Ideas for holidays with toddlers

[SparklyPrincess]

Hi, I'm trying to rack my brains to think of places to go on hols this year.

I have 2 girls: one will be 2 1/2, one will be 1 by the summer.

We've always been on very countryside/hiking style hols pre-kids and when girls were littler but the eldest is becoming difficult to cart about on walks as she gets fed up being carried and won't walk far.

Any ideas for time away that won't aggravate the kids and won't bore me and husband rigid - can't spend more than a day per week on the beach!

Thanks... SP xx

you either love it or hate it but (whispers) Centerparcs?

You could try Tots to France - they've got a bunch of properties that are kitted out for kids. They are villas with pools (fenced) usually with loads of toys, outdoor toys, they often provide bikes with kids seats, buggies and kiddy backpack things. If you book one of the gites that are in a cluster, you will no doubt meet other families also with young kids, keeping yours occupied. Not much availability left for summer but try the shoulder seasons.

Going to have to say 'hate it', but tentatively...

We went a couple of weeks ago to Elveden, actually. Found it a bit tricky to keep the kids entertained actually - other than swimming its a bit limited for options with toddlers.

And seems to be horrendously expensive at warmer times of the year!

SP xx

Oh well worth a try
I'm afraid we're in the "love it" camp. We go a couple of times a year with ds who is now 2.10
Walking in the forest with mac and wellies on doing nature hunts is fab - he loves it.
Swim one day
Messy play session another day (about £5)

Eat out for lunch one day

Take toys and crayons, paints and stuff. It's ike a home from home
Maybe that's why we like it because we are all a bit homebirdish

Hope you get some better suggestions

You could stay near a cycleway, there are some lovely ones in Cornwall and devon, you could hire a trailer bike for the dd's.

LittleB - do you find that the kids enjoy being in the trailer? My eldest can get a bit grouchy being stuck in the rucksack or the car - is the bike trailer more exciting? Liking the idea though!

Thanks JoshandJamie, will check those out.

Anyone one else got any other ideas? I'm looking for places that have good activities that we can enjoy as a family.

It was certainly worth a try, StressTeddy - it was really that we found that there wasn't a lot there that we don't already do at home and its a lot cheaper to stay at home! We did think about doing the messy play but they couldn't guarantee that we'd be able to keep the littl'un with us and I didn't fancy having to sit outside with the baby for 45 mins while Daddy got all the fun!

SP xx

She's only been in a trailer once when we hired one, but she really liked it, she could see lots and had the wind in her hair, she also likes being in her bike seat on the back of the bike, and like yours gets bored in the back pack, buggy and car seat but the cycle triler was a bit of a novelty. I also like places like Longleat or smaller scale versions like Cricket St thomas, where we can explore and see animals, aswell as play areas and riding on trains, there are some good farm places about too. Some country parks and places like the wildlife trusts do activities for children, nature trails, scavenger hunts etc can be fun. And swimming - so like centreparcs activities I guess but without being confined to one area and where you can choose your own cheaper accomodation - sorry to centreparcs fans, we looked at them but decided they are too expensive.

if you've got the budget, try Sunsail - I LOVE it.

How about a cruise? I am looking at cruises just now . Different places to visit each day and plenty to keep my toddler occupied on the ship. It seems quite expensive though. Am trying to find cheap deals!

Ha, ha - did I mention I've got a toddler and a baby JoshandJamie??! Will definitely bookmark for when the kids are older and can get involved though - hubby's a frustrated windsurfing nut so he'd love it! Vassiliki would always be his first choice of holiday if there were no other considerations!

Fairly confident I can't afford cruises ...

SparklyP -they have kids clubs for children aged 3 months onwards. They are brilliant - they go to the kids clubs, you get to sail/chill. You can take them out of the clubs and play on the beach etc if you like, but the whole point of SUnsail holidays is for you to get genuine time off. Oh, and at night they have night creches so your children are looked after and you get to have a grown up meal out.

How about a cottage on a farm complex. You can do as little or much as you like, Have a look in MN Reviews and many now have pools, woods etc to explore and playbarns.