Mablethorpe haven - what's attractions are close to this?

[KatyMac]

Please

I have found a seal sanctuary, but what else is there?

[ByTheSea]

Pray it doesn't rain. The beach would have been lovely if it hadn't pissed down the entire week we were there, making it the worst holiday ever. We found the park a bit tatty, after having enjoyed the Devon Cliffs Haven a couple of years earlier and we found Mablethorpe a bit worse for wear, tbh. We might as well have stayed home, as we live in a seaside resort town anyway which is nicer than Mablethorpe.

Skegness wasn't far and that was fun. DS1, who was 11, commented that 'this town is obsessed with cocks' as all the shops there had sex novelty toys prominently displayed at child-height level. DSs loved the big rollercoasters and DDs loved the beach donkey rides. There were some nice restaurants in Louth, which is about 15 minutes away as I remember and we went to Lincoln for a day which was nice -- beautiful castle and cathedral, lovely bookshops and pubs and restaurants.

[Fimbo]

I didn't want to say too much on your thread yesterday KM, but what BTS has outlined is pretty much how my friend found Mablethorpe.

[KatyMac]

Lincoln sounds nice
& Louth

It's the nearest one to us (apart from the Norfolk ones which are minutes away from us) - but I'm not sure I have very high hopes

[KatyMac]

Well DH can watch the olympics
DD & I can sew

We can all play Scrabble & Boggle

Is there anywhere for DD to ride her bike?

[Fimbo]

Here my friend visited this if you like shopping/it rains.

[ByTheSea]

I think she should be able to ride around the caravan park. Sorry I missed your thread yesterday. We were there last August.

[KatyMac]

Is it worth travelling further to the next nearest? (not sure what that is tbh - I'll go & look)

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[KatyMac]

Is Thorpe Park better?

[KatyMac]

So

Lincoln
Louth (food)
Horncastle (antiques)
Alford
Springfield Spalding (if wet, nice gardens)

So I am getting places

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[Gina80]

Sand racing at Mablethorpe if you are into bikes/quads?? Pleasure Island at Cleethorpes (think there used to be an open top train that ran down the coast from mablethorpe) Bit further up there is the Deep at Hull. Farm Parks which are great for kids. Lincoln has museums, galleries, castle, cathedrale etc

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[ByTheSea]

If it hadn't rained the beach would have been really nice. One of the reasons I booked there was the outdoor pool, but unfortunately the weather prohibited us from using that too. I don't know about any other parks in the area though.

[Blandmum]

Lincoln is very nice. there is also a huge indoor play area near the football stadium if it rains and is grim. Cathedral and castle both worth seeing.

the Collection is a very, very child friendly museum near the Usher Gallery. they have lots of hands on activities.

mablethore is a bit tatty , tbh

[Gina80]

Did you dress up in the chainmail suit MartianBishop? I still have pics of DH all decked out in the helmets and shields

[Blandmum]

yes indeedy! Kids were v embarassed!

Nice cafe there too

[Blandmum]

playzone, lincoln

will be full if wet, like all these places and the food is gopping.

Nice cinema by the Brayford pool, and there are burger places/ pizza places there to eat that are better

[Gina80]

ours were more into the computers - it was us who were really enjoying the dressing up

Can't do links but Rand Farm Park is fab!

[mrspnut]

Lincoln is fab, Rand farm is brilliant (we have a season ticket) and if the sun is shining then so much the better.

Lincoln itself is worth a days explore.
The castle, cathedral, old bishops palace and lincoln life are all uphill and worth seeing then you can walk down the aptly named steep hill into the modern town centre. Look round then head to Brayford pool for some lunch and a look at the boats before getting the walk and ride bus back up the hill (or braving the walk back up steep hill) and back to your car.

Louth is quite nice, a pretty market town and I like wandering round the shops there but not much fun for small children.

Quite a bit further away (grantham) is Belton House which is also fab, great adventure playground for kids - like rand farm really.

[Gina80]

Us too Mrspnut - it's our 2nd home! not during the hols tho - far too many kids, I like a trampoline to myself

[mrspnut]

Unfortunately I've had to rejoin the world of the overworked and underpaid so the holidays and weekends are going to be the only times we can use it now.

[KatyMac]

Sorry is the dressing up at Lincoln? I'm confused

[mrspnut]

The dressing up is at the collection in Lincoln I think. I haven't been although it's still on my list of things to do (we've only lived here a year)

[Gina80]

Yes, the collection is built on an old Roman site and has lots of old artifacts etc that have been found in Lincs. Plus you can dress up like soldiers, peasant women etc

Mrspnut I've lived here for 15 years and have never been round the cathedrale