tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9483656957036757642024-03-16T01:09:34.208+00:00Sparkle's SuitcaseA UK Family Travel BlogHayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-85227198331126495022023-07-25T21:59:00.004+01:002023-07-25T21:59:00.141+01:00The 10 Best Attractions In The UK To Visit With Kids<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22ZglxKqyo54aBKMbQ3ZpnK-vPnj5QpqVwE-u20QPTTv9yBV3z4R6DAl7kNDhlg4N5kbrkf2c124lpqAPFGwyJS5Ty5O0XjM-mn5em-Aj9xv0546q_Z0YgrGHMVztagJfMnKH3Df5Hl-Ym3OVzG3EAq9m4O2bqVOpgy8huBwz0uv7HdjKlCT8dMli/s4032/8229FBB5-B157-44EF-932F-2B56B3ACA3EE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj22ZglxKqyo54aBKMbQ3ZpnK-vPnj5QpqVwE-u20QPTTv9yBV3z4R6DAl7kNDhlg4N5kbrkf2c124lpqAPFGwyJS5Ty5O0XjM-mn5em-Aj9xv0546q_Z0YgrGHMVztagJfMnKH3Df5Hl-Ym3OVzG3EAq9m4O2bqVOpgy8huBwz0uv7HdjKlCT8dMli/w480-h640/8229FBB5-B157-44EF-932F-2B56B3ACA3EE.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>Are you ready to make this summer one for the books? Get ready to buckle up and join me on a thrilling journey as we explore The 10 Best Attractions In The UK To Visit With Kids this summer. From enchanting castles to interactive museums, we've got you covered. Let's dive in!</p><p>1. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter - Warner Bros. Studio Tour, London:</p><p>Calling all young wizards and witches! Step into the enchanting world of Harry Potter at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London. Explore the actual sets used in the films, walk through Diagon Alley, and marvel at the intricate details of Hogwarts Castle. Don't forget to try some Butterbeer and cast a spell with a wand of your own. Get ready for a truly magical experience!</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Natural History Museum - London:</p><p>Prepare to be amazed at the Natural History Museum in London. From towering dinosaur skeletons to the famous blue whale, this museum is a haven for young explorers. Let your kids unleash their curiosity as they discover fascinating exhibits and interactive displays. Don't miss the earthquake simulator or the chance to come face-to-face with a T. rex. It's a Jurassic adventure in the heart of the city!</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Eden Project - Cornwall:</p><p>Embark on a botanical adventure at the Eden Project in Cornwall. This eco-attraction is a feast for the senses, with its iconic biomes housing plants from all around the world. Explore lush rainforests, wander through Mediterranean landscapes, and learn about sustainable living. With exciting outdoor activities and educational workshops, the Eden Project is perfect for nature-loving families.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. Warwick Castle - Warwickshire:</p><p>Get ready to step back in time at Warwick Castle. This magnificent medieval fortress offers a glimpse into the past with its grand architecture and immersive experiences. Watch epic battles, witness stunning birds of prey displays, and explore the castle's history through interactive exhibits. Don't miss the chance to climb the towers and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.</p><p><br /></p><p>5. Chester Zoo - Cheshire:</p><p>Roar with excitement at Chester Zoo, one of the UK's largest and most popular zoos. Home to over 27,000 animals, this conservation-focused zoo offers a day filled with wonder. From playful penguins to majestic elephants, there's something for every animal lover. Explore themed habitats, join educational talks, and even get up close with some furry friends. It's a wild adventure you won't want to miss!</p><p><br /></p><p>6. Museum of Science and Industry - Manchester:</p><p>Ignite your kids' curiosity at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. This interactive museum celebrates Manchester's rich industrial heritage and showcases the wonders of science and technology. From steam engines to space exploration, there's plenty to captivate young minds. Let your kids experiment, create, and learn through hands-on exhibits and engaging workshops.</p><p><br /></p><p>7. Cadbury World - Birmingham:</p><p>Indulge your sweet tooth at Cadbury World in Birmingham. Take a delicious journey through the history of chocolate, uncovering the secrets behind Cadbury's iconic treats. From chocolate-making demonstrations to a 4D cinema experience, this attraction is a treat for the whole family. And yes, there will be plenty of chocolate sampling along the way!</p><p><br /></p><p>8. National Maritime Museum - London:</p><p>Set sail on a maritime adventure at the National Maritime Museum in London. Discover the fascinating history of Britain's relationship with the sea through captivating exhibits and interactive displays. Learn about famous explorers, explore ship models, and even step aboard the Royal Navy's largest ship, the HMS Victory. It's a voyage of discovery that will leave your kids with a deeper appreciation for the seas.</p><p><br /></p><p>9. The Deep - Hull:</p><p>Dive into an underwater wonderland at The Deep in Hull. This award-winning aquarium takes you on a mesmerizing journey through the world's oceans. Encounter majestic sharks, mesmerizing rays, and vibrant coral reefs. The interactive displays, touch pools, and daily talks provide an educational and immersive experience for kids of all ages. Get ready to be awestruck by the beauty of the deep blue sea.</p><p><br /></p><p>10. Science Museum - London:</p><p>Prepare for a day of mind-bending fun at the Science Museum in London. From space exploration to robotics, this museum is a haven for young scientists and tech enthusiasts. Engage in hands-on experiments, explore cutting-edge technologies, and witness awe-inspiring scientific wonders. Don't miss the chance to watch lightning strike or experience a simulated earthquake. It's an out-of-this-world adventure!</p><p><br /></p><p>And there you have it, folks—10 of the best UK-based attractions to visit with kids this summer. From magical castles to immersive museums, these destinations promise endless fun, laughter, and unforgettable memories. So, pack your bags, grab your sunscreen, and get ready for a summer adventure your little ones will cherish forever. Happy travels!</p>Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-45993529198970973392023-07-20T22:02:00.003+01:002023-07-20T22:02:00.155+01:00The Best Family Hotels In Ascot For A Visit To Lapland UK<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM88MBdMNpy1lyNl5rprkpx9_uA4-3y4QXbj_ipHq_VqwpwB5gBSJORW3WuXT9Lp3FB8h0fr3Cxsrl1uz9hvxUSdqMJ20C-l9vkYXM9w8hKHHVNzDDY8_s64AawIu5IZ_3JCBMEG9BK6r6ocWU7C3c5NlwplJru7m_SL_ecJE_f6dwyVOngYuNQXm/s3024/FAD91B36-0E0B-4DEA-8A5E-A5A27EAAE2E8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2886" data-original-width="3024" height="610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWM88MBdMNpy1lyNl5rprkpx9_uA4-3y4QXbj_ipHq_VqwpwB5gBSJORW3WuXT9Lp3FB8h0fr3Cxsrl1uz9hvxUSdqMJ20C-l9vkYXM9w8hKHHVNzDDY8_s64AawIu5IZ_3JCBMEG9BK6r6ocWU7C3c5NlwplJru7m_SL_ecJE_f6dwyVOngYuNQXm/w640-h610/FAD91B36-0E0B-4DEA-8A5E-A5A27EAAE2E8.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> Hey there, fellow travelers! Are you planning a family trip to Lapland UK and looking for the perfect family-friendly hotel in Ascot? Well, you're in luck! Ascot, located just a stone's throw away from the enchanting Lapland UK, offers a range of fantastic accommodations that will make your stay as magical as the North Pole itself. Get ready to cozy up and let's explore the best family hotels in Ascot for your Lapland adventure!</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Coworth Park:</p><p>If you're seeking a luxurious escape with a touch of whimsy, <a href="https://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/ascot/coworth-park/" target="_blank">Coworth Park</a> is the place to be. This stunning country house hotel is set amidst beautiful grounds, providing a serene and picturesque setting for your family getaway. The hotel offers spacious rooms and suites, some with interconnecting options, ensuring a comfortable stay for the whole family. Kids will love the outdoor activities, including horse riding and exploring the hotel's very own polo fields. And the icing on the cake? Coworth Park is just a short drive away from Lapland UK, making it a convenient choice for Lapland-bound families.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Royal Berkshire:</p><p>Nestled in the heart of Ascot, the <a href="https://www.exclusive.co.uk/royal-berkshire/" target="_blank">Royal Berkshire</a> hotel is a fantastic option for families. The hotel boasts spacious and well-appointed family rooms, with plenty of space for everyone to relax and unwind. Kids will have a blast in the hotel's outdoor playground, complete with swings and slides. The hotel also offers a children's menu in its restaurant, ensuring little tummies are well taken care of. With its warm and welcoming atmosphere, the Royal Berkshire is a great choice for families looking for a comfortable and family-friendly base during their Lapland UK adventure.</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Macdonald Berystede Hotel & Spa:</p><p>The <a href="https://www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/berystede?gclid=CjwKCAjw-7OlBhB8EiwAnoOEk3JK437MbFhgInmdu3LI5v9U-SpfPWKQXaW_2JFVi5sag_boKosx5RoCO8EQAvD_BwE" target="_blank">Macdonald Berystede Hotel </a>& Spa is a fantastic choice for families seeking a blend of relaxation and adventure. The hotel offers spacious family rooms, some with extra perks like bunk beds or gaming consoles to keep the little ones entertained. While you're not off exploring Lapland UK, take advantage of the hotel's leisure facilities, including an indoor pool and a spa where parents can unwind. The hotel's location provides easy access to Ascot Racecourse and Windsor Castle, offering additional opportunities for family fun and exploration.</p><p><br /></p><p>4. De Vere Beaumont Estate:</p><p>For families who love a mix of history and modern comfort, the <a href="https://www.devere.co.uk/beaumont-estate/" target="_blank">De Vere Beaumont Estate</a> ticks all the boxes. Set in a sprawling estate, this hotel offers spacious family rooms and an array of facilities to keep everyone entertained. Kids will have a blast in the hotel's outdoor playground, while parents can enjoy a leisurely stroll through the picturesque grounds. The hotel also offers bike rentals, perfect for exploring the surrounding area. With its warm ambiance and family-friendly amenities, the De Vere Beaumont Estate provides an excellent base for your Lapland UK adventure.</p><p><br /></p><p>5. Sunningdale Park:</p><p>If you're looking for a budget-friendly option without compromising on comfort, <a href="https://www.berkeleygroup.co.uk/developments/berkshire/ascot/sunningdale-park" target="_blank">Sunningdale Park</a> is a great choice. Situated just a short drive from Lapland UK, this hotel offers spacious family rooms at affordable rates. Kids will love the outdoor space, including a playground and a mini-golf course. The hotel also has an on-site restaurant serving delicious meals for the whole family. Sunningdale Park provides a comfortable and convenient stay for families looking to make the most of their Lapland UK experience.</p><p><br /></p><p>6. Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa:</p><p>For families seeking a touch of luxury and indulgence, Pennyhill Park Hotel and Spa is a dream come true. Set in a breathtaking country estate, this hotel offers spacious family rooms and an array of amenities. Kids will love the outdoor playground and the indoor swimming pool, while parents can relax and unwind at the hotel's award-winning spa. The hotel's location provides easy access to Lapland UK, ensuring a stress-free journey to the magical winter wonderland.</p><p><br /></p><p>7. Macdonald Windsor Hotel:</p><p>Located in nearby Windsor, the Macdonald Windsor Hotel is a top-notch option for families seeking comfort and convenience. The hotel offers spacious family rooms with all the modern amenities you could need. With its central location, you'll be within walking distance of Windsor Castle, making it a perfect opportunity to explore the royal residence. The hotel's warm hospitality and family-friendly atmosphere make it a popular choice for families visiting Lapland UK.</p><p><br /></p><p>8. Royal Foresters:</p><p>Nestled in the charming village of Ascot, the <a href="https://www.theroyalforesters.co.uk/" target="_blank">Royal Foresters</a> is a boutique hotel that caters to families. The hotel features stylish and comfortable family rooms, perfect for a cozy night's sleep after a day of Lapland adventures. Kids will love the hotel's outdoor play area, and parents can indulge in delicious meals at the hotel's restaurant. With its prime location and family-friendly amenities, the Royal Foresters offers a delightful stay for Lapland-bound families.</p><p><br /></p><p>9. The Winning Post:</p><p>For a true countryside escape, The Winning Post is a delightful choice. This charming inn is located just a short drive away from Ascot and offers cozy family rooms in a tranquil setting. Kids can explore the surrounding countryside, while parents can enjoy a drink at the inn's traditional pub. The Winning Post's warm hospitality and relaxed atmosphere provide a lovely retreat for families visiting Lapland UK.</p><p><br /></p><p>10. Highclere Hotel:</p><p>Last but certainly not least, the Highclere Hotel is a family-friendly gem in Ascot. The hotel offers spacious family rooms with all the necessary amenities for a comfortable stay. Kids will love the hotel's outdoor play area, and parents can enjoy a drink at the cozy bar. The hotel's convenient location and friendly staff make it a popular choice for families embarking on their Lapland UK adventure.</p><p><br /></p><p>And there you have it, folks—the best family hotels in Ascot for a memorable trip to Lapland UK. From luxurious resorts to cozy inns, these accommodations offer a range of options to suit every family's needs and budget. So, pack your winter gear, embrace the magic, and get ready for a Lapland experience your family will cherish forever. Happy travels!</p>Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-44342352148438748602023-07-18T21:53:00.003+01:002023-07-18T21:53:00.155+01:00Tips For Finding Holiday Bargains During Summer<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rEhxxeUeD7bXeo1Ic3tQ0dt9akOXYpbcO0UWBmuF12yHJVdl9GXZAsIY_bNqsjCrc01NB7ctFt6BhP9Gapb9jfg2fheMFlSpzvrDrfm7uFYDBnXljGwTj2ogsPSHl6b1stnpF2OC6JRcoGm4u93GA8NoqeyjSvkArtJdqVaCEOCT2UFwoMK0DqYs/s4032/005FF398-28A5-4570-B634-DBC9639C2383.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9rEhxxeUeD7bXeo1Ic3tQ0dt9akOXYpbcO0UWBmuF12yHJVdl9GXZAsIY_bNqsjCrc01NB7ctFt6BhP9Gapb9jfg2fheMFlSpzvrDrfm7uFYDBnXljGwTj2ogsPSHl6b1stnpF2OC6JRcoGm4u93GA8NoqeyjSvkArtJdqVaCEOCT2UFwoMK0DqYs/w640-h480/005FF398-28A5-4570-B634-DBC9639C2383.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Summer is in full swing, and you know what that means—it's time to plan that perfect holiday getaway. But let's face it, vacations can be pricey. Fear not! I've got some insider tips to help you find those irresistible holiday bargains during the summer holidays. So, grab a cuppa, sit back, and let's dive into the world of budget-friendly travel!</p><p><br /></p><p>1. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates:</p><p>If you're looking to snag some amazing deals, flexibility is the name of the game. Airlines and hotels often have fluctuating prices depending on the day of the week or the time of the month. So, consider adjusting your travel dates if possible. Sometimes a midweek departure or a trip just before or after the peak season can save you a bundle. Plus, you might avoid the crowds, making your holiday even more enjoyable.</p><p><br /></p><p>2. Keep an Eye on Flash Sales and Promo Codes:</p><p>Have you ever felt that rush when you score a fantastic deal? It's exhilarating! To get in on the action, keep an eye out for flash sales and promo codes. Subscribe to travel websites and newsletters, follow them on social media, and keep your inbox open for exclusive offers. These limited-time deals can give you significant discounts on flights, accommodation, and even activities at your destination. Don't miss out on those hidden gems!</p><p><br /></p><p>3. Consider Alternative Accommodation Options:</p><p>When it comes to accommodation, there's more to life than traditional hotels. Embrace the world of alternatives! Look into vacation rentals, homestays, or even house-swapping if you're feeling adventurous. Websites like Airbnb, HomeAway, and Booking.com offer a wide range of options to suit your preferences and budget. Not only can you save money, but you can also enjoy a more unique and personalized travel experience. It's a win-win!</p><p><br /></p><p>4. Explore Less Popular Destinations:</p><p>While everyone flocks to the usual tourist hotspots during the summer holidays, why not think outside the box and explore less popular destinations? Consider hidden gems that are equally stunning but haven't yet made it onto everyone's radar. Not only will you have a more intimate experience, but you're likely to find better prices on flights, accommodation, and attractions. So, do some research and discover those underrated treasures waiting to be explored.</p><p><br /></p><p>5. Package Deals are Your Best Friends:</p><p>When it comes to holiday bargains, package deals are like a golden ticket to savings. Booking your flights, accommodation, and even activities together can often give you significant discounts. Travel websites and tour operators often have pre-designed packages that offer great value for money. So, check out these bundled deals and see if they fit your travel plans. It's like getting multiple bargains in one fell swoop!</p><p><br /></p><p>6. Go Off-Peak:</p><p>If you're not bound by school holidays or specific dates, going off-peak can be a game-changer. Traveling during the shoulder seasons or even in the offseason can save you a pretty penny. Prices tend to drop, crowds thin out, and you'll have a more relaxed and authentic experience. Plus, you can find cheaper flights and snag discounted rates on accommodation. So, embrace the joy of off-peak travel and enjoy all the perks that come with it.</p><p><br /></p><p>7. Be Open to Last-Minute Bookings:</p><p>Now, this one's for all the spontaneous souls out there. If you're up for a little adventure, being open to last-minute bookings can lead to some fantastic deals. Hotels and airlines often offer discounted rates for last-minute vacancies they're eager to fill. So, keep your bags packed and your travel essentials ready to go. You never know when an irresistible offer might pop up. Just remember to have some flexibility with your destination and travel dates!</p><p><br /></p><p>8. Use Comparison Websites:</p><p>When it comes to finding holiday bargains, comparison websites are your secret weapon. Sites like Skyscanner, Kayak, and Trivago allow you to compare prices from multiple airlines, hotels, and travel agencies all in one place. This saves you time and effort, ensuring you find the best deals available. So, make friends with these handy tools and let them do the hard work for you. Your wallet will thank you!</p><p><br /></p><p>9. Don't Forget Local Deals and Coupons:</p><p>While online travel agencies and international deals are great, don't overlook the power of local deals and coupons. Check out local tourism websites, sign up for newsletters, and explore coupon booklets or tourist information centers at your destination. Often, these sources offer exclusive discounts on attractions, dining, and even transportation. It's a fantastic way to save some extra cash while supporting local businesses.</p><p><br /></p><p>10. Be Ready to Haggle:</p><p>Last but not least, don't be afraid to unleash your inner negotiator. In some destinations, haggling is a common practice, especially in markets or when booking certain services. It may not be the norm everywhere, but it doesn't hurt to try your luck. Bargain politely and with a smile, and you might just score a better deal than the initial price offered. It's all part of the fun of immersing yourself in the local culture!