Where to take the Foster Children on holiday next year

[Fosterangel]

I have been very brave and have booked a week away in July with husband, birth children and partners, dog, and foster children in a rented holiday cottage by the sea far enough from us to feel like a real country/seaside break. I was wondering what holidays other foster families did with their foster children of, say, 10yrs and over.
I would love to do something really exciting for our foster children as they say that they have never had a holiday. I won't go abroad as I am sure there will be problems taking one foster child and do not want to risk not going at the last moment and tears (mine!!).
What successful UK holidays have others done?

[Fishwife1949]

Center parcs is good

[Fosterangel]

Thanks FW - Center parcs is one for my shortlist. We would need two cabins as there will be between 8 and 10 of us if the older bc's manage to get time off work to come with us. It is really the cost that is holding us back on Center parcs but I guess once we are there all the entertainment is laid on really with the dome and cycling and picnic friendly scenery. I suppose what I am looking for is a cheaper version of Center parcs!

Any other suggestions appreciated as I am picking brains for future holidays. I wanted to make this a yearly event if it works.

[TulipsfromAmsterdam]

We regularly book a week in a cottage in Derbyshire/Peak District, no sea but lovely countryside. FC is only a baby but bc really enjoy going to Alton Towers, Drayton Manor and Gullivers theme parks.
There are also some nice, quieter places to go if you don't want to spend every day at theme parks. We spend a lovely day at Carsington Water this summer and there are lovely walks and parks to visit.

[Fosterangel]

TfA - I google earthed that area and it looks good. We have never been to the Peak District but the holiday cottages company we booked through for 2013 do cover this area and are dog friendly.

Walks and parks, villages and country pubs, are what we are looking for. (Alton Towers will be what the f/children will want!).

I am thinking that cottage holidays are the way to go as the price stays the same no matter how many go. And we do not need to kennel the dog.

[bonnieslilsister]

Maybe we foster carers should house swap with each other only slightly said in jest

[NulliusInBlurba]

In your position I would consider a large cottage on a working farm, but also near the sea. The kids would be able to amuse themselves around the farm, possibly seeing things like cows being milked and chickens laying eggs for the first time - some farms are happy for visitors to lend a hand too. By the seaside you would have loads of fun on the beach - playing ball games, exploring the rockpools, surfing with a bodyboard (if the water's too cold you can get half-body wetsuits for under a tenner). We had a cottage on a farm in Cornwall and it was one of our best holidays ever.

If you go to Cornwall there's an adventure park called Creeley's which we found good for younger children as it's all inclusive - probably not as objectively exciting as Alton Towers, but still a good day out (DC were 11 and 8 at the time). I think it cost us 65 quid for 3 adults and 2 kids, so it would still be something of a luxury for 10 of you.

[BusterTheDonk]

I'd do this ... feather down farm days

takes me back to my happy childhood holidays in Ireland milking cows and delighting in finding eggs!!

[Fosterangel]

Am loving the idea of a cottage on a farm. I must admit that a farm had not occurred to us. It does tick all the boxes as our f/son is fascinated with animal body functions and is made up for the day if he sees the dog do a poo in the garden! F/son will be beside himself watching the cows, horses and sheep do the same but so much bigger! With a beach nearby it would be perfect for everyone (dd is a sun worshipper!).
My shortlist is looking good. I am not sure about Ireland as it would mean a ferry trip with the dog but Cornwall is easy for us.
BLS - only if you do my ironing and wash my net curtains!cdn2.mumsnet.com/emo/te/2.gif

[Machakos]

Bluestone in Wales is a cheaper CentreParcs

[Fosterangel]

BtD - I have just looked at the website you sent for Feather Down Farm Days and it looks amazing. We have one not too far from us. We could do this with just f/children and us for a short break this year and I think they will love it.
Many thanks - this one is just what I am looking for.

[BusterTheDonk]

my pleasure... enjoy!!

Please let us know if you go & how it is... just love the thought of your own chickens to look after (altho I've currently got 9 of my own).... kids in wellies.. wow... these are the things happy childhood memories are made of x

[Gymbob]

We went to a holiday park on the Dorset coast. The park has its own private beach, and you can go in either direction from there for miles. It's actually the first 'park' thing we have done, we usually go for fairly quiet sites, but this time we thought we'd try somewhere with entertainment, discos, bowling, horse stables, indoor and oudoor pools, arcades, all kinds.

Best thing was they roamed about on their own, and we felt like we were just camping in a field all peaceful and quiet as the entertainment blocks were over the hill and far away.

FC is 13 now though, so old enough to roam.

The kids loved it, and we loved it because they did

[morethanyoubargainfor]

We went glam ping in north Wales! We stayed in a Mongolian yurt and had a ball. That was 2 years ago.

This year we took a different child to Italy for two weeks. It was fine, he had never been outside our county before until we took him to London for a few days trips. We had 4 days in Rome then caught a train to Tuscany and stayed in the countryside! It was fab and our child did really well, we are so proud of him. Also had ds with us who is 9 (6months younger than FC). And who had autism. It was such a fab time. We just had a letter from sw to show on our return to the country, yes strangely we didn't need anything to take him out of the country just to bring him back in!

[bridieboo]

Visit //www.freedomfields.org ! they run weekends for foster families xx