Menorca
7 plans for traveling with children to Menorca in spring time
The spring in Menorca is a wonderful time. The fields are full of green and yellow color by a flower called "vinagrella", a main plant on the island. The blue color of the sea becomes more intense and bright. The mild temperatures invite to walk along the villages and trails. Would you like us to prepare an excursion with children around Menorca?
It is an ideal time to know the island with calm. The days are longer and the special light of spring will accompany you in your adventure. From the Hotel Royal Son Bou Family Club we recommend some activities to enjoy with the family:
1.- ¿What do you think about to make a bicycle tour?
The Natural Park of Albufera des Grau is beautiful at this time of the season. The winter rains make the lagoon to be full of life. On the road from Mahón to Es Grau, at Km 3.5 on the left, you will find an entrance to the park that takes you to the Interpretation Center. The staff there will offer you all the information you may need.
From there we suggest you choose the itinerary of the Mirador de Cala Llimpa. Not more than 1.7 kms but we are absolutely sure the children will like to make several stops along the way. They will love the bird observatory. You will see ducks in different colors, waterfowl such as cormorants or herons and large birds such as eagles and other raptors. If you are lucky you will find some turtle.
2.- Don’t miss a day to swim and to enjoy nautical activities
The beaches of La Vall are ideal for children. Located about 10 kms. from Ciutadella and with a parking situated just 5 minutes from the sea. Your children will have a good time discovering the turtles that live in the stream between the two coves. The temperature of the water starts to be warm so for sure your children would like to have a good bad after playing. Don’t forget to bring all the necesary things you could need to spend the day because it is a virgin cove with lifeguard service only.
3.- To walk around the historic center of Ciutadella.
Sitting in the sun on a terrace and enjoying a delicious ice cream of your favorite flavor is a good plan for your family. In the Plaça dels Pins, next to the Town Hall, there is a playground that children will love. From there you can walk along the promenade and visit the castle of San Nicolás which was built in the eighteenth century at the mouth of the port to defend the city of pirates arriving by sea. If you go on Friday or Saturday to the Plaça del Borne you will find a market in a very good atmosphere.
4.- Do you know about pirate adventures in Menorca?
There are many of them like for example a visit to the Cavalleria Lighthouse. They will live a great adventure entering through the cave that goes to the cliff, seeing the rocks in which so many ships were shipwrecked before the construction of this lighthouse. The oldest of the Menorcan lighthouses. At the Interpretation Center they will learn the stories of the area and we recommend you to visit the nearby port of Sanitja and Cala Viola where some goats graze around.
5.- Spring is ideal to make a trip around Camí de Cavalls, a path that goes around the coast.
It measures 185 kms and passes through places of great natural beauty and landscape. If you are in Son Bou there is a perfect stretch to travel with children to the neighboring beach of Santo Tomas. 5.4 km with no difficulty and great views of menorcan countryside and the Mediterranean Sea. On horseback, walking or cycling, you will like to discover this path that smells like rosemary.
6.- The Port of Mahon offers several possibilities
A nice walk to the seashore watching the docked boats, a terrace to taste the gastronomy of Menorca or a catamaran tour through the port to Cala San Esteban. You will love any of these plans because the port, one of the largest natural harbors in the world, is amazing. Children will enjoy to sit next to the little mermaid or see the fish from the glass bottom catamaran.
7.- Did you know about the interesting archaeological history of Menorca?
Only here you can see the "taulas", constructions of large stones placed in the shape of a T. Prehistoric rituals were organized around them. We propose a visit to the town of Talatí de Dalt, 4 kms. from Mahón. The story of how the ancient inhabitants of the island lived, the "talaiots" and the caves will make the children delight and be amazed in this place with so much history.
The mild temperatures during the spring are ideal for family excursions. Children will enjoy the outdoors, games and activities that which are more difficult to organize with the summer heat.
Take the opportunity to enjoy Menorca with the colors of the spring. Which plan would you like to prepare with the children?