</p><p><br /></p><p>So, there you have it—my top tips for finding holiday bargains during the summer holidays. With a little flexibility, some savvy research, and an adventurous spirit, you can turn your dream vacation into an affordable reality. Happy travels, bargain hunters!</p>Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-73294886172626562432023-07-11T21:53:00.004+01:002023-07-12T23:43:47.283+01:00Visiting Oxford Castle & Malmaison Prison Hotel<p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HsL6SPqiw8gy07IPPrZU7P48LPSCOIDzpwzarEtHn5d9HW98ofUb3dbFgMIXEQbiz6B_imJo4UflsdZdtKjCLg9MuVwH0OUATgTME8RNMarrTujssRy0eHOKhS_FiZ0b7eanwM0Ivqj3H1KE6pRrYkqfzG7SHGH6yqe7q6N_sYEX3yhQz7vFlVqS/s4032/91516ADF-03DF-40EF-90C7-AD6E7718C066.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4HsL6SPqiw8gy07IPPrZU7P48LPSCOIDzpwzarEtHn5d9HW98ofUb3dbFgMIXEQbiz6B_imJo4UflsdZdtKjCLg9MuVwH0OUATgTME8RNMarrTujssRy0eHOKhS_FiZ0b7eanwM0Ivqj3H1KE6pRrYkqfzG7SHGH6yqe7q6N_sYEX3yhQz7vFlVqS/w480-h640/91516ADF-03DF-40EF-90C7-AD6E7718C066.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Visiting Oxford is like stepping into a living history book. Nestled in the heart of England, this vibrant city is renowned for its prestigious university, stunning architecture, and rich cultural heritage. For those seeking an offbeat experience, a visit to the Oxford Prison Museum and the unique Malmaison Prison Hotel is a must.</p><p>As you venture through the cobbled streets of Oxford, you'll be captivated by the captivating blend of ancient and modern. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizS6uoKF5vur9SxICCza37MtHATUi5geBd5AAOw6tuVGxE8KDe6kjQYFYKFtwJKJjtczg4kRoGDyk1QNwfYoakfIIaI3lGyV94Br1K_WGqOKPPznC6XZvk79PFuBkOFX7Wy-A69fdmf2RT7S0F16o15rnSLUyygmczcgYQ8YvwRPVaVstcbREl1-SY/s4032/2604F012-57BB-4D0F-BAB9-A2E4DCBB2307.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizS6uoKF5vur9SxICCza37MtHATUi5geBd5AAOw6tuVGxE8KDe6kjQYFYKFtwJKJjtczg4kRoGDyk1QNwfYoakfIIaI3lGyV94Br1K_WGqOKPPznC6XZvk79PFuBkOFX7Wy-A69fdmf2RT7S0F16o15rnSLUyygmczcgYQ8YvwRPVaVstcbREl1-SY/w300-h400/2604F012-57BB-4D0F-BAB9-A2E4DCBB2307.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1Q_OeRoob0XvCB6O1mRbN1EQC7SEbs2z1UWEtNhb74bGoksxIh9PjSwy9C1FIaVFrHH2dpRypfhjgv8PqvzPmpfWGHmx5rq1jy7aOy5DeMp8us6u-Tc89WJA5WeUFK-MgOM5uui_G3Sdu4NIu7KqmkzANu03fuxxY-uHQRZA5w2ZlXXKVcXhg1N4/s4032/EA0666F6-BD17-424C-B5FB-24584C672AC1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ1Q_OeRoob0XvCB6O1mRbN1EQC7SEbs2z1UWEtNhb74bGoksxIh9PjSwy9C1FIaVFrHH2dpRypfhjgv8PqvzPmpfWGHmx5rq1jy7aOy5DeMp8us6u-Tc89WJA5WeUFK-MgOM5uui_G3Sdu4NIu7KqmkzANu03fuxxY-uHQRZA5w2ZlXXKVcXhg1N4/w300-h400/EA0666F6-BD17-424C-B5FB-24584C672AC1.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv5kTD0-VXn9zsj57dYUXtOmSV4T5kyuMhjtBb9TXva3TT1zTkGyRYKo46w4SyH6tx8s62VJaSwFL6R2byvRrb1UMQTDMNpQKapGneIgEny4gEoXvHrko-_ObWKQts1BaU-X227Nu8lmH8OnHjMqVVKF3-214rWiTevUs6ARiT4XUxaHPNqed8CDv/s4032/F569C426-322A-4ADF-9772-70087C01E05B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv5kTD0-VXn9zsj57dYUXtOmSV4T5kyuMhjtBb9TXva3TT1zTkGyRYKo46w4SyH6tx8s62VJaSwFL6R2byvRrb1UMQTDMNpQKapGneIgEny4gEoXvHrko-_ObWKQts1BaU-X227Nu8lmH8OnHjMqVVKF3-214rWiTevUs6ARiT4XUxaHPNqed8CDv/w300-h400/F569C426-322A-4ADF-9772-70087C01E05B.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p> Malmaison Prison Hotel, Housed within the very walls of the former prison, seamlessly blends luxury with historical intrigue.</p><p>Stepping into the Malmaison Prison Hotel feels like embarking on a journey through time. The converted cells have been transformed into elegantly appointed guest rooms, each exuding its own distinct character. The hotel pays homage to its prison past with subtle touches, incorporating iron staircases, cell doors, and prison-themed décor into its design.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsW49_2HCq7s4Hlgc_zDr3x5MQej3aZX6EW9oHx6P3K60csSl4JYB5b-j9p4_mIBCieejsYhQJ_k84OZ3X7Fc6nQidO5er6ejG5I2J9sQJ-ybUwNcswMwH6l0hbSLL2CHsVlN_Oftf5NNSiz6g2DyhEOu16Bb1iXONzVKldJfDRzDW09lm1Na7QZb/s4032/122B18D7-509E-4A80-84E4-659E5F8A3143.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUsW49_2HCq7s4Hlgc_zDr3x5MQej3aZX6EW9oHx6P3K60csSl4JYB5b-j9p4_mIBCieejsYhQJ_k84OZ3X7Fc6nQidO5er6ejG5I2J9sQJ-ybUwNcswMwH6l0hbSLL2CHsVlN_Oftf5NNSiz6g2DyhEOu16Bb1iXONzVKldJfDRzDW09lm1Na7QZb/w300-h400/122B18D7-509E-4A80-84E4-659E5F8A3143.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Staying at the Malmaison Prison Hotel offers a truly unforgettable experience. As you settle into your room, you'll appreciate the juxtaposition of comfort and history. The walls that once confined prisoners now provide a cocoon of tranquility, offering a sanctuary from the bustling city outside.</p><p>Beyond the unique accommodations, the hotel boasts exceptional amenities. Indulge in a gourmet meal at the on-site restaurant, where culinary delights are served with a side of historical ambiance. The attentive staff ensures that your stay is both comfortable and memorable, eager to share the captivating stories that surround the hotel's past.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtkS6CcGL1wfvrA3tHac2JQ1WdyF8FD8p5_V2qteYR-nwS-5-vqnwTH5ZlJxi14wCoCyLKXaMDEAhu3FVT-tbAeBMj0AupSDnydFxKKSNb0xunWTFsa3AHKXb-AKWLfoeoEapnCB-cIiH8Y4wPYV0rFnIlgHTOBp_aMX_lqTZbiocVCRZHiNsIOob/s4032/BD17024D-9D0A-4286-B0F0-BC09188543D3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtkS6CcGL1wfvrA3tHac2JQ1WdyF8FD8p5_V2qteYR-nwS-5-vqnwTH5ZlJxi14wCoCyLKXaMDEAhu3FVT-tbAeBMj0AupSDnydFxKKSNb0xunWTFsa3AHKXb-AKWLfoeoEapnCB-cIiH8Y4wPYV0rFnIlgHTOBp_aMX_lqTZbiocVCRZHiNsIOob/w300-h400/BD17024D-9D0A-4286-B0F0-BC09188543D3.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUINe3s4SgUHSUaZ2XL78G_A51eoeCLAPIp_CdiDaTIk5DUYIsK-t4mpV0FrHqX7V4Fn7fjW1xb9cn1YE-88A4adhiq84RCH4kZygPzJ71awy5djflFH9J4fq0PVYrcZDXfYDB0fgzUjR9IbmvIHIJRtt39nsiIaCnIAr2S-INyuoSjvOofBRwcS5I/s4032/C8608835-2865-44DD-BEF6-57E3DBEB0B99.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUINe3s4SgUHSUaZ2XL78G_A51eoeCLAPIp_CdiDaTIk5DUYIsK-t4mpV0FrHqX7V4Fn7fjW1xb9cn1YE-88A4adhiq84RCH4kZygPzJ71awy5djflFH9J4fq0PVYrcZDXfYDB0fgzUjR9IbmvIHIJRtt39nsiIaCnIAr2S-INyuoSjvOofBRwcS5I/w300-h400/C8608835-2865-44DD-BEF6-57E3DBEB0B99.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKxOQJWNJacZuiBhdRL-8oADras6ZrZS4vWLZzj0xWKcVVC4eUDIjl8Rxo0pJT5-CK75R8TB_2mthIEnJNQMie4JArq9el3UOnhVIF7AYF3Es326ITMXSNl8WeR0FNAfddO8uinZKpgNoE1seFPT2HAD1D6e3saLcJuP7rFB51Ec1hYFdqsj3pQMp/s4032/CCA98D15-0AC0-41EA-B17E-D8AE79742FDC.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKxOQJWNJacZuiBhdRL-8oADras6ZrZS4vWLZzj0xWKcVVC4eUDIjl8Rxo0pJT5-CK75R8TB_2mthIEnJNQMie4JArq9el3UOnhVIF7AYF3Es326ITMXSNl8WeR0FNAfddO8uinZKpgNoE1seFPT2HAD1D6e3saLcJuP7rFB51Ec1hYFdqsj3pQMp/w300-h400/CCA98D15-0AC0-41EA-B17E-D8AE79742FDC.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCieJr6_dNB5lHBa0H7Mj2ylvs_2k6Fx4wJKk39sNZEA4gB2wn3njfdpyX1Kw1gjfnXvSMyhsx5bI9-nLUpisM9tG0WnaXXEW_RAS41Ex6Vr0tRicImvaOMMFGlHMIjf9gktTYwxMXwYRGjl-iBtwEVsg0x-EZOfKFkJHvXtci3_pLISj0Uysvrwy/s4032/CFC78286-057D-4BCC-AD19-661260996047.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWCieJr6_dNB5lHBa0H7Mj2ylvs_2k6Fx4wJKk39sNZEA4gB2wn3njfdpyX1Kw1gjfnXvSMyhsx5bI9-nLUpisM9tG0WnaXXEW_RAS41Ex6Vr0tRicImvaOMMFGlHMIjf9gktTYwxMXwYRGjl-iBtwEVsg0x-EZOfKFkJHvXtci3_pLISj0Uysvrwy/w300-h400/CFC78286-057D-4BCC-AD19-661260996047.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVCLLuGUKMMQrsN_v8veblNYJLxHnApM6gnmZxMOpl2jtf0HikoiOct9nIdOGVxLY6xStCQNPHswWJ7o86q-iqOpmPpevyUg-pOkpd2pdGiezqb0hxiqtDwFmjW-0S09_2iD-UL1lZaqD1y-VT7MvPT-QVW2EwMbYwNTwZLpE8zcNb3E6vgGmFsmy/s4032/D038287D-215B-4E1B-86A0-1469FF910DCE.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDVCLLuGUKMMQrsN_v8veblNYJLxHnApM6gnmZxMOpl2jtf0HikoiOct9nIdOGVxLY6xStCQNPHswWJ7o86q-iqOpmPpevyUg-pOkpd2pdGiezqb0hxiqtDwFmjW-0S09_2iD-UL1lZaqD1y-VT7MvPT-QVW2EwMbYwNTwZLpE8zcNb3E6vgGmFsmy/w300-h400/D038287D-215B-4E1B-86A0-1469FF910DCE.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>Visiting the Oxford Castle and staying at the Malmaison Prison Hotel provides an unparalleled opportunity to delve into Oxford's intriguing history. These experiences offer more than just a glimpse into the past—they ignite a sense of empathy, reminding us of the complex human stories that lie behind the prison walls.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5tH4p9xDnvBh9-5GDY_INYx0CuAamhuBbMA1o6dzrU5k6GgHcYv-sODV34ouyHrwSOL94jXHYnnsndEYsRO3Zt_ZeC7_C-kirGV_7kNS_ev9vP4_3O1EMCXEsu7YkBTFJujTwDPgnuWPQspVtSuvySc2J2C8C7lmZLVbKlWGRDjTPQHHW8RvLHfi/s4032/DB3D33C8-B071-4ED5-9C0D-3035A1F578D5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih5tH4p9xDnvBh9-5GDY_INYx0CuAamhuBbMA1o6dzrU5k6GgHcYv-sODV34ouyHrwSOL94jXHYnnsndEYsRO3Zt_ZeC7_C-kirGV_7kNS_ev9vP4_3O1EMCXEsu7YkBTFJujTwDPgnuWPQspVtSuvySc2J2C8C7lmZLVbKlWGRDjTPQHHW8RvLHfi/w300-h400/DB3D33C8-B071-4ED5-9C0D-3035A1F578D5.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>As you bid farewell to Oxford, you carry with you a newfound appreciation for its rich tapestry of history and culture. The memories of the Malmaison Prison Hotel will linger, serving as a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for transformation. Oxford, with its storied past and captivating attractions, leaves an indelible mark on all who visit.</p>Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-60214449485929183822023-07-11T21:52:00.002+01:002023-07-12T23:36:43.691+01:00Things To Do On A Weekend In Bath <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHow-l4OWaxWHWrXrAdGJjqDF-c2rmoObmCHZOE-8Dfgsec0PN1tu9tKUSFnRTq2_PBHXk1_31mMEPsbhE_vcDJF_FVLeT4fFBOyxI80lMhHZIUQH7gTZl_JL49jLOIm5NzT5IWZKZ9ksj8_tWCsFdAtxv3S6Bl-PvcpYMfpsLlsdpDd6pBR_7Cvj/s4032/9FC31B54-801D-4236-AF8B-10051E997369.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQHow-l4OWaxWHWrXrAdGJjqDF-c2rmoObmCHZOE-8Dfgsec0PN1tu9tKUSFnRTq2_PBHXk1_31mMEPsbhE_vcDJF_FVLeT4fFBOyxI80lMhHZIUQH7gTZl_JL49jLOIm5NzT5IWZKZ9ksj8_tWCsFdAtxv3S6Bl-PvcpYMfpsLlsdpDd6pBR_7Cvj/w480-h640/9FC31B54-801D-4236-AF8B-10051E997369.jpeg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><p>Bath, a picturesque city nestled in the rolling hills of Somerset, England, is renowned for its rich history, stunning Georgian architecture, and cultural significance. Among its many attractions, the Jane Austen Museum stands out as a must-visit destination for fans of the beloved English novelist. Stepping into Bath feels like stepping into a time capsule, immersing visitors in a bygone era that inspired Austen's timeless literary works. In this article, we will embark on a journey to discover Things To Do On A Weekend In Bath.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Bath's Captivating Atmosphere </u></b></p><p>The moment you arrive in Bath, you are greeted by an atmosphere that exudes elegance and charm. The city's well-preserved Georgian architecture, characterized by honey-colored Bath stone, creates a visual feast for the eyes. The Royal Crescent, a magnificent crescent-shaped terrace, and the iconic Pulteney Bridge spanning the River Avon are just a couple of examples of Bath's architectural splendor.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD0I9EtkCLOQQPRtUaa6NMerPQ0VaBQWx-DfleuPDtd8or66VsgA4c8Y66Yhz2n0S1yzcVvg_9BgaP5u-O_mwu0EvT6M3hbJE6BvIKJR4nFnD_9XL-y0re_H2hC86YuBfYpxULuhQBFTpfg3UfiK9ANCGoWcJ8JFDTa0-BOjnFEgX0oUmCO12PYts/s4032/3D560788-3884-4994-ABC4-FE6618A02D14.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHD0I9EtkCLOQQPRtUaa6NMerPQ0VaBQWx-DfleuPDtd8or66VsgA4c8Y66Yhz2n0S1yzcVvg_9BgaP5u-O_mwu0EvT6M3hbJE6BvIKJR4nFnD_9XL-y0re_H2hC86YuBfYpxULuhQBFTpfg3UfiK9ANCGoWcJ8JFDTa0-BOjnFEgX0oUmCO12PYts/w300-h400/3D560788-3884-4994-ABC4-FE6618A02D14.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yvUfNMhXOdcCAzJeYlPE6t9PBMypKAyi7lkcWrsiL5uOT61kHhddCHP3g9-Nq0CXu6h6QdsVWKN8Ygova19EJKUd76WVGTbNjHHrQ7YK-VRO7S8ynUjkfUFXCKlaG2AHk4QsCAgFWzdhHo_Wo6RUXP15o_zLnMVzrSR30atF_R5COUp9uZ9Ede2g/s4032/E248763F-0F55-4EF8-959E-6193459270FF.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7yvUfNMhXOdcCAzJeYlPE6t9PBMypKAyi7lkcWrsiL5uOT61kHhddCHP3g9-Nq0CXu6h6QdsVWKN8Ygova19EJKUd76WVGTbNjHHrQ7YK-VRO7S8ynUjkfUFXCKlaG2AHk4QsCAgFWzdhHo_Wo6RUXP15o_zLnMVzrSR30atF_R5COUp9uZ9Ede2g/w300-h400/E248763F-0F55-4EF8-959E-6193459270FF.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>As you stroll through the city's cobbled streets, you'll encounter a plethora of independent boutiques, quaint tearooms, and art galleries, creating a vibrant and eclectic atmosphere. The city's thermal springs, which have been attracting visitors for centuries, add a unique touch to Bath's allure. The Roman Baths, a well-preserved complex of ancient Roman bathing and socializing structures, offer a glimpse into the city's historical roots.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Exploring the Jane Austen Museum </u></b></p><p>For avid readers and Austen enthusiasts, a visit to the Jane Austen Museum is a pilgrimage into the author's world. Located at 40 Gay Street, the museum is situated in a townhouse where Austen resided from 1801 to 1806. As you step inside, you are transported back to the Regency era, immersing yourself in the daily life and literary legacy of Austen.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqgpqhM2ZWy3DEcq9RJsAOzhjRwvAxqTU9jshFjHtwMXXZA79jMVvXxkjhpnauIEI2UvdftjOxVVkzqmkRos0UJNZJo1M9yyNyYuYPKs4FM237azDSOlpqzbMvs1vYfeWkEBguItiok_5TuVSrHzZpWs7iRqtbfXi1P5p7ItkaoFrnh9zoOQXWEQn/s4032/27F3F009-3527-4597-91F7-956794058F40.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgqgpqhM2ZWy3DEcq9RJsAOzhjRwvAxqTU9jshFjHtwMXXZA79jMVvXxkjhpnauIEI2UvdftjOxVVkzqmkRos0UJNZJo1M9yyNyYuYPKs4FM237azDSOlpqzbMvs1vYfeWkEBguItiok_5TuVSrHzZpWs7iRqtbfXi1P5p7ItkaoFrnh9zoOQXWEQn/w300-h400/27F3F009-3527-4597-91F7-956794058F40.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX_xQTzbxO_GT4XfdMNW4WCwWkitjjErzbDe4673fqBcig1hEW5nbqU-EgshxGiiEBKtUCGWwYf0iV7dRFAW7LRxl_qmDu4PYlzq91hdFZGIMLLmIP4C3PPU_cpOeSD63KXp64lcpz3XCJAVt9r7K9l_Oakf-okUwfyKod0l8MoZqqxTU4PhnjLlx/s4032/0781A7C7-7423-4149-A479-E7A45993305E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheX_xQTzbxO_GT4XfdMNW4WCwWkitjjErzbDe4673fqBcig1hEW5nbqU-EgshxGiiEBKtUCGWwYf0iV7dRFAW7LRxl_qmDu4PYlzq91hdFZGIMLLmIP4C3PPU_cpOeSD63KXp64lcpz3XCJAVt9r7K9l_Oakf-okUwfyKod0l8MoZqqxTU4PhnjLlx/w300-h400/0781A7C7-7423-4149-A479-E7A45993305E.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p>The museum showcases a collection of artifacts, manuscripts, and personal belongings that provide a glimpse into Austen's life and works. You can explore the rooms where she lived and penned some of her iconic novels, such as "Pride and Prejudice" and "Emma." From her writing desk to her exquisite jewelry, the exhibits offer a tangible connection to the renowned author.</p><p><br /></p><p>The knowledgeable staff, dressed in period costumes, add to the immersive experience, sharing fascinating insights about Austen's life, her inspirations, and the societal norms of the time. Engaging exhibits, interactive displays, and multimedia presentations make the visit even more captivating, allowing visitors to understand the context in which Austen wrote her literary masterpieces.</p><p><br /></p><p>The museum also organizes special events and workshops, including Regency tea parties and costume dress-up sessions, allowing visitors to truly experience Austen's world. These activities provide a delightful opportunity to step into the shoes of Austen's characters and gain a deeper understanding of the social customs and etiquette of the time.</p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Bath's Literary Connections</u></b></p><p>Bath itself played a significant role in Austen's novels. The city served as a setting for several of her works, most notably "Northanger Abbey" and "Persuasion." Strolling through Bath, you can trace the footsteps of Austen's characters, exploring places they frequented, such as the Pump Room, the Assembly Rooms, and the stunning Bath Abbey.</p><p><br /></p><p>The Pump Room, an elegant 18th-century gathering place, was a hub of social activity during Austen's time. Visitors can still enjoy a cup of tea or a light meal while soaking in the grandeur of the surroundings. The Assembly Rooms, with their magnificent ballrooms, provide a glimpse into the social events that inspired Austen's intricate dance scenes.</p><p><br /></p><p>Bath Abbey, a magnificent medieval church, stands as a testament to the city's religious heritage. Its stunning architecture and soaring ceilings create a sense of awe and reverence. Austen's characters often sought solace and reflection within these hallowed walls, adding a spiritual dimension to her novels.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_WiO2QOOOkT6D65lixw42VWGOlC2uwT_BLhCyll0t-kl-ew4NndFnKT3HGw9iWIQ9bmFveaJQ_Vr0UhWcRj4LMZoiJ9pG5nISKBZAHzG0xLcGQwHjiNQbaMDsEiqAxaPxSNfzbMTB31FwB9o5EI-vI5Yu4GNtTQ5J5obBDIu-ST_LALev__OwHb-/s4032/6F0A012E-3804-48A8-AC87-5C02D2B7086C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_WiO2QOOOkT6D65lixw42VWGOlC2uwT_BLhCyll0t-kl-ew4NndFnKT3HGw9iWIQ9bmFveaJQ_Vr0UhWcRj4LMZoiJ9pG5nISKBZAHzG0xLcGQwHjiNQbaMDsEiqAxaPxSNfzbMTB31FwB9o5EI-vI5Yu4GNtTQ5J5obBDIu-ST_LALev__OwHb-/w300-h400/6F0A012E-3804-48A8-AC87-5C02D2B7086C.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>In addition to the Jane Austen Museum, Bath offers a wealth of literary connections for book enthusiasts. The Bath Central Library houses a comprehensive Jane Austen collection, including rare editions and scholarly works. Bookshops like Mr. B's Emporium of Reading Delights and Topping & Company Booksellers provide ample opportunities to browse and discover literary gems.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoArushpcCuAh3hD0JAYNjnejfVf8_XAF0PNsmzMIA8LMJuOZcrcw-UskpT6bOkmyHgU6jernnOD0mDdIdSAz13TV1GyGXm2kp6Tvg99LwT0eEfdsgQocZJOMB9d8JjMFT3WvSj79swD1Xaqeq0eulbqWNsouOyIXQsday2r_MeO7pFPm9gKO4Wi-e/s4032/BDE131E0-0A2E-4CD3-81E9-F0198F521597.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoArushpcCuAh3hD0JAYNjnejfVf8_XAF0PNsmzMIA8LMJuOZcrcw-UskpT6bOkmyHgU6jernnOD0mDdIdSAz13TV1GyGXm2kp6Tvg99LwT0eEfdsgQocZJOMB9d8JjMFT3WvSj79swD1Xaqeq0eulbqWNsouOyIXQsday2r_MeO7pFPm9gKO4Wi-e/w300-h400/BDE131E0-0A2E-4CD3-81E9-F0198F521597.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_EGcbOWJkiWcGGS59tTyuanIW3yWDxnT9Vs-9V_WIW2m2cFl1xX3J3tw0EaZE1NNPFmUeTjWgdl1jaSjDFHy9yu1dse74g-2D_JTXePowFLULKgibEckV4VqhxIoaT59yjMBxGYtdxyirr3uP_lovTD_ZJwMfgWcRWUCre9nDLb2V7-jD1Y9V7cL/s4032/E450C76B-C710-4667-98BC-99DA5AF1F235.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_EGcbOWJkiWcGGS59tTyuanIW3yWDxnT9Vs-9V_WIW2m2cFl1xX3J3tw0EaZE1NNPFmUeTjWgdl1jaSjDFHy9yu1dse74g-2D_JTXePowFLULKgibEckV4VqhxIoaT59yjMBxGYtdxyirr3uP_lovTD_ZJwMfgWcRWUCre9nDLb2V7-jD1Y9V7cL/w300-h400/E450C76B-C710-4667-98BC-99DA5AF1F235.jpeg" width="300" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>A visit to Bath and the Jane Austen Museum is a captivating journey back in time, offering a deeper understanding of the life and works of one of England's most celebrated authors. Bath's timeless charm, coupled with the immersive experience provided by the museum, ensures that both Austen devotees and history enthusiasts will be enthralled. So, immerse yourself in the world of Jane Austen, wander through the cobbled streets, explore the architectural marvels, and let Bath weave its magic around you. Discover the essence of Regency England and the enduring legacy of Jane Austen in this captivating city.</p>Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-46050594980595619702021-07-20T01:55:00.002+01:002021-07-27T01:36:04.289+01:00Top UK Holiday Destinations To Visit This Year<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVZX5q2XJ2pA02BjbVnTrVF9L54rCOCKrqnIPbmA6BhWX3hAG-OecZyzGOYMomYgXJUUcfa-lS_7dNSf5h3bD7M3zawJ16waR_BXYJ5whXghNxG6xqzA-KD2JTyuH2uxYWQyhht01WCY/s2048/Cornwall.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVZX5q2XJ2pA02BjbVnTrVF9L54rCOCKrqnIPbmA6BhWX3hAG-OecZyzGOYMomYgXJUUcfa-lS_7dNSf5h3bD7M3zawJ16waR_BXYJ5whXghNxG6xqzA-KD2JTyuH2uxYWQyhht01WCY/w640-h360/Cornwall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">As a travel writer with a young family, the UK has provided an amazing number of places to visit.