Snowdonia/Conwy - I haven't booked many events. Have I missed something?

[MrsBede]

We are off to Conwy for a week on the 6th and I'm feeling a bit uneasy as I haven't done much pre-booking. It's me and my 12 and 14 year old sons. They are not into stuff like zip wires - happy with walking/eating/screen time factored in!

I've booked Conwy Castle and tickets to the slate museum. That's it... We have self-catering accommodation booked and, while I'd like the odd meal out I'm not fussed and like to see places before booking them. If it ends up being just fish and chips/other takeaway I'm not fussed.

I plan to visit Betws-y-coed and the waterfall, Beddgelert and the grave, do the Llanberis pass drive, Conwy Castle walls and coastal park and just beaches. I plan a trip to Llandudno and it seems the tram thing and cable cars can't be pre-booked, which seems odd. They aren't essential to me anyway. I'm in the NT so may book Bodnant. I may look for some pony trekking, but ds1 wouldn't want that so it may not happen anyway. Mountain railway was fully booked already when I looked but I had my doubts as it wasn't going to the summit anyway. Considered Ffestiniog but not paying £50 for ds2 to sit on his phone for 3 hours. May look for a cheaper steam train somewhere.

I don't know, I keep seeing all these threads mentioning manic pre-booking and worrying whether I've missed something. Does anything I've mentioned need pre-booking I wasn't aware of or does it sound shit? I'm well aware rain is on the cards and we're not that bothered - just want a change of scene somewhere stunning and I'll definitely get that I know.

We came back from most of those places yesterday as we did a tour of Snowdonia.
Still plenty to see and do, most of this if free and un bookable
Its a fantastic area and compact too so not loads of driving
Some good ideas here
www.donthibernate.co.uk
Betws-y-coed
Now whilst the waterfall is good, Fairy Glen and The Conway Falls Cafe are much better about 5 mins drive away and 5 mins apart.
Some info here
www.donthibernate.co.uk/route-2-m56-m62-to-llandudno-the-most-scenic-route/

Aber falls is a must but go early to get a parking space
www.donthibernate.co.uk/waterfalls-of-north-wales/
The Enochs for Dinner
enochs.co.uk

Llandudno
Personally I wouldn't bother with the tram, drive up in the car and come back via the Toll road, I think its £3
www.visitconwy.org.uk/things-to-do/marine-drive-p277321
Nice food places in or near Llandudno
homecookin-llandudno.co.uk
www.gonorthwales.co.uk/food-and-drink/the-beach-cafe-bar-p396581
You can go to this place via the toll road as it brings you to llandudno's other beach, many people dont realise it has two

www.westshorebeachcafe.com

Look at this route and do it in reverse, Rhos is nice good chippy and Italian, Angel bay is a must.
www.donthibernate.co.uk/route-1-llandudno-from-m62-m56/

llandudno also has a ski slope
www.jnlllandudno.co.uk

A few ideas further North from Conwy about 20-30 mins drive
2 miles away from the hustle and bustle its a different place
Dyserth Falls
Prestatyn Roman Villa
The Funship Mostyn ( you need to explain the story as to how and why its there and explain one mans determination.)
Prestatyn view point
mapio.net/pic/p-37228769/
Good pub food next to it
eagleandchild.com

I would also set time a side and go to Criccieth, Llanbedrog, Abersoc etc on the Llyn Peninsular, make a full day of it
Call at Porthmadog for breakfast
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g616282-d2042599-Reviews-Breaktimes-Porthmadog_Gwynedd_North_Wales_Wales.html
Go here for your evening meal on the way back, best to book
www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restaurant_Review-g2064226-d6596312-Reviews-Bryn_Arms-Gellilydan_Snowdonia_National_Park_North_Wales_Wales.html

If you are going to drive over pen y pass to llanberis you may get a nasty shock coming out the other end of llanberis as there are 3 way traffic lights that average 6 minutes a cycle, and if you leave llanberis after 4pm then you can be there for half an hour, and that's before you factor in traffic light failures or broken down cars.

Good pizza restaurant in Conwy is Johnny dough's on the bridge.

plenty to see and do, most of this if free and un bookable

This is what I'd been thinking and then thought too good to be true, but it seems not! Thank you for all those tips .

If you are there for a week and have already booked two things, that sounds plenty. You are in the most beautiful area - beaches and mountains - which would just fill up my family's time on their own.
As you say can easily fill a day in Llandudno, walking up the Great Orme, and then the pier and all the usual sea side shops as well as the beach.
You've got all sorts of options there going over to Anglesey and of course the whole mountain range of Snowdonia. Plenty of walks round lakes if you don't want to climb too high.

The Funship story, its original website is under maintenance, its a bit longer than this short version but here it is
sophiejackson04.wordpress.com/2015/04/09/duke-of-lancaster-north-wales-dudug-black-duke-art/

Will be there around the same time and booking next to nothing. So much scenery to see.

Traffic lights from llanberis are no longer there.

Don’t go to Caernarfon, its a real dump.

Llanberis is lovely. Take a walk through the quarries, visit the Anglesey barracks, quarry hospital, walk round Coed Doctor, the waterfall, you can spend the day in that village.

A walk in Treborth gardens. Walk under the Britannia Bridge. Walk over Menai Bridge snd book a table at Dylans

Llanberis Lake Railway is right by the slate museum.

Phones should not come with you on holiday except one to call breakdown assistance or for medical attention, or use maps/book things. Time for tough love and a break from screens.

Hope you got there OK OP. I've just driven over the M56 and the traffic heading west into Wales is at a standstill.

Sorry to say the removal of the lights in llanberis was temporary. They are back with a vengeance!