The Costa do Sol is a mandatory route for any portuguese family living in the Great Lisbon. And the weekend is the proper time to do it. The great beaches take the prize (Carcavelos, Parede, S. Pedro and S. João, all with infrastructures of their own, either great restaurants and bars or different sport activities) on the way to Estoril and Cascais, the portuguese version of the Riviera, as it is known. Before getting there, at the Parque Urbano da Quinta de Rana, you must make a stop by the Borboletário and let the kids enjoy the butterflies. Cascais has created a large number of gardens and museums in the past two decades while aiming at perfection with the ones the village already had (Parque Marechal Carmona, Museu do Mar Rei D. Carlos I, Centro Cultural de Cascais Fundação D. Luis I and the complex of galleries and cafés of the Cidadela are not to be missed. A day by the Marina is a must: kids can learn how to sail and eventually the ABC of fishing. Cascais has all sort of restaurants to satisfy both gourmets and those who love their food done fast… The hotel offer is immense but if you deal with a travelling family with kids dictating the rules the best choice is Martinhal Cascais Family Hotel, packed with great activities for children and home of Martinhal Cascais and the Kids Club House.