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">Whether its been for work or pleasure, it's easy to be spoilt for choice. There are dozens of places that are of outstanding natural beauty, scientific and educational interest, or just plain fun to visit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Despite recent global events there's still lots of great holiday destinations and cities to visit here in the UK. Here's a breakdown of some of my favourites;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Liverpool</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well I could hardly pass up the chance to mention my home city could I?</div><div style="text-align: left;">Probably best known as the birthplace of the Beatles, Liverpool is a truly cosmopolitan city and a great destination for a city break holiday. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">A city steeped in history, it boasts a world class collection of museums and art galleries.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These include the outstanding Liverpool World Museum. This is easily one of my families favourite places to visit when we come home. Spread over a number of floors, the museum contains exhibits including ancient Egypt, dinosaurs, natural history, early man and our Solar System to name but a few.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There's the historic Albert Dock, which houses the International Slavery Museum and the Merseyside Maritime Museum, both of which I recommend visiting.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In Liverpool, there's also a rich history of great artists who's works can be viewed in some of our many galleries. These include the Walker Art Gallery. For anyone who is a fan of contemporary art there are works by Hockney and Riley on display, whilst fans of more historical art can enjoy Renaissance, Victorian and even Tudor works.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">There are also restaurants to suit every taste or craving. From Italian to Thai, Spanish to Korean, and everything in between, Liverpool has something to suit any gastronauts taste for culinary adventure.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Cornwall</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Cornwall is one of our favourite UK destinations.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Living in the South West, we're surrounded by some stunning countryside and seascapes, but some of the most beautiful have to be in Cornwall.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The UK's most Southern county has a lot going for it. From beautifully rugged moorland and cliffsides on the North coast to picture postcard villages such as Mevagissey and St.Mawes on the southern coast. Naturally this means it's a must for many walkers and cyclists keen to get off the beaten track and sample some of the most breath taking sights to UK has to offer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The natural geography of Cornwall means it has a wide and varied topography running it's length with some gorgeous spots to visit. There is more to Cornwall than it's natural beauty however, and there are some fascinating man made places and activities worth a look if paying a visit. These include the Minnack Theatre in St.Ives, Truro Cathedral, the Witches museum in Boscastle or taking in the surf in Newquay. That's right Surfing in Newquay! For those that didn't know, Newquay boasts some of the best surfing in the UK from it's internationally renowned Fistral Beach.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Dorset</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dorset is another jewel down here in the South West and is also steeped in history.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Home to Bournemouth, Poole, Lyme Regis and historical Dorchester, Dorset also boasts the Jurassic Coast, a world heritage site where fossils can be found in the cliffsides. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Towns such as Bournemouth offer sightseeing tours with guides giving visitors glimpses of local history and places of interest, while Lyme Regis is a lovely historical town worthy of a visit any day.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Dorset is another gorgeously beautiful county with stunning countryside and wild coastlines. Of particular note is Durdle Door, a lovely beach with an impressive arch formed from the cliffside and Lulworth Cove is a natural harbour with stunning views.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Oxford</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Moving further inland now. Oxford is yet another historical city we have come to love.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Renowned internationally for it's University, any visit will soon make you realise why it is nicknamed the 'City of Dreaming Spires'. There's a lot more to Oxford than the University however.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Here you can enjoy a slow punt on the Thames, or an afternoon tea at any number of traditional tea houses. All the while surrounded by almost 1000 years of history.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not far from the city there is Blenheim Palace. Home of the 12th Duke of Marlborough, but probably more famous as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. The palace alone is worth visiting to take in the architecture of the building and the acres of grounds to explore.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Housed in Oxford is The Ashmolean Museum is the worlds oldest public museum, and along with the Museum of Natural History, are two destinations definitely worth taking a day to explore. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><u>The Lake District</u></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Back up North, this time to Cumbria, home of the Lake District.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been an inspiration to artists, poets and writers for years and upon visiting it's easy to see why.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Nestled among its mountains and lakes are pretty, historic towns such as Kendall, and Ambleside. While the natural beauty of Derwentwater is worth a visit for itself, places such as Honister Pass and Scarfell Pike (one for the brave and fit to attempt) are must see places of outstanding natural beauty. Helvellyn and Lake Windermere are among favourites with tourists and worth making the effort to visit.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Naturally there are lots of opportunities for water sports such as kayaking and windsurfing, but if you prefer your adventure more land based, cycling and walking paths abound. One word of advice is to be prepared and to pack wisely if heading off. The weather can change quickly and dramatically. Check local forecasts for weather updates, and be prepared to get wet.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, that's a sample of some of our favourite destinations here in the UK, there's a lot more which I will be updating soon. I'll also be including places to stay, however if you can't wait there's a number of ideal places to stay available via <a href="https://www.ebooking.com/en/" target="_blank">ebooking</a><span face="-apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, "Helvetica Neue", Arial, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", "Noto Color Emoji"" style="background-color: white; color: #3c3c3c; font-size: 16px;"> </span>- Its a great site to make hotel reservations and to start your exploration of the UK from.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Are there any places you find special or have a place in your heart? A family favourite or somewhere off the beaten track? I'd love to here about your experiences and adventures within the UK!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>If you enjoy my blog, please consider following me on <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/4568225">Bloglovin'</a></b></div>
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</div>Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-2108935325417130342019-04-04T09:00:00.001+01:002024-03-14T21:05:20.842+00:00Packing for a Cruise-Men's checklist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When it comes to a cruise holiday, what to take with you may seem obvious, but it's very easy to be caught up in the excitement (or stress) and miss things.<br />
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During the build up to a holiday I run checklist after checklist to ensure everything is in order for my family. I often find I end up taking too many clothes for our children to try and cover every eventuality weatherwise, and make sure I have everything I need for smooth sailing.<br />
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Whilst I ensure that our children have their things packed, my own cruise wardrobe is sorted out, and we have everything we need for a great holiday, there is another member of our family who packs his own luggage. Jon.<br />
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Jon packs his own stuff and overall does pretty well, but he still uses a list.<br />
Here's a checklist for any man out there who may be a little uncertain of what to take, or may be concerned that he's missed something.<br />
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<b>Top 6 tips for a checklist</b><br />
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<li style="text-align: left;">This may seem painfully obvious but it's amazing how many people get to a cruise terminal and have forgotten their Passports, currency, tickets or insurance. Whilst many documents and confirmations of travel can nowadays be stored and accepted via online documents, a hard copy should still be taken 'just in case'. Likewise, credit cards, debit cards and mobile payments are accepted all over the world but some sellers and traders still only accept cash in the local currency. You can't buy much in a Moroccan bazaar with your mobile and you can't really present your passport via your mobile can you? Speaking of mobiles...</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Chargers and international plug adaptors for mobile devices, cameras and charging other items. It's always worth check what kind of socket your cabin or suite may have. Is it European, is it US? This information is readily available via your cruise company or travel agent, but can vary from ship to ship and not all ships carry spares to lend or hire to guests. Check which is required before packing and check again that you have packed the right one prior to setting off . You can always pick one up en route if need be, but it's too late when you climb that gangway. If you don't your mobile or laptop could end up spending your holiday as an expensive paperweight which is no good in an emergency or contacting friends and family to share your experiences.. Keep in mind though that vaping is not permitted on board most ships with <a href="https://tritonsensors.com/" target="_blank">vape detectors</a> in most common areas and in state rooms, so if you're hoping to charge vapes in your stateroom you will likely encounter a problem.</span></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Accessories for formal dining. Your favourite shoes, tuxedo and dinner jacket are packed.<span style="text-align: justify;">Your suits are back from the dry cleaners and looking sharp packed in their suit carriers. You know that you'll feel and look great at dinner and the formal photographs won't become things of shame in only a year or two. First formal evening you're all set and then you realise you forgot your ties, waistcoats, belts, your cummerbund and your cufflinks. Well that's your evening and your dining partners evening ruined because you'll look half dressed and won't enjoy the evening as much as you could. By taking a few moments to pop your ties and other clothing items along with your formal attire you know they'll be kept together, remain clean, and ready to wear. If you've purchased a specific dinner shirt to go with your tuxedo or dinner jacket check if it is buttoned or requires cufflinks. You can purchase some gorgeous ones via </span><a href="http://www.1stchoicecufflinks.com/" style="text-align: justify;">www.1stchoicecufflinks.com</a></li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">Grooming products. So you've got your clothes and paperwork packed, chargers sorted and you're off. Then you realise that by day two you have no toothbrush, deodorant, aftershave, shower gel or razor. By the end of the holiday you may end up looking like you've been backpacking around the Gobi and possibly smelling that way too. Not all ships have shops carrying even basic grooming products, and even some ports have limited supplies that may not be up to scratch. You've paid a lot of money for this holiday and don't want to spend it feeling grotty, let alone sat for a formal dinner and not look and feel your best. Nobody likes a smelly fellow diner. </span></li>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Medication. If you're on medication for an acute illness or will be needing to take some whilst on holiday, it always pays dividends to take extra. This may sound overly cautious but specific types of medication may not be readily available onboard or even in port which could lead to big trouble. Ships have been held in quarantine in the past which prevents passengers from leaving the ship and without sufficient medication people can become very ill very fast.</li>
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I hope this little checklist helps a little to ensure smooth sailing and a great holiday for anyone off on a cruise!</div>
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Have you ever forgotten anything important for a holiday? Your Passports, money or kids?</div>
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If you have a funny story you'd like to share I'd love to hear about it, so please pop them in the comments below!</div>
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Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-25094822624285874662019-03-20T09:00:00.002+00:002024-03-12T23:33:12.878+00:00Cruising for (dress) success<br />
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When it comes to getaways, my favourite still has to be a cruise holiday. </div>
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Preferably onboard our favourite ship, The Independence of the Seas.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xalwTWeybLUjM475OaKgMcUUjYk_tAmQvU69SzI8iWowa8LW_4af7N7kycld8nFms5QzOPgmClG-_y7Oa_Cs5C_VYSE18tLUCuhUH41jmyQHxLwAucoWIouy2ZDBSF42t_UbihaWkg/s1600/Cruise14.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="1600" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6xalwTWeybLUjM475OaKgMcUUjYk_tAmQvU69SzI8iWowa8LW_4af7N7kycld8nFms5QzOPgmClG-_y7Oa_Cs5C_VYSE18tLUCuhUH41jmyQHxLwAucoWIouy2ZDBSF42t_UbihaWkg/s320/Cruise14.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The appeal of a cruise holiday is as multifaceted as the guests on board each ship.</div>
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Some love the feeling of being in a floating luxury hotel, others love the cuisine, for many it's the chance to wake up in a new country or port almost every day. Yes there are many different features and aspects that appeal to holiday makers-my favourites however are the formal evenings and long days at sea spent around the pool and just taking in the ship.</div>
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The destinations on a cruise will more often than not decide your onboard wardrobe.</div>
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Lets face it, if you're heading to Norway and the Fjords, walking around the deck in a bikini and sarong may not be the greatest of ideas and a Parka and wooly mittens would be regarded with suspicion if travelling round the Med mid Summer.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaJrU-eE7wxYnRsKUmqg6aL2BA1on9u3Xzh7GqFUV9LBwlaaIy4YEj5MpleIGW36e98KmNp63mSjwnhoNNQzSBqXDH79pHhYzUhUW8FH1uX1l-RhywJvcqdBXgjFnYpakXmG-3xS9dg/s1600/q01fl471506s+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="517" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijaJrU-eE7wxYnRsKUmqg6aL2BA1on9u3Xzh7GqFUV9LBwlaaIy4YEj5MpleIGW36e98KmNp63mSjwnhoNNQzSBqXDH79pHhYzUhUW8FH1uX1l-RhywJvcqdBXgjFnYpakXmG-3xS9dg/s320/q01fl471506s+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Shopping around for what to wear may seem problematic and getting quality clothing that you'll be able to use from one holiday to the next can seem daunting, but don't be put off. Websites such as Fashion World have something to suit the occasion and location. This is a chance for you to shine and dress how you want to dress not how you feel you should dress.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's also worth taking notice of the themed nights offered during your cruise too - some common theme evenings include White Evening, 70's Disco Night and Americana night when you'll see people everything from <a href="https://www.sportsgearswag.com/cheerleading/shop?type%5B%5D=JERSEY" target="_blank">cheerleading uniform</a> to Star Spangled everything!</div>
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<b>Here's my Top 3 Tips on preparing your wardrobe for a cruise Holiday;</b></div>
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<li>If you see it and like it, get it. You're going on holiday and no one should make you feel down about what you want to wear. It's a chance to embrace colours and styles you may normally shy away from. Let yourself look and feel great. If you always wanted a neon pink bikini but didn't think you'd ever get the opportunity to wear one, now's your chance.</li>
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<li>Dress appropriately for the destinations. Do some homework in to temperatures and terrain of any ports you may be visiting. Flip flops and a sleeveless top are fine at the beach or walking around the deck, but some destinations can get chilly and old cities and ports tend to have cobbled streets. Stubbed toes and goose pimples can soon take the shine off an excursion.</li>
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<li>If you've never been to a formal evening, don't feel you have to dress conservatively or in a stuffy manner. The evenings are as much about fun as the are the food, and are not full length sleeves and ankle length dresses. You should feel like a million dollars in your favourite number so don't feel you have to go with pearls, pastels or . Wear sequins, or something backless, or even with a split in it, but whatever you wear relax and sparkle like you're the centre of attention.</li>
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I've been checking out some new clothes for a potential cruise (more about this coming soon!) and think I've found some perfect items for shore excursions.</div>
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I love the colours in this and it looks so comfortable for walking around and exploring old cities or new destinations.</div>
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Some destinations require full sleeves due to religious or local culture. I'd certainly not want to upset anyone so something along the lines of this Peplum shirt is perfect!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bitmlyUpRPEtDbaHNfWXZvljW-i4LFtVj91vJ6TblfH_atxf2-SMjCwPVFtQ8AInBaAmcelBrCLxBlby3sN-Pui0wOb0Ei6TH2cuKkkItjG_xq11TLf31jZa9KXVNsj_ZyIkWrX3cQ/s1600/q01rj130502s.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="517" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0bitmlyUpRPEtDbaHNfWXZvljW-i4LFtVj91vJ6TblfH_atxf2-SMjCwPVFtQ8AInBaAmcelBrCLxBlby3sN-Pui0wOb0Ei6TH2cuKkkItjG_xq11TLf31jZa9KXVNsj_ZyIkWrX3cQ/s320/q01rj130502s.jpg" width="254" /></a></div>
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I love these Palazzo Trousers! Walking around can get a bit hot so these look like I'll be able to stay cool and comfortable.</div>
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I LOVE dressing for the formal and informal evenings and wearing something new and just that little bit extra special and flamboyant. Something you may not have a reason to wear at home apart from at the 'Once-in-a-Blue-Moon' Black Tie function. When onboard and someone comes up and compliments you on what you are wearing or asks 'Where did you get that dress?' you know you're doing something right, and your confidence soars. </div>
