Culture and Charm: A Family-Friendly Greece Vacation

The sunrise spreads across the city turns the opulent white marble of the Parthenon shades of purple and pink. The scent of strong Greek coffee fills the dining room at breakfast, accompanied by the semi-sweet aroma of freshly baked Epirot pies. Your private transfer greets the family at the hotel and escorts you to the airport for your flight to Patmos. The azure Aegean waters splash against the coastline laced with sheer cliffs and colorful volcanic soil. Whitewashed houses glow against the backdrop of lush hills and translucent sea.

Your fabulous hotel room overlooks the bright waters and staggering coastline of the island leading into quiet bays with sand and pebbled beaches. Pine trees and heathers grow along the hillside offering serene pastoral landscapes mixed with the enchanting island ambiance. The family ventures to the small fishing village of Grikos for an introduction to the island culture atop a small plateau. The lush hills host tree tufts and vines by the crystalline waters. Traditional tavernas billow with the scent of freshly grilled octopus with lemon juice. The kids watch the fishing boats wade in the water, where the colorful bow reflects in the placid bay.

At breakfast, you can hear the Aegean waters lapping at the coastline from your hotel. The aroma of Greek coffee blends with the refreshing sea breeze. Your guide leads the family into living history at Monastery of St. John. The edifice was constructed as a castle in the 11th century under the order of monk Christodoulos Latrinós above the main town referred to as Chora. The inner courtyard acts as the heart of the monastic complex towering above the island. The open space brings light into the inner halls through the high archways shining over the 12th-century frescoes in the Chapel of the Virgin Mary.

The cave in which St. John stayed during his exile from Rome is located on a small path between the villages of Chora and Skala. St. John recorded his visions of the apocalypse from within the cave resulting in the book of Revelation. The small chapel contrasts the horrors of Revelations with a quiet, reflective ambiance providing a peaceful place for pilgrims to worship or explore amid the subtle aroma of burning incense. The winding cobbled lanes of Chora blend the antique atmosphere of the Holy Island with the contemporary luxuries of Greece promoting boutique shops sporting expensive jewelry and small restaurants with outdoor seating providing refreshing coffee in a touch of shade while kids break from the heat with some ice cream.

After breakfast, the family heads to the marina and boards a sailboat bound for the lavish secluded isles around Patmos. The kids eagerly await the rising sails as your captain pulls the boat onto the stunning turquoise sea. Once safely away from the marina, the crew sets the sails. The breeze carries the briny and slightly sweet aroma of the Aegean before causing the sail to billow. The cliffs and sporadic stretches of pebbled shoreline fade behind you. The wake splashes warm water onto your face leaving bits of crystallized salt. The boat weighs anchor around a hidden bay on a small island of Patmos’s coast.

The kids dive into the water with goggles and snorkel searching for wildlife under the sea. You go to the beach at Tiganakia, enjoying the idyllic views of the islet and tranquil azure water. The kids find abundant patches of sea urchins along the sandy seafloor. You reach a charming island inhabited by three restaurants. The aroma of grilled seafood overtakes the scent of the gentle sea breeze with hints of dried egg, red mullet, tiny shrimp, and parrotfish. On your way back to the main marina, the sun sets leaving streaks of burnt sage, deep purple, and fiery red across the western sky reflecting in rippling waves across the water.

The ancient reputation of Rhodes creates an enchanting air around the busy port of the Eastern Mediterranean. The largest of Dodecanese islands boasts a history dating back to the 5th century BC crowning the landscape’s northern tip. The elegant minarets contrast sturdy hanging domes creating a skyline soaring above the trees. You arrive in Rhodes eager to explore the remarkable history showing signs of ancient Greeks and Turks, The Knights of St. John, and Italians.

The fascinating ramparts provide a stunning example of medieval fortifications erected during the Byzantine period but extend between the 14th and 16th centuries. The Mosque of Süleyman reflects the Ottoman past of the island highlighting the architectural grandeur of the 16th-century design commemorating the warriors’ victory over the Knights of St. John. The great sultan expanded his empire into Europe and across North Africa during the Ottoman Golden Age.

