Beyond Theme Parks In Spain
Zoos, safaris, museums, nature trails... Spain has a wide array of leisure and entertainment options for children that goes beyond the big theme parks that have sprung up over the last few years. In the last decade, more and more theme parks have been built in Spain, with Terra Mítica in Benidorm, Port Aventura in Tarragona, Isla Magica in Seville, Warner Bros Park in Madrid to name but just a few. At the same time however, a wide range of leisure activities has also come about, that focus more on contact with the environment and science than tall, twisting roller coasters. Of the many centers connected to nature in Spain, the most classic are the zoos, which allow children to see animals without leaving the city. The Zoo Aquarium in Madrid, one of the most important in the world, contains a dolphin tank, aquarium, a large aviary and a zoo with more than 500 species of animals, among which the koalas, the zoo's latest acquisition, stand out. The Barcelona Zoo is still among the best in Europe, despite the loss of its most cherished symbol: "Copito de Nieve", the only known white gorilla in the World.
In terms of aquariums, Spain boasts the largest one in Europe, the spectacular
The Atapuerca Archeological Park (Burgos) is a great place to learn about the origins of human beings, and suggests guided itineraries that recreate the fauna of the Pleistocene period, huts from the Paleolithic period and settlements of the Bronze Age. All to entertain and teach children about prehistory. Not far from there, in the provinces of Soria and La Rioja, there are a variety of routes that lead to archeological sites containing the remains and footprints of dinosaurs.
by Fernando Macia