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Accessories can really add an extra element to any dining experience however and I've seen this gorgeous little Rose Gold bag to compliment an outfit.</div>
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Have you ever had issues when shopping for cruise clothes or have you any funny stories about things that have happened to you whilst on a cruise? I'd love to hear about them and you can post your comments below!</div>
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Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-70691604888928655202019-03-14T21:27:00.004+00:002024-03-12T23:26:01.858+00:00Grown Up Holiday time....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Travelling with small children can be hard work. Even with the best laid plans in place, a toddler sized spanner can be thrown in the works and everything can rapidly go askew. </div>
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With this in mind, we decided we needed an adult's only break, albeit a short one, as sometimes family holidays aren't much of a holiday for the adults.</div>
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Ok so call me selfish but 9 times out of 10 we get back from a family break and feel we need another holiday to get over the holiday. And I'm pretty sure we're not alone in that.</div>
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Once we'd arranged potential dates (thanks Mum!) we could concentrate on destinations...</div>
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Jon and I love travel, but despite having been all over Europe and the US, neither of us have really been much further afield. So we decided that one option could be to head East. Far East. </div>
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After an evening of googling and YouTube videos, we finally settled on the idea of Thailand. Usually we'd find it difficult to get time away from work, but now we both work remotely this gives us much more freedom to travel - we read a <a href=" https://travelsecurely.com/protonmail-review/" target="_blank">proton mail review</a> which gave us a lot of faith in working securely from our laptops while abroad so that's one hurdle down.</div>
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Neither of us have been but we've heard and read some tremendous things about it. It sounds like just the destination for us to recharge our batteries and take a break from nappies and tantrums and demands to go on rides...again...and again...and again.</div>
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We both have friends who have been and it comes highly recommended, but where to stay when we are there? There are dozens of fabulous looking resorts and hotels however we like the idea of a home away from home, somewhere private but luxurious...which is where <a href="http://samui-villa.com/">Samui-Villa.com</a> comes in handy!</div>
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Thailand offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, but go to the wrong destination and we could miss out. After several discussions with friends we have decided on the island of Ko Samui. There are over 250 villas listed for Ko Samui on Villa Finder each with there own merits and reasons to choose. So far we've shortlisted 4 of them and it's going to be hard to choose which one to go for if we decide to take the plunge.</div>
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Ko Samui is a relatively small island with a small (approx 63,000) population. With average temperatures of 27c between May and August it's hot, but not too hot for us to walk around.</div>
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It also boasts some of the top 5 things Jon and I have wanted to see on our travels for a long time.</div>
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1) <b>Big Buddha Temple. </b></div>
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Jon has been wanting to see this since he was a child.</div>
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The Big Buddha Temple sits to the North East of Ko Samui on a small island called Ko Phan which is linked to Ko Samui via causeway. The golden statue itself is over 12 meters tall and can even be seen from the air as you approach Ko Samui!</div>
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2) <b>Secret Buddha Garden</b>. </div>
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This secret garden of statues is located in the hills of the interior of Ko Samui. A place of peace and tranquility to reflect and find solace-just what every busy parent needs!</div>
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This relatively new tourist attraction take you away from the beach and markets to forested hills and a cooler environment-a much needed break from the hustle and bustle of modern living. I'd read about it sometime ago and it's been at the back of my mind to visit 'one day' ever since.</div>
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3) <b>Wat Plai Laem</b>.</div>
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Another Buddhist temple, but one featuring Guanyin the Goddess of Mercy instead of Buddha. The 18 armed statue of her sits atop a colourful and very ornate temple located not far from Big Buddha to the North of the island.</div>
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4) <b>Koh Tao-Turtle Island</b>. </div>
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Surrounded by beautiful crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches, this is the ideal spot to relax beneath the Sun and unwind. A hugely popular destination for scuba divers with lessons available this small island is a tropical paradise.</div>
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5) <b>Ang Thong National Marine Park</b>.</div>
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On the bucket list of many travellers, Ang Thong gained popularity when mentioned in the novel 'The Beach' by Alex Garland. Located in an archipelago of approximately 42 islands, Ang Thong has a host of activities and sights to explore. From the outstanding flora and fauna to the inland lagoon (Emerald Lake) and coral reef we'd not run out of things to do or see.</div>
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Flights are available from Heathrow daily and parking at the airport is bookable in advance. Flights and package deals are very reasonable especially when booked in advance so it is a very tempting destination to say the least. </div>
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If we do decide to say 'Sawasdee!' to Thailand we'll be packing our bags and filling you in on our grown up holiday!</div>
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Have you been to Thailand? We'd love to hear your thoughts and tips!</div>
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Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-8566220178553132602019-02-05T07:00:00.000+00:002019-03-02T00:16:58.455+00:00Our Top 5 UK Theme Parks To Visit With Young ChildrenOver the last year or so, we have visited a fair few of the UK's main theme parks - although we're not big thrill seekers ourselves we do really enjoy a theme park day out with the kids and so all of the parks with Toddler Themed areas have been high on our list of days out to try.<br />
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Today I thought I'd share our Top 5 UK Theme Parks in order of preference along with the reasons why we think they're the best!<br />
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So without further ado, here they are!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Paultons Park</span></b><br />
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<b><u>Where is it?</u></b>: Near Southampton<br />
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<b><u>Entry Price: </u></b>£31.75 each (over 1 metre, children under 1 metre are free_<br />
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<b><u>What's There For Kids?</u></b>: Paultons Park is the home of Peppa Pig World - a whole section dedicated to the kids favourite, with themed rides, play areas, a soft play centre and appearances from Peppa & George themselves - if your little one is a fan of Peppa then it's worth a visit here for this section alone!<br />
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But there is so much more to Paultons Park too, including the Lost Kingdom dinosaur area which my 4 year old just loved!<br />
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<b><u>Selling Points</u></b>: The park is incredibly well run and child friendly, the toilets are always clean with thoughtful details such as childrens toilet seats in every one - the baby change facilities have always been immaculate when we've visited too, and there's plenty of options available for food so it doesn't feel as though there are only unhealthy choices available.<br />
You even get a free piece of fresh fruit with every childrens lunch!<br />
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<b><u>Best Bits:</u></b> Our favourite things are the Hot Air Balloon Ride in Peppa Pig World and the Flight of The Psterosaur rollercoaster in Lost Kingdom<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Legoland</span></b><br />
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<b><u>Where is it?</u></b>: Windsor<br />
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<u>Entry Price:</u> From £45 per person on the day (Prices vary depending on season)<br />
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<b><u>What's There For Kids?</u></b>: There is no dedicated themed section as such but who needs it?! All of Legoland is kid-heaven! My three all absolutely adore Legoland, infact if they had been in charge of this list it would certainly be in the number 1 position!<br />
There are tons of rides and play areas for them, meet & greets with Lego characters and live shows too.<br />
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<b><u>Selling Points:</u></b> There is a great variety of rides at Legoland from the family-friendly Fairy Tale Brook boat rides to the more adventurous Dragon rollercoaster and everything in between. It one to appeal to all ages, and if you can afford to stretch to a stay in the Legoland Hotel it is certainly worth doing - the theming is fantastic and its practically inside the park.<br />
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<b><u>Best Bits</u></b>: The submarine ride is brilliant fun, and the Pirate Bay show should not be missed - it was incredible!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Drayton Manor</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwtuN-IZrUGGH1PV-oTGyib1oHrRhOzr_GSv92_EtV8JRe6GgkIFqz4e4ESKyDsXXwLj8_EIW0coQEWz7eRwPmKEbCsMw8WILHisltfLqYSgEDVuih0Y3-1JHkGjqCJjBJwT8uno7GQ/s1600/thomasland1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="640" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwtuN-IZrUGGH1PV-oTGyib1oHrRhOzr_GSv92_EtV8JRe6GgkIFqz4e4ESKyDsXXwLj8_EIW0coQEWz7eRwPmKEbCsMw8WILHisltfLqYSgEDVuih0Y3-1JHkGjqCJjBJwT8uno7GQ/s640/thomasland1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><u>Where is it?</u></b>: Staffordshire<br />
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<b><u>Entry Price:</u></b> £39 for over 12s, £29 for children aged 4-11, £7 for 2-3 year olds, and free for under 2s.<br />
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<b><u>What's There For Kids?</u></b>: Drayton Manor is home to Thomas Land - a section dedicated to the famous little blue engine and his pals! Thomas Land is a fantastic place to visit for any child but if you have a little Thomas fanatic at home they will absolutely love it, the theming is fantastic, there are so many rides to choose from and during special occasions they go all out too - Christmas in Thomasland is something really special!<br />
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<b><u>Selling Points:</u></b> Drayton Manor offer a rainy day guarantee which means that if it rains for 2 or more hours on the day of your visit, you will be given the chance to return within a specified time period for another visit free of charge! (<i>Please note this does not apply to tickets purchased on the day of the visit)</i><br />
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<b><u>Best Bits: </u></b>A ride on Thomas is a must do, and we are also big fans of the Cranky ride too. If you have the chance to visit during the Christmas season, do! The snow fall and Christmas songs are really magical and well worth seeing.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Alton Towers</span></b><br />
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<b><u>Where is it?</u></b>: Staffordshire<br />
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<b><u>Entry Price</u></b>: £52.80 per adult, £46.80 per child (under 3s go free)<br />
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<b><u>What's There For Kids?:</u></b> Alton Towers is home to CBeebies land - an area themed around all of their TV favourites from the CBeebies channel, such as Mr Tumble, Charlie & Lola, Postman Pat, The Octonauts and many more! There are some great rides in this section, as well as a lovely live show area where various characters hang out for meet and greets too!<br />
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<b><u>Selling Points:</u></b> There is tons to do for both adults and children at Alton Towers, and the monorail system for ferrying you to and from the parks is really handy too - especially with little ones in tow!<br />
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<b><u>Best Bits:</u></b> We loved the Octonauts coaster, and the In The Night Garden boat ride.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">5. Chessington World Of Adventures</span></b><br />
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<b><u>Where is it?:</u></b> Chessington!<br />
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<b><u>Entry Price:</u></b> £49 for over 12s, £45 for children aged 3-12 (Children under 3 go free)<br />
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<b><u>What's There For Kids?:</u></b> There is no themed childrens area in Chessington but it is home to the new Gruffalo ride - the ride itself is brilliant, almost worth visiting for that alone if your little ones are Gruffalo fans. There is also the Gruffalo arena where they can meet the creature himself!<br />
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<b><u>Selling Points</u></b>: Chessington is a really well laid out theme park, and there are lots of healthy food options around as well as lots of deliciously indulgent treats - we found the snacks on offer here to be by far the best of any other theme park we've visited in the UK. <br />
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<b><u>Best Bits</u></b>: Meeting the Gruffalo and the Gruffalo ride were definite highlights for us, but we did find it very busy here.<br />
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What has been your favourite theme park to visit in the UK? I'd love to hear your thoughts!!</div>
Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-1701006715688039582018-01-24T09:30:00.000+00:002018-01-24T09:30:05.911+00:00Which Is Our Favourite Disneyland Paris Hotel?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the questions I'm most often asked about Disneyland Paris is "Which is the best hotel to stay in?"<br />
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Now I wish I could give you a definitive one-size-fits-all answer to that question but if I could...then I guess there'd be no point in having so many of them available! The fact is that which hotel is best will depend entirely on what you want from a hotel.<br />
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Some of the Disneyland Paris hotels have amenities that others don't such as swimming pools. Some have different themes running through the decor and ambience than others. Some are closer to the park. Some have better breakfast options. Some are cheaper.<br />
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It all just depends on what you're looking for in your Disney hotel and how much you want to pay for it.<br />
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I would love to be able to give you a personal run down of my thoughts on each one, and I HOPE to be able to do that by this next year as I should hopefully have stayed in each of them by then!<br />
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But right now...out of the 6 main Disneyland Paris hotels, I have only stayed in 3 (number 4 next month though!)<br />
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But what I can do is give you a run down on our experiences in those, and which my favourite is so far....the answer may just surprise you!<br />
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Before I move on to the specifics, I should quickly explain how Disneyland Paris ranks their hotels - instead of the traditional Star ratings assigned to hotels, Disneyland Paris gives them each a Key rating based on criteria such as the distance from the park, the amenities available and some would say - the luxury level of the hotel. So when you see me reference Key ratings below, this is what I'm referring to.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Hotel Santa Fe</span></u></b><br />
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<b>Where Is it</b>?: Disneyland say that Santa Fe is a 20 minute walk from the park gates. I would pretty much agree with this.<br />
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<b>What's The Theme?</b>: It's a sort of Mexican theme around the hotel I guess. The restaurant is called La Cantina, it serves Mexican food - the rooms have names like Rio Grande, there are lots of cactus type decorative bits and pieces around. Yes, the theme is Mexican. There is also a Disney Cars theme running throughout the hotel and in the bedrooms - they have things like traffic cones lamps etc dotted about which is fun for the kids!<br />
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<b>First Impressions</b>: I was surprised when we first arrived here to find that the main hotel building with the reception, restaurant etc was separate from the bedrooms. But I have since discovered that this is the case in around half of the Disneyland Paris hotels. However, I wasn't expecting it so it threw me a little and I found it quite difficult to figure out where our particular building was and how to find our way back to it each night when every building looked exactly the same. Luckily we weren't far from the main building, I don't think I'd like to be any further away.<br />
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When we first went into the room, I thought it was very basic but the theming was fun for the kids although not a style I particularly loved myself. It was very orange and the lighting was a bit odd!<br />
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I was also not keen on being on the second level, as the lift wasn't working well and we did get stuck in it on one occasion which really freaked our baby son out!<br />
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<b>Comfort Level</b>: The room was certainly basic as I said, but the beds were comfortable and it was warm. It provided everything we needed and it was clean. I couldn't really expect anything more!<br />
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<b>Anything We Didn't Like?</b>: Other than the location of our particular room, there was nothing that really stood out for us as dislikable.<br />
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<b>Would We Stay There Again?</b>: If the price was really tempting and the price of the other hotels was much too high, then yes. But I think it would always be one of my lowest choices.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">OUR Rating:</span></b> Taking the low cost into account, I'd give it a 2.5 out of 5. It's really not bad at all.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Hotel Cheyenne</span></u></b><br />
