When your children first arrive on the scene, it can be difficult to manage to get out of pyjamas, into clothes which have no, or little, baby dribble on them, and even make the journey to the park or to the local shop before mid afternoon.
It can feel like your freedom has been curtailed. But, actually, those first few months and years can give you less restrictions and more flexibility than you’ll have for some time. In a few short years, you’ll be constrained to taking your breaks during the school holidays. So, while you can take advantage of off-peak prices and destinations that are gloriously uncrowded, it’s the perfect time to explore together as a family. After all, what could be better than seeing a destination through a toddler’s eyes?
Here are just a few suggestions of where to take your pre-schoolers this year…
Child-friendly Cape Town
SOURCE: Flickr
It might not normally be associated with family-friendly trips, but a city break in Cape Town offers an incredible amount for families with young children. The Two Ocean’s aquarium is home to an amazing array of sealife, including showstopping sharks, you can go to meet the penguins which live on Boulder’s Beach and sit and have fish and chips at Kalky’s in Kalk Bay. If your children are old enough so you trust them not to put things in their mouths, then Scratch Patch is another good place to visit. The entire floor here is covered in colourful stones and semi-precious gems. You can lie down and make gem, rather than the traditional snow, angels before filling a little bag with the stones you want to take home.
More info:
For Thomas fans
SOURCE: Flickr
Little Thomas the Tank fans probably won’t want to leave the room if you opt for one of Drayton Manor Hotel’s themed family suites. You could experience the magic of Sodor Island at Thomas Land, near Tamworth, before staying the night in one of the special rooms. They feature Thomas bunk beds, with their own DVD for each bed, although, thankfully, the adults get a double bed in the same room. Drayton Manor zoo is just a few minutes’ away too if you wanted to visit more attractions in the area.
More info:
http://draytonmanorhotel.co.uk
Fanciful Florida
SOURCE: Flickr
There’s no doubt that a trip to Disney World is magical for little ones, although, if they’re very small, they may not remember an awful lot of it in years to come. But, there’s more to Florida than Mickey Mouse. A few days at Disney, followed by the short road trip to one of the Gulf coast’s gorgeous beaches, with their powder white sand, is the ideal combination of excitement and relaxation. Anna Maria Island is reached by a road bridge but, once there, it feels like you’ve stepped back in time to when the pace of life was slower. Try the peanut butter ice cream at the Two Scoops parlour or head to the Sign of the Mermaid restaurant where your children are encouraged to draw or colour their own mermaid to put up on the wall. You never know, it may still be there if you make a return trip when they’re a bit bigger.
More info:
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk
The traditional British seaside
SOURCE: Flickr
Joining the bucket-and-spade brigade is a kitsch, fun way to spend your holiday time together. Seaside resorts around Britain are seeing something of a renaissance as more and more of us choose to holiday at home. Great Yarmouth is a favourite from many of our own childhoods. The coastline stretches for 15 miles so you’re sure to find the perfect spot for your family. The children can enjoy donkey rides, which take place just below Britannia Pier, or just take the donkeys a carrot if they’re too little to sit on them. Nearby, Parkdean’s Cherry Tree resort is particularly good for families with younger children. There’s a soft play centre, outdoor toddler’s pool with water fountains and the Tot Stars club, which is especially for under 4’s.
More info:
http://www.great-yarmouth.co.uk
http://www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk
Marvelous Melbourne
SOURCE: Flickr
If you’re travelling to Australia, then you’ll want to make sure you’re there long enough to justify the long, and pricey, flight – something that’s easier when you don’t have to try to fit trips into school holidays. Melbourne is one of the most family friendly cities in the world. Here, some of the best attractions for little ones are the century-old Puffing Billy railway, where you can take a steam train along the mountain track and the Healesville animal sanctuary, where you can see one of the world’s quirkiest creatures, the duck-billed Platypus.
More info:
http://www.puffingbilly.com.au
http://www.zoo.org.au/healesville
Having pre schoolers in tow is an opportunity to see more of the world as a family, and to instil them with a sense of adventure from the very start of their lives.
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