The Costa Azul or Blue Coast, is located on the southern portion of Portugal’s western coast. Lying north of the River Tagus, this area boasts some of the country’s most picturesque landscape as well as some of the top beaches. Relatively undiscovered by tourists, this is one of the few under appreciated areas in Portugal.
There are several popular resort areas on the Blue Coast, the most popular being Costa de Caparica. This resort area is highly popular with the Portuguese but is less well known amongst international visitors. This area is home to a wide variety of water sports on its fifteen kilometers of sandy beaches. Costa Caparica is also famous for its seafood and many people visit just to sample the freshly caught fish from just off the coast.
Costa Azul is home to the historic city of Setъbal and this is the third largest city in Portugal. Since the decline of the Sardine industry this city has turned its attention toward wooing tourists as a main contributor to the economy and has succeeded. This beautiful city has much to offer both residents and tourists and is a gateway to the Arrabida Natural Park.

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The Arrabida Natural Park is home to beautiful, natural beaches and over 10,000 hectares of preserved land. This park has enjoyed protected status since 1976 and is a bird-watchers paradise. It is also the perfect ecosystem to house myriad plant and wildlife species. With its breathtaking scenery, this park is a lure for many to the area be they naturalist or just tourist.
The traditional Portuguese village of Sesimbra is also on the Blue Coast and is one of the few to have retained its atmosphere of a working fishing village. This idyllic village has charm in plenty as well as top notch beaches that many find preferable over those in the crowded Algarve region. With great seafood, Sesimbra is only 40 kilometers south of Lisbon and makes the perfect destination for a day trip if staying in the capital.
South of the Arrabida Natural Park lies the Troia Peninsula with its world famous stretches of white sandy beaches. This peninsula is also home to the remains of the Roman town of Cetobriga, a town whose main function was to preserve fish.

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The Blue Coast is famous for their dolphins. The mouth of the River Sado is home to a water sanctuary of more than twenty three thousand hectares where dozens of dolphins frolic in the waters. The Barbastelle bat and otters are two endangered species that also call this protected area home.
In addition to the dolphins, the Blue Coast is famous for tours on bicycle and on horseback. Discovering the beaches, estuaries, mountains and landscapes of the Blue Coast in either fashion is a popular choice for both tourists and local residents.
The Blue Coast is also where the Tejo Estuary can be found. This protected area of more than forty five thousand hectares is the largest wetland in Portugal and among the most important wetlands in all of Europe. This Estuary is home to more than six thousand flamingos and is a much visited site. The Costa Azure is home to many important historical sites and is a treasure trove of ruins, monuments and ancient buildings. From the 16th century Convento da Arrabida, the 17th century Forte da Arrabida to the 16th century Convento do Capuchos in Caparica, there is much to see and study.While it is well known that Portugal is stunningly beautiful and despite the country becoming quite the popular tourist destination, the Blue Coast has remained generally less popular than the other coastal areas of the country. Due to this limited popularity, the area provides excellent property purchasing opportunities at reasonable prices.

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The Blue Coast is a viable alternative to the Algarve region offering many of the same kinds of activities, facilities and services but the prices have yet to reach the resort highs found in the southern portion of the country.

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Today, the park also features several areas that show evidence of burning. These burned areas are the result of a strategy known as prescribed fire, a practice which is being utilized to manage the preserve. Situated along the Lake Wales Ridge, the Allen David Broussard State Park Catfish Creek State Park offers an amazing array of exciting outdoor activities.

Horseback Riding

The park includes 7 to 8 miles of equestrian trails that take riders through lush foliage.
Horseback riders must stay on the designated equestrian trails. The trails can be quite challenging, but they offer a chance for wildlife viewing at the same time.

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Fishing

Several ponds are located in the park where fishing is permitted. These fishing locations are located approximately one mile from the parking lot, so be prepared to do some hiking to get there. Comfortable shoes should be worn. Sunscreen, a hat, and insect repellant are useful in this area.

Picnicking

While picnicking is permitted at the park, the picnic area is limited in size. A covered pavilion is available onsite. No scheduled rentals are available, so the picnic area is available on a first come, first served basis only.

