Family Camping Essentials & Tips

This year we decided to bite the bullet and purchase a tent - it's something we've been talking about for the last couple of years but have never got round to actually doing it for one reason or another. I'm sure the idea of camping with small children is some people's idea of hell but some of my favourite memories are of my childhood when we used to go camping!

We got quite a good deal on a large 6 person tent from Go Outdoors - we spent a fair bit of time researching but it was good to go to the store and see for ourselves what they were like. It's a bit overwhelming with the choice of things to buy but we literally bought the tent plus a few items like campbeds, foldable cupboard and the all important drinks cooler. Since we bought the tent, we've been buying bits and pieces and it feels more manageable to do it that way rather than buy all of Go Outdoors at once!

It's a really good idea to put the tent up in the garden before you actually go away - it gives you an idea of how long it will take you and how straight forward it is. Although you can actually get self inflating tents these days if you're not too great with the traditional way!

With limited space, organisation is key - you might have to play a bit of car jenga but at least you will have all the essentials!

Setting Up

- Tent (this is the one we bought)
- Pegs, plus spares
- Groundsheet
- Mallet
- Carpet
- Porch (not essential but handy for extending your living space and useful if it rains!

Bedrooms

- Air mattress and pump
- Camp beds (we're considering getting bunk beds to save room, the kids loved trying them out in the shop!
- Sleeping bags
- Pillows (you can get smaller camping pillows but you can't beat your comfy pillow from home!)
- Torch
- Head lamp (useful for nighttime toilet trips!)
- Spare blankets
- Fleecy onesies for the kids
- Clothing for all weathers, plus spares for the children incase they get wet/muddy/dirty!

Living Area

- Stove and gas
- Cutlery and plates/bowls/cups (we bought the infamous plastic set from IKEA that every parent seems to own!)
- Cooking utensils
- Tin foil
- Kettle
- Pots and Pans
- Cool box and ice blocks
- Washing up bowl, liquid, cloth etc
- Tin opener
- Lighter/matches
- Chopping board
- Black bin bags
- Camping chairs
- Fold out table
- Fold up shelves (really useful for storing kitchen bits)

Food/Drink

You don't really want to be slaving over a hot stove for too long when you're away camping so it's good to pack a few meals that are quick and easy to prepare.

For breakfast you might be able to pick up fresh bits from the campsite shop (if you don't have access to a fridge) but you can't go wrong with scrambled egg on toast! The mini boxes of cereal are good for the kids too, along with longlife milk. I always pack brioche buns too as the kids are big fans.

We recently got sent some Shaken Udder milkshakes* to try out and these were perfect for our camping trip. Aside from being really tasty, they don't need to be kept in the fridge so are ideal for camping.

Lunch/Dinner wise, hotdogs are always a hit and can be easily made on the stove. A friend of mine always takes a big lunchbox of chilli to heat up on the stove which is a fab idea! We usually take a few noodle pots as these are mega easy - our faves are Mr Lees* and they are so tasty.

I usually try and take a few bottles of frozen made up squash too, not only do they double up as cool blocks but the children are more inclined to drink it if it's ice cold!

Extras

- Mini first aid kit
- Sudocrem* (The folks at Sudocrem have created a mini version,  "My Little Sudocrem" which is ideal for camping and can be popped in your first aid kit. I find it really useful as it can be used for a multitude of things - insect bites, sunburn, blisters, chafing!
- Insect repellant
- An abundance of wipes
- Toilet roll
- Some small games to keep the kids busy - we love Top trumps!

Now we have our tent we are planning to go a couple of times over the Summer holidays and I hope it's something the children enjoy as much as I did as a child!

*Contains press samples

Florida Holiday 2017 ~ Day 5 - When plans go astray!

We awoke to the sunshine peeking through our curtains at Pier House 60 and were faced with glorious sunshine upon the white sandy shores of Clearwater. It certainly was a room with a view!

We headed down for our breakfast (which was included in our stay) and were greeted with more stunning views, this time of the marina. Breakfast was great with loads to choose from including sausage and eggs, bagels, fruit, pastries etc. I had some amazing whipped strawberry mousse stuff on my bagel - certainly beats a bowl of cornflakes!!

The plan today was explore the coast and we were aiming to get to Weeki Wachee Springs to see the mermaids. We never made it that far in the end but had a great day regardless! We first headed up to the town of Dunedin which is a short drive from Clearwater. I'd heard it was a pretty little town to stop at but we were on the hunt for one thing....the splash park! We'd spotted it on the website and it was right up Elliot's street. We eventually found the park and it was brilliant, loads of undercover seating, a big play park, swimming pool and of course the splash park. Elliot couldn't wait to get his swimmers on and get stuck in!

