👨👩👧👦 7 Grandchildren, ages 5 TO 20… How do you keep them entertained all summer?
If you are anything like us the arrival of the summer holidays is something we look forward to all year! ...
From around mid-July until the beginning of September, our grandchildren can land on our doorstep ready for sunshine, adventure, swimming, exploring and, of course, plenty of fun!
With seven grandchildren ranging from just 5 years old through to 20, keeping everyone entertained can sound like quite a challenge.
The good news?
Living in the Gandia area of the Valencia region means you really are spoilt for choice.
You can have an action-packed adventure one day, a relaxed beach day the next, a family day exploring Valencia, and then perhaps a quiet evening at home enjoying a barbecue and watching the sun go down.
And the best part is that many fantastic days out are within a manageable drive from home.
That is one of the things we love about living in this part of Spain – you don't have to choose between mountains, countryside, beaches, cities and family attractions.
They are all right here on your doorstep! 🌴☀️
🏎️ QUAD BIKES, RACING & ADRENALINE-FILLED DAYS!
When teenagers and young adults arrive, sometimes a quiet day sightseeing isn't quite enough!
Fortunately, the wider Gandia and Valencia region offers plenty of opportunities for something a little more exciting.
🏎️ GO-KARTING & MOTORSPORT
For the budding racing drivers in the family, a karting day can be great fun for older children, teenagers and adults alike.
There is nothing quite like the competitive spirit that suddenly appears when everyone gets behind the wheel!
Who is going to be the fastest?
Who will claim bragging rights over everyone else?
And, most importantly…
Who is going to admit defeat afterwards? 😂
It is exactly the sort of activity that creates those holiday memories that everyone talks about long after the summer is over.
🏍️ QUAD BIKE ADVENTURES
For older family members looking for something a little more adventurous, organised quad-bike experiences in the wider Valencia region can provide an exciting way to discover the countryside.
Imagine heading away from the coast and into the spectacular Valencian landscape, surrounded by mountains, forests and countryside.
It is another reminder that living around Gandia gives you access to a completely different side of Spain just a short drive from the Mediterranean.
Always check age requirements, safety rules and availability directly with the activity provider before booking.
🐴 HORSE RIDING – SOMETHING FOR DIFFERENT AGES
Horse riding is another wonderful family activity because it can appeal to very different ages and abilities.
The countryside surrounding Gandia and the inland Valencia region provides some beautiful landscapes for riding, with mountains, valleys, woodland and rural tracks.
For younger children, a gentle introduction to riding can be a real highlight of their holiday, while more experienced riders may enjoy longer countryside experiences.
And for grandparents?
Sometimes it is just as much fun watching the grandchildren enjoying themselves! ❤️
The Valencia region is particularly beautiful inland, where the landscape changes dramatically from the sandy Mediterranean coastline to rugged mountains and peaceful countryside.
💦 AQUALANDIA – A FULL DAY OF WATER-FILLED FUN!
When the temperatures rise, there is one thing guaranteed to put a smile on almost everyone's face…
A WATER PARK DAY! 💦
A trip to Aqualandia in Benidorm makes a fantastic day out for families, particularly with older children and teenagers who love water slides and a little excitement.
With a mixture of attractions and areas designed for different ages, it is the sort of place where everyone can spend the day having fun.
And because Benidorm is approximately an hour and a half away from the Gandia area, depending on exactly where you are travelling from and traffic conditions, it is perfectly possible as a day trip.
Pack the towels, load everyone into the car and prepare for a very energetic day!
🦁 TERRA NATURA – A DAY WITH THE ANIMALS
For a completely different family adventure, Terra Natura Benidorm is another option.
A day seeing animals and exploring the park gives younger children something fascinating to discover while still being enjoyable for older family members.
It is also a great alternative for a day when everyone fancies doing something different from the beach.
And with so many different ages in a large family group, having plenty of alternatives is essential!
🏹 Magic Robin Hood – A Whole Day of Family Adventure!
Magic Robin Hood is a fantastic family adventure resort where the fun goes far beyond the swimming pool. There’s a waterpark with six slides, including family-friendly and more adventurous slides, plus pools and water-play areas.
