’s heavily developed southwestern coastal strip, the Pueblos Blancos sit loftily on Andalucía’s hillsides. These charming “White Villages” acquire their name from their pristinely whitewashed buildings, resplendent and sparkling brightly against the dazzling sun. Perched high on the hills between the coast on the west and the Ronda Mountains on the east, these towns offer an escape into natural surroundings, a glimpse into traditional Spanish life and lots of active adventure. Settled by Berbers during the eight centuries of Moorish rule, these villages, which were under the constant threat of attack were easily defensible and served as the border between Moors and Christians.

Winding slowly east into the mountains, high peaks, jagged crags, gorges, chasms and caves, and an occasional goat grazing on the hillsides take the place of beaches and crowds, with breathtaking views at every bend. Heading inland, Arcos de La Frontera, one of the prettiest towns in Spain, comes into view. Situated near the Guadalate River, high above a precipitous gorge, the town was an important Moorish stronghold and boasts spectacular vistas of olive groves, vineyards and bull and horse farms. Possessing an old-world charm, this lovely village is packed with history.

The National Parks in the Region

Picturesque Zahara de la Sierra, a typical fortified White Village, straddles a hilltop overlooking the wide, blue waters of the Embalse de Zahara, a man-made reservoir more like a natural lake. The town lays claim to a Moorish castle sitting high above on a rocky crest, which overlooks a lovely baroque church. From Zahara de la Sierra, a narrow mountain road winds and twists its way up to Grazalema, an idyllically beautiful, well-kept small town. Renowned for its many bubbling fountains, Grazalema has a wetter climate than its neighbors, its reward being its setting in the heart of the verdant Parque Natural Sierra de Grazalema. To the south and west of the Grazalema National Park, the National Park of Los Alcornocales, one of the world’s largest cork oak forests, forms the backdrop of an area of outstanding beauty and is home to rare species of Andalucian wildlife including mountain goats, red deer and wild boar.

Ronda’s Dramatic Setting

Snaking a way up past panoramic views of silvery green olive groves en route to Ronda, the small charming towns of Montijaque and Benaojan boast ancient caves with great Paleolithic cave drawings. Ronda, the largest of the Pueblos Blancos, sits on a limestone plateau, split by the El Tajo Gorge. Its dramatic setting above the enormous gorge, which drops over 100 m. below, made Ronda one of the last Moorish bastions to fall. Spanning the gorge are 3 exceptional bridges, the most spectacular of these being an 18th century construction standing on two massive pillars built at the bottom of the gorge.

On the edge of the crevice, dazzling white Moorish buildings with intricate window grilles of metal decorate Ronda’s Old Town. In this setting, the Palacio de Mondragon, used by kings as a palace and the most important building in town, features amazing views from its gardens. Located in the Mercadillo (“Little Market”) in the newer part of town, Ronda boasts one of Spain’s oldest bullrings, and the nearby Church of Santa Maria la Mayor, originally a mosque converted to church, is an interesting blend of Moor and Christian architecture. With its fascinating history, Ronda is a city well worth exploring.

This is a topic dear to my heart as I became a father two years ago now. Parenthood certainly changes your options for travelling but there is no need to “shelf” your sense of adventure – in fact I am very keen to instill that same passion in my daughter. She has notched up seven countries in her first two years and I hope there are many more to come. The looks of wonder and excitement on her face when faced with Alps or the great fjord in Montenegro are memories I will keep forever. She learned to run and took her first dip in the sea in Croatia and has even been to Bosnia! There are many options for kids adventure travel holidays but here are my top 3.

#2. Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains. This has to be in my top 3 as I love Morocco. Save this one for when your kids are a little older to get the most out of your trip. Marrakech is the perfect starting point – the  scenery, souks, spices stalls, snake charmers, story tellers, etc, etc – a real culture shock and great introduction to the cultural diversity of this planet. If you are feeling active you can take a trip to the village of Imlil at the base of the atlas mountains. From here you can explore the High Atlas and Berber villages. It is quite easy to organize yourself but with a family I would recommend pre-booking this with one of the many great tour operators that travel here.

#3. Ok, ready for the next level? India! The ultimate culture shock. I would recommend heading to Kerala in the south. It is warm, laid back and totally exotic giving your family a great introduction to India. Be sure to try a local dance – get your kids involved and do not come home without witnessing a sunset in