Regarded by some as one of the best beaches in the world, Grace Bay Beach is three miles long and features pristine-white sand together with seaweed- and pollution-free waters. If you're looking for more activities other than shoreline walks and admiring the nearby coral reefs, you can book a parasailing flight to enjoy a different viewing angle.

A pleasant urban park within easy reach from downtown Vigo, with a kids' entertainment area, basketball courts, and an open-air amphitheatre (hosting world-renowned celebrity musicians a few times per year) on its grounds. Climb to the top and see what remains of the Castro.

The effervescent Parrot Mountain and Gardens is located just outside Pigeon Forge and is a must for families, friends, locals, and visitors. The four acres harbor hundreds of tropical birds and thousands of trees, plants, and flowers. Guests are given the opportunity to interact directly with the beautifully plumed birds, petting and feeding them in the designated area. There is even a nursery where guests are welcome to hold the baby birds. Overlooking the Great Smoky Mountains is the deck, where lunch from the deli may be enjoyed while the birds serenade. A secret garden is lush with birds flying freely and pathways that display all of the gorgeous flowers.

Housed inside a former castle, and with splendid park grounds in its immediate surroundings, the Quiñones de León Museum is worth the short trip from central Vigo if only for its well-maintained French garden (some say, a miniature of the one in Versailles). The museum itself contains archaeological artefacts discovered in Vigo and surroundings.