Are you taking a proper vacation this year?
Golden beaches and stunning rock formations make up The Algarve coastline.
Cliff top golf is taken to dizzying heights at The Pine Cliffs Course.
The freshest Atlantic fish is an Algarvean way of life to be experienced.
Quinta do Vale is Seve Ballesteros' first Algarve design and what a beauty.
Horseback riding along the Atlantic surf is an Algarve specialty.
The Algarve's vibrant nightlife includes opportunities to flirt with Lady Luck.
Vale do Lobo's Royal Course where the dramatic 16th requires a carry over two hungry ravines.
It's surprising how many Americans are not and this past year has been one of the most stressful any of us have ever experienced before. Vacations are scientifically accepted as being as important to refreshing us humans as sleep and after enduring over 12 months of economic turmoil and uncertainty, vacations are more important than ever.
All work and no play not only makes Jack and Jill dull and unpleasant to be around, for work colleagues and family alike, it also adds to stress and creates generally unhappy boys and girls of us all. Yet we all find (or create) a litany of reasons and excuses why we can't take the break from work we all need. Productivity isn't measured by the number of hours we spend at our desks, it's measured by how much we innovate, grow, evolve and succeed, none of which are possible if we are burned out. Families are no different - the workaholic breadwinner, who constantly has work on their mind, even when they are not working, loses sight of family values and eventually could lose the family as well.
It doesn't have to be a European style, month long vacation - a week or so is enough to refresh and revitalize, body, mind and spirit for most, providing we make it a complete break from work and our everyday surroundings. The secret is to find that magical destination where we can relax, chill out, do a few things we really enjoy and generally, spoil ourselves. But where do we find such a place?
Most reading this have a special fondness for the game of golf, so why not follow the lead of some of the super-stars of golf and check out where they take their families for the rest, recuperation and re-bonding they need, just as much as ourselves.
After an especially disappointing and stressful week at this year's British Open, Ernie Els wrote in his blog on PGATOUR.COM, "After the Open Championship at Turnberry, we decided to take a family holiday...which is actually a lot rarer than you might imagine. We all flew down to Portugal and stayed for the week at Quinta do Lago. And you know, we really had a great week together."
Ernie's blog goes on to extol the attractions of The Algarve's, Quinta do Lago Resort, speaking of the quality of The Algarve's "superb golf courses, beautiful beaches and wonderful food."
Ernie isn't the only touring Pro to discover the wonders of Portugal's southernmost coastline. Padraig Harrington purchased a villa at Vilamoura, in the Central Algarve, last year, citing the abundance of world-class courses that will allow him to practice on a different layout every day. Lee Westwood, Retief Goosen and Darren Clarke are among the growing number of other celebrity players, who have been enthralled enough by this picture perfect, year round resort region, to have also purchased Algarve properties. The Algarve has a magical, multi-faceted appeal to everyone and really needs to be experienced to be truly appreciated.
Golfers are well taken care of by the extraordinary collection of 3 dozen, top-class courses, many ranked among Europe's best, that grace one of the most beautiful shorelines to be found on the Continent. It's a brief, 90-miles of some of Mother Nature's most eye-dazzling artistry.
The soaring sandstone cliffs of the West and Central Algarve, interspersed with a necklace of enticing small coves, bays and inlets, fringed with brilliant white and gold sand beaches, make this a beach lover's delight. But so is the easterly side of this sun-blessed coast, where the red cliffs give way to impressive expanses of wide, pristine beaches, reaching as far as the eye can see, with crystal clear lagoons and flocks of pink flamingos, adding to the splendor. Constantly washed by the crashing surf of a gleaming blue Atlantic Ocean and blessed with more sunny, warm days than any other European coast, The Algarve is a true paradise found.
Come to The Algarve at any time of the year and you'll receive a warm welcome, both in the hospitality of the local Algarveans, famous for their genuine, easy-going friendliness, as well as the climate that could be one of the most delightful on the planet. From the peak of the summer months when temperatures hover between the high 70's to mid 80's; to the depths of "winter's chill", when temperatures seldom drop below 60 and more often are closer to 70 degrees or so. There's never a bad season in paradise and outdoor activities, including golf, continue non- stop from January until December. There's good reason why the European Tour's season (the part that actually takes place in Europe) starts in Portugal in March and ends here, with the Portugal Masters, which this year takes place at The Algarve's, Oceanico - Victoria Club, in late October.
But the multitude of temptations that attract visitors here extends far beyond a perfect year round climate, fabulous golf and gorgeous beaches. Portugal maybe one of Europe's smallest countries, but it's also one of Europe's oldest nation states with a long and rich history that reaches back over 4,000 years - and The Algarve played an important part in writing that history.
From the Stone Age tribes to the Celts, then the Carthaginians, to the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors and even neighboring Spain, today's Portugal has consistently proved to be a tempting target for occupation by foreigners of every stripe, color and creed. Each occupier has left its own indelible mark on a history and multi-faceted culture, unique to tiny Portugal and its 10 million inhabitants.
You see it in the architecture, the monuments and other historic sites, the small towns and fascinating ancient villages, all calling out to be re-discovered, explored and experienced by every visitor. There's no other place on this planet that offers so much fascination for the curious and inquisitive.
With so much to see and do, but no real reason to do anything at all, the laid back life-style of The Algarve fits perfectly into the relaxation every vacation should provide. Do as much or as little as you want - the intriguing sightseeing has been here for centuries and if you don't feel like exploring today, it will all still be there tomorrow. Base yourself in one of The Algarve's luxury resorts and golf will be at the back door and the beach just as close, or spend a day simply chilling out beside the pool. The only schedule here is your own and if you change your mind, it's never a problem.
For the night-birds, The Algarve offers a vibrant nightlife of clubs, bars, discos, fine dining opportunities, even gambling at one of three casinos, complete with elaborate floor shows. Whether roulette, poker, black-jack or simply, slot-machines, Lady Luck dances to many different tunes along this coast and chances are, your favorite is among them.
But just like Ernie Els, be prepared to be amazed by Algarvean food where the freshest of seafood, taken from the Atlantic, only hours before, reigns supreme. The number of fine international restaurants is huge, but perhaps the most memorable dining experiences of all will be found in the small, unpretentious family run restaurants, specialized in regional, Algarvean dishes. These are the places where the locals eat and the food is invariably excellent and surprisingly reasonably priced, with wine lists of local wines where prices start at less than $10 a bottle. But values alon
The Algarve are everywhere and nowhere else in Europe will you find your America dollars go quite as far.
You not only need a real vacation, you deserve one and there may be no better place to re-charge your batteries for a week or so than on Portugal's Algarve Coast. Golf's biggest names have already discovered this paradise, so follow the stars and make The Algarve your next vacation destination.
For more ideas and suggestions on getting the most out of your Algarve escape, click here.
©2009 David Brice / Golf International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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