60 ............... Sunday, June 14, 2015 1SM 1SM Sunday, June 14, 2015 ............... 61

WASHINGTON State is suffering from a drought and normally this would be a reason for despair but Washington State Wine Country is growing faster because of it.

Besides more farm acres beingturned over to vine growing and increased wine production, the warm weather is encouraging more visitors to explore the vine-yards and surrounding areas.

The state is ranked second in the US for wine grape production because its location has a perfect climate lying at the same latitude as the classic wine-growing regions of France.

This summer Washington winecountry will be host to numerous events, including tastings and food festivals plus Mumford and Sons, above, in concert in Walla Walla Valley on August 14 and 15.

A REALLY DRY WINE

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EXTRA flights and holidays from more tour operators are opening up new travel opportunities for visitors to the Dutch Caribbean island of Aruba.

In a major vote of confidence for the destination, a line-up of top companies — including Virgin Holidays and Hayes Jarvis — have added the island to their portfolios. Meanwhile, leading travel brands Thomson and First Choice have announced the introduction of weekly flights to Aruba from Manchester next summer, complementing its existing service to the island from London Gatwick.

Aruba’s UK tourism boss Joanna Walding said: “Aruba’s popularity with UK holidaymakers seems to keep growing.”

Go to to aruba.com.

ARE YOU UPFOR ARUBA

SOME things are worthwaiting for — and thebreathtaking sight of amassive fin whale risingslowly out the waves offthe Azores is definitelyone of them.

You’d be forgiven for thinking thatits huge size would make the second-largest creature on the planet easyto spot. But the Atlantic Ocean is anenormous place, and it helps to havesome expert advice on where tofind these incredible animals.

Lying 850 miles west of Portugal,the Azores are world famous as ahotspot for whale watching.

Throughout the year, the watersaround the nine islands are hometo 25 species of the sea giants,including migrating blue whales.

We headed out to look for themwith tour company Futurismo, whoare so certain you’ll spot some-thing that they promise anothertrip for free if you don’t.

And even without the chance of

glimpsing the incredible wildlife, thedramatic coastline of the island ofSao Miguel is enough to make theboat trip well worth it.

The Azores were once one of theworld’s major whaling centres andthe cliffs are dotted with tiny towersthat were used by lookouts trying tospot the hunters’ prey.

The towers are still used today byspotters but now it’s tourist boatsthey contact by radio to give adviceon how best to encounter whales.

Our captain got a call from shoreand soon

we were surrounded by a pod ofplayful dolphins putting on anincredible show as they leapt outthe water and dived under the boat.

But despite their amazing display,the whales were still proving elusive.

Determined to see them, I headedout again in the afternoon and wasfinally rewarded with the incrediblesight of the pair of giant fin whalesswimming alongside our boat.

And it’s not just the coast of theAzores that makes them worth avisit. Back on dry land you’re met

with spectacular scenery, countlessnatural wonders and a lush land-scape that manages to remind youof everywhere from a tropical forestto Scotland’s own islands.

We started our week on SaoMiguel, part of the eastern groupand the largest of the Azores.

The harbour town of Ponta Del-gada — which is home to thethree arches of the Portas daCidade — is a quick drive fromthe airport and makes a greatbase for exploring the island.

The Azores were formed byerupting volcanoes which rose out

WHALE WATCHING AND ISLAND HOPPING WON’T LEAVE YOU WITH AN . .

of the Atlantic, and the sameunderground energy means SaoMiguel is home to hot springs,thermal pools and even a warmwaterfall you can swim under.

In the town of Furnas, one ofthe island’s prettiest, you can seeplumes of steam called fumarolesrising up out from the earth.

And near the town’s lake, hotwater bubbling out of the groundnear the shore is used to cooklocal delicacy Cozido das Furnas— a meat stew containing justabout everything you can imagine.

Restaurant staff arrive early inthe morning to bury huge potspacked with the popular dishand leave them to cook underpiles of earth for six hours.

After working up an appetitecanoeing our way across the lakewe watched our pot being dugup then followed it to the TerraNostra Garden hotel for lunch.

The Terra Nostra is a stunningart deco building set in a hugebotanical garden (originally cre-ated by a head gardener fromScotland) and also includes a hot

thermal swimming pool. The palebrown water might not look par-ticularly inviting at first but thewarmth of the pool and the hotfountains flowing at its edge makeit a uniquely relaxing experience.