Unfortunately, about 60 seconds after he started playing we heard an alarm which turned out to be a lightning detection and they had to close the splash park as a precaution! Elliot was gutted and of course there were tears but he soon cheered up once he spotted the shaved ice truck. I've only ever seen shaved ice on telly and it's not something we get in the UK (or am I missing out on something?!). Basically you get a cup of ice flakes and you can add flavoured syrups....it's pretty similar to a slush puppy. Yummy! We went a bit mad with the flavours and ours both ended up a murky purple colour but they were delicious!!

After a quick play on the slides, the splash park reopened so we hot footed it over to get a seat in the shade and Elliot went mad in the water. A little while later the heavens opened and it absolutely poured down - I've never seen rain like it! The park stayed open but we were getting so wet that we decided to call it a day and had to make a mad dash to the undercover area to dry off. Not sure who was wetter, Elliot in his trunks or us holding the towels!

Our next visit was New Port Richey to call in on a bakery (That Little Bakery on Grand) owned by a friend of ours who moved back to the US from Dorset a little while ago. It was great to catch up and a good excuse to stop for a cake!!

Time just flew by today and it was almost 3pm by this point - we did think about driving onto Weeki Wachee Springs but we were already 2 hours from Kissimmee and the kids were getting a bit grumpy about being in the car so we made a quick stop at Walmart for snacks and then started the drive back....which seemed to take forever! Back in Kissimmee and we headed down to the Old Town to check out the car show.

We've not visited the Old Town before and I have no idea why because it was good fun! A bit tacky but I enjoyed the atmosphere - there were lots of cool cars parked up and lots of people out enjoying the live music. We stopped for a drink and some nachos in Southern Breeze and although he'd been complaining he was tired, Elliot was full of beans and dancing around all over the place! (I think it was the sugar in the slushies!)

We watched the cars do a lap of the Old Town and decided to call it a day as it was way past bedtime for the little ones. Paul had had some beers so it was my turn to get behind the wheel - gulp, my first time driving this holiday. Luckily I didn't have to drive far but it wasn't too bad!

Mighty Claws Adventure Golf - Bournemouth

Last weekend saw the grand opening of Mighty Claws Adventure Golf in Bournemouth and we were lucky enough to be one of the first families to try it out.

Elliot loves crazy golf and he's also dinosaur obsessed so it was a match made in heaven really - from the minute we pulled into the car park and he spotted the volcano, he was a bouncing excitable ball of energy!

Mighty Claws Adventure Golf is the brainchild of Allan Saud who owns the Playgolf course in Bournemouth. The 18-hole adventure golf course features large scale animatronic dinosaurs, an erupting volcano and a 5 metre high waterfall....if you look closely you might even notice that the water is an unusual colour!

Is it water?! Is it Ribena?!

The course is based around the "Invasion of the Iron Jaws" story which features a whole host of lovable dinosaur characters who have to undertake a series of fearsome adventures in order to free their valley from the evil Iron Jaws.

We couldn't wait to get started! We picked up our clubs and balls from the front desk and made our way to the entrance and through the impressive double doors and under the Sweet Claw Valley archway. We actually bumped into some friends (Emma who writes at Families Online) so we did the course with them which made it even more fun!

The 18 hole course is suitable from 4 year and up and obviously the holes vary in trickiness. To be honest, I think the kids cheated but everyone was having so much fun that it didn't really matter! The favourite amongst the children was the hole that involved hitting the ball over a stream...needless to say the balls dropped in but luckily nets are supplied to fish the balls out!!

As we finished the course we spotted Toby the T-Rex so we nipped over to say hello - he was quite an enthusiastic dancer!!

We headed over to The Kitchen Club for some well earned lunch where it was pizzas all round. Elliot didn't want pizza originally but even he couldn't resist a slice when he saw how good they looked.

We had a fab morning at Mighty Claws and would definitely recommend it as a family friendly activity. Kids are well catered for with smaller clubs and the course itself is well laid out and completely accessible for buggies and wheelchairs.

For more information, check out the Might Claws website here

Family Friendly Days Out in South West England

With so many of us staying in the UK for our holidays now, a family friendly day out is a top priority. Here in Dorset we are spoilt for choice with many attractions and places to visit and there is something for everyone's taste and budget. If you are watching the pennies, there are plenty of free days out to be found but you can also find lots of offers and deals on websites such as Top Dog Days. It's also worth joining the National Trust - they have beautiful properties all over the UK and have plenty of activities to keep children entertained.

Here's our pick of some of the best days out in South West England..

Longleat Safari & Adventure Park - Warminster, Wiltshire 

This has to be at the top of the list! There is so much to do at Longleat starting with the drive through safari which features zebras, giraffes, rhinos, tigers and even an elephant. If you're brave you can drive through the monkey enclosure but be prepared to leave minus bits of your car!!

