Where to stay on coast in Northern Ireland?

[missmoffatt2705]

For family summer holiday with DH and DS11 & DS9, I am wondering whether to stay around Bangor,with train service to Belfast or around Newcastle. We will be arriving via ferry and drive up from Dublin or Rosslare.We want to see Giant's Causeway/Carrick-a-rede rope bridge but nothing else is a 'must-see' - am currently researching kid-friendly attractions. Because we have the long return drive to the ferry port, we don't want to stay around the Causeway area but want somewhere not quite so far from the ports.Any recommendations?

Hi missmoffatt2705, I live in Belfast although not from here originally, so can't help on the Bangor/Newcastle thing, but I have boys aged 8 & 10 so can tell you the things they like to do?
[[http://www.nmni.com/uftm Ulster]] Folk and Transport Museum. Really good day out, you can get the train from Bangor, drops you right there. One half is all transport stuff, including a brilliant Titanic section, the other side is a small town and village from times past, farms etc. A good, fun family day.
The Pickie Fun Park in Bangor is good fun, mini golf, pedalos, bouncy stuff, good if you want to spend some time around Bangor.
The Giant's Causeway is amazing, say no more, you'll love it.
Barry's Amusements is in Portrush (I think), I haven't been myself but my boys have and apparently it was fab.
We do the drive from Rosslare to Belfast every year as we holiday in Rosslare- it is 4.5 hours to Belfast,Dublin would be much better if you can do that.
HTH!

Bangor is south of Belfast so with your own car you would have to go through it every time.

Belfast is great to base yourself from. Don't forget the zoo! It's situated on Cave Hill and amazing views over Belfast Lough!

And to take in the north coast you could end up anywhere around Derry and drive back next day or two.

Donegal is amazing too.

I live near Newcastle and while it is a gorgeous part of the world, I think if you want to do the Giants Causeway etc you would be better basing yourself in Belfast as then you can access the North Coast as well as Co. Down fairly easily. If you come down our way, you should take a trip out to Tollymore Forest Park as the views around there are stunning.

What's your dates and i can recommend some thing to do/avoid on the north coast. Also Bangor to North Coast is a disaster at busy weekends/events etx

I'm from Bangor area and so I'm a bit biased! With kids though I do reckon that you'd be better being closer to the things you want to see so between Bangor and Belfast would be easier than near Newcastle? Id recommend W5 which is an interactive science museum in titanic quarter. I'd also recommend a Segway tour of titanic quarter-though you'd need to check out age restrictions. Belfast itself is a great city to dander around -day or night. It's compact and easy to get around. The train leaves you close (ish) to the city centre. St George's market is worth a look and look to see what is playing at odyssey/waterfront/grand opera house/lyric theatre for your dates. It's a lovely place to visit! Have a great trip and enjoy the craic!

Stay up the North Coast- lovely as Co. Down is there's just far more to do up and around the North Coast. Plus it's an easier drive- road links in and around Newcastle aren't fantastic whereas it's motorway/dual carriageway up to Coleraine and Portrush because of the university. If you stayed down there it would make going elsewhere a bit of a headache There are also good, regular train services from both Portrush and Coleraine into Belfast which would speed up the trip if you decided to go into the city just for the day. Bags of caravan parks, b&b's and all. If you do come please do me a favour and go to Mussenden Temple, it's my favouritest place in the world!

Also I don't know where you're travelling from but consider the Liverpool/Belfast ferry. Leaves you off twenty mins from Bangor, five-ten mins from the city centre and about 1hr twenty mins from Coleraine/Portrush. Much handier! Play around with google maps, you might be further from Liverpool but more than make up the time on the other end.