Day out near Cardiff with 10 yo DDs

[1stMrsF]

We're going to Cardiff this weekend to watch a Rugby match, staying in Cardiff Bay. We have a free day on Friday - what shall we do? I grew up in South Wales but I'm struggling to think of good ideas. DTDS are 10, and like outdoorsy stuff.

Techniques and a boat trip on the Bay is a possibility but we may also be able to do those on Thursday or Sunday, so we could go further afield. However, as it will be a 3 hour drive to get to Cardiff, I'd like to keep travel under an hour each way on Friday.

TIA for your ideas

St Fagan's, my girls love it. Free entry, just have to pay for parking. well signposted.

museum.wales/stfagans/

Castell Coch at Tongwynlais.

Techniquest is nice but not a full day out tbh

Margam Park isn't too far away.

Caerphilly mountain ranch has a gruffalo trail and high climbing ropes etc.

St Fagans is always a good shout.

There's a white water rafting centre near Cardiff bay.

Glamorgan heritage coast if the weather is nice.

St fagans
Absolutely wonderful

Another vote for st Fagan's.

Also yes to st fagins!

What a lot of replies, thank you so much.

I had complete forgotten about St Fagans! Lots of other places to take a look at too, I'll do some research.

Thank you all.

Came on to say St Fagan's too.
From memory car parking seemed expensive, but MORE than balanced out by free entry and so much to see.

Beach? Rest Bay at Porthcawl is absolutely idyllic. You can hire a wetsuit for a fiver. My lot body boarded for hours.

Hard to argue with that many votes for St Fagans! All of your suggestions look great, and whatever we don't do this time I'll keep on hand for next time, we try to visit at least once a year. Thank you.

@TinklyLittleLaugh that was my first thought but the weather looks a bit unreliable unfortunately---- nd I've just spent a week watching them bodyboard in Norfolk

@LongtimeLurker29 thanks for so many suggestions. Mountain View Ranch looks full of the sorts of things they'd love to do too.

1stMrsF. Keeps them occupied for hours doesn’t it’s?

St Fagans is great, I love it. My 12 year old finds it a bit dull though. He quite likes Castell Coch and Cardiff Castle.

We also enjoyed the Dr Who exhibition, Ogmore by Sea castle and stepping stones and mountain biking (both Afan and Bike Parc Wales. You can hire bikes at Afan).

Cardiff bay aquapark
Go ape at margam
Climb a mountain? Sugarloaf maybe? Or Pen y fan?
Rowing boat on Roath park lake
Escape rooms in Cardiff
Barry island quasar
Dan yr ogof caves are great
Big pit in blaenavon
Caerleon if they are into Romans

Forgot to include Caerphilly castle!

@TinklyLittleLaugh I don't know how they stayed in the sea so long it was bloody freezing. Dd2 didn't even wear a wet suit! Thanks for the other ideas too.

@singingstones thank you there are some great ideas there. Personally I would love to go to Big Pit or Dan y rogof but DD2 is claustrophobic so we'd better pick something open air!

Just in case anyone else is using this thread for idea I had considered Sgwd y Eira waterfalls but decided it was too far for this trip, it's a beautiful walk though if you are in the area and I remember being thrilled as a child to walk behind a waterfall. You need waterproofs!