oh feck off to devon next week rain predicted every day. What to do with small dcs?

[mrsshackleton]

Staying with in laws near Kingsbridge for a week. We went last year it pissed with rain every day, was miserable (not helped by the fact dh wasn't there, the bastard!). Now it looks set to do the same this time. Dds are 3 and 1. Any ideas for family-friendly days out with such little ones? Dd2 couldn't care less but dd1 is at an age where she needs a bit of entertainment and if we can't go to the seaside we're ered, esp with dynamic of being in in laws' house where a certain level of behaviour is expected (ha!). Thank you

[moodlumthehoodlum]

Pennywell Farm I think would be reasonable if rainy. Completely brilliant in the sunshine but there is some indoor stuff too.

If you search threads for Salcombe, you'll find a million things to do..

[Mumsnut]

Snap. Tuckenhay.

[belcantavinissima]

good indoor section at crealy (2 big indoor play places ) and lots of great outdoor stuff if the sun peaks through. pennywell also is fab (as mentioned already). bicton gardens are nice. . my kids also like south devon railway at buckfastligh- you could get a steam train down to totnes rare breeds farm. thats always a nice one and you would be mostly dry in the train!
we are in devon, weather today has been utterly pants . we are going camping at a festival (our 1st one!) next weekend with 4 kids. imagine if the weathers like this!!! (are you feeling my pain? are you?)

[mrsshackleton]

Oh belcant!
Sushiney vibes to Devon emoticon. But it ain't lookin' good!

[belcantavinissima]

no its not . when will the sun come out???
hope you have a lovely holiday tho. you must have nice inlaws. am a bit if i'm being totally honest

[piratecat]

what day are you coming?

we live here too. peeing down today, as i s most of the country

[piratecat]

looks hopeful here?

www.accuweather.com/ukie/forecast2.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&postalcode=TQ7%201EW&metric=1

[RustyBear]

Woodlands is good in the rain -lots of it is indoors & other bits are sheltered by the trees.
Buckfast butterfly farm & otter sanctuary combined with a ride on the steam train

If you don't mind swimming in the rain, Quaywest is good.

Or combine a bit of shopping with lots of activities at Trago Mills (Newton Abbott) which is not far from the House of Marbles at Bovey Tracey - amazing marble runs, toy & marble shop, glassblowing

And Plymouth Aquarium is fab

[mrsshackleton]

coming on sat, your forecast looks a load better than the one I checked which said pissing down every day but still a bit chilly for long, lazy days on beach. Am checking out all the suggestions here, dh will moan and groan as he hates all this kind of stuff but too bad, the alternative is too grisly to contemplate!

[Fennel]

Weather is supposed to be OK in Devon for the weekend. Otherwise, things we do in Devon on rainy days....

Soft play centres at Newton Abbott (Bare Feet, and another one). And Rainbow Fun house in Torquay. Jump at Plymouth.

Paignton zoo and Living Coasts zoo. Both have indoor as well as outdoor stuff. Paignton has a soft play as well.

Museums - Exeter (in the central library at the moment), Plymouth and Torquay all have children's things and events. We used to go to museums a lot with toddlers, they're suprisingly toddler friendly and they are INSIDE and free.

Indoor swimming pools - Riverside in Exeter, Waves pool (what's it called? on the seafront) with beach effect and waves. Not the most modern pool but can be fun on a wet day.

A few castles. Castle Drogo etc.

hth. Though it's going to stop raining by the time you arrive I've been checking the forecast.

[artichokes]

take the steam train between Totnes and Buckfastleigh

take the kids round kents cavern underground caves

don't miss plymouth aquarium

do the indoor tours round powderham castle although that is a bit of a drive from Kingsbridge