Future Bucket List Adventures

Spain is the fourth largest country in Europe and is famous for its football, architecture, sangria, tapas and flamenco dancing. We visited Salou and Barcelona on a family trip to mainland Spain in 2005. However, as this family trip was so long ago, we have very few photo's. I would take another trip to Barcelona in the future. Along with Barcelona, I would also like to visit Marbella, Mijas, Ronda, Granada, Seville, Barcelona, Tossa de Mar, Figueres and Begur in mainland Spain.

Marbella

Marbella is a city and resort area on southern Spain’s Costa del Sol, part of the Andalusia region. The Sierra Blanca Mountains are the backdrop to 27km of sandy Mediterranean beaches, villas, hotels, and golf courses. West of Marbella town, the Golden Mile of prestigious nightclubs and coastal estates leads to the Puerto Banús marina, filled with luxury yachts, and surrounded by upmarket boutiques and bars.

Hard Rock Hotel Marbella

It's only fair that my first choice hotel for a future visit would be the Hard Rock Hotel! The hotel is located in Puerto Banús, the epicentre of exclusivity and glamour in Marbella – one of the most exclusive regions of Spain. The Hard Rock Hotel is renowned for it's pool parties and fantastic entertainment.

Nikki Beach Club

Established in 2003, Nikki Beach Marbella offers visitors a luxurious experience with its delectable cuisine, creative cocktails and daytime dancing. The beach club is located on one of the finest stretches of white sand in Spain.

Playa Padre

Nestled on one of Marbella's pristine beaches is Playa Padre, a unique and picturesque restaurant and beach club. The vibe of Playa Padre is one of laid back induldence, inspired by the beach clubs of Ibiza, Bali and Tulum.

Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art

The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art is an institution dedicated to the preservation of the equestrian arts, in the Spanish tradition, based in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. It is one of the "Big Four", the most prestigious classical riding academies in the world. Andalusian horses were originally bred in Spain and are known for their intelligence, athleticism, and graceful movement.

Mijas

One of the jewels of the Costa del Sol is the beautiful little village of Mijas. Mijas is a traditional, whitewashed village with breathtaking views of the Sierra de Mijas mountain range.

Donkey Dreamland

Donkey Dreamland is a sanctuary for donkeys close to La Cala De Mijas on the Costa Del Sol. It is a refuge for those donkeys who have been abused in their roles for burro-taxi's and donkey rides in the nearby area. Seeing the donkeys at the Donkey Dreamland is a much kinder option.

Seville

Seville is an enchanting city located in the heart of Andalusia, in southern Spain. One of Seville's most iconic landmarks is the stunning Alcazar Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its intricate architecture and beautiful gardens. Another must-see attraction is the impressive Gothic Cathedral that houses the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Seville is also renowned as being the home of flamenco dancing.

Ronda

Ronda is one of the most beautiful (and visited!) villages in Andalusia. The picturesque white town is famous for its fascinating cliff-side setting along the Tajo gorge and the monumental Puente Nuevo (New Bridge) that spans across it.

Grenada

Granada is a city in southern Spain’s Andalusia region, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It's known for grand examples of medieval architecture dating to the Moorish occupation, with the most well known being the Alhambra palace and fortress.

Barcelona

Barcelona, the cosmopolitan capital of Spain’s Catalonia region, is known for its art and architecture. The fantastical Sagrada Família church and other modernist landmarks such as the Park Güell, Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, all by Antoni Gaudí dot the city.

Past Holiday Barcelona Day Trip

As a family, we stayed at the PortAventura hotel in Salou in 2005. We visited the city of Barcelona on a day trip from Salou. Here are some of my photographs of the Park Güell and Sagrada Família from the trip.

Park Güell

Sagrada Família

Barcelona Pavillion by Mies van der Rohe

One of the main attractions which I missed out on seeing on our past trip to Barcelona, was the Barcelona Pavilion. Designed by modernism's golden child Mies van der Rohe and his long-time collaborator Lilly Reich, the Barcelona Pavilion is a paragon of modernist architecture and also housed the Barcelona Chair, one of the most recognisable and iconic design objects of the twentieth century. During my time completing my degree in Interior Design at university, it was apparent the Barcelona Pavilion was one of the most studied and influencial pieces of modernist architecture.

Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sagrat Cor)

An important building which I would like to see is the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sagrat Cor). The temple is located at top of Tibidabo mountain with the statue of Jesus on the top of of the spire, and commands the best view over Barcelona.

W Hotel Barcelona

The W Barcelona is a striking sail-like structure next to Barceloneta Beach, offering breathtaking design and fantastic views over Barcelona. The fabulous Wet Deck Beach Club is the place to party in the summer in Barcelona, and is the main feature of the hotel.

Tossa de Mar

On the southernmost part of Costa Brava, in the region of Catalonia, lies one of Spain’s most beautiful seaside resorts: Tossa de Mar. Tossa de Mar is a pretty town with cobbled streets, constructed around a magnificent ancient castle.

Begur

Begur is a pretty medieval village with cobbled streets and whitewashed houses draping the hillside below the ruins of a stone castle. Begur is also known as the Riviera of the Costa Brava.

Cala d'Aiguablava

The Cala d'Aiguablava is a small bay on the Costa Brava, Girona, Catalonia near Begur and Palafrugell with a small beach and a few seafood restaurants. This is one of the most popular coves, not only in Begur, but anywhere in Catalonia.

Mas de Torrent Hotel & Spa

Mas de Torrent Hotel & Spa is an 18th-century Catalan farmhouse converted into an exclusive five-star boutique hotel. The hotel is located in the heart of Empordà, the most authentic and chic region on the Costa Brava.

Figueres

Figueres is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain. The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museum designed by Dalí himself.