Turkey has been a favourite holiday spot for British holidaymakers for decades, with beautiful beaches and all inclusive hotels catering to the whims of sunburnt Brits.
As a young adult I enjoyed a Turkey holiday with friends, a week of sunbathing and partying with very little acknowledgement of the country we were in.
Now I am a family man my holidays are a little different.
The children, aged between 5 and 12, need constant activities to keep them entertained and my wife and I look for something more than just sun and sangria.
So it was with some cynicism that I agreed to a family holiday in Turkey.
My wife assured me it would not be a hotel with a kids club and right up until we were arrived I didn't believe her.
I was imaging fat balding men and their horrid children running wildly around the pool.
But away from the fly and flop sun loungers Turkey is actually a hidden gem, home to the Turquoise Coast perfect for sailing between small coves and beautiful islands.
Snorkelling and swimming in the med are just two of the many activities on offer, you can cycle or trek the Lycian coast up rough dirt tracks for stunning mountain and sea views, or away from the beaches you can venture into the valleys of Cappadocia.
Here you can visit the underground city of Derinkuyu, home to up to 30000 people over 4000 years ago, or horse ride on the ancient Silk Road with the sun on your back.
The children loved popping their heads in and out of the cheese holes of Derinkuyu.
If you have younger children who aren't quite up to mountain biking then you can take a quieter trip of sightseeing to Epheus.
The Roman city is filled with impressive ruins, a huge theatre, the Temple of Hadrian and after you can enjoy the famous savoury pastry, Gozelme.
Alternatively you can take the smaller ones to Kusadasi water park for water slides and games.
Deeper inland and north there is of course Istanbul and a trip, family or otherwise, to Turkey wouldn't be complete without a tour.
The city is the point where Asian meets Europe, a mix of ancient skylines with modern.
We took the children to see all the sights and they were all captivated by the delicate architecture and dominance of the Blue Mosque.
In fact Turkey has something for every member of the family, there is shopping, sun, sea and sailing, water sports, trekking, walking, horse riding, eating...
and the list goes on.
Our family holiday was adventurous but relaxing at the same time.
We didn't have to worry about entertaining the kids as all activities were planned in advance and we still had plenty of time to unwind, drink wine and relax.
We had such a good time, we are now looking at an adventure family holiday to Mallorca.
And no we won't be sitting by the pool there either.
As a young adult I enjoyed a Turkey holiday with friends, a week of sunbathing and partying with very little acknowledgement of the country we were in.
Now I am a family man my holidays are a little different.
The children, aged between 5 and 12, need constant activities to keep them entertained and my wife and I look for something more than just sun and sangria.
So it was with some cynicism that I agreed to a family holiday in Turkey.
My wife assured me it would not be a hotel with a kids club and right up until we were arrived I didn't believe her.
I was imaging fat balding men and their horrid children running wildly around the pool.
But away from the fly and flop sun loungers Turkey is actually a hidden gem, home to the Turquoise Coast perfect for sailing between small coves and beautiful islands.
Snorkelling and swimming in the med are just two of the many activities on offer, you can cycle or trek the Lycian coast up rough dirt tracks for stunning mountain and sea views, or away from the beaches you can venture into the valleys of Cappadocia.
Here you can visit the underground city of Derinkuyu, home to up to 30000 people over 4000 years ago, or horse ride on the ancient Silk Road with the sun on your back.
The children loved popping their heads in and out of the cheese holes of Derinkuyu.
If you have younger children who aren't quite up to mountain biking then you can take a quieter trip of sightseeing to Epheus.
The Roman city is filled with impressive ruins, a huge theatre, the Temple of Hadrian and after you can enjoy the famous savoury pastry, Gozelme.
Alternatively you can take the smaller ones to Kusadasi water park for water slides and games.
Deeper inland and north there is of course Istanbul and a trip, family or otherwise, to Turkey wouldn't be complete without a tour.
The city is the point where Asian meets Europe, a mix of ancient skylines with modern.
We took the children to see all the sights and they were all captivated by the delicate architecture and dominance of the Blue Mosque.
In fact Turkey has something for every member of the family, there is shopping, sun, sea and sailing, water sports, trekking, walking, horse riding, eating...
and the list goes on.
Our family holiday was adventurous but relaxing at the same time.
We didn't have to worry about entertaining the kids as all activities were planned in advance and we still had plenty of time to unwind, drink wine and relax.
We had such a good time, we are now looking at an adventure family holiday to Mallorca.
And no we won't be sitting by the pool there either.