By Elizabeth Arnold
Canary Islands Activities
The Canary Islands are a group of Spanish islands on the Atlantic Ocean, off the northwestern coast of
Africa. Major island cities include Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The islands, known for some of the best
beaches in the world, attract visitors from all over. Dubbed "The Land of Eternal Spring," the islands offer a subtropical climate with plenty of sunshine and many cultural and sporting attractions, including water parks and museums.
Casa Museo de Colon
Visit the Casa de Colon, which was the home of Christopher Columbus and is now a history museum. The museum displays Columbus' personal belongings, such as his drawings and journals. The home features large courtyards and carved wooden ceilings. A reproduction of Columbus' shipboard cabin is also offered, along with fine arts and ceramics exhibits. Admission to the museum is free.
Casa Museo de Colon
C/ Colon, 1 Las Palmas 35001
Spain
Phone: 011 (+34) 928 312 373
Remember to substitute "00" for "011" when calling internationally (outside of the U.S. and Canada). The country code for the Canary Islands is (+34).
Aquasur
Take your family to Aquasur, the largest water park in Gran Canaria. The park is open year-round and features 33 slides and 13 attractions, including swimming pools for children and adults. Popular attractions include the "Rapid River" and the "Kamikaze." If you are looking for some dry fun, the park offers billiards and mini-golf. An on-site restaurant and several fast-food eateries are available. One entry ticket allows unlimited use of all the attractions.
Aquasur
Ctra. Palmitos Park, Km 3
35100 Maspalomas
Gran Canaria
Phone: 011 (+34) 928 14 05 25
www.aqualand.es/grancanaria/
Palmitos Park
Spend a day at Palmitos Park, which features more than 150 palm trees and 15,000 plants. The botanical garden is teeming with cacti and a variety of succulents. The park also has more than 150 species of birds, many of which fly freely throughout the park. Visitors also can catch a glimpse of monkeys, reptiles and other animals, and stop by the butterfly house and the aquarium. Special exhibits include birds of prey and parrots.
Palmitos Park
Barranco de Los Palmitos s/n.
35109 Maspalomas
Gran Canaria
Phone: 011 (+34) 928 797 070
www.palmitospark.es/
Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnología
Explore the Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnología, which is open Tuesday through Sunday and offers more than 100 interactive displays and exhibits, a planetarium and several simulators. The museum has four floors, each with a different theme. There's a special children's section, complete with sing-alongs and organized games, and a souvenir shop.
Museo Elder de la Ciencia y la Tecnología
Parque de Santa Catalina s/n
35007 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
011 (+34) 828 011 828
www.museoelder.org
Resources
About the Author:
Elizabeth Arnold, who studied English at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, has written for a wide variety of publications and websites. Her experience includes writing travel features for "Recommend" magazine and packaging and marketing copy for both Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. consumer products. Recently, Arnold was a staff writer for "Special Events" magazine.
Photo Credits:
Image courtesy of www.morguefile.com