But that’s only the beginning! Families can also enjoy:
💦 Waterpark & Pools – Six waterslides, children's water play and swimming areas.
🎯 Laser Tag – Team-based laser tag in the multi-adventure area; currently listed for ages 8+.
🧗 Multi-Adventure Park – Adventure circuit, climbing wall, zip line and other activities.
🎮 Game Experience – Virtual reality games, F1 Ferrari simulators, Nintendo, PlayStation, Xbox and arcade-style games.
⛳ Mini Golf – A great option for mixed ages and something the whole family can play together.
🛹 Skate Park – For those who enjoy skating and wheels.
⚽ Human Table Football & Foot-Billiard – Two wonderfully silly group activities that are great for family competitions!
⛸️ Synthetic Ice Rink – Ice-skating-style fun is also available, subject to availability and booking.
🏰 Medieval Entertainment – The resort has a medieval theme, with shows and its popular Medieval Challenge dinner show, making the experience feel like a proper adventure rather than an ordinary day at a waterpark.
🍔 Food & Refreshments – There are restaurants, buffets, themed dining, bars, snacks and food trucks, so you don't have to leave when everyone gets hungry.
Magic Robin Hood also currently offers day-pass options without staying overnight, giving visitors access to the resort's facilities, pools and waterpark, with some premium passes also including activities such as laser tag and the Game Experience. Availability and inclusions can vary, so it's worth checking when booking.
That makes it a particularly good “everyone can find something they love” day out when you've got children, teenagers and young adults all together.
🐠 A DAY AT THE OCEANOGRÀFIC IN VALENCIA
One of our favourite ideas for a family day out is to head north to Valencia city.
And if you have grandchildren of different ages, the Oceanogràfic at the City of Arts and Sciences is an excellent choice.
It is the largest aquarium complex in Europe and offers an incredible opportunity to discover marine life from around the world.
You can easily make a full day of it.
🐠 Explore the Oceanogràfic
🌊 Discover the different marine environments
📸 Take plenty of family photographs
🏛️ Explore the spectacular City of Arts and Sciences
🍽️ Stop for lunch
🛍️ Head into Valencia afterwards
And this is where the location really comes into its own.
You can combine an attraction with a city day without having to organise an overnight stay.
🛍️ VALENCIA – SHOPPING, LUNCH & A DAY IN THE CITY
Sometimes teenagers don't want another nature walk, another swimming pool or another historical building!
Sometimes they want…
SHOPPING! 🛍️😂
So why not make a day of Valencia?
Enjoy breakfast or coffee before exploring the city, spend a few hours shopping, stop for lunch, wander through the historic centre and perhaps finish the day with ice cream before heading home.
Valencia offers a fantastic combination of shopping, culture, architecture, food and Mediterranean atmosphere, making it suitable for a mixed-age family group.
And Gandia's location means Valencia is close enough to make this a realistic day trip rather than a major expedition.
The official tourism information for Gandia highlights the area's unusual combination of beaches, mountains, culture, gastronomy and outdoor activities.
🌊 AND THEN… THERE ARE THOSE QUIET BEACH DAYS!
Of course, you cannot fill every day with adrenaline-fuelled adventures!
Sometimes the very best family memories are made on a beach with absolutely nothing planned.
No timetable.
No tickets.
No driving.
Just sand, sea, sunshine and the people you love. ❤️
Gandia's coastline gives you plenty of choice, with wide sandy beaches and easy access to the Mediterranean.
Playa Nord in Gandia is particularly family-friendly, with fine sand, generally calm waters, lifeguard services and plenty of facilities along the promenade.
It is perfect for the younger grandchildren who want to build sandcastles, paddle in the shallows and jump the waves.
And for the older ones?
They can disappear into the sea with a paddleboard and come back when they're hungry!
🏄 PADDLEBOARDING, KAYAKING & WATERSPORTS
If your family enjoys being active on the water, Gandia is a great place to spend a morning paddleboarding or kayaking.