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<b>Where Is it?</b>: Disneyland say that this is a 20 minute walk from the park. I'd say its actually a little shorter, around 10-15 minutes or so. I timed it one day and it took exactly 15 minutes for us to walk at a leisurely pace from our bedroom to inside the Disney park gates, even after queueing to get inside.<br />
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<b>What's The Theme?</b>: The Wild West! And I have to say, the theming is done VERY well here. Again the buildings that contain the bedrooms are separated from the main building, and every one of them is done out in the wild west theme meaning that together they look like a real Wild West Town! Each building block has different names such as Sheriff or County Jail etc, and it's just really effective!<br />
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Inside the main building is very well themed too, with the Chuck Wagon Cafe being the restaurant. The bedrooms have names like the Texas rooms, and are decorated in cowboy style with Toy Story theming - including a Cowboy boot lamp, curtains in Woodys shirt fabric, and pictures of Woody & Jessy on the wall along with Woodys face on the lamps too. My sons loved this, and I really enjoyed it too - it was well themed but it wasn't too overwhelming either...the room still looked like a place you'd want to stay, perhaps more so than Santa Fe.<br />
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<b>First Impressions</b>: Very positive! The Wild West look of the area was what stands out in my mind, it caught all of our imaginations and the room looked lovely when we walked in. Very impressed!<br />
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<b>Comfort Level</b>: The beds were perhaps not the most comfortable in the world, and I do remember the room feeling pretty cold in the evenings but overall the room was big enough for our family of 5, clean and tastefully decorated and we really enjoyed our stay here.<br />
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<b>Anything We Didn't Like?</b>: The beds could perhaps be a little more comfortable but its nothing to write home about<br />
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<b>Would We Stay There Again?</b>: Absolutely! In fact we have booked to return later this year.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">OUR Rating:</span></b> 4 out of 5.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Sequoia Lodge</span></u></b><br />
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<b>Where Is it?</b>: Disneyland say this is a 15 minute walk from the hotel, and I'd say that this is PROBABLY true except that we had a very hard time actually getting out of the hotel! We have a double pushchair that didn't fit into most of the lifts to get us down to the main entrance level, and so we usually found ourselves getting lost trying to get to that main entrance - instead we had to go around the back which added time on to our walk. It took us around 20 minutes or so and a fair bit of inconvenience every day.<br />
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<b>What's The Theme?</b>: I guess its a Canadian theme? But in all honesty I'm not too sure. I remember there being a lot of trees, and it all felt quite rustic. That's as much as I can tell you! The rooms did have a slight Bambi theme with some photos on the wall and pictures along the border, but that's about it.<br />
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<b>First Impressions</b>: I remember thinking that our room was quite small, and that the hotel all seemed very dark. I saw mention of a childrens area but when I found it, it was simply a tiny area with a drawing table - there was never anybody there when we tried to use it, and nothing for children to do there. I felt over all that this was a pretty boring hotel for children.<br />
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<b>Comfort Level</b>: In our first room it was a little cramped, but the beds were comfortable. We were then upgraded to a suite which was huge and really lovely, with incredibly comfortable beds. The suites are obviously the maximum in comfort.<br />
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We were also there as Golden Forest Club guests which means we had access to the Golden Forest lounge where complimentary drinks and snacks were available, and we also had a hot breakfast in there each morning - I must say the Golden Forest breakfast was exceptional, and the lounge was also a lovely thing to experience. Well worth the upgrade price.<br />
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<b>Anything We Didn't Like?</b>: I really wasn't a fan of the darkness of the decor in the hotel, and I felt it needed much more in the way of "Disney" vibes...it just didn't feel like we were in Disneyland there! Unlike the Cheyenne and Santa Fe, this hotel does have a pool - but we didn't use it. It's just not something we're interested in when in Disneyland.<br />
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<b>Would We Stay There Again?</b>: In a standard room - No. I just didn't enjoy it, and I would rather stay at the Hotel Cheyenne for less money. However, I would consider staying again in as a Golden Forest Club guest - but probably only in a suite and only at a time of year when this was cheap.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">OUR Rating: </span></b>2 out of 5.<br />
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So based on these scores - our favourite of these three hotels has not been the highest Key ranked Sequoia Lodge, but instead the budget option Hotel Cheyenne.<br />
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Here are some of the reasons for this:<br />
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<b><u>Distance Doesn't Really Matter To Us </u></b><br />
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There are Disney shuttle buses available from each Disney hotel which run regularly throughout the day, but we usually choose not to use these as they can get very crowded and irritating. We prefer to enjoy a leisurely walk through the Disney village instead as there is plenty to see and do there, and it adds to the overall atmosphere and experience for us.<br />
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So yes on a very cold day I can see why a closer hotel would be appealing, but I also feel that I WOULD miss the regular walks through the Disney village if we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel - yes we could go there just to walk around, but I enjoy the walks through it each morning in anticipation of the day ahead and each evening on the way home to wind down. I think I would miss that.<br />
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We are also young people with no mobility issues, and after all of the junk food we enjoy at the parks - I like the walk! If I didn't I could hop on a shuttle bus, but the walking is enjoyable to me. So for those reasons...the distance of the hotels doesn't matter to me, not when its only a pleasant leisurely 20 minute stroll at most.<br />
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<b><u>We Have No Interest In Hotel-Based Entertainment</u></b><br />
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Don't get me wrong, if I'm staying somewhere else then yes absolutely - a hotel with a pool or other fun amenities is great! A good restaurant would also be a real selling point.<br />
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But in Disneyland Paris? Not so much for me. When we're there, we like to use ALL of our time in the parks - we have absolutely no interest at all in going swimming when we could be at the parks, and we're always too exhausted from our busy days at the park to go swimming in the evenings.<br />
Even on rainy days...we'll be at the park. So a swimming pool doesn't swing anything at all for me.<br />
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The same goes for hotel restaurants - we like to eat in the Disney village for our evening meal as we prefer the options there, and we like to eat quick service lunches at the park. We're not breakfast people at all so we always prefer to take some pain au chocolat in our bags from home, and eat them on the stroll to the park each morning. So nope....the quality of the hotel restaurant doesn't matter to us at all either.<br />
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<b><u>I Can't Look Past The Price Differences With The Other Hotels</u></b><br />
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Even now that we have Annual Infinity Passes which give us 50% off the hotel prices, I have trouble justifying the huge jump in price for the "better" hotels to myself.<br />
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The increase in price for our next trip from the lowest ranked Hotel Santa Fe at £180 for 3 nights and Disneyland Hotel for £650 for 3 nights was just too high for me to consider. We settled in the middle at Newport Bay Club for £280 instead - even though £650 is the best price you'll ever get for 3 nights at the Disneyland Hotel for 5 people, I just cannot see how a place to sleep can ever be worth almost £400 more. We WILL try it once just to be able to compare, and perhaps if money was truly no object to us things would be different, but when the price difference could pay for another Disneyland trip later in the year...I know which I'd rather spend it on!<br />
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So what about you? Which of the Disneyland Paris hotels have you experienced and which has been your favourite? If you haven't stayed there yet, which takes your fancy most? I'd love to hear your thoughts!Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-81231307583515866542018-01-16T08:00:00.000+00:002018-01-16T08:01:02.795+00:00Top 5 Snacks To Try In Disneyland Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't know if this is just me, but one of the things I get most excited about when visiting Disneyland Paris is the chance to try out some of the wonderful foods and snacks on offer!</div>
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You only have to scroll through social media to see video after video about the many weird and wonderful snack options available in the US Disney parks from Mickey shaped waffles and Pretzels to the infamous "Grey Stuff"... and although there are fewer offerings in Disneyland Paris - there are still some gems available if you know where to look!</div>
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So I thought I'd share my own personal list of Must Try Snack foods at DLP!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">1) Pineapple Whip</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJoslEa5HvHDRAgN1SZ-OYBj_QzNpdmWlopyJa84u1FZZpQ3NwcDDefx-KQYFtbcfFJI1IwhhuR1h6mw-Aa682XTHozLmWwYSLVwk7DUT8tg2NhNL8ok2jzWszG6qEsSTLWhfH7KgJg/s1600/Disneysnacks3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJoslEa5HvHDRAgN1SZ-OYBj_QzNpdmWlopyJa84u1FZZpQ3NwcDDefx-KQYFtbcfFJI1IwhhuR1h6mw-Aa682XTHozLmWwYSLVwk7DUT8tg2NhNL8ok2jzWszG6qEsSTLWhfH7KgJg/s640/Disneysnacks3.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Is It?:</b></span> If you're a regular to Walt Disney World Florida then you'll no doubt be familiar with the infamous Disney Dole Whips...they are pretty much all I see anybody talk about on the forums and seem to be the holy grail of Disney snacks stateside!</div>
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Now if you're a fan of those let me just clear this up before you get too excited....there ARE NO DOLE WHIPS ON SALE AT DISNEYLAND PARIS!</div>
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But there ARE Pineapple Whips. Now admittedly I have never had a Dole Whip so I can't compare the two, but I can confirm that the Pineapple Whips? Are AMAZING.</div>
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They are basically a vanilla ice cream float served in pineapple juice and drizzled with fresh pineapple syrup, and they are the most delicious and refreshing snack you can buy in Disneyland Paris in my opinion. I only discovered them on our last trip and I wish I'd found them sooner....they are the first thing I will be heading for when we go back in February! YES IN FEBRUARY...I don't care how cold it is, I need that Pineapple Whip!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where From?:</b></span> The Pineapple Whip is available from the small food cart stationed outside Agrabah Cafe in Adventureland.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2) Mickey Marshmallows</b></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShp0XrvYZB4aqlJ8yRWTa4QsGYSS6v5xKCfKn8f_JHtFW7Hd0Y1Bgypc8k0-bVeuOkPmwDRxlepU0LZ9e-JMGIE3raPAUeCJ7y4Sf80CT1_c4HfJoVcXEK8VEYACBBEjR3whw09uPDg/s1600/Disneysnacks4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShp0XrvYZB4aqlJ8yRWTa4QsGYSS6v5xKCfKn8f_JHtFW7Hd0Y1Bgypc8k0-bVeuOkPmwDRxlepU0LZ9e-JMGIE3raPAUeCJ7y4Sf80CT1_c4HfJoVcXEK8VEYACBBEjR3whw09uPDg/s640/Disneysnacks4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What are they?:</b></span> They are basically gooey delicious marshmallows dipped in milk chocolate. There are a variety of colour/flavour options available, and the main selling point to me is that they are Mickey shaped!</div>
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I often feel that there is a real lack of Mickey Shaped treats available in Disneyland Paris, having previously only found the very tasteless and disappointing Double Mickey Cakes....the Mickey Marshmallows satisfy both my sweet tooth AND my Insta-photo needs much more fully!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where from?: </b></span>The sweet shop on Main Street USA</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>3) Nutella Crepes!</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq0_dSrBmqR4mViO4sI-8ojuHlAIJkuNbBPRSO3e8yVDU_CpdhbHzJ0vQ04fXWwFd42jX0eHRvuIwXlxh5q0tEnCi86_hgOCfghtQan34SKbo8bYUzKyx_z6dvg7YrXOa4qOSjPIIng/s1600/Disneysnacks5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijq0_dSrBmqR4mViO4sI-8ojuHlAIJkuNbBPRSO3e8yVDU_CpdhbHzJ0vQ04fXWwFd42jX0eHRvuIwXlxh5q0tEnCi86_hgOCfghtQan34SKbo8bYUzKyx_z6dvg7YrXOa4qOSjPIIng/s640/Disneysnacks5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Is It?</b></span>: Well let's be honest...are you even in France if you don't eat a crepe?!! </div>
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These very thin sweet pancakes are served piping hot with either lemon and sugar, or nutella...and trust me, the combination of the warm pancake and the sticky delicious Nutella on a cold Parisian day is perfection!! We basically lived on these during our last trip!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where From?:</b></span> You can buy those all over, but we got them most often from the Cafe outside Alice's Curious Labyrinth as we really liked the seating area there!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>4) Candy Apples</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What Is It?:</span></b> You can choose from either a traditional candy apple or a chocolate covered apple, and all of them are pretty tasty!</div>
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Our personal favourites were the Frozen themed ones which were made to look like Snowman, but you can also get traditional red ones and various other themes around the park too. Also a good way to ease the mum guilt when your child has basically survived the holiday on sugar and french fries...coz you know....at least there's fruit in there somewhere!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Where From?: </span></b>Various stalls around the park sell these, but the Frozen themed ones were available from the kiosk outside the Chaparral theatre where the Frozen show was.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5) Jedi Burger</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXz23RA56oNa_4_0iwCUsOI2atkNGuPm4KicTloY1zkJdZpBpsViw5XsKfYzShn4rco22Xg1EYZPTCvwRkEskGP6mpRyGsJ39572-zGqcoF3RXShQLHkm1p6xHpSr-HyE2_TKg9c7mA/s1600/jedi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="480" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnXz23RA56oNa_4_0iwCUsOI2atkNGuPm4KicTloY1zkJdZpBpsViw5XsKfYzShn4rco22Xg1EYZPTCvwRkEskGP6mpRyGsJ39572-zGqcoF3RXShQLHkm1p6xHpSr-HyE2_TKg9c7mA/s640/jedi.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">What Is It?:</span></b> I've left this until last as its more of a meal than a snack but I couldn't not include it because it is Hands down the MOST DELICIOUS BURGER I HAVE EVER TASTED! Bar none!</div>
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Trust me, I have tried some burgers in my time and this one stands out in my mind as one of the tastiest!</div>
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It was a little bit spicy but not too much. It was filling but somehow it still left me wanting more.</div>
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Honestly, even after dining in some of the "finest" establishments in the park, the Jedi burger was hands down the best meal I ate!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Where From?:</b></span> Available from Cafe Hyperion in Discoverland</div>
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Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-15136550489409471402018-01-08T07:00:00.000+00:002018-01-08T22:24:18.322+00:00Travel Plans For 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of my favourite things to do at the start of a new year is make travel plans.<br />
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Travelling has always been one of the things I enjoy most in life, and since the boys came along my desire to see the world has only increased - I love taking holidays with the boys and experiencing different countries and cultures with them, and there is just SO much that I want us to see and do together.<br />
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I do have a tendency to dream pretty big when it comes to holidays, and now that I've finally managed to put my fear of flying behind me after taking a fearless flyer course in 2017 - the world feels more wide open to me than ever before! Which is great of course, but it does make decision making and planning for holidays that bit harder when there is suddenly so much more choice available to you!<br />
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After visiting Italy on our Med cruise this year, I know that I'd love to go back and spend more time there. I'd also really love to explore more of the USA - particularly the smaller towns, and especially around Halloween.<br />
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But after all of this dreaming, I think I've managed to narrow down our plans for year ahead, so here's what I'm hoping we can do in 2018.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Disneyland Paris Annual Passes</span></u></b><br />
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We've been toying with the idea of buying annual passes for Disneyland Paris for ages now, and if we're going to do it then it really needs to be this year - once Sailor turns three then we'll have to pay for each of them and at £400 each with no reduction in price for children it's not cheap!<br />
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But the perks of saving money on accommodation, shopping and dining make it seem worthwhile and if it means we can get in 2 or 3 Disneyland trips throughout the year then I think it'll be worth it (plus you can pay for them monthly rather than in one go, too!)<br />
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I've just had a quote for some breaks this year with the annual pass discount and with them starting from £350 for a 4 night break compared to the usual £750+ I think it makes the passes well worth while if we can squeeze 3 or 4 trips in this year!<br />
