Great Things to Do Near Casa Aina
Lloc de Menorca
Visit Menorca's zoo to indigenous species such as its emblematic red cow and other wild and wonderful creatures. There are plenty of opportunities to get close to the animals and a wet playground, so pack a towel for the little ones.
Inaki Sampedro
The unique leather goods on sale at Inaki Sampedro could potentially ruin your holiday budget. Try the accessories such as purses and mobile phone covers for something a little more gentle on your wallet. Or simply employ the expression: 'solo estoy mirando' (I'm just looking)!
Pastissets
Once your Monte Toro photocall is completed make your way to the cafe bar and enjoy the delicious pastissets (traditional shortbread biscuits coated in icing sugar) with a cup of coffee.
Walk or drive to the beach of Son Parc,
and enjoy the wide expanse of white sand at the foot of the dunes - maybe stay for lunch at the beach café.
If you enjoy a walk to sharpen your appetite,
go through the wooden gate on the left of the beach, and walk to cala Pudent, the small beach that you can see between the rocks bordering Son Parc.
Hort Sant Patrici
is a working farm just north of Ferreries that produces cheese, wine and cured meats. Visitors can stroll through the vineyards, wander through the marble sculptures in the gardens, see the cheese being made and learn about how it was made in the past in the cheese museum, visit the state-of-the-art wine cellar and purchase quality Menorcan products in the shop.
Instead of using the main road,
drive from the steamroller roundabout at Es Mercadal down to Mahon harbour by way of the Cami den Kane - Kane's road. Following the route of the original road across the island, constructed by order of the British governor Sir Richard Kane in the 18th century, it is a very pretty and quiet alternative route.
Drive north from Es Mercadal to the fishing port of Fornells,
the only town on the north coast. This is the home of many quality seafood restaurants where you can try the traditional caldereta de langosta - a delicious (but expensive) lobster stew.
The diving centre on Fornells waterfront offers scuba diving lessons for beginners,
and boat dives for the more experienced - don't forget to bring your certification with you. Or you could hire a kayak to explore the bay.
Go south to the resort of Son Bou, with the longest beach on the island,
and look for the terrapins in the fresh water pond . The marshlands behind the sand dunes are home to a large variety of birds and plants.
Definitely not to be missed is a drive to the top of Monte Toro,
the highest point of the island, and right in the centre. From the summit you can pick out every town on the island and enjoy beautiful views across the countryside. The monastery here is no longer used as such, but the lovely church, tended by nuns, is very special to all Menorcans.
Drive down to Mahon harbourside,
and take a trip around the harbour on the glass bottomed boat. This is the second largest natural harbour in the world - Pearl Harbour is the largest. It is steeped in history, especially from the British occupation, and the boat often stops outside the harbour entrance to see the underwater life through the glass bottom.
Take a stroll along the length of Mahon harbour,
with its fishing boats and modern pleasure yachts, perhaps stopping for coffee and a croissant at one of the many waterside cafes. Or go by night and have dinner - Il Porto 225 is a good choice of restaurant.
Spend a morning in Mahon at the Museo de Menorca - the museum of Menorca,
which includes a video of the history from pre-history to modern times, as well as artefacts and objects, all well set out and described, and housed in the cloisters of a former monastery. Don't worry - it's all in English. Admission is free on Sundays, and for pensioners.
While in Mahon,
make time to visit the covered market in the cloisters of the church of Carmen. Many of the shops sell typical Menorcan produce, and in the café you can see photos of the market in its heyday, when it was Mahon's fruit and veg market. An escalator leads down to a supermarket beneath.
For a respite from shopping in Mahon,
stop for coffee at the American Bar, and watch the world go by.
A few yards from the American Bar, in Calle Deya,
on the left as you look up hill you will see a small wall sign beside a covered entrance, saying Parc des Freginal. Go in here to find one of Mahon's best kept secrets - a green, shady park, away from the bustle of the town, where you can rest, or perhaps enjoy a picnic lunch.
On Sunday morning
how about looking for bargains and antiques at the car boot sale in Mahon's Es Freginal park.
Spend an afternoon at the trotting races,
at the Hipodromo on the road from Mahon to Sant Lluis. Pick your favourites from the race card and bet on the tote. Held on Saturday afternoons.
The parish church of Mahon, the Santa Maria,
houses one of the largest and finest organs in the world. Don't miss the chance to hear it being played, at one of the recitals held on every weekday morning at 11:00 o'clock.
