Off to Weymouth tomorrow 26.02.11 What's good to do?

[candleshoe]

I have just this minute booked a room for the five of us in Weymouth!

('Spur of the moment' is a new thing I'm trying!)

I know nothing about the place (went once when I was 13) so I could do with some tips tonight...because we're off after breakfast.

Where shall we go if it rains - where's good to go if it doesn't! ETC ETC ETC

A nice place to eat with 3 children?

What's the seafront parking like?

ALL HELP GRATEFULLY RECEIVED.

Sea life center?

Loads of parking in the long stay car parks, not far to walk to the sea front.

Not sure about food, there are a few restaurants, cafes and cosy pubs.

Sea life centre is quite good.
Nothe fort worth a look.
There is a soft play (sharkys i think).
Can't think of anything else, not been for about a year (live about 1hr away by train).

A trip to portland (nice views from Portland heights hotel, my favorite place).

Thanks guys - I'm googling like mad here trying to find stuff - but I'd rather go by a recommendation if I can.

Sea Life Center is expensive and disappointing. The lighthouse is a good trip out, Portland Castle looks fun, is on our list to do now the DC's are getting older.

If you have a car and it rains then Warmwell Leasure Center about 10 miles away has an indoor pool and other stuff.

Parking is OK just off the front and as you are out of half term then should be easier.

Bovington tank museum and Monkey World are not far either.

Portland Bill light house - but I'm not sure if its open...

Chesil Beach is close by and Corfe Castle isn't far either.

Struggling to find things which will be open!

DS(5) LOVED the museum in the Brewery - I can't remember what it was called but had lots of moving exhibits. Also Nothe Fort - it was closed by the time we got there but DS loved the walk and the view.

We always eat fish and chips - round the old harbour, not on the Front. Parking is a complete nightmare but might be ok tomorrow since it is still Feb.

Unless you have Tesco vouchers etc, I'd avoid the Sealife centre - it's really expensive and we'd finished in an hour.

If you are going via Dorchester, Kingston Maurward is brilliant. How old are DC?

Corfe Castle is 45 minutes from Weymouth at best but is fun. The road between Dorchester and Weymouth at the moment is crap as they are building the relief road for the Olympics.

DTSs are 8 and DD is five!

Thanks for road tip - fivegomad (love your name btw)

bump

On a wet day the Tank museum is great, all indoors, my two love it as they can run around.

bump again - please - anyone got any other great ideas/tips/recommendations?

go on the steam train from Norton/norwood/nor-something through corfe to swanage.

get a picnic and go up to nothe fort and gardens.

fly kites on the beach

train you can hop on and off if you get a rover ticket,

If it is open you must have an ice cream from Rossi's on the Esplanade, the Natural flavour is delicious.

Wow - thanks Atyourcervix!

Fossil hunting at Lyme Regis along the coast.

Love Lyme Regis but we've been there for the weekend lots and lots of times. Weymouth is a new departure! Adventurous aren't we?

Steam train is not open during the week, should be open today and tomorrow.

Yeah, steam train is great and swanage is lovely. You can walk right round to the lifeboat house and look in the rickpools. Lifeboat men are really nice and chatty. I don't tend to think of swanage as Weymouth so didn't mention it.

The crab house cafe is THE BESt so long as your kids aren't too young/fussy for fish. Literally had the best meal of last year there. Just next to Chesil beach just before you drive on to Portland.

Crab house is amazing, they do fish and chips for children or they can get more advernturous, you do need to book though.