Half Term Fun

This year has seen the start of the planned alterations to the single and twin bedrooms in each of the houses. Work started last Friday, pulling out all the old furniture and now installing the new. Painting and decorating will be towards the end of January and all the beds will arrive at the beginning of February, together with the new blinds, all in time for the half term break mid-February, exciting times.

Although the February half term is in the middle of winter don’t let that stop you from having lots of fun.  There is still plenty to do and places to see.

Peppa Pig World break at Paulton’s Park which is open throughout February half term from February 17-25.  There will be lots of rides open including The Queen’s Flying Coach Ride and Grampy Rabbit’s Sailing Club as well as Miss Rabbit's Helicopter Flight and Peppa's Big Balloon Ride.

Half term at National Motor Museum in Beaulieu is just as much fun. To celebrate their Chitty Chitty Bang Bang 50th Anniversary your little one can become an inventor for the day, just like Caractacus Potts, and create their own contraption at the Motor Museum.
This and many other activities are included in the admission price for the museum during February half term.

There are even more farm animals waiting to say hello at Longdown Activity Farm near Ashurst, which re-opens with some new additions (if Mother Nature decides!) on Saturday February 16. Their indoor softplay barn and trampoline barns are the perfect way for excited young ones to work off some excess energy, too.

Wild Thing indoor play is open throughout the half term at Adventure Wonderland, just along the A331 near Bournemouth, and don’t forget to check out the amazing things to do at Moors Valley. It is a great location for children to run free. Follow the play trail, there are over 11 play areas, to climb, slide on and swing on, something for every age. And if that doesn’t tire out your kids, then there are four family cycle routes to enjoy. For the more adventurous and the monkey in the family, there are the Go Ape Treetop and Segway adventures. For Gruffalo fans, you can take a selfie with the amazing wooden sculptures near the picnic area. A fantastic day, letting off steam and getting plenty of fresh air.

Mighty Claws Adventure Golf. Situated at Iford Golf Course behind Tesco, this fantastic mini golf course is a must for dinosaur fans – you can’t miss the giant T-Rex as you travel down the driveway. The course features various animatronic dinosaurs, an erupting volcano and waterfall, with 18 challenges to keep everyone entertained and interested.There is a great choice of club sizes to suit everyone and different coloured balls perfect for play and spotting if you need to retrieve them from the water. After approximately an hour’s play headto the clubhouse for lunch – delicious wood oven baked pizzas and hot chocolate.

If there is wet weather on the horizon you could always go down to the  Oceanarium in Bournemouth. The Oceanarium is home to hundreds of fish and creatures from across the globe. It’s perfect for any Octonaut or Nemo fan. You can see the otters and turtles being fed, as well as chatting to the keepers. Favourites of the Oceanarium are the penguins, who are willing to entertain with their dramatic underwater routines.
Top tip: once you’ve bought a ticket, you can return as many times as you like during the day.  Perfect if you want to pop out for lunch or a beach stomp, then head back for some more fishy fun.

 Splashdown at Tower Park. Home to 13 indoor and outdoor flumes, as well as three splash zones, there’s something to cater for the thrill seeker and those who prefer something more gentle. After two hours of water play and flume action, enjoy a meal at TGI Friday’s.

Another wet day activity is Rock Reef for a climbing adventure. There are 28 clip ‘n’ climb indoor climbing walls – enough to test any climber.Brave the vertical drop slide and a high line aerial obstacle course, as well as the Pier Cave. For older thrill seekers, there’s the PierZip. Located at the very end of the Bournemouth Pier and the first of its kind in the world, the PierZip is an experience not to be missed! If you a thrill-seeker, enjoy an adrenaline-charged thrill-ride experience? Then the PierZip is for you! Climb the Zip tower above the sea and zip-surf over the waves to the shore. The Dual zip line means you can ride with friends and family and challenge them with a race to the beach!  Open from the beginning of February for weekends only until the end of March and open for the week of half term 18th to 24th March.