Family
BONAIRE
DIVE INTO ONE OF THE OLDEST MARINE
RESERVES IN THE WORLDDazzling sunlight, a turquoise sea, palm trees, white
beaches and a laid-back atmosphere: Bonaire ticks all the
boxes for an idyllic tropical destination. And off its coast
lies one of the oldest marine reserves in the world.
The Bonaire National Marine Park was established in 1979
and has been on the provisional UNESCO World Heritage
List since 2011. The reserve encompasses 6,672 acres of coral
reef, seagrass and mangrove vegetation. Bonaire’s reefs are
a magnet for divers and snorkellers who can spot up to 57
species of coral and more than 350 different fish species.
Several of the island’s dive schools participate in the Reef
Renewal programme, in which volunteers can grow and
maintain corals, then plant them into the reef.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER (THE NETHERLANDS)LYCI A, TURKE Y
LEARN ABOUT NOMADIC LIFE IN THE
SUNNY MEDITERRANEANThe nomadic yörüks, originally from different Turkic
groups that ranged from the Balkans to Iran, once roamed
the plateaus of the Turkish riviera. Most of the yörüks
(literally ‘walkers’) have now settled — but many of their
thousand-year-old customs are alive and well. Located in
the historical Lycia region in southwestern Anatolia, Teke
Peninsula is one of the spots where yörük culture remains
strong. Teke yörüks live a semi-nomadic life set against a
mountainous, Mediterranean backdrop full of olive trees.
In recent years, tour companies have started to merge
the marvels of Lycia with yörük life. Families can trek parts
of the famous Lycian Way; visit ancient sites like Patara,
Xanthos or Letoon; and spend nights in villagers’ homes.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER (TURKEY)NOTTINGHAMSHIRE, UK
ROBIN HOOD COUNTRY GETS A REVAMPFresh from an exciting £30m revamp, 400-year-old
Nottingham Castle has thrown open its wooden gates
again. The highlight is a permanent new exhibition
dedicated to Robin Hood and his fellow Nottingham
rebels, with the focus on interactive fun including
storytelling and ballads in a mocked-up forest clearing
as well as longbow-firing, digital archery competitions
and sparring with Little John.
Throw in some caves to explore, family trails, seasonal
events and a fantastic new adventure playground, and
you have all the makings of brilliant day out.
It would be remiss to visit Nottingham without
branching out to Sherwood Forest, home to the folkloric
Hood himself and his band of Merry Men. In 2018 the
forest opened a new visitor centre, and a 450-acre nature
reserve, managed by the RSPB.
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Jan/Feb 2022 99BEST OF THE WORLD