UK weekly edition, Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Next month — Aug. 10-12Newquay, United Kingdom: 49.28 pounds round trip
Fly Ryanair from London Stansted to Newquay.
The sandy beaches, towering cliffs and crystal-clear waters make this coastline city on the Atlantic Ocean a terrific locale for surfing, sightseeing or just relaxing. So leave the gas-guzzling family car behind and fly to this vacation destination in Cornwall.
Start your holiday at one of the 14 Newquay beaches, such as Lusty Glaze, Tolcarne or Great Western.
Towan beach is home to the Blue Reef Aquarium, where visitors can learn about local sea life. The aquarium boasts open-top tanks, underwater tunnels, a freshwater turtle creek, hands-on tide pools and a reef nursery as well as a cafe and gift shop. Be sure to visit the octopus enclosure where, according to www.bluereefaquarium.co.uk, a smart octopus can unscrew a jelly jar to get to the food inside.
Another stop on the agenda maybe the Newquay Zoo, complete with a Tarzan trail, adventure park, assault course and wildlife from around the world. In August, the zoo will be hosting many Madagascan night events with special late-night hours, feeding talks and Madagascan animal tours. Visit www.newquayzoo. co.uk for more information on these special events before traveling.
From Newquay, catch one of the green buses to the Eden Project, a green- theme park focusing on the interdependence of plants, people and places. With many biomes re-creating different climate conditions, a shop selling recycled crafts and organic foods, and art exhibits throughout, Eden has something for everyone.
Three months — Oct. 5-7Olbia, Italy: 67.90 pounds round trip
Fly Easyjet from London Gatwick to Olbia.
Olbia, meaning “happy town,” is a major port in Sardinia and offers tourists easy access to the rest of the island.
Sights within Olbia include the 11th- to 12th-century San Simplicio church, featuring columns from destroyed Roman buildings, a holy-water font that was once an urn containing ashes and a garland-decorated sarcophagus.
Olbia’s white sand beaches and rocky coastline are ideal locations for fun in the sun. The port itself plays host to bars, restaurants and clubs that provide entertainment well into the morning hours.
Two local castles are worth visiting — Castello di Pedes, a few minutes west of the town sitting on a granite hill overlooking the Olbia bay, and the Byzantine Castello di Sa Paulazza.
Another destination to visit is the tourist resort town Porto Rotondo with many designer boutiques and live music venues along the quay.
If time allows, travel south of Olbia to the town of San Teodoro, which offers 18 beaches. The popular La Cinta beach is well-suited for families traveling with small children and has easy access to the lagoon, home to pink flamingos, heron and wild ducks.
Airfare prices include estimated taxes and are courtesy of the Web site www.skyscanner.net. Prices were verified as of Monday afternoon when Stripes UK went to press. Deals are not guaranteed to be available; restrictions may apply.