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Hiking

Approximately 6 miles of hiking trails are available at the Allen David Broussard State Park Catfish Creek State Park. Since the park features a scrub habitat, hikers should be prepared to travel rugged trails that can become quite challenging at times. Much of the hiking trails are covered in sand and feature difficult trekking conditions. Wear proper footwear and bring plenty of water with you while hiking.

The terrain includes scrub, flatwoods, and sandhill habitat, all part of the Lake Wales Ridge habitat. Some of the plants found in this area are listed on the rare plant species list including the pygmy fringe-trees, scrub morning glory, cutthroat grass, and the scrub palm.

Wildlife Viewing

A number of different species can be found within the park’s parameters. Several protected species live in the park including bald eagles, wood storks, Florida scrub lizards, gopher tortoises, and Florida scrub jays.

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Details

With free admission, the Allen David Broussard State Park Catfish Creek State Park is open 7 days a week year round from 8:00 am until sundown. A parking lot is available. While some guided group events are often scheduled throughout the year, unguided tours are permitted during park hours.

Water is not available in the park, so visitors should bring their own. Insects are found in the park, so bringing insect repellant along is a good idea.

Allen David Broussard State Park Catfish Creek State Park is located to the east of Dundee. It is located at 3950 Firetower Road.

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Stanley Park

Stanley Park is the largest city park in Canada with 1000 acres of natural beauty. It’s open all year round – you can enter and leave at any point in the park. Walking around the seawall, which follows the shore of the peninsula that makes up Stanley Park, is a great way to spend a few hours. The entire circuit is 10km (a little over six miles). Although you can simply take time to enjoy the tranquility of the park, there are a number of attractions there too, including two swimming pools, a pitch and putt golf course, an aquarium, and two beaches (Second Beach and Third Beach).

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Granville Island

If you want to get a feel of the real Vancouver then head for Granville Island. This place has great waterfront activities that attract tourists and locals alike.

Granville Island isn’t actually an island but a small peninsula located underneath Granville Street Bridge. It’s busy at weekends, so if you can get there anytime between Monday and Thursday you will have a little more room (the shops and outlets operate regular store hours).

While you can drive to Granville Island, parking is at a premium. The best way to go is by boat: Take the Aquabus from Hornby Street Pier or the ferry (operated by False Creek Ferries) from Sunset Beach behind the Aquatic Center.

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The highlight of Granville Island is the Public Market. It’s the city’s best market (and pretty good by many another top cities’ standards). It sells fresh produce including fruit and vegetables, baked goods, seafood, cheese, and lots more – and with the odd street musician here and there you’ve got a treat for all the senses! There’s also a food court selling a variety of international dishes.

Canada Place

Canada Place was originally built for Expo ’86. With its sail-like structure, it’s the city’s iconic landmark, as well as an impressive piece of architecture. Located on the waterfront, Canada Place is currently used as a hotel, convention center, and cruise ship terminal for Alaska-bound cruises.

People make the trip to Canada Place for the spectacular views it offers: It’s the best place from which to take photos of the surrounding mountains, and you also get to watch the seaplanes take off from the harbor nearby.

While you probably won’t need to spend any longer than an hour or so at Canada Place, you can combine your trip with a visit to the IMAX theatre there for some entertainment.

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Gastown

Gastown is a historic neighborhood in Vancouver situated downtown on the north-east corner. It was the city’s first downtown core and gets its name from “Gassy” Jack Deighton, who in 1867 opened the area’s first saloon. The area soon became the centre of trade and commerce and in 1886 was incorporated as the City of Vancouver. That same year the Great Vancouver Fire destroyed all but two of its buildings. Today it’s a vibrant mix of old and new with restaurants, boutiques, nightclubs, and business offices. Two popular annual events held in Gastown are the Vancouver International Jazz Festival and the Tour de Gastown International Bicycle Race.

Whatever you look for in a vacation, Vancouver can offer it. And spending just a few days in this great city will show you why it’s voted the world’s number one.

