A lot of the population haven't heard of it before, but it's a
recognised medical condition and known in the media as SAD - Seasonal
Affective Disorder - where the lack of sunshine in winter time can have
profound effects on people's well being and state of mind.
And it's particularly prevalent in northern European countries such as
the UK, Sweden, Norway and Denmark where the winters can be long, dark
affairs.
But happily for Europeans with SAD who have a bit of money and a week or
two to spare a good natural answer is possible - sunshine while taking a
holiday in Tenerife, one of the Spanish Canary islands renowned for her
holidays industry.
Tenerife is well known as a summer vacation destination, with winter
holidays on the island becoming increasingly in vogue in recent years,
and with winter trips to the island often cheaper than in the summer
it's proved to be a perfect tonic for many of those suffering with SAD.
But apart from beaches and the sun, although important on a winter
holiday, what else is there in Tenerife for the holidaymaker to
discover?
Tenerife's capital city is Santa Cruz, which has a resident population
of over 220,000. The island features two predominant areas for visitors
to enjoy.
The southern part of the island offers the warm temperatures and
tropical settings. The northern part of the island is smaller and less
populated with milder temperatures, so for those looking for the sun the
southern part of the island would appear to be the best area for 2011
Tenerife holidays.
Icod de los Vinos (just Icod to the locals) is Tenerife's premier
wine-growing region. Daily life in Icod moves at a more relaxed pace
than some other places on the island. If you visit Icod, be sure to
visit the Dragon Tree that the locals say is thousands of years old. The
beautiful Playa San Marcos with its inviting black sand can be found
nearby.
La Laguna is a great city for those who enjoy art and architecture. The
Cathedral and museum there date back to 1515, and there are many
breathtaking churches to explore. The city was once the capital of the
island and still bears the regal air of an important place.
Los Gigantes is a city at the foot of massive cliffs which are also
named Los Gigantes. The picturesque marina offers boat trips for dolphin
and whale watching, while the town centre has many bars, restaurants
and good shopping outlets.
Los Cristianos is located on the southern coast of Tenerife in the
Canary Islands. A relatively small town, with a population of about
12,000, provides tourists a more private, relaxed atmosphere than some
of the larger resorts on the island. Its humble beginnings as a fishing
village are still evident in some areas of Los Cristianos.
For holidaymakers who have visited Tenerife before but haven't been for a
while, a notable improvement is Playa de las Americas. This holiday
resort, built in the 1960's following the tourist boom in Tenerife in
the 1950's, has experienced vibrant growth in recent years. It has grown
to include the best of what the island has to offer - vivacious
nightlife, featuring numerous nightclubs and bars, as well as plenty of
beaches, water sports and theme parks.
Tenerife in the winter is much more than just sunshine, and for those
with SAD the island can provide a genuinely good holiday as well as the
all important sunshine to start 2011 in the right way.
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