I often check there’s an aquarium nearby when I’m planning places to visit. They’re good for rainy day activities, although obviously then get busy. Near where we were staying in Southsea, right on the sea front, was Blue Reef Aquarium and I’d picked out the coupons I’d found in case N wanted to go. I didn’t expect him to ask to go on the first day we were exploring Southsea seafront. Blue Reef Aquarium is looking a little tired especially… Continue Reading “Blue reef aquarium Southsea”
When we go on holiday, just N and I, it’s usually a last minute booking and decision on where we’re going. I tend to look for places near the coast because we’re so central, it’s the only chance we get when going away for a few days. Thankfully N is used to our visiting lots of places in a short time. Both of us whizz round and we rarely spend all day in one place. But we have started chilling… Continue Reading “Exploring Southsea and Clarence Pier for seaside fun”
Whenever we go on holiday, I always try to take N somewhere that’s close enough to go to the seaside for a beach day. We recently stayed in Southsea, Portsmouth – yes it has its own beach but it’s shingle like so much of the south coast around that area. But a short journey to West Wittering and N had the sandy beach he prefers. Oh and I have the pretty beach huts! Which were surprisingly unused for such a… Continue Reading “Sunny West Wittering beach day”
When eating out, childrens menus are a mixed bag. Some like Pizza Express tend to get them pretty spot on (although I’m not sure that N by the age of 10 will be satisfied with the kids menu) as do Bella Pasta with their 2 younger and older kids sizes. I also like places like Cotswold Wildlife Park who have sandwich lunch boxes, but hot meal options across the standard menu with small and larger choices at good prices. At… Continue Reading “Mozzarella Joe’s and the children’s menu giant pizza”
With National Trust membership, I always feel like we should make the most of it whenever we’re away. So on our February break in the New Forest, we stopped at Mottisfont on the way home. N wasn’t impressed at doing another National Trust visit, but given I’d taken him to Peppa Pig World he owed me! Once he knew there would be lunch boxes and water involved, he was happy. He even told me to get out my camera to… Continue Reading “Mottisfont – an outdoor National Trust visit”
One of the first attractions on my list of places to visit on our recent holiday to the New Forest was Beaulieu. I’ve been twice before, once as a child on a 2 family holiday and once with the OH a few years before having N. Both times it’s been great, so I knew N would love it as well. Of course going in February did mean some activities weren’t open like the vintage bus ride, but we could still… Continue Reading “Beaulieu National Motor Museum, Palace House and Top Gear”
I never thought I would take N to Peppa Pig World. But holidaying in the New Forest, I found we couldn’t really avoid it. It always helps with negotiating for places I want to visit if N gets his choice first. So a trip to Paultons Park was on the cards for half term. The timing worked really well. Paultons Park opened the season on the first day of our half term. We chose the sunniest looking day and it… Continue Reading “Paultons Park and Peppa Pig World”
Once N gets something that interests him he keeps going on about it. Last term they were learning about dinosaurs and fossils at school. So he’s been wanting to go fossil hunting. So it was lucky we were holidaying in the New Forest and could check out some of the fossil hunting beaches. Fossil hunting at Barton on Sea The only problem is that I know less about fossils than he does. I’ve never been fossil hunting, I’ve never seen… Continue Reading “Walking and fossil hunting in the New Forest”
I love eating out and going out and going on holiday in the UK. We usually do bed and breakfast which means eating out every night. Annoyingly, despite N being a good eater, I daren’t spend money on more adventurous cuisines in case he won’t eat them. He gripes about the indian and chinese foods at school, and his version of chicken fajitas excludes guacamole and sour cream so when we were away for a few days in the New… Continue Reading “Eating out with children in Lyndhurst New Forest”
