Javea town has something for everyone with its attractive historical centre, the fishing port with shops, restaurants and palm-lined promenade and its postcard-perfect sandy beach. Javea's most famous beach is the Arenal, which is long and sandy. You can almost imagine yourself jogging in the surf as the morning sun breaks through, (although last nights rioja will inevitably win through in the end). This is a good family beach, as the water stays shallow for some considerable distance so is good for small children. From lunchtime until late, the promenade comes to life with the buzz of colourful market stalls, bars and restaurants. Other beaches are scattered around the promontories as well as a small beach in nearby Moraira and miles of sand extending the length of the coast from Denia. Jetski and water-skiing are both organised from Javea port, but if snorkelling or scuba diving is more your thing or you fancy somewhere a little more secluded, you may want to take the drive to Granadella. Half an hour in the car through winding pine-scented forest brings you to this stunning turquoise pebble beach where you can relax, drink at the bar or explore in the water or on the rocks. But there's much more than beaches. There are many relatively unspoiled small towns only a short ride away inland as well as other and different seaside towns and villages to north and south. There are dramatic mountains offering opportunities for walking and hiking, fascinating drives through varied and often wild countryside - and city life in Alicante and Valencia, two of Spain's largest and most cosmopolitan towns. If you don't want to stray far from the villa, the local hotel bar restaurant can provide you with some entertainment. During the day the paddling pools can provide hours of fun for small children and in the evenings it hosts some lively authentic flamenco evenings. All in all, the area is well worth exploring and often yields unexpected surprises, do share the fruits of your explorations with us in the housebook, we'd love to know.