Cala Gogo

Small kids looking for somewhere to cool off in warm weather can be taken to Parc Aquàtic Aquadiver (30 minutes' walk/five minutes' drive), a family-friendly waterpark on the edge of Platja d'Aro. There's also a small-size miniature golf course in town; those looking for a full-scale links should head to Pitch & Putt Mas Torrellas (10 minutes). If you've come with a bike, you might like to pedal along the seafront to the neighbouring town of Palamós (20 minutes' cycle/10 minutes' drive), passing several historic towers on the way. Once you've arrived, head to the fishing museum by the port before drifting over to the seafood market next door and putting what you've learned to good use. You're not far from cultural sites here either, and it's well worth heading to Girona (30 minutes) where there's a bunch of historic monuments, museums, churches and galleries to explore. Spain's second city, Barcelona (an hour and 20 minutes), is also well within reach, as are pretty towns in the Pyrenean foothills like Besalú (an hour and 10 minutes) and Olot (an hour and 20 minutes).