While the interior no longer hosts a house of worship, the exterior provides visitors with a sense of wonder. Windmills decorate the harbor amid two stone columns topped by two bronze deer. The kids easily imagine the Colossus of Rhodes standing watch over the harbor in the 3rd century personifying the Greed god Helios. The new town outside of the antique fortifications showcases the evolution of the island under the Italian rule of the 1930s revealing beautiful Art Deco architecture overlooking narrow sandy beaches with sunbeds.

At sunrise, the light washes over the pink dome of Süleyman’s Mosque as cafes fill the street with the rejuvenating aroma of freshly brewed Greek coffee. After breakfast, your guide leads the family to the Acropolis at Lindos. You follow the footpath climbing up the hillside reaching 380 feet high on the rocky bluff. The preserved sacred center was erected in the 6th century BC with medieval battlements constructed over the ancient foundations. The captivating remains contain the Doric Temple of Athena Lindia, which dates back to the 4th century BC. A Hellenistic colonnade known as a stoa retains 20 original columns set against the flickering blue hues of the coastal panorama.

The scent of cypress emanates from the hillside. The sunlight glints against the whitewashed homes resembling sugar-cubes below the Acropolis. The hidden alleyways lead to quiet tavernas and refreshing cafes. Your exploration of the ancient life on the island continues inside the Archeological Museum in Rhodes Town located inside the former 15th century Knights of Saint John Hospital. The galleries display preserved priceless treasures spanning 7,000 years of Western history including an exquisite marble statue depicting Aphrodite bathing from the 1st century BC. A remarkable mosaic floor embodied the Greek hero Bellerophon fighting the hybrid monster Chimaira.

At breakfast, the kids indulge in the flavor of fresh-squeezed orange juice as you sip the powerful character of Greek coffee. You set out once more into the wonders of historical Rhodes following the Street of the Knights, which lead to the Palace of the Grand Masters.  The cobbled lane runs between antique stone buildings and hanging Gothic arches preserved in the 15th and 16th-century grandeur. The Knights once had seven inns lining the walkway divided into the different languages the majority of the knights spoke. The original foundations for the Palace of the Grand Masters were erected in the 7th century with the palace fortifications expanded in the 14th century.

Archeologists have uncovered signs of an ancient temple dedicated to Helios resting beneath the grounds. The magnificent architecture resembles a storybook castle leading into galleries refurbished during the Italian reign over the island featuring mosaic floors, crenelated ramparts, and 150 rooms of fascinating antiquities. The beaches along the eastern shores of Rhodes provide the best access to a variety of sandy coastline or craggy bays. Locals dive off the rugged cliffs into the azure waters and family-run beach bars provide relaxing sunbed on which you can bask in the drifting sunlight.

The family returns to Athens in the morning noticing the iconic figure of the Parthenon towering over the surrounding city. Your guide leads you on a tour of the contemporary neighborhoods and ancient wonders dividing the cityscape beginning at Syntagma Square. The central plaza in Athens borders the neoclassical architecture of Parliament and the surrounding buildings. The guards outside of the government office are known as Evzones, an elite light infantry, and mountain unit of the Greek army. You continue to the top of Acropolis Hill entering the ancient religious complex through the Propylaea.

The rectangular marble plinth was constructed in the 2nd century while the grand entryway dates back to the 5th century BC with a flight of marble steps, framing ionic columns. You reach the Parthenon, and the historical, opulent figure nearly takes your breath away. The temple was erected in honor of Athena between the 4th and 5th centuries BC. The masterful work embodies classical architectural design with fluted Doric columns providing an ambiance of symmetry and harmony. Your guide points to the pediments and the sensational friezes depicting different allegorical tales, including The Birth of Athena.

At breakfast, the kids share their favorite moments from your time in Greece. Instead of seeing ruins or historical beachside towns from afar, you wandered along the pebbled shorelines, sailed around the Aegean, and listened to the folklore surrounding the ancient conflict between Neptune and Athena over the people of Athens. Your private transfer once again greets the family in the hotel lobby and escorts you to Athens International Airport for your flight home.