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Surf & Turf the Wight Way

www.visitsoutheastengland.com

WindsurferFamilies seeking to get-away this summer need look no further than www.visitsoutheastengland.com/familyfun to discover the UK's hot spots for adventure. One such destination that provides families the perfect destination with an offer of both water and land based activities is the Isle of Wight. The Island is a great base for those seeking excitement with activities from sailing and diving to paragliding and sand surfing on offer.

Adults and children alike can make a splash at the UK Sailing Academy (UKSA), the top water-sports training organisation in Britain. Catering for all abilities and with a wide variety of activities on offer this is the perfect solution for Mums and Dads wanting a family holiday that satisfies everyone's interests. UKSA are able to offer a choice of courses and activities according to the requirements of the family from tailored activities to attending the standard courses on offer depending on particular interests. This offers the opportunity to parents to head off for the day and pick up new skills in areas such as yachting, while the children are kept busy with sports from kayaking to dingy sailing, or all family members can get together and learn a new sport at the same time. Alternatively for youngsters wanting that extra independence they can attend residential summer activity camps by themselves, providing the perfect excuse for the parents to explore the rest of the Island and what it has to offer.

For families with a taste for the high life and wishing to see the Isle of Wight from another view point they can head to High Adventure, an organisation specialising in paragliding short breaks. For teenagers and the young at heart High Adventure is the ideal solution to those wishing to try something new for their holiday. Located four miles from the South Coast and within easy reach of London and the Home Counties, the Isle of Wight is an ideal place to start paragliding. Taster courses of one or two days will provide an opportunity to experience the thrill of flying while discovering the sights of the Isle of Wight and being situated in the grounds of a 25 bedroom hotel that can cater for the accommodation needs for both flyers and family, this is a great chance for teenagers to share a holiday memory with their Mum or Dad.

Alternatively for families looking for a gentler pace of life can head off on one of the many cycle routes (www.sunseaandcycling.com) around the Island, relax on one of the awarding winning golden beaches or take in some music at one of the many music festivals on offer throughout the summer months.

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For further information or images please contact Jennifer Stallwood at Isis PR on 01844 212 005

Editors Notes:

High Adventure - www.high-adventure.uk.com or 01983 752322
Teaching hang-gliding since 1981 and were the first hang gliding school to teach paragliding in the late 1980s.

Being in the "deep South", the Isle of Wight often escapes the worst effects of low pressure systems so providing a large number of flyable days for paragliding tuition.

UK Sailing Academy - www.uksa.org or 01983 294941
UKSA offers watersports and marine training for everyone, at every level, from beginner courses to professional training for commercial work to MCA Deck Officer and beyond. Whatever your age or experience, we have a training programme that can challenge you and improve your skills and ability.

Tourism South East
- www.visitsoutheastengland.com is the consumer website for Tourism South East

- Tourism South East (TSE) is the new regional Tourist Board responsible for tourism in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, East Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight, Oxfordshire, Surrey and West Sussex.

- TSE is the largest tourist board in the UK outside London and is the driving force for innovation and growth in tourism - representing over 2,000 members from all sectors of an industry worth an estimated £10 billion and providing more than 225,000 jobs to the economy of the South East England.

- Recent research by TSE in 2005 involving 6,000 interviews in over 60 locations investigated the motivations for families taking short breaks; what they enjoyed doing in their leisure time and the types of accommodation they prefer. Education, entertainment and value for money are key factors when planning days out for the family, with heritage attractions and a preference for self-catering accommodation being high on the list of priorities.

- Results of this research study have shaped Tourism South East's domestic marketing plan for 2006 and TSE is working with a number of regional partners, on their first domestic campaign of the year: Family Fun.

- The Tourism South East Family Fun Campaign aims to promote attractions that are suitable for family days out. The South East of England has thousands of adventures within a two hour radius of London that won't break the bank, including:
- Cycling
- Family friendly beaches
- Water sports
- Maritime history
- Extensive shopping opportunities
- Theme parks
- Animal attractions
- Family friendly heritage centres
- Children's literary connections

- For more information about what to do and where to go this summer visit the Tourism South East web site at: http://www.visitsoutheastengland.com/familyfun