The country of Portugal is an excellent destination for you and your family this holiday vacation, and there are plenty of different things to see and do.

Visit Belém, which is home to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, which is one of the most stunning monasteries in all of Portugal. It offers a wonderful example of Manueline design and architecture. In the town of Belém, visitors can also tour the Padrao dos Descobrimentos and the Torre de Belém, which are both beautiful architectural monuments which honor the Portuguese explorer spirit and the country’s many overseas discoveries and ancient colonies. There are also plenty of lovely walks along the nearby river, and some excellent cafes and restaurants where you can enjoy the local specialty pastry treat, Pasteis de Belém.

Next head to Portugal’s only national park called Peneda-Geres which is home to over 170,000 acres of mountain slopes, old stone villages, in which people’s lifestyles who live here have changed very little over the centuries.  The park will let you enjoy wildlife up close and it is a great place to visit, especially for nature lovers.

The beautiful town of Sintra is just a short drive from Lisbon and has a lovely forest park; within which is a stunning example of an 8th Century Moorish castle. This castle was abandoned in 1147, and was finally restored to its once radiant self in 1860. This beautiful landmark is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, and welcomes thousands of visitors through her doors every year.

If you are lucky enough to be in Portugal during one its many colorful festivals, you will want to join in the singing, dancing, drinking and banquets which are held all over the country. One of the most popular festivals is called Saint Anthony’s Day, and is celebrated in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, which is held on June 12^th and 13^th every year. The festival includes parades, a firework display and lively street parties!!

For those who love the outdoors, try horseback riding which is very popular with Portuguese locals and tourists alike. There are riding schools located all over the country and they also offer guided day tours on horseback for a reasonable price.

Whether you are tasting a bottle of Portugal’s best wine from the Douro Valley, to visiting the beautiful sea port of Aveiro, or touring the inside of the colorful and amazingly beautiful Palacio da Pena located in Sintra, Portugal is a country which offers its visitors a variety of cultural, historical and entertaining tourist sites to visit.