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My plan is for an early visit next month, plus one around Easter, a day or two in summer, a few days around Halloween and possibly even spending New Years Eve /New Years Day 2018 there too!<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Butlins Just For Tots Break</span></u></b><br />
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We've visited Butlins Minehead for the last two years and its become a holiday that all of us really look forward to. Tyne has already been asking if we can go back soon, and as this will probably be the last year that all 3 of the boys enjoy the Just For Tots breaks I think we'll make sure we get a visit in - hopefully around May.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">A Trip To The Isle Of Wight</span></u></b><br />
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This one really depends on how money goes so its not a definite plan at all, but if we're able to then an early summer visit to the Isle Of Wight would be really lovely!<br />
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We visited the Island for the first time this summer but only Tyne came along with us (crashing what was supposed to be a childfree break!) - but there was so much to do there that we'd love to go back as a family. They have a few Parkdean resorts and we do like having a summer caravan holiday so we're aiming to try and do this around June! If we don't make it there this year, then it's definitely on the list for next year.<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Canary Isles Cruise</span></u></b><br />
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This one is already booked! We loved our cruise holiday on board the Independence Of The Seas so much that we couldn't wait to book another one. This time we're going with just Tyne - we thought it'd be nice to spend some one on one time with him now that he's in school (something that the little two get a lot of but he doesn't) plus we found the cruise holiday more suited to his age.<br />
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This time we're going around the Canaries - a cruise that Jon & I did together before we had the boys, so we know that Tyne will really enjoy the warm weather and beach destinations!<br />
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And although dreaming really big on this one...<b><i>IF</i></b> I'm somehow able to save a LOT of money by then after having spent rather a lot on holidays in the year already....then....<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">A Christmas Trip To Santa's Lapland in Finland!</span></u></b><br />
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I had originally planned on this for this month but after discovering that the holiday isn't recommended for children under 2 and that it involves things like husky sledding, I decided that it would be better to put it off until all of the boys are a little older and able to go and make the most of it (it's not cheap, after all and something we'd only want to do once!)<br />
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I actually think the ideal time to go would be Christmas 2020 when Sailor is 4, Noah is 5 and Tyne is 7 so that they can all get the most out of it as it's not recommended for under 4's....but if we have the money then I may well be tempted to go a year early! We'll see what happens! It's something I do really want to do.<br />
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With so much to look forward to in 2018 I'm already excited for it to begin, although I guess I'd better get saving if we're going to be able to afford to do all of this!<br />
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Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-28697124665916518102018-01-02T19:19:00.002+00:002024-03-12T23:29:06.698+00:005 Reasons To Visit Tuscany With Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At the start of a new year my mind is always firmly focused on one thing and one thing only - travel plans!<br />
Nothing gets me the dark, dank January days better than thinking ahead and planning out adventures for my boys and I to enjoy over the coming months - after all, there is so much <a href="https://foony.com/games/4-in-a-row-connect" target="_blank">connect 4 online</a> you can play on those rainy days before you start dreaming of sunshine and sand! <div><br /></div><div>Since conquering my fear of flying thanks to Easyjets Fearless Flyer course, I'm finally able to really dream big! My google search history from the last 48 hours shows searches for everything from New Years weekends in New York City to family-friendly villas to rent in Tuscany, and pretty much everything in between!<br />
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The list of places I'd like to visit with my family is almost endless - from far flung destinations like Hawaii, Australia and many of the United States Of America, to those closer to home such as Ireland, Scotland and Yorkshire (none of which I've ever been to!) - and narrowing it down to choose where to head to first can be difficult!<br />
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We're restricted of course by budget - it'll take us a while to save up for the likes of Hawaii!, by school and work holidays - there's only so many trips you can take in a year!, and by the children's ages - I know that lots of people think that should never be a factor but when you have 3 little ones all so close in age and all under 5 I think things like travel time and style of holiday have to be considered in order for the holiday to be enjoyable for everybody with minimal stress involved!<br />
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So I've drawn up a list of countries and cities we'd like to visit sooner - those that are a little nearer, easier to navigate and more child friendly. One of those places is Tuscany.<br />
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Italy had always been top of my "Countries to visit" list ever since childhood - the mix of fabulous food, culture and fashion drew me to it but until last year I'd never actually set foot there. But during our med cruise I finally found myself standing on Italian soil! We visited Rome first followed by Florence in the beautiful region of Tuscany - and although we thoroughly enjoyed our day there, there is only so much you can see of a city during a cruise visit and our time there simply whet my appetite for more!<br />
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I really think that a visit to Tuscany could be the perfect summer holiday for us, and here's what makes it so appealing for families with young children.<br />
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<b>1. Italy is about as Child-Friendly as destinations get!</b><br />
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This was so apparent to us even during our short-time spent there last Summer, I remember asking our tour guide for advice on which restaurants we should choose for lunch in Florence with our toddlers in tow - concerned that these picturesque fine dining establishments would turn their noses up at the arrival of tiny tearaways - but my fears were soon put to rest when she simply laughed and said "Any restaurant at all! This is Italy, we love children! They go wherever you want to go and they will be more than welcome!"<br />
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<b>2. There is so much variety on offer!</b><br />
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Tuscany offers everything you could possibly wish to experience - from fabulous food, to cultural and interesting museums, amazing shopping opportunities, and even sandy beaches and intriguing caves and grottos to explore! The possibilities are endless and there is surely something to pique the interest of even the most difficult-to-entertain child.<br />
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<b>3. Gelato!</b><br />
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We only spent two days in Italy on our cruise, but we ate more Gelato during that short time than I care to admit to! There are gelataries EVERYWHERE offering flavours you couldn't even dream of, and they are all as delicious as each other - the boys absolutely loved sampling their way through them all and they are the perfect reward after an afternoon spent on best behaviour of course! ;)<br />
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<b>4. There is so much to do!</b><br />
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Whether it's a visit to the enchanting Pinocchio park near Pisa which is a beautiful garden decorated with statues from the fairy tale and hosts a small 1940s amusement park and puppet shows at weekends, or a visit to Piccolo Mondo amusement park which offers a 5D cinema and the highest slide in Tuscany - or perhaps even a visit to Pistoia Zoo, there is so much to keep your whole family entertained and enthralled for your whole holiday.<br />
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<b>5. The Food Is Perfect!</b><br />
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One tricky aspect of travelling with little ones can be the local food on offer. As a fussy eater myself I've struggled in the past to find anything that suited my tastes when visiting certain areas of countries like Spain where a lot of seafood and not much else was on offer, so travelling with little ones who don't like to venture too far from the food they're used to eating can make things difficult.<br />
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In Italy, we found that our boys were just as excited about dining as we were - they knew that we were in the home of Pizza after all, their favourite food ever! Most restaurants offer child portions and are super accommodating making dining an enjoyable experience for everyone.<br />
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Our experience of Tuscany last year confirmed for me that Italy is a beautiful and enchanting holiday destination for family, and with flight times from just over 2 hours from the UK and airlines like Easyjet offering low cost flights to Pisa - it couldn't be more appealing!<br />
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So for these reasons and more, we've put Tuscany firmly at the top of our "Must Visit" list. Have you visited Tuscany with children? Would you recommend it? I'd love to hear your thoughts!<br />
<br /></div>Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-7022634336010639002017-08-08T06:00:00.000+01:002017-08-08T22:46:01.274+01:00The High Dive Show at Crealy, Devon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Earlier this week, we were invited to go along to Crealy - a local theme park in nearby Exeter - for the launch of the new summer High Dive Show.<br />
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The show consist of a team of expert divers direct from the US of A who entertain the crowd with a series of funny and incredible dives - there are plenty of laughs throughout, but some extremely impressive diving too!<br />
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The dive from the 85 foot high board is really breath taking, and the finale is just incredible - I won't give it away but lets just say it involves flames!<br />
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The High Dive shows are included in the Crealy general admission price and will be taking place 3 times per day, 6 days a week (No shows on Sundays) until 2nd September.<br />
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This is a fantastic addition to a family day out at Crealy - which is in itself already a fabulous place to take the children with a huge choice of rides, play areas and animals to keep them entertained.<br />
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My lot spent the afternoon making the most of the sunshine in the various play areas, the wild west themed one being a particular favourite!<br />
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But we also managed to get in a few rides on the carousel and the dinosaur jeeps too, which are always a firm favourite!<br />
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And even in the sun doesn't shine when you visit, there are plenty of indoor play areas and rides to keep you entertained.<br />
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A visit to Crealy is a must if you're local to Devon or visiting the area for the Summer holidays, and if you do go along - be sure you don't miss the fantastic High Dive Show!<br />
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To find out more, just visit <a href="http://www.crealy.co.uk/">www.crealy.co.uk</a><br />
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<br />Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-72062491420610947452017-07-20T07:30:00.000+01:002017-12-05T12:49:52.818+00:00A Disappointing Stay At Parkdean Mullion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>(My partner & I joked that the bird poo on this deckchair and the looks on the kids faces pretty much summed up Parkdean Mullion...)</i><br />
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A few weeks ago, on the spur of the moment, I decided to book a little caravan get away.<br />
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We usually visit our neighbouring county of Cornwall at least once during the Summer, as it is just such a beautiful part of the country and there is so much to do there - but we fancied seeing a different part of Cornwall this time.<br />
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In the past we've always stayed around Newquay, but this time we decided we wanted to go further into Cornwall - I'd seen some stunning videos of Kynance Cove shared on social media and I was desperate to visit, so I searched for caravan sites around the area and came across Parkdean Mullion.<br />
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Having stayed at a Parkdean site in Newquay a few years ago, I was confident that they were the right choice for us - I knew the children would love the Sid & Lizzy Entertainment Mascots and the childrens discos in the evening, and the outdoor pool was another selling point as were visiting during one of the hottest weeks of the year.<br />
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We arrived to the site around dinner time on Monday, and checked in to our caravan right away - we had gone for the newest caravans on the site which were also the most expensive as there were no others available. The decor was really tasteful and the caravan was very wide and spacious, but unfortunately the cleaning job wasn't up to scratch at all.<br />
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There were hairs in the shower, and stains on the bedding - not good!<br />
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It was too late to make a complaint as reception was closed, but we decided it would keep until the next day and we headed off to the evening entertainment.<br />
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I had hoped to be able to have a game of Bingo but when I tried to buy a ticket I was told I wasn't allowed to without my entertainment pass - unfortunately we hadn't been informed this and so had left the pass in the car, so my bingo plans were scuppered - instead the kids had a bit of a dance and we headed out for dinner off site as the on site restaurant didn't look all that appetising and the advertised "Chippy" didn't seem to ever be open!<br />
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The next day, we got the children ready after lunch and headed down to the outdoor pool - it was a glorious hot day and they were all so excited to cool off in the pool - when we got there, we found it locked up.<br />
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We then located the tiniest of signs on the door of the indoor pool informing us of the pool opening times - both pools closed over the lunchtime period for around 1 and a half hours. This seemed pretty ridiculous, and we weren't the only surprised and disappointed guests as three other families tried to enter the pools while we were reading the signs - all of them complaining about the fact that they were closed.<br />
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We headed over to reception to make a complaint about this and the dirty caravan - we were told that somebody would come out to re-clean our caravan right away, and the lady explained that the pools close for the lifeguards to have lunch.<br />
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This seems rather silly considering the fact that there are paying guests waiting to use them - why not just take on more life guards or stagger their breaks?!<br />
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We also complained about the fact that the Parkdean website had charged us a £25 cancellation cover fee that I had unticked a box to opt out of - the lady said this was surprising as that fee wouldn't have covered us anyway as we were travelling the next morning, and she assured us she would have this fee refunded. It never was.<br />
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We went into the soft play area to entertain the disappointed children while we waited for the pool to open - when it did they had a great time, the pool was very good.<br />
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The kids also really enjoyed the park area, too.<br />
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Later that day we returned to our caravan to find the shower had been cleaned, but the bedding had not been replaced...so much for a thorough reclean.<br />
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For the rest of the week we spent our time enjoying the local area, which was really stunning - Kynance Cove was one of the most beautiful beaches we've ever visited and was well worth the 15 minute down hill walk it took to get there (and the 15 minute uphill climb back - we took the pushchair friendly route, and it wasn't too bad at all), and we really enjoyed visiting Lizard Village too.<br />
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We did spend a day at the indoor pool on site which the little ones enjoyed, and we spent every evening at the on site entertainment which was good fun for the children - they also really enjoyed the arcade too.<br />
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All in all, we had a lovely weeks holiday and would certainly return to the area again - but I don't think Parkdean Mullion is somewhere we'd happily return to unfortunately, which is a real shame as our previous experiences at other Parkdean sites had been so good.<br />
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<b>Have you stayed at Parkdean before? I'd love to hear your experiences.</b><br />
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<br />Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-20141882060700526532017-06-14T07:30:00.000+01:002017-06-14T07:30:43.473+01:00Our Day At Paultons Park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week, we went along for a day out at Paultons Park - a theme park just outside of Southampton which is probably best known for being home to "Peppa Pig World".<br />
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We have visited Paultons Park twice before, but not in the last couple of years - infact the last time we visited I was heavily pregnant with Noah. We'd always enjoyed our days there in the past but I was keen to see how things had changed, and excited to see what Noah and Sailor would make of it all.<br />
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We decided to stay in Southampton the night before our visit to make the most of it, as its around a 3 hour drive from where we live - we stayed in a Travelodge which was about a 20 minute drive away, it wasn't the nicest Travelodge I've ever stayed in to be honest but it did the job.<br />
