Where else in the world can you do the following in a river:…read more-Ride a bike -Picnic with your friends - Play a football match -Visit a zoo/science center The answer is nowhere! Years ago the City of Valencia diverted the Turia river to make way for a city long park loaded with soccer fields,bike paths, work out facilities, cafes, and much much more. There is no better place to take the whole family especially during the winter and spring when its not quite warm enough to visit the beach.

If you're fortunate to make it to Valencia, I think one of the best things to do is take a long,…read moreleisurely walk through this unusual urban park. Snaking through the middle of the city for over 5-1/2 miles, it's the former riverbed of the Turia River. A tragic flood in 1957 forced the city to reroute the river, and while Franco wanted to build an autobahn, the local populace insisted it be turned into a green oasis. Because we had only a couple of days in Valencia, Jamie W and I focused mostly on the continuous walking path. We didn't have time to stop at destinations along the way like the various museums and historic bridges. Starting at the City of Arts and Sciences on the southern end, we made our way back toward the center of town. Because of its submerged level, the park is well insulated from traffic noises. There are many places to take a rest and enjoy the orange trees (Photo 5) or watch Valencians jog, bike, and frolic, including the Gulliver playground where groups shared the same slide on one of his sleeves (Video). RELATED - Exploring Valencia? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/xRp9hOr4NT

Beautiful gardens, shady, curly shrubs, a rose garden, fountains, several playgrounds for different…read moreages, the spirit of antiquity, magnolia, orange on the green grass, parrots and canaries ... one of my favorite parks!