Where to go in Canary Islands

[TheIsleOfTheLost]

Looking to go away in May half term next year. Prior to having kids I always went on city or adventure type holidays, so never looked at resorts before. It will be me, dp and two not particularly adventurous kids 6 and 9. We would like warm, but not too hot, after all the record temperatures in Europe this year, so this seems better than going in summer.

Will be finding somewhere cheap and cheerful with a pool and all inclusive to stay. Figure that fussy kids are more likely to find something they will eat at a buffet and means we can control food costs. Just not sure where is best. Would also like:

Close to a beach, but don't need a sea view.

Preferably not too windy. Won't be doing water sports as the kids aren't strong swimmers.

A day somewhere natural with plants for me. Forest or botanic garden place would be perfect.

Child activities nearby such as water park, play parks, etc would be nice to have.

What sort of areas would be good?

Gran Canaria is less windy IMO, but I like Fuerteventura the best.

The south west coast of Gran Canaria is usually not too windy.

I love Puerto de Mogan but Taurito or Puerto Rico might have more of the activities you want. Taurito has a water park, for example.

Palmitos Park is great for little ones, and is in the Parque Natural de Pilancones so has great scenery around.

There is some amazing nature on Gran Canaria - definitely would need a car hire though to explore.

We loved the Iberostar Playa Blanca in Lanzarote

The buses in Gran Canaria are fine, you don't need a car, and for the kids I'd be looking at Puerto Rico. The angry birds park is good there and the beach. Sioux City is brilliant.

Fuerteventura is my favourite but it's windy obviously

If you are really into plants and saying Von Humboldt turns a light on, Tenerife has the Jardin de Aclimatacion by the La Paz area of Puerto de La Cruz. It tends to be called the Botanico and is a significant historical entity. A little further up the valley in Oratava is a smaller botanical garden the Hijuela del Botanico. The latter is a short walk from the Jardines del Marquesado de La Quinta Roja (more a terraced park). Over in Santa Cruz there’s a recent and extensive Palmetum. Others include a rather Anglo Orchid Garden and the Parque del Drago if Dragon Trees are your thing.

Then the whole island has its Humboldty zones by aspect and altitude. And some recent extensive fire damage to parts of the Pine ring / Corona Forestal.

I haven’t mentioned children have I? I have a Dora the Explorer who is fairly adept at Spanish. She’d more than humour me. There are lots of things for holidaying children in Tenerife but there’s a locational skew to them, generally toward the south west. Some of the other islands are probably more suited for the median Brit-kid.

@MMBaranova just looked up the botanico, it's beautiful! Wonder if I can stay there for the week and leave the others at the beach 🤔. We have both dragon tree and dragon fruit cactuses at home, so love plants involving dragons! One of the kids would happily see plants with me, the other would definitely whinge if it took up too much of the holiday. He would love a volcano though.

@Kissmas definitely won't have a car, but happy to get busses or taxis. I thought that angry birds us closed now? Will look up Sioux city.

@cherryassam the parquet natural and water park sound great. Reckon eldest would brave water slides now. Will give the animal park a miss though as captive dolphins make me sad.

We stayed at flamingo beach in playa Blanca, Lanzarote…. Has the volcanic National park which is well worth a visit.

I was in taurito this year, a little out of the way. Definitely get a taxi rather than the package coach from the airport....

We stayed in livvo valle taurito, very decent all inclusive, and the included waterpark was great.