Travelodge recently got in touch and asked if I’d like to put together a bucket list of things to do in Bournemouth for 2016. I thought I’d put a bit of a twist on it and write one for kids. So apologies to my regular blog readers while I go a bit mummy-blogger on you for the day.
2016 is all about the staycation and Travelodge make it a very affordable option – especially if petrol is going to stay at 99p a litre! They’ve got a couple of hotels in the Bournemouth area including one a stone’s throw from the ocean.
So, here’s my top 5 things to do in Bournemouth (& the surrounding area) with kids:
1. The beach!
This one is pretty obvious but the beach provides hours of endless, free fun. Building sandcastles, searching for pretty shells, burying family members, splashing in the waves, chasing the ice-cream boat along the shore. If you’d prefer to avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle of Bournemouth’s main beach, try Branksome Chine, Alum Chine or Southbourne beach instead. Mudeford & Highcliffe are also lovely (but a bit further away).
(See some of my beach adventures here, here & here)
2. Moors Valley
Moors Valley is a huge country park situated about 20 minutes drive from Bournemouth. It’s basically one massive playground in the middle of the forest and it’s absolutely fantastic. We go all the time, all year round, whatever the weather! There’s a visitor centre with a gift shop and a cafe, toilets, a big play area, a play area for smaller children, a train you can ride around the park on and a play trail around the forest. Trust me when I say that you will all be well and truly worn out by the end of the day!
(Catch my Moors Valley adventures here, here, here & here!)
3. RockReef climbing centre
This one really is the beating heart of Bournemouth, situated at the end of Bournemouth Pier. It’s quite a new addition, and as quaint and sweet as the old theatre was, I think it’s a big improvement on what was there before! RockReef has several activities inside it including climbing walls, caves and a highline course but most excitingly, it also has a huge zip line that goes from the end of the pier straight on to Bournemouth beach. I was lucky enough to be invited to try out RockReef when it first opened and I had SO MUCH FUN. Unfortunately it was winter so I didn’t get a chance to go on the zip line but it looks pretty cool!
(image stolen from Louise)
4. The Quomps splash park
The Quomps splash park is actually in Christchurch which is about a 15 minute drive away from Bournemouth but it’s well worth the drive if it’s a hot, sunny day. The splash park is a fenced-in area with water jets that squirt out of the floor. It’s SO much fun. We usually end up having to drag Huxley away kicking and screaming because he loves it so much that he just won’t leave. (If you’d prefer to stay in central Bournemouth, they actually have something very similar to this by the pier now)
5. Bournemouth Air Festival
The Bournemouth Air Festival takes place every year in August, the weekend before the Bank Holiday. It’s always a jam-packed affair and the whole town transforms into a busy, bustling metropolis as hundreds and thousands of tourists descend onto the beach and surrounding areas to catch a glimpse of the action. While I usually try and avoid the crowds as much as possible for events like this, the Air Festival is one that I definitely make an exception for. It’s so exciting to find a little patch on the beach to claim as your own and settle down for the day with ever-changing constant entertainment without having to move a muscle! The kids can run off and play in the sea or make friends with kids in the neighbouring camps and build sandcastles and it’s such a joy to see their little faces as the Red Arrows shoot across the sky.
(See a previous post on the Bournemouth Air Festival here)
(Image via here)
If you’re planning a staycation to Bournemouth this year and need some help with planning, please give me a shout! I’d be more than happy to help!
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