Flights and ferries make islandhopping in the Azores easy andwe took the short plane journeyfrom Sao Miguel to Pico.

The island is dominated by the

massive mountain it shares itsname with — which, at 7,713ft isthe highest in Portugal. Pico is afood lover’s dream, with someincredible local seafood.

Try the enormous “fish on astick” at Ancoradouro restaurant,which has one of the most inc-redible sea views I’ve ever seen.

But it’s not just seafood thatthe Azores are famous for —there’s also melt-in-the-mouthsteak, local cheeses served at thestart of every meal and, incredi-bly, sweet pineapple grown inthe islands’ greenhouses.

As well as delicious food, Picois home to some fabulous wine.

The island is covered with littlewalls made of black volcanicrock that shelter the vines fromthe sometimes unpredictableAtlantic weather.

Pico’s volcanic past can beseen again at Gruta das Torres —a massive cave carved out by ariver of lava flowing from a pasteruption that you can now walkthrough with a guide.

From Pico, it’s a short ferryride to the neighbouring islandof Faial. It’s a magnet for sailorswho stop here on trans-atlanticjourneys and is home to legend-ary yachting bar Peter’s CafeSport — the place to go for a ginand tonic.

Colourful murals arepainted by sailors

Above the bar is a museumof intricate artworks and deli-cate carvings created fromhuge whale teeth and bones.

For any would-be sailors,lunch at Genuino’s is also amust to meet owner GenuinoMadruga, who has sailedround the world twice and has

filled his restaurant with exoticsouvenirs of his epic trip.

We stayed at the Hotel doCanal in Horta, with wonderfulviews of the marina.

The harbour walls are coveredin colourful murals painted byvisiting sailors to bring themgood luck at sea, including acouple of Saltires left by super-stitious Scots yacht crews.

The hotel is also just acrossthe road from the fantasticallyfun Canto da Doca restaurant,where diners can cook their ownmeal at the table on a slab ofsearing hot basalt.

Faial also contains the newestpart of the Azores — a stretch ofland jutting out into the oceanwhich was created just 50 yearsago when the Capelinhos volcanoemerged from the sea.

The eerie landscape around thesite of the eruption makes youfeel like you’re walking throughthe set of a sci-fi film.

Almost as dramatic is the viewof Mount Pico from the planeheading back to Sao Miguel fromFaial — yet another reason whyisland hopping in the Azores isso much fun.

Seeing three of the islands isenough to make any travellerstart planning their next trip totick off the remaining sights.

And, like the whales, a returnvisit to the Azores is definitelyworth waiting for.

SARAH WOLSTENCROFT

What costs what?

DoDon’t Stick to one island — hop

between them.

Order a bottle of Kima — a tastypassion fruit flavour fizzy drink.

Stock up on bottles ofwater for 50p, a coffee isjust £1 and a beer is £2.

TASTY . . . Sarah gets set to tuck in

Azores head in the morning

SATA International has weeklydirect flights from Gatwick to theAzores. Prices start from £337ppreturn until Saturday October 17and Gatwick to Ponta Delgada inSão Miguel.

Flights also available from Lon-don Heathrow via Lisbon. Theyalso offer inter-island connec-tions. Prices starting from £42ppone-way. For more information orto book, see sata.pt or call 0844482 1678. For more islands infosee visitazores.com

GO: AZORES

NATURAL BEAUTY . . . Portas da

Cidade, whale appears and picturesque

marina

GARDEN STATE . . . lush island and swimmers enjoy a dip at Terra Nostra Garden Hotel

FAR RIGHT: Stew cooked in fumerole

lHOP more and you cansave more with up to

40 per cent off multiple stays in late July and August at Eurocamp.

Their Parc Hopper discount deals offer up to 40 per cent off for those who want to visit more than one resort in late July and August. This lets visitors plan an extended regional break or enjoy a “best of all worlds” trip, taking their pick of beach, countryside or city locations.

The offer provides guestswith the option of spending up to four nights in each location, making it a perfectly flexible way to get away.

There is a minimum one parc/accommodation fee on all bookings.

For more information seeeurocamp.co.uk or call 0844 406 0552.