What Manly is to Sydney and Fremantle to Perth, so Glenelg is to Adelaide, namely its deservedly popular beach suburb. Located on the shore of Holdfast Bay in Gulf Saint Vincent, you can get there in 30 minutes on the tram and once you breathe in that invigorating salty air and eye the white sand stretching for miles, you'll be sold.

The tram arrives at Moseley Square, where Jetty Road meets the beach. Jetty road is a great place to stroll being lined with 100s of shops, sidewalk cafes, hotels, and seafood restaurants.

Jetty Road offers a wide range of atmospheric eateries but for fine dining with superb panoramic views of the sea and all the way to Adelaide and beyond, check out the Top of the World Revolving Restaurant on the Anzac Highway in Glenelg.
Or head for the Stamford Hotel for a drink or dinner overlooking the ocean.

On the sightseeing front, Glenelg boasts some grand old houses. The jewel in the crown is Kingston House, located in Kingston Park. Constructed in 1840, Kingston House is the oldest building in Holdfast Bay. Its three-acre site offers stunning views of the coast.

Another sight well worth a visit is the 'HMS Buffalo', a replica of the first European settlers ship which landed here in 1836. It's located at the far end of Anzac Highway, opposite the Buffalo Motor Inn.

Culture seekers will enjoy the Bay Discovery Centre at Glenelg Town Hall. Here you can discover the history and evolution of Glenelg and Holdfast Bay. The Town Hall offers the Rodney Fox Shark Experience in the form of a living history of the renowned adventurer and shark handler.

Active holiday makers can take their choice from an array of water and non-water sports including wave skiing, windsurfing, kayaking and sailing, and fishing.
Landlubber fun includes cycling, golf, tennis, beach volleyball or bowls. Divers can contact Glenelg Scuba diving centre and golfers can tee up at the Glenelg Golf Club a world class course with modern clubhouse facilities.

If you're in the mood for a hike, you can go three miles south along the Esplanade to the nearby hamlet of Brighton with its enchanting seaside village ambiance.

If you fancy getting out on the water, nearby Holdfast Shores Marina is the place to go. It's the base for Temptation Sailing's dolphin cruises and for taking the Hel-A-Va-Jet Boat, a thrilling, enclosed jet boat. If you're lucky, you'll see dolphins sporting offshore.

Visit Glenelg and you may well fall in love with the place and never want to leave. If so you'll find a complete range of St Glenelg hotels to suit your taste and budget.

Richard Greaves has over 20 years experience in the travel industry and writes for Cheaper than Hotels. Cheaper Than Hotels offers Glenelg hotels as the Adelaide International Motel and Stamford Grand Hotel Adelaide http://www.cheaperthanhotels.com.au/Australia/Adelaide/Glenelg/Stamford-Grand-Hotel-Adelaide/.