Category: Kefalonia with children

Enjoy and explore the beaches of Kefalonia! The island of Kefalonia has over 250 km of coastline and over 500 beaches. Warm, blue-green sea, sun, sand, swimming, diving, water sports on the beautiful beaches of Kefalonia are enough for an unforgettable vacation!

Look for wild horses on Mount Ainos. It sounds unlikely but it is true! The Aenos mountain range is the highest mountain of the Ionian Islands. Its highest peak is Megas Soros (1627 m.). There are organized hiking tours to visit the mountain, but you can also visit it yourself. The paths are marked with signs. This national park covers an area of about 3000 ha and about 2/3 of this area is covered with the endemic Abies Cephalonica fir. On the southeastern side of the mountain, semi-wild horses of the Equus caballus species can often be seen. The governing body of the Ainos Mountain National Park is responsible for the protection and preservation of the National Park. The offices are located in the Koutavos Environmental Center in Argostoli.

Antisamos beach is one of the most beautiful places in Kefalonia! A white pebble beach, surrounded by green hills and beautiful clear turquoise water. This natural beauty is a paradise in Kefalonia that you must visit. Antisamos Beach is a unique place known not only for the natural environment around the beach but also for the deep sea and marine life of the bay. A day on the Yellow Submarine is the best way to escape, discover, enjoy, live an adventure, and see all of Antisamos! Play, learn, and explore the deep blue waters of Antisamos while staying in the air-conditioned cabin of the submarine, with 16 very large windows that allow you to see up to 30 meters deep and explore the rich underwater world.

For more information, visit https://www.yellowsubmarinekefalonia.gr

The island of Kefalonia is like one big laboratory. This is where nature shows itself in its most beautiful forms and gives us a unique opportunity to look into its interior and follow how it developed. What is paleontology? If you want to learn more about this science, visit Saint Thomas beach, about 11 km from Argostoli, and apart from golden sand, warm clear water, and an ideal place for diving, this beach is also ideal for little scientists. The rocks surrounding this beach are over 5 million years old and you can see how the earth’s crust has changed in their cross-section. Fossil remains of marine animals can be seen in the upper layers. Small openings on the surface are places where sea salt is naturally deposited. During the summer months, they are filled with seawater, which, after evaporation, leaves a crust of salt on the surface each time. This bark, called “afrala” in Kefalonia, is collected by the locals and called “Salt flower”.

Visit the theme park Odysseus zoo land. As you probably know Odysseus is the hero described in Homer’s famous epic The Odyssey. The main hero Odysseus returns to his homeland Ithaca after the Trojan War. Along the way, he faces many obstacles and with the help of the gods, he overcomes everything. His exciting experiences are described in this theme park. With the various animals that live there, visiting the park is an experience for the whole family. Follow the hero Odysseus through the paths of Odysseus’ zoo. If you need more information please visit https://odysseuszooland.com.

Do you know how Kefalonia got its name? As you surely know, the ancient Greeks believed in several gods, heroes, and mythological beings and tried to explain the origin of the world and all events in a special way. Like everything in Greece, Kefalonia has its own myths. According to legend, Kefalonia was named after Kephalos, a famous hunter. He took his faithful dog Lelap everywhere. He was happily married to Prokrida, but the goddess of the dawn, Eos, and the goddess of the hunt, Artemis, interfered in their love. By an unfortunate accident, Procrida was killed by his spear. After that, he participated in many wars on the side of King Amphitrio, who ruled part of the current Peloponnese, and as a reward for his bravery, the king gave him an island called Kefalonia. He had 4 sons and gave each of them a part of the island. Those areas are still called by their names today. If you want to know more details about this myth, look for a book in our library.

Do you know what is geology? Kefalonia is a great place to learn. There are 40 geological sites on the island. Look for a map at the reception and start from the nearest and most interesting locations. Ten minutes from our hotel is the Katavothres sinkhole. There the seawater sinks and travels all the way to the opposite side of the island and near the village of Sami and forms Lake Melissani. Nature made sure to make things even more beautiful, so she placed the lake in a cave. Melisani is one of the most important caves in Greece because it has a special geological, biological, archaeological, aesthetic, and mythological significance. Only 2 km from the lake is the Drogarati cave, one of the most beautiful caves in Europe. It is over 60 million years old. It is decorated with beautiful stalactites and stalagmites of inestimable beauty and value. When you are already in that area, make sure to visit the Karavomilos lake. You can find a detailed map of all geological sites at the reception.

The De Bosset Bridge divides the Koutavos Lagoon into two parts. Once upon a time, it was a swamp and now it is a protected park and a habitat where Caretta Caretta turtles live. In the lagoon, you can rent pedolinos or water bikes. Driving is very interesting. Apart from the turtles, the Koutavos Lagoon is home to countless different species of birds. They are also protected. By the way, Koutavos Lagoon is part of the Kefalonia-Ithaca Geopark and since 2016 it has been part of the “UNESCO Global Geopark”. It is an organization that deals with the preservation and protection of plants, animals, and their habitats that are of special importance to the culture and history of Kefalonia. Also in the Koutavos lagoon, you can see a small “island” that is a refuge for the birds that are in the lagoon as well as for the migratory birds that stop here to rest. If you want to see what the marsh really looks like, visit the Meadow Lagoon very close to the town of Argostoli. Beautiful White herons live here.

Take a walk through the city or take a train ride. Kefalonia is an island with a very turbulent history. One of the stops is the Drapano (De Bosset) bridge. The bridge is the longest stone bridge on the sea surface in the world. It was built in 1813 and is an exceptional place for walking and taking photos, both during the day and during the evening. In the middle of the bridge is the Obelisk (Column) monument. It was built in 1813. and was a symbol of gratitude of the Kefalonian Parliament to Great Britain. The obelisk had a plaque in four languages: Greek, English, Italian, and Latin with the inscription “In Glory of the British Empire”, which mysteriously disappeared in 1865, when the Greeks regained control of the island.

Our Kids Corner is a place in the hotel where children can have fun and play safely while their parents rest. Look for our book KEFALONIA, for children and adults, by author Maria Rouchota, at the reception. This one is interesting for the whole family. By reading and coloring it together, you will experience happy moments, have fun and learn a lot about this beautiful island in an interesting way. Don’t forget to take funny photos on our display and send them to your grandparents.