You can ride the Jungle Express, get lost in the maze, stroke a tarantula, hand feed the lorikeets and even see the bats in the bat cave. Look out for special events such as the Festival of Light which brings the park to life with hundreds of chinese lanterns - it is worth a visit for this alone!

Paultons Park / Peppa Pig World - Romsey, Hampshire

You've probably heard of Peppa Pig World but Paulton's Park has so much more to offer for kids of all ages, not just Peppa fans! The park has over 70 rides, beautiful gardens, 4D cinema,  adventure golf, the Rio Grande railway and even a whole host of animals including penguins and flamingoes.

Little ones will love Peppa Pig World and there are plenty of rides suitable for even the smallest of visitors but be warned, it does get VERY busy in school holidays. You'll also be whistling the Peppa Pig theme tune for the rest of the week ;)

The Lost Kingdom is aimed at slightly older kids with rides such as the Velociraptor rollercoaster. You might even bump into a "friendly" t-rex....

Corfe Castle - Dorset

This is one of our favourite National Trust spots in Dorset and it's perfect for a fun family day out. Adults will appreciate the history but children will love exploring the castle walls, you can even send your teddy down to the bottom of the castle hill on a zipline!

Once you've finished at the castle, grab a bite to eat at The Greyhound pub which is one of the most photographed pubs in the UK. You can then hop on a steam train and ride down to Swanage, a pretty seaside town situated on the Jurassic Coastline.

West Somerset Railway - Minehead, Somerset

This is a must do if you're staying at nearby Butlins and is a great day out for little train buffs. The steam train departs from Minehead and travels through pretty countryside, passing villages such as Wachet and Dunster and ends up in Bishops Lydeard where it begins it's return journey. A rover ticket means you can hop on and off at any of these stops. Top tip - for amazing fish & chips, try the Driftwood Cafe at Blue Anchor.

Look out for children's events where you can meet your favourite characters such as Peppa Pig and The Gruffalo.

Tank Museum - Bovington, Dorset

Featuring the world's best collection of tanks, live action displays and interactive activities, The Tank Museum is a brilliant, full day out. You'll experience what it was like in the trenches, you'll learn about the horses that went to war and you'll get up close and personal with over 300 vehicles.

It's great value too - your ticket gives you an annual pass so you can return again and again!

A day out in Weymouth, Dorset

For a fun day at the seaside, Weymouth is the perfect option. Take a stroll along the promenade, paddle in the sea, spend your pennies in the arcade, have a beer in one of the many pubs along the Quay, try some amazingly fresh seafood, visit the Sealife Centre, go shopping...you can even visit Sandworld which features stunningly clever sculptures of very recognisable people and places!

Photo credit - Fotolia

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A Family Friendly Holiday to Majorca

It has become a bit of a tradition in our house to get away for a holiday in September - last year it was Florida and the year before that Cyprus. This year has been slightly different as I'm pregnant so a long haul flight wasn't really an option!

We decided to try somewhere different and opted for Port de Pollenca in Majorca. Not only is it just a 2 hour flight from the UK but we were able to fly from our local airport Bournemouth which is a real bonus and much easier for families travelling with children.

Accommodation - Playa Mar

We booked with Thomson and picked the Aparthotel Playa Mar due to it's brilliant reviews on Trip Advisor and location. The hotel was very family friendly and perfect for us - and it certainly lived up to the glowing reviews! Our apartment had a large bedroom with two single bed, plus a double sofa bed in the lounge. There was a large bathroom, kitchenette and a balcony overlooking the pool. We were situated quite close to the bar so I was concerned it might be too noisy in the evenings but we needn't have worried. The entertainment finished at 1030pm and Elliot was so exhausted each day that he fell asleep with no interruptions from the noise! There was different entertainment each night including a magic show, acrobatics and Jackson 5 tribute - Elliot got picked to be in the magic show which he loved!

The hotel had a brilliant splash park for children and Elliot spent lots of time in this over the week. There was also several waterslides which were really popular with him! The swimming pool had a large shallow area for children and was lovely and clean. The water was absolutely freezing but soon warmed up once you were in! Plenty of sunbeds to be had, we never had an issue finding somewhere to sit although I imagine this might be different in peak seasons. We travelled in late September so the resort wasn't as busy as it had been through the Summer Holidays. 

Although the hotel had a Thomsons kids club, we never actually made it to this! The hotel had a separate entertainment team who did lots of activities for the children - we took part in water polo, tshirt making, face painting, discos and even a birthday party for the hotel brand mascot! 

We went all inclusive which I think is so much easier when you have children. Before Elliot we would never have booked all inclusive, preferring to explore our local surroundings and finding local restaurants. But now I find it so much easier  - drinks and ice creams whenever you like, plus the variety of the buffet! The food was brilliant at our hotel - lots of choice and everything lovely and fresh. Each night there was a different theme such as Mexican, Asian and traditional Spanish. We all certainly ate very well! 