More Plans with children in Menorca in this article: What to do with children in Menorca
The countryside of Menorca, an important natural market
Walking through the Menorcan countryside is full of surprises. On a family outing you can discover a large number of products: food, aromatic herbs ... For children it will be an adventure to know what nature offers them. Are you motivated to give for a walk?
Do you know the Menorca caper?
In June begins the time of the collection of the capers, the fruit of a beautiful plant with white flowers in lilac or pink tones that grows between the rocks. They are small green balls that are pickled with vinegar and added to salads and other typical dishes of Menorca, such as tongue or stewed meat.
It is a real food! Because the history tells that they were already collected more than 500 years ago for the Infantas of the Spanish Royal Family.
It may surprise you how they come out from among the stones that abound in the countryside. And you will also find them in some old walls of the island where spring springs up every year, such as those of Fort Marlborough, built almost 300 years ago, or those of Ciutadella, from the 14th century.
Take a few, put them in a vinegar jar and a bit of water inside. In a month you will have delicious capers that, well chopped, you can add to a mayonnaise and you will have a delicious sauce. Try it, the kids will lick their fingers.
Do you know that the mayonnaise sauce was invented by the Menorcans? Although it is known as a sauce of French origin it seems that the reality is that it was already made in Menorca before the French domination and that they were the ones who took the recipe to their country and from there they spread it to the whole world turning it into one of the most famous and versatile sauces there is.
The Samphire grows between the rocks on the Menorca cost
And near the sea you will find samphire emerging from between the rocks, a plant with green and fleshy leaves that is also picked and added to salads and appetizers. It is protected and you can only take one kilo per person but the most fun is to spend time outdoors with the family recognizing these peculiar Menorca products.
Spring is the ideal time to collect it, before the summer heat arrives and the flowers appear. Do you know that it is a food with a high vitamin C content? That is why the sailors of yesteryear always carried it on their boats.
Its flavor is slightly spicy and very aromatic. In addition, it stimulates the appetite and is a powerful natural antioxidant. A slice of bread spread with tomato and with some leaves of pickled samphire is a delicacy that will remind you of the sea you have found.
The perfume of menorcan camomile
And in the months of June and July is collected the "camamil.la", the traditional chamomile that, prepared in infusion, is aromatic and calming. It is a plant with yellow flowers that is found mostly in sunny and stony north places of Menorca.
If the children find it, teach them that they should take the most open flowers and that they cannot take them all, you always have to leave some on the plant. Each stem must be cut carefully so that they are born again each year. Then you have to let them dry in a cool place where they do not get the sun. And soon they will be ready to consume.
Do you know that it is an infusion with many qualities? It facilitates digestion and has anti-inflammatory properties. Oh! And remember that when you prepare it, the number of flowers must be odd. It may be just a legend about chamomile but this is the way how we do it in Menorca.
Wild plants to collect as a family in Menorca
Have you ever seen wild asparagus? Just when spring starts, the asparagus gives its fruits, tender and tasty, which we use in the kitchen add in omelet or to the famous "oliaigu", a vegetable soup typical of the Menorca gastronomy.
Children love to play to find asparagus among the green herbs. The one that finds more returns satisfied of the excursion and ready to eat the biggest and most beautiful. Grilled are delicious.
As you can see, the countryside of the island is like a natural market that has a lot of food. Do not forget that at the beginning of winter comes the time of collecting the mushrooms or after a good rain you have to go out to look for snails. You will be amazed by the recipe of our cuisine that combines snails with crab and a good stir-fry. Have you tried it? They are delicious!
And we cannot forget the aromatic plants that add the taste of any dish. Wild rosemary grows throughout the island, thyme, mint ...
Which of these products has caught your attention? Surely you are already preparing a family outing to find some of them. Prepare a game with the children and they will have a great time pretending to be explorers searching caper’s flower or chamomile. Ready to start the search
