Is it worth going to calais for the day?

[LynetteScavo]

Or even for 24 hours?

Is there anything decent to do there with 3 DC? I think they'd love the ferry trip, but can't see them thrilled about visiting a hypermarket.

No!

I would go to Boulogne. It's quite nice there.

Not sure if I've spelt the name correctly above! Spelling not my thing.

I'd go to Boulogne too, Nausicaa and the old town. Calais has a nice beach though....

But I seem to have to take my car to Boulogne!

This is turning into a holiday, so will now be happening next spring/summer!

All I wanted was a day trip to Calais. I remember my mum took me for an impromptu weekend when I was about 10 9I must have been about 10, because I remember I wore quilted dungerees form Mothercare

Calais is fine. You get the P&O bus to the town centre. You can walk on the beach, have a nice lunch, look in the shops. I was born in Dover - have done it a zillion times. Boulogne is just a bit nicer......

Depends what age your kids are and if you want to drive a bit further afield. We've done a few day trips - last year went to the WW1 battlefields, all within an hour of Calais - dh and ds1 were interested in the history, whereas the dds just ran about in the trenches. Nice lunch, quick whizz around the hypermarket on the way home, a great day.

As pedestrians, if you can get a good price, it is worth it I think. It is not a particularly nice town but it is French and therefore different and of interest if your children haven't much experience of going to other countries.
There is a big sandy beach about 15 mins walk from the Place d'Armes where the ferry shuttle bus drops you off. Near the beach there are great children's play areas with equipment for toddlers to teens.
From the place d'Armes, you can hop on a free bus to the town centre which doesn't have many shops (most are in the big shopping centre out of town) but there are a couple of great patisseries, the mairie is interesting architecturally and there's a statue by Rodin in front. Outside the tourist office you can get on a "train" which is more like a milk float with carriages and goes on the roads but they do a commentary in English.

What about Oostende? Nice beach there.

It is our nearest beach and the kids (4 and 7) never tire of it.

x-posts, I meant Calais