ELTIPS AV R T
I’d braved Ferrari Land with my family – a theme park devoted to the motoring giant, in Salou on the Costa Brava.
It is home to Red Force, Europe’s fastest and highest roller coaster – on every adrenaline junkie’s list.
Enzo Ferrari, the racing legend himself, said he wanted to build a car that made you feel like you were flying without leaving the ground.
And I certainly felt like I was flying – by the seat of my pants anyway – as Red Force catapulted me up 370ft over a near-vertical loop.
It was all over in 30 heartthumping, stomach- churning seconds. And I couldn’t wait to do it again.
Ferrari Land opened a couple of years ago. It’s a novel addition to the huge Port Aventura World theme park – Spain’s biggest.
Port Aventura is packed with both hardcore rides and imaginative ones for all ages so it’s perfect for families.
I was there with sons Max, 16, and Freddie, ten, plus Max’s friend Ethan, also 16.
The newest ride, Street Mission, is in the Sesame Street- inspired area, Sesamo Aventura. You zap up cookie crumbs with a laser gun on a madcap dcap indoor journey full ull of animation and d special effects.
Scores at the end show who’s won. It’s fantastic fun for all – well, everyone e over 90cm, the e minimum height.
The rest of the park is split up into o five distinct lands.
Die-hard ride f fans ns sh should ld head h d straight to the China zone for the humongous intertwining roller coaster Shambhala – the park’s tallest at 250ft, featuring the longest drop and a dizzying five camelback humps. If your stomach is up to it, jump on Dragon Khan, with i its mind-spinning eight loopthe the- l oops and 70m 70mph speeds.
These rides are designed for se serious t hrill see seekers – or the slig slightly insane. Le Let your nerves recove recover on Angkor, a raft adventure adv where you shoot w water guns at obstacles or, or for much mu more fun, other people.
You can stay wet on the Grand Canyon Rapids and the Silver River Flume in the Far West area, then head on to Tutuki Splash in Polynesia, all designed to give you a cloudburst- style battering.
BARCELONA is only an hour away, so you could fly out there first or combine a trip.
IN summer, Port Aventura Park stays open until midnight. Queues are much shorter later in the evening so chill out over dinner then head back on to the rides.
IF you can splash out, Express Passes allow quick access on to one or more rides. They cost £22pp per day in Port Aventura Park or £20pp
in Ferrari Land. Thoroughy soaked and slightly delirious, we enjoyed a late-afternoon dip in the bathtub-warm pool at Port Aventura’s Gold River hotel, which lies right next to the park.
Staying onsite makes the whole experience less hassle.
We were in the brand new Colorado Creek hotel, which has huge rooms with two double beds and thoughtful touches such as a monsoon shower, pool towels and Rituals toiletries.
Go half board for evening meals in the hotel’s buffet restaurant, which serves everything from burgers and steaks to paella and fish, perfect for all tastes, even your little fussy eaters.
You can also spend time in Caribe Aquatic Park, which is perfect for the Costa Brava’s sun-soaked days.
Max and Ethan loved King Khajuna, a slide with a 100ft free-fall drop. Freddie and I played it safe(er) w with the 300ft long Ciclon Tropical.
And it’s easily the most I’ve ever y yelled in a school holiday. FACTFILE: F Fly to Reus airport, which is 15 minutes from Port Aventura Park. Try Jet2 or Easyjet from UK airports. B& B at Hotel Colorado Creek for a family of four starts at £285pn including Port Aventura Park tickets on both arrival and departure days plus one- day admission to Ferrari Land. Add Caribe Aquatic P Park for £19.50 adult, £17 child. See p portaventuraworld.com/en.