Can't decide between the coast, the countryside or the city?
You can drive to Quinta do Vale Formoso, a site in the hills of central Portugal, a 25-minute drive from Caldas da Rainha and about half an hour from the sandy beach of Foz do Arelho.
If you're planning a lazy holiday and this Atlantic Ocean destination seems a little too far away for splashing, fear not: you can still wallow in the water with ease in a pool on the park grounds. And what grounds they are....
The setting
The grassy gardens, which extend to a line of tall trees in the distance, allow this beautifully titled park to live up to its name and house fabulous riding facilities, including an arena, stables and a training school.
The spots
You settle on the site.
The amenities
Does trotting, galloping and cantering usually work up an appetite?
There are barbecues on site and you can bring your food to the cozy common room to sit on soft armchairs by the fireplace.
For an additional fee to be paid on site, you can use the washing and drying machine.
The activities
Nearby outdoor activities can be found in the Serras de Aire e Candeeiros Natural Park, about 20 minutes away by car, for trekking in an arid landscape, caving in limestone caves or searching for fossilized dinosaur tracks.
Closer still is the Salinas de Rio Maior, where you can see the craftsmen sifting the salt from the ponds and processing it in the ancestral way.
Portugal is full of ancient sights and long-standing traditions, from the massive castle of Óbidos (25 minutes by car) to the majestic Alcobaça Monastery.
And if you want to get to know the Leiria region like a local? Ask the site staff about guided walks, wine and cheese evenings, and quad biking in the area.