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We arrived at Paultons Park at around 10.30 am, and collected our tickets at the entrance - the staff on the gates were friendly and helpful as always, and I was pleased to see that they have introduced additional security measures since our last visit with bag checks before entering. It didn't hold us up at all, it took literally moments but definitely helps visitors to feel safer.<br />
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It was a bit of a rainy day unfortunately, and there were showers on and off throughout the day but we found there was always somewhere to take shelter so it didn't spoil our day at all - the staff were also great at drying off the seats on the rides too so you never suffered a soggy bum! Which was very much appreciated!<br />
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We started our day off with a walk through the central section of Paultons, and stopped off at the Viking ship rides and Carousel first, before heading to Peppa Pig World<br />
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Noah was absolutely delighted at the sight of the Peppa section, and squealed "Grandpa Pig!!" as he dashed towards it - it is a really lovely section for little ones with lovely bright colours, and the Peppa music playing throughout. There is so much to do just in this section alone too.<br />
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There are several rides to choose from (our favourites are Daddy Pigs Car Ride and the Hot Air Balloon Ride), a lovely park area, gift shop, food stalls, and a fab indoor soft play area with indoor cafe too - we had lunch here and it was pretty good, with lots of choice and a good picnic deal for children - we spent around £30 on lunch for all of us which I think is reasonable enough for a theme park.<br />
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Tyne, at 4, is starting to find the rides in Peppa Pig World a little too safe and was keen to head out to the new Lost Kingdom section of the park to try more thrill rides but he still enjoyed the hours we spent at Peppa Pig World and was just as delighted as ever to get to meet Peppa and George!<br />
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At around 2pm, we headed to the Lost Kingdom - expecting to be faced with lots of queues as this is where the bigger rides are but much to our delight the queues were non existent!<br />
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The Lost Kingdom area is really well themed, with animatronic dinosaurs dotted about which the kids loved - there was a great park area here too (and a splash pad, but it was a bit too wet for this unfortunately) and a good mix of rides.<br />
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We spotted a show going on as we walked in, a real live dinosaur was being introduced to the crowds! Tyne loved watching this and getting to stroke the "Baby T Rex".<br />
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Tyne braved the Velociraptor roller coaster with his Dad and the Flight Of The Pterosaur one too, infact he loved them so much he rode each of them 3 times in a row - because it was so quiet he didn't even need to get off as there was no queue, so they simply rode again and again!<br />
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We passed one of the Carnival Games stalls and the boys spotted some cuddly dinosaurs, I usually refuse these games as I am rubbish at everything but this one was Hook A Duck so I let them have a go as they could do it themselves - they loved it and were absolutely delighted with their dinosaur prizes!<br />
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We had such a brilliant day at Paultons Park - it offers something for the whole family, is very well kept and looked after, and we think its prices are sensible too when compared with some of the other theme parks around - Paultons Park never fails to provide a great family day out and we will absolutely be back again!<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Things Not To Miss</span></u></b><br />
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*Flight Of The Pterosaur for adventurers aged 4 and over - even Daddy said this was one of the best rollercoasters he's been on!<br />
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*The Victorian Carousel - a lovely old fashioned carousel, so pretty and a nice one for the whole family to do together<br />
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*Alive dinosaur show in Lost Kingdom<br />
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*Meeting Peppa & George outside the school house in Peppa Pig World (Top Tip: The queue around noon was massive so we came back at around 2.30 and walked straight to the front!)<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Where To Go If It Rains</span></u></b><br />
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There's a soft play centre in Peppa Pig World which has a good under 4's section, as well as lots of the older kids too and a nice little cafe for Mum & Dad to take 5 in too!<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">Great Rides For Families Of Five</span></u></b><br />
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We often struggle to find rides that all of us can do as a family, so I thought I'd share the ones I found.<br />
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Hot Air Balloon Ride<br />
Grandpa Pigs Train<br />
Daddy Pigs Car Ride can also be done with 2 children, 2 adults and a baby<br />
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<b>To find out more or plan your visit, please go to <a href="http://www.paultonspark.co.uk/">www.paultonspark.co.uk</a></b>Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-80468983538242026672017-06-01T08:30:00.000+01:002017-06-01T08:30:27.348+01:00Diggerland: Our Honest Thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few weeks ago, we were invited along to <a href="http://www.diggerland.com/">Diggerland</a> for a fun filled family day out.<br />
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In case you're unfamiliar with the Diggerland parks, they are a theme park focused completely around - you guessed it! - diggers!<br />
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They have parks in Kent, Durham and Yorkshire as well as one just down the road from us near Cullumpton in Devon.<br />
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With 3 little boys who are all somewhat digger obsessed, we were excited for what the day would bring - we had visited Diggerland once before a couple of summers ago but Tyne was too little for most of the attractions at the time.<br />
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This time though, he was tall enough for the vast majority of them (although had to be accompanied) and so we set off to explore exactly what Diggerland had to offer.<br />
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Now, if you're anything like me you're probably thinking "How much can there be to do with a digger?!" - well the answer is, quite a lot actually! It is quite amazing how creative the Diggerland team have been at coming up with weird and wonderful ways to use diggers and construction machines as family entertainment.<br />
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There are high adrenaline thrill seeker rides such as Spin Dizzy which literally spins its passengers around in a circle at top speed (and really is not the faint of heart, Jon was pretty queasy after riding this but our 4 year old was screaming for more and wanted to go again!!) - and the jaw-dropping Sky Shuttle which takes passengers up 50 feet in the air! I, being terrified of heights, was too much of a whimp to ride this but Jon, Tyne & Noah all went up and reported that the views across Devon were spectacular!<br />
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There are also diggers that you can operate yourself, which Tyne was absolutely thrilled with! And diggers used for games such as Hook A Duck and Bowling which were really good fun.<br />
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There wasn't a great deal that Noah could ride on unfortunately due to height restrictions but he did enjoy having a go on the Dig-A-Round which is Diggerlands take on a merry go round!<br />
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For Sailor, there were no age appropriate rides which is of course to be expected for a 1 year old but we were pleased to see the addition of the new Little Tikes area - this play area in the park section was kitted out with some lovely Little Tikes Cozy Coupes as well as push along digger toys and water and sand play tables from the fantastic Little Tikes range - this was a great addition as it meant there was something fun for Sailor to do too, and actually all 3 of the boys really enjoyed playing here.<br />
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Diggerland also has an indoor cafe, indoor bouncy castles and an arcade which would be really useful on a rainy day but as it was a beautiful sunny day when we visited we didn't need to use these.<br />
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We were slightly disappointed that our 4 year old wasn't allowed to ride on the Joyrider attraction which is basically a 4x4 done up as a police vehicle - he is currently obsessed with all things police related and was very upset not to be allowed to ride in the car which put a bit of a dampener on our day really as he was inconsolable after that.<br />
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It seemed a bit silly as we would have been allowed to ride in the almost identical Safari jeep which is driven by a member of staff, but we were told that the Joyrider car has to be driven by someone under 17 but over 140 cms. Apparently even a staff member wasn't allowed to drive it, which seemed silly - so the only way Tyne would be allowed to ride was if we had someone over 140cms and under 17 to drive it in which case he could be a passenger?! It just seemed like a very silly rule to spoil a day out over.<br />
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But that aside, what did we all think of our day out at Diggerland?<br />
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It was a fun day out and there were lots of attractions that were extremely enjoyable - the highlights being Spin Dizzy, the Sky Shuttle and the new Little Tikes Play area - but it must be noted that the park isn't all that big and we did find ourselves struggling to spend more than 4 hours there, having already done everything at least once. This may because we visited on a very quiet day and there were absolutely no queues for anything.<br />
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The cost for our family to spend the day at Diggerland would be £79.80 and for that price I would expect to be able to spend a full day there without having done everything in under 5 hours, I do feel that charging full price for a child of Noah's height (95 cms, age 2) who is only able to ride a handful of things is a little much and that it would be much more reasonable to charge half price for children until they are tall enough to ride everything. A non-rider discount for grown ups like me who have zero interest in riding anything would also be beneficial and may encourage more customers, I think.<br />
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We certainly had an enjoyable time at Diggerland but I have to be honest - I wouldn't choose to return at the current prices with the boys at their current ages. However, once they are older and able to ride everything I think it would be something they would very much enjoy and would then certainly be worth the entry fee.<br />
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To find out more about the Diggerland parks, please visit <a href="http://www.diggerland.com/">www.diggerland.com</a><br />
<br />Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-63950302248256283962017-04-19T07:30:00.000+01:002017-05-03T03:21:04.126+01:00A Day Out At Crealy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On Good Friday, we headed out for a family day out at Crealy - a fantastic theme park based a short distance from the city of Exeter.</div>
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We've visited once before but that was during winter and so we were excited to see how different our day out would be on a nice sunny day. We had expected to be confronted by lots of crowds and queues given that we had chosen to visit on a bank holiday but we were pleasantly surprised...the queues were only about 10 minutes at the longest and many rides we could walk straight on to, and it didn't feel too crowded either.</div>
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The first thing we did was the Easter Egg hunt, which was really good fun and the kids were delighted to be able to claim their prize from Buttons the Easter Bunny himself on the stage!</div>
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Afterwards, we headed to try out some rides...first port of call was the brand new Junior Driving School which gave Tyne the chance to drive a lovely little car with Daddy as his passenger! He was thrilled by this!</div>
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The track was really well organised and looked like a real little town, the staff did a great job of keeping order and the kids all drove around in the same direction with bumping discouraged which was nice to see when you have little ones riding...there were some older kids riding during Tyne's go who were quite determined to turn the driving school into bumper cars but the staff were really quick to stop them in the nicest way possible, which was great!</div>
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After the driving school, we went on some old favourite rides including the Dino Jeeps which Noah loved so much that he insisted on riding twice! The boys also enjoyed some turns on the Flying Machines and the smaller Honey Bee swing.<br />
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Another great thing about Crealy is that its not all rides - there are some great play areas too, with some of the best theming I've seen in any UK theme park.<br />
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Fort Crealy was a particular favourite of Tyne's, and he also dragged his Dad on the Pirates Revenge play zone too much to his horror - it was quite high and a long climb up, but they made it!<br />
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The rest of our day was spent enjoying the various indoor soft play areas which are a fantastic addition as they really do make Crealy an all weather attraction. As well as the rides and play areas, the kids loved just exploring the park and taking in the sights.<br />
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It was a really great family day out, and we will certainly be visiting Crealy again in the future - if you're local to the area or visiting on holiday we would highly recommend a visit to Crealy.<br />
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To find out more, please visit <a href="http://www.crealy.co.uk/">www.crealy.co.uk</a>Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-31777328537313209512017-04-14T06:00:00.000+01:002017-04-14T06:00:13.007+01:00A Day At World Of Country Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Continuing on our #DevonEggHunt adventures, we have been continuing to make the most out of #EasterInDevon by visiting some more of the countys best tourist attractions...following on from our visit to Killerton House a few days ago, we spent Sunday at the fabulous World Of Country Life in Exmouth.</div>
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We had <a href="http://www.sparklesandstretchmarks.com/2016/09/devon-days-out-world-of-country-life.html">visited once before</a>, and so the kids were super excited at the prospect of heading back again...and it did not disappoint!</div>
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World Of Country Life is quite a unique tourist attraction as it is such a fantastic mix of many things - it is part museum with old fashioned replica houses, pubs and shops that you can walk around (which the kids just love!), Trains and tractors on display (and a gypsy caravan too!), farmyard animals, a deer safari, and a fantastic indoor and outdoor play area with everything from bouncy pillows and trampolines, to traditional park finds and even a MASSIVE indoor life size pirate ship that my boys absolutely adore.</div>
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There really is something on offer for everybody and every possible weather scenario here!</div>
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The deer safari is always the highlight for me personally - it is a train pulled along by a tractor, and it took us into the deer enclosure where we parked up - the driver got out and walked along the train giving us all food to give to the deer. The deer were just beautiful to see, and so very tame - they stuck their heads right into the carriages with no reservations and ate from our hands - Noah was, once again, a little frightened by them getting so close but Tyne and Sailor both loved it!</div>
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There was also a couple of Llamas who came up to see us, too!</div>
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We spent the afternoon letting the boys play on the trampolines, and if you caught my Instagram stories you'll know that Mummy & Daddy also had a sneaky go on the bouncy pillows when nobody else was around which was a lot of fun!</div>
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We had an absolutely fantastic afternoon visiting World Of Country Life and would highly recommend it if you're visiting Devon during the Easter holidays, there really is something for everybody...they also often have special events running, such as their upcoming Vintage Car display and Star Wars day where some very special guests will be in attendance!</div>
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To find out about World Of Country Life and their upcoming events, please visit <a href="http://www.worldofcountrylife.co.uk/">www.worldofcountrylife.co.uk</a></div>
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<i>*Please note, Deer safari is subject to a small additional charge</i></div>
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Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-13685219493964631652017-04-12T06:00:00.000+01:002017-04-12T06:00:13.288+01:00#EasterInDevon at Killerton House - Our #DevonEggHunt Part 1!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This week, we've been taking part in something rather eggs-citing - we were asked by <a href="http://www.devontopattraction.com/">Devons Top Attractions</a> to take part in a very special #DevonEggHunt by visiting some of the county's most exciting & intriguing destinations to see what #EasterinDevon has to offer.<br />
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The first stop was Killerton House and I have to say, I was very pleased about this as it was somewhere that's been on my Must-See List for a while now but for various reasons I had never got around to actually visiting.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Killerton House covers 6,400 acres in total and is one of the biggest estates looked after by the National Trust. It includes farms, woodland and stunningly beautiful landscaped gardens.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">There's quite a decent amount of parking, and everything is well sign posted from your arrival (we appreciated that toilets were located right at the car park too, after a long drive!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On entering we were greeted by a volunteer who told Tyne that the house had been invaded by mice and he needed to help them find them! He was asked to fill in a worksheet showing which mouse was in which room, and at the end he was rewarded with a sticker which he thought was the best thing ever!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The house was beautiful and we loved that we were encouraged to sit on the furniture, Tyne was even allowed to touch the piano which he loved. </span></div>
