by Adrienne Brunner

Created on: August 22, 2008   Last Updated: August 24, 2008

What do you have in common with a three hundred pound leatherback turtle? You'll both have to travel hundreds of miles just to get to beautiful Tamarindo, Costa Rica! Although you will most likely be there for some relaxing down time, the infamous leatherback turtle comes on shore for a quick visit and heads back to sea.

A visit to Costa Rica could prove memorable for your family, whether you enjoy activities such as surfing, tennis, water skiing, horseback riding, or just soaking up the sun. Yes, you read that right: Tennis. When most people think of a fabulous vacation with pristine beaches, world-class dining and incredible views, tennis does not come to mind.

However, at 15 Love Contemporary Bed and Breakfast, you can combine your passion for tennis with a love for surfing. Or ocean kayaking, scuba diving, or jungle boat rides. The wide variety of things to do in Tamarindo begins with your choice of how to get there.

If you are passionate about tennis, you can choose a fun stay at the luxurious 15 Love. Unlike quality hotels in the States, if you choose to fly into nearby Liberia airport, you will have the privilege of paying $60 for a shuttle to the hotel. Then you may begin a family tradition of tennis and surfing with their fabulous tennis and surfing package where each of you will enjoy tennis lessons with a pro and one lucky member of the family will receive a surfing lesson.

After a hard workout on one of the two tennis courts at 15 Love, get ready to relax and unwind with a jungle boat ride or give up sleep completely to visit Grande Beach at night for a magical sight: Hundreds of huge reptiles digging in the sand. As many as 200 leatherback turtles visit the beach each night from November through March to lay their eggs. Your young children will squeal with glee, and no doubt you will have to cover the mysteries of the birds and the bees after witnessing this phenomenon.

If simply worshiping the sun in the dry 80-100 degree weather is not your cup of tea, try a romantic outing such as roosterfishing! This is sure to win her heart as easily as a champagne dinner in one of the classy restaurants. Not into fishing? Try an exciting four to five hour drive on the paved highway from Tamarindo to San Jose. Your eyes are not failing you, that did say the paved highway, and although it might be the only pavement around, the view is sure to amaze anyone.

And finally, if you can't find any of these activities to be desirable, you can always play "chase the little round ball," a.k.a. golf, on one of two beautiful courses. To put it mildly, if you can't find something interesting to turn into a family tradition on this beautiful stretch of Costa Rica, you might as well stay home.

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