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Vila Real de Santo Antonio is situated on the western bank of the Rio Guardiana and faces Spain. A bridge was built in 1990 that connects Vila Real with the town of Ayamonte in Spain and has become a popular entry point into Spain without the hassle of having to wait for a ferry. This small city has a unique history in that it was completely submerged by the tidal wave caused by the earthquake of 1755. It was swiftly rebuilt thereafter, but gone were the haphazard and narrow roadways and instead a well planned street grid was built that is reminiscent of the downtown area of Lisbon. As such, Vila Real is one of the easiest cities to navigate and makes exploring it a pleasure.

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Like many other towns located along the Rio Guardiana, Vila Real enjoyed much early success as a river-port town and its economy depended heavily on river traffic as well as sardine and tuna fishing. Also like many other towns along this river it began to stagnate and slowly eased into a period of decline as river traffic slowed and the movement of goods to the coast no longer required the river. Once the tourist boom of the mid 20th century hit, Vila Real was once again enjoying a time of prosperity.

Today this attractive town is very popular with the retired generation and families. This is due primarily to its location in the furthest southeast corner of Portugal and is somewhat distanced from the major tourist attractions that draw the younger crowd. The town itself has a large center square called Praзa Marquкs de Pombal that is paved with a beautiful mosaic design and is surrounded by fragrant orange trees and lined with cafes and boutiques for passing a lazy afternoon.

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The riverfront area is of particular appeal to residents and visitors and is complete with a marina for watching the boats come and go. Like the central square, the riverfront is perfect for leisurely walks and enjoying the pristine weather and on clear days Ayamonte is visible. River trips on the ferry across to Spain or travelling by boat up the river to Alcoutim is a popular activity for both tourists and residents.

The beach at Vila Real is also a popular spot and is quite long. It stretches several kilometers nearly all the way to Tavira. As such, even in the height of summer it never feels overcrowded. And, unlike many other towns in Portugal, Vila Real is relatively flat and is perfect for cycling or long walks to explore the city and the outlying areas.

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Life in Vila Real is leisurely and sedate. Endless days of sunshine follow one after the other and this area is nearly perfect for hedonists. Vila Real offers the best of all worlds: beach, riverfront, perfect climate, Portuguese hospitality and tranquility. It is also immensely popular with the older generation who are looking for the right spot in Portugal to retire. With plenty of open land available for building many expatriates of the United Kingdom find this the perfect place to call home. It is also a wise location for those purchasing property with the intent to let, as many people desire this area for medium and long term stays. Vila Real is very different from the over-commercialized larger cities in the Algarve but that is just fine, for those who call Vila Real home are pleased to do so.

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Pereiro stands a short distance from the town of Alcoutim and is representative of many other small Algarvian towns. Relatively untouched by time or the tourist industry, Pereiro stands testament to true Portuguese tradition. The whitewashed houses, narrow winding streets and the 16th century church that stands near the center of the village are all indicative of traditional Portuguese architecture.

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The modest church in Pereiro is dedicated to St. Marcus and is well worth visiting despite its humble appearance. Inside one will find a varied and immensely interesting collection of retables and an admirable collection of religious images.

Pereiro is also home to the Pereiro Museum Nucleus that documents the rich mining history of this mountain village as well as the rural heritage that Pereiro embraces.

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The area around Pereiro is a stunning example of the dichotomy between natural beauty and man’s stamp on the land. On one hand there is the quaint and humble village of Pereiro that is surrounded by natural flora and fauna, but closer examination of the surrounding area reveals that mankind has inhabited this area for millennia. The best way to see the relationship between Pereiro, the land and its history is by following the Pereiro Pedestrian Trail. This ten kilometer trek will take you on a loop through the area around Pereiro and on your tour you will see the Pereiro Irrigation Dam and the myriad wildlife that call that area home. In addition you’ll pass through Silveira, a long abandoned ancient village with remains of antiquated stone structures. The windmills standing between Silveira and Pereiro are a fine example of ancient technology still in use.

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Pereiro has a certain pastoral charm that entrances visitors. Some of these visitors choose to build on the land surrounding Pereiro in order to fully embrace a quiet tranquil life but still be close enough to the coastline and all that Algarve has to offer. Even though Pereiro is not a bustling hub of activity, this is exactly what some people are looking for when choosing a location to purchase property.

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