Day trips in the Valencia area

Happy Sunday everyone!

This comes from our facebook group- one of our members asked for suggestions for a day trip, preferably within an hour of Valencia and that provides for a short nature walk as well and he got some great responses!

Navajas (hiking and beautiful scenery) http://www.navajas.es/portal/index.php

Peñiscola (castle)  http://www.peniscola.org/ca/

Albufera http://www.albufera.com/

Chulilla (hiking paths and a cave) http://www.chulilla.es/

Xátiva (castle) http://www.xativaturismo.com

Bocairent (caves, medieval town, snow caves) http://www.bocairent.org/

Vall d'Uixo (caves of San José have an underground river with a boat ride through it) http://www.lavallduixo.es/vallduixoPublic/portada/ciudad/turismo.html 

Alcalá del Jucar (about an hour and a half away, cave homes on the side of the mountain that you can visit, also the Jucar river runs through the town, hiking) http://www.alcaladeljucar.net/menu.htm

Chelva (Roman aqueduct) http://www.chelva.es/

Alcoy (hiking and parks) http://www.alcoiturisme.com/home/index.php

Morella (about two hours from Valencia) http://www.morella.net/

Vías Verdes near Segorbe http://www.viasverdes.com/ViasVerdes

Sagunto Castle (great little restaurants and spectacular views from the castle) http://www.saguntoweb.com/castillosagunto

Altea (beautiful beach town 1 1/2 hours from Valencia)
http://www.altea.es/ 

The best brownie recipe

Once you master this easy and delicious brownie recipe you will never again feel the need to buy a box mix! 

Brownies
1/2 cup butter, melted (125 g)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Valor makes one that you can find in all the major grocery stores)
chopped dark and white chocolate (optional)

Mix together the melted butter and the sugar.  Add the eggs one at a time mixing well after each one.  Mix in the vanilla.  Add the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder and mix it together. Stir in the chopped chocolate, or you can use walnuts if you prefer.  Grease and flour a square 8x8 inch pan.  Spread the batter into the pan, and bake in a 350º (175ºC) oven for 25-30 minutes until the edges are firm and the center is soft.