Zambujeira do Mar

From Boavista de Pinheros, it's only 15 kilometers to the sea. Along twisty roads through cork forests and farms, you arrive at a tiny white village perched on cliffs above the sea. Below, the waves pound the rocks and the breeze cools the air.

We walked down to the beach from the parking lot on the cliffs - my sheltered American kids had an immediate lesson on nudity in public and other cultures! The water is freezing (to this Florida girl), but the water is shallow and gentle enough for kids to play near shore, but rough enough for surfers to enjoy further out. The Rota Vicetina trail is easily accessible from the boardwalk along the road that heads up the hill south of the beach. It's easily navigable for almost everyone - though the sand makes it slow going in some parts. From the trail, you can see empty beaches below. For the adventurous, a little slice of paradise awaits.

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Back in the center of town, several restaurants serve local seafood and ice cream for the kids. Try the local soup made of tiny little sea slugs! The view is nice and the service is friendly. We went into a little convenience store for a bottle of wine to take back to house - it all looks the same to me and was all loca and between 4 and 7 euro. I may spend my entire vacation eating nothing but cheese and drinking nothing but wine!