Port de Pollenca

Our hotel was situated on the outskirts of town but it was a pleasant 20 minute walk along the famous Pine Walk to reach the Marina. All along the Pine Walk there are shallow coves and the water is so clear. It was a really nice place to stop for a paddle and Elliot had lots of fun splashing about looking for fish! There are lots of restaurants situated along the Pine Walk and this would be a perfect spot for a drink and watching the world go by.

You might even spot the seaplane whilst walking along the Pine Walk - several times a day it takes off from the military base and scoops up water to drop on the scrub lands in the mountains to reduce fires. We didn't see it take off but we saw it fly over the hotel - it made me jump out of my skin as it was low!

Food

We didn't eat out a great deal but on the occasions we did, it had to be tapas! We found a great little cafe one lunchtime which was tucked away on one of the side streets in Port de Pollenca. We ordered a mixed tapas and I wasn't really sure what to expect but it came out in a big dish with lots of yummy things like mushrooms, omelette, vegetables and potatoes. It doesn't sound very exciting but it was lovely! On another occasion we had tapas in Port de Soller and Elliot really really enjoyed it, but especially the squid. Personally one of my favourite things about eating out in Spain is fresh bread and aioli - I would have that with every meal!

Day Trips

We decided to hire a car on our holiday so we could explore a bit of the island. Majorca has so much to offer and we only really scratched the surface but here are some of our favourite things we discovered: 

Cap de Formentor

Cap de Formentor is the most Northerly point of Majorca and the views on your way up through the mountains are breathtaking. But not good for those of a nervous disposition...! We drove up from Port de Pollenca stopping at Mirador es Colomer. The views from this look out point are spectacular but I'd definitely recommend going early or late to beat the crowds - there's not much parking and it was a bit crazy with cars trying to pull over at every opportunity.

Mirador es Colomer

Mirador es Colomer - looking back towards Port de Pollenca

Leaving here and heading up to the Cap de Formentor, the roads were some of the most narrow and bendy I have ever been on. Combine this was lots of tourists in cars, plus lots of cyclists and it was a nerve-wracking drive. I felt my blood pressure rising! 

When we rounded the corner and saw the lighthouse at the Cap de Formentor in the distance, we were faced with a massive queue of cars all winding along the road up to the top. Rather than wait in line where it looked to be one in, one out of the car park we decided to turn round and head back. Pity, but maybe we will make it up there next time!

You can see the queue...gulp!

Port de Soller

Port de Soller is a pretty coastal village that we visited almost by accident. We had taken the scenic route through the mountains towards the town of Soller where the plan was to catch the train to Palma (a trip we had read about prior to our holiday) but ended up stopping off in Port de Soller and staying for a few hours! You can actually catch a tram from Port de Soller to Soller and Elliot had lots of fun waving at everyone who went past and shouting "Hola!"

The seafront has lots of bars and restaurants so we stopped for tapas at a place called Restaurante Mar y Sol, it made a nice change not to be eating at the hotel! We had a wander round the marina and sat and watched the world go by for a bit. It was a really bustling little area but it looked like there were a lot of organised excursions passing through - we spotted a fair few Thomson uniforms!

A visit to Alcudia's Old Town

One afternoon we drove down to Alcudia which is a little further on round the coast from Port de Pollenca. Alcudia is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Majorca and we were keen to have a look round the old town which we'd heard great things about.

Much of the old town is surrounded by a wall dating back to the 14th Century and we were able to climb and walk along some of this, with some great views across the beautiful houses and winding, narrow streets. Elliot was fascinated with the arrow loops in the wall!

The old town was really pretty and fortunately when we visited it wasn't too busy. I read that market days can be extremely busy and hectic but by visiting later in the day we missed the crowds. We stopped for a quick snack in one of the many cafes dotted along the streets and Elliot was tempted by all the lovely ice cream shops!

Exploring the Coast by Boat

I love going out on boat trips when on holiday and this time we decided to rent out our own boat, something we hadn't done before. We found a company based down at the marina in Port de Pollenca called Sea Adventure who were really helpful and we even got an upgrade on the boat to a slightly larger one! Elliot had a life jacket to wear and they even provided us with a cool box for our drinks so that was useful.

We had the boat from 9-2pm and this gave us plenty of time to make our way along the coastline and we were able to moor up for a swim in the sea which was refreshing! I was a bit wary and didn't really like not being able to touch the bottom however Elliot had no fear and jumped in several times!

All that swimming tired Elliot out and he actually fell asleep on the way back!

Spot the sleeping boy!

I feel like we have only really scratched the surface of what Majorca has to offer but we were so impressed with what we did see. It is the perfect location for a family holiday and I am pretty certain we will go back again!