The sun, sand and sea are reason enough to vacation here. They’re ideal, but the Canary Islands offer so much more. They’re in the Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Spain and northwest of Africa. The Islands are imbued with the history of Spanish kings and queens, artists, wars and great explorers. Discover quaint, little villages along the coast. Sample local Spanish foods, meet the natives and shop for unique items to bring back home. Enjoy the awesome scenery of Mount Teide, the third largest volcano in the world. It’s active, but hasn’t erupted since 1909. Take a trip to nearby Aqualand Park, a water park which many claim has the best dolphin shows in Europe.