The Gandia coastline and marina area offer opportunities for water-based activities, including paddle surf and kayaking, with local operators providing equipment and activities.
Playa de Gandia and the marina area are particularly convenient places to look for organised watersports and equipment hire.
🏄 Want activities? Head towards the Gandia beach and marina area.
🌿 Want a quieter setting? Explore the smaller beaches along the coast such as Bellreguard, Daimus, Miramar, Piles and on to Oliva
👧 Have younger children? The beaches are clean with fine, white, sand, the sea is shallow for some distance making it safe for younger children to play in
🌴 THE PERFECT FAMILY SUMMER – A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING!
And perhaps that is the real beauty of living in the Gandia area of the Costa Blanca North.
You don't have to choose one type of lifestyle.
You can have everything.
🏖️ Beach days
🏄 Paddleboarding
🐴 Horse riding
🏎️ Karting
🏍️ Adventure activities
💦 Water parks
🦁 Animal parks
🐠 Aquariums
🛍️ Shopping
🍽️ Lunch in Valencia
🥾 Mountain walks
🚲 Cycling
🌊 Swimming in the Mediterranean
🍦 Ice creams on the promenade
🍕 Family dinners
🌅 Sunset evenings
And then, after all that excitement…
you can come home.
Perhaps to your own villa, your own garden, your own swimming pool and your own terrace.
The children can carry on playing while the adults sit down with a cold drink and finally put their feet up!
❤️ MAKING MEMORIES THAT LAST A LIFETIME
For us, this is what owning a home in Spain is really about.
It isn't simply about having somewhere to escape to in the sunshine.
It is about having a place where your family wants to come back year after year.
It is watching the grandchildren grow.
It is remembering the year they first learned to paddleboard.
The year they finally beat Dad at go-karting and Chess!
The year they were brave enough to go horse riding.
The water park where everyone came home exhausted.
The beach where you spent an entire afternoon jumping waves.
The Valencia shopping trip.
The ice creams.
The family barbecues.
The silly photographs.
The laughter.
And all those little moments that become the memories your family talks about for years afterwards. ❤️
With seven grandchildren ranging from 5 to 20, we know only too well that keeping everyone happy isn't always easy!
But having the mountains, countryside, beaches, attractions and the vibrant city of Valencia all within easy reach certainly makes the job a whole lot easier.
🏡 WHY LOCATION REALLY DOES MATTER
At For Sale By Sally In Spain, we often talk to buyers about location.
And yes, location matters because of views, beaches, schools, hospitals, airports and amenities.
But it also matters because of how you are going to live your life once you get here.
Gandia is particularly special because it sits between the Mediterranean Sea and the mountains, giving residents access to both coastal and inland experiences.
🌞 FROM FAMILY ADVENTURES TO PEACEFUL BEACH DAYS…
So, if you are considering buying a property in Spain because you want somewhere where family and friends will actually want to visit, take a closer look at the Gandia area.
Because when the grandchildren arrive in July, you won't be sitting around wondering what on earth you are going to do with them for the next six weeks!
You can create your own summer programme…
Adventure Day.
Beach Day.
Water Park Day.
Valencia Day.
Horse Riding Day.
Shopping Day.
Paddleboarding Day.
And, of course…
DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING DAY! 😎🌴
Because sometimes the best memories are made simply by sitting together on the beach, watching the children play in the sea while the sun shines overhead.
🏡 LOOKING FOR YOUR OWN PIECE OF SPAIN?
At FOR SALE BY SALLY IN SPAIN, we don't just sell houses.
We help you find the lifestyle that comes with them.
Whether you are looking for a family villa with a swimming pool, a country property surrounded by mountains, a home close to the beach or a lock-up-and-leave bolt hole in the sun, the Gandia and Valencia region offers an incredible variety of lifestyles.
And perhaps the biggest question isn't:
“What can we do when the grandchildren visit?”
It is… “How soon can they come?” ☀️❤️🇪🇸
FOR SALE BY SALLY IN SPAIN - Helping you find your home, your lifestyle and your own little piece of Spain.