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Unfortunately the house is currently undergoing repair work on its roof, so it's covered in scaffolding which perhaps doesn't look as grand as it usually would but this work is of course vital to the preservation of the property.</div>
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The upstairs is currently closed to visitors which was a shame, but we did enjoy exploring the old laundry room which had some Victorian dress up for children to try on - Tyne really loved this!</div>
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Whilst at Killerton House, we took part in the Cadbury Easter Trail around the Killerton gardens - we picked up our little guide from the shop and set about to follow the clues.<br />
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We followed the trail with arrows pointing our way and little signs with interesting facts about the grounds and the plants and animals we came across, whilst looking out for the clues we needed which hung in the trees and could be unscrambled at the end of the trail to reveal the name of a Killerton character.<br />
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The trail was admittedly a little longer than we thought it would be, and our sons little legs did get quite tired half way through but thankfully the second half of the trail was mostly down hill which he found much more manageable - I would take a pushchair or baby carrier if you're taking children under 3 though.<br />
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We stopped in at the chapel for a break during our trail as the signs suggested and this really made a lovely little rest stop, it was quite simply stunning and so very peaceful. A perfect place to sit and gather your thoughts.<br />
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The grounds themselves were just beautiful, particularly in spring with the daffodils and so many other beautiful flowers popping up all around - and the view is really something to behold too.<br />
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Our trail took around 40 minutes to complete (with a rather slow toddler, and a 10 minute stop along the way) and he was delighted to reach the end, hand over his completed egg hunt sheet and retrieve his prize of a chocolate bunny after a lovely day of exploring.<br />
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To find out more about Killerton House please visit <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton">www.nationaltrust.org.uk/killerton</a> - The Cadbury Egg Hunt costs £2.50 per child in addition to the usual entry fee, and is running until 23rd April.<br />
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<br />Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-38486775179337304092017-04-10T07:30:00.000+01:002017-05-03T03:21:44.019+01:00Legoland Windsor Review<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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You may have read my review of the<a href="http://www.sparkles-suitcase.com/2017/04/legoland-windsor-resort-hotel-review.html"> Legoland Windsor Hotel last week</a>, and today I am following it up with a review on our day at the Legoland Park.<br />
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We got in to the park at around 10 am and entered via the Hotel Entrance which meant we started at the back of the park, this really is the ideal way to do the Legoland park as it means that you're working your way around in the opposite direction to everybody else and that the rides you come to first are the ones that everyone who came in through the main entrance will come to last!<br />
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The first ride we found ourselves at was the Atlantis Submarine ride which I hear can have quite long queues a lot of the time, but we were able to walk straight on to it which was ideal! This was one of the few rides (actually I think it was the only ride!) that we could all ride together as a family of five, so it was one we all really enjoyed!<br />
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When you leave the ride there is a lovely little aquarium area too which the kids really enjoyed.<br />
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After this we headed to Laser Raiders which was the ride that Tyne was most excited for after seeing it on a YouTube video before we arrived - this was a laser shooting ride similar to Buzz Lightyear at Disneyland, with various Lego targets popping up for you to shoot - he loved the Lego skeletons in particular! We were able to take all of the kids on this one, but we did have to ride separately as its a maximum of 4 people per car.<br />
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This was actually the case with every other ride we went on, which was a bit of a shame as it would have been nicer to enjoy more rides as a family - I think if we had got onto Aero Nomad all 5 of us may have got on but Tyne didn't fancy it (too babyish, apparently!)<br />
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Due to the low queues when we visited, we managed to fit in quite a lot of rides - Spider Spinners and Balloon School were my favourites as they were quite mellow (and we got to ride Spider Spinners three times in a row as there was no queue at all!), but Tyne loved the bigger thrill rides such as Pirate Falls Treasure Quest which is a rather big log flume style ride which saw him and his Dad get absolutely drenched!<br />
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Noah really enjoyed Fairytale Brook - a lovely little boat ride through a Lego fairy tale land, and Sailor seemed to enjoy his ride on the Duplo train.<br />
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We all really enjoyed having a look at all of the amazing Lego creations in Miniland as well as the Star Wars themed miniland which was a big hit with Daddy!<br />
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We managed to see a puppet show in Duplo Valley which was really fun and a welcome break from all the rides and walking around, and the kids also really loved the various parks dotted around the park.<br />
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We also spent some time in the Imagination Station and managed to meet Lego Batman AND Lego Robin themselves! Myself & Tyne saw the Lego Batman movie last month, so he was absolutely delighted to meet them - and even Noah, who hasn't seen the movie, was thrilled - he even chose a Lego batman cuddly from the gift shop and hasn't put it down since!<br />
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We ate lunch at Farmer Joes Chicken Company in Duplo Valley, which - although quite expensive for what was basically KFC at £35 for the five of us - was very nice and all of us enjoyed it. We did find it quite difficult to find suitable food for Sailor in the park though, a few more baby-friendly options would definitely be welcome.<br />
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The attention to detail in the park was really on another level, there were so many impressive lego creations dotted around the park - the gigantic Egyptian pharaoh was particularly impressive, as were the Lego family enjoying their picnic!<br />
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Our only disappointment of the day was that the Viking Splash ride was closed, as this was one that Tyne had really wanted to ride.<br />
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All in all, we all thoroughly enjoyed our day at Legoland Windsor and Tyne in particular has been asking constantly to go back again since - always a sign of a day well spent!<br />
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I would love to go back again in Summer when more of the rides are open, and perhaps tie it in with a visit to Windsor Castle which is only 5 minutes away.<br />
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If you'd like to take a look at our day in Legoland in video form, have a look at our YouTube video:<br />
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<br />Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-10180115909991971082017-04-06T07:30:00.000+01:002017-05-03T03:21:56.046+01:00Legoland Windsor Resort Hotel Review & How To Bag A Bargain Stay!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A couple of weeks ago, we were very kindly treated to a night at the Legoland Windsor Resort Hotel and a day at the theme park by my parents as a gift for the boys upcoming birthdays - none of us had visited before and we were all quite excited to see what Legoland would have in store for us!<br />
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Now I have to admit, I've never really been a fan of Lego - even as a child it used to irritate me and it winds me up even more as a Mum of Lego-mad little boys! The bits laying around everywhere, the pain when you step on them, how bloody long it takes to build the sodding sets - it all just winds me up to be honest, so I wasn't entirely sure how much I was going to enjoy a day surrounded by the tiny plastic bricks of doom!<br />
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We arrived at Legoland Hotel around 3 pm on a Wednesday, and the boys were so excited from the moment we pulled up - there are lego figures right outside, the hotel itself looks like its made of Lego and there's a big dragon who really breathes smoke outside. The lobby was really something - with Lego creations spinning around on a carousel, life size Lego figures dotted about and even a Lego Brick Pit for the kids to dive into and get creating - the check in was very quiet and we were dealt with really quickly, which is always a plus with three impatient children in tow!<br />
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We set off to explore our rooms - even the lifts were themed with a Lego character voice talking to us and Lego pictures everywhere!<br />
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We were staying on the Pirate floor and the theming really was something else - everything from the carpet to the walls were done to the pirate theme in the corridor, and once we stepped inside our room it was like stepping aboard the Jolly Roger! There were Lego creations on the wall, Pirate themed beds for both the kids and us, and even a treasure chest with a Lego monkey sitting on the top!<br />
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We soon found a treasure map with clues and the boys set about solving them to unlock their hidden treasure, which turned out to be 3 lovely Lego sets which went down a storm!<br />
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After our treasure hunt, we headed down to the pool which - again - was done to the Lego Pirate theme very well, the kids loved the slides and the see saw in the pool, and there was lots for Sailor to play with too which was a bonus. We had worried that we wouldn't get in due to the 1 adult to 1 child ratio, but as long as Sailor and Noah both wore arm bands it was fine (I do wish we'd taken these with us though, as it cost us nearly £20 to buy them in the Lego shop!)<br />
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After swimming, we made our way to Bricks Family Restaurant which serves buffet food - it's priced at around £25 per adult and children under 3 eat free, soft drinks are included in the price of the meal. I didn't think the price was too bad, especially considering that the children were free, but unfortunately the quality of the food was really not good at all and I couldn't bring myself to eat any of it - I complained to the manager and he quickly refunded my money with no argument, and offered me a meal from the a la carte menu at the Skyline Bar - I ordered a burger and fries, and this was much nicer. I'm sure it came from the same kitchen but the fact that it hadn't been sat out all evening probably helped!<br />
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Jon and the kids did eat the buffet food and seemed fine with it, so it is worth noting that I am admittedly fussier than most diners would probably be.<br />
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We were slightly disappointed that there were none of the famous Lego Shaped Chips on offer the night we visited, as Tyne had seen them online and was excited about those kinds of little details but we were visiting out of season so perhaps this is why.<br />
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In hindsight, I probably wouldn't choose to dine at Bricks again as I'm really not a fan of buffet style restaurants and I didn't think the choice on offer for children was that good (there was nothing that my 12 month old could eat, I had to ask for something special to be made and he ended up with a bowl of spaghetti hoops!).<br />
There were other family friendly restaurants and fast food venues a short drive away, so I would go off site to eat if we were to visit again.<br />
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Although there was some children's entertainment on during the evening in the form of party dances and some games we did feel that they could have done with more play areas for the little ones - however we found out the next morning that there is actually a Lego Lounge on the first floor which is open until 10 pm and has lego building areas for the kids with movies playing, I do wish that had been better advertised as we would definitely have made use of it! It was quite hidden away, so a mention of it during check in would be best.<br />
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The next morning we had breakfast at Bricks as this is included in the cost of your stay, and thankfully the breakfast was a HUGE improvement on dinner - there was plenty of choice for everybody, and all of the food was hot and of good quality.<br />
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All in all the children really loved our stay at Legoland Windsor and have been asking to go back every day which is always a good sign, I wouldn't say it was one of my Top 5 places we've visited but if I'd known about the Lego lounge and had chosen somewhere else to eat I think I would have enjoyed the stay far more - so lessons learned for next time!<br />
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<b><u><span style="font-size: large;">So How Did We Get It Cheap?</span></u></b><br />
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Well when I say "cheap", don't be fooled - it was hardly the bargain of the century! But it was a LOT more cost effective than the prices advertised to us on the Legoland website.<br />
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When I first started pricing up our visit I was quite simply astounded by the cost of a stay in the hotel and even Legoland themselves seemed to be pushing their partner hotels rather than their own, as if they knew that the prices they were asking for were astronomical!<br />
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We were quoted anywhere from £400 - £629 for a 1 night stay at the Legoland Hotel - Yes you read that correctly, they were asking for over £600 for ONE NIGHT at the Legoland hotel!! I just could not believe my eyes...you could stay for 3 nights at Disneyland Paris for that price! No way was I going to pay that for a night at Legoland!<br />
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We were ready to call the whole thing off, when I suddenly discovered a way to make our stay a whole lot cheaper.<br />
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If you book a night at the Legoland Hotel on one of their special Splash & Stay breaks, the cost is £99 for a family of four - this price does not include entry to the park (but you can still sort this out, read on for how...) as the website warns you that the park will be closed for one or more days of your trip. What the price includes is your stay at the Legoland Hotel in one of their themed rooms, breakfast and entry to the pool.<br />
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However, you can look at the Parks opening schedule and determine when the park will be opening again - and you can usually tie this in with a Splash & Stay visit the night before.<br />
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When I booked our break, I made sure that the park would be opening on Thursday 23rd March - and once I had this confirmed, I booked a £99 Splash & Stay break for Wednesday 22nd March. Meaning we arrived on Wednesday, stayed in the hotel and enjoyed the pool...before going into the park for the day on Thursday.<br />
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I then booked our park entry tickets separately through the Legoland website, for a total of £90 (2 adults and 1 child...our infants didn't need tickets) which meant that our night at the Legoland hotel and day at the Legoland park only cost us £189 as opposed to the £400+ they were asking for!!<br />
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Hopefully this tip can be of use to some of you out there who, like me, are reluctant to pay Legoland's crazy hotel prices but still want to experience the fun of their hotel!<br />
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<i><b>*Please note: If you do try this method, make sure that you confirm that the park will be open the day after your hotel visit before you book your Splash & Stay break!</b></i><br />
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To read our thoughts on the Legoland park, pop back on Monday for our full review! Or to see our YouTube video of our time at the hotel and park, please take a look below:<br />
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Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-11503002201096191722017-03-20T08:00:00.000+00:002017-05-03T03:22:03.941+01:00Prickly Ball Farm: Days Out In Devon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Living where we do in Devon, we are fortunate to be surrounded by an almost endless choice of tourist attractions which means that deciding on a destination for a family day out is often difficult as we are quite simply spoiled for choice!<br />
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I read once that Devon has more tourist attractions than any other county in England outside of London - I'm not entirely sure if that's correct or not, but I can definitely confirm that there is a LOT to do here - particularly for families with young children!<br />
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This weekend, we headed to a place we hadn't visited before - which is quite unusual given that I had every holiday of my childhood in Devon before I moved here as an adult!<br />
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We headed off to Prickly Ball Farm - a hedgehog hospital and farm just outside the market town of Newton Abbot, and I have to be honest - I wasn't expecting much from it. I'm not really sure why, probably because I'm just not really a fan of farms and I end up feeling really grotty after a day spent around animals and just desperate to get home for a shower! But my kids love animals, and I don't want to be that mum who doesn't let them do the things they enjoy just because she isn't so keen...so we went along.<br />
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And I'm pleased to say it turned out to be one of those occasions when your expectations are far exceeded! As it turned out, we all - myself included - had a really lovely afternoon!<br />
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It helped that the March weather treated us kindly and the sun shined for the whole afternoon meaning that we were free to explore the delightful little farm and meet all of its inhabitants without getting wet or muddy.<br />
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The first thing we did when we arrived was head off to meet the animals - there aren't tons of animals at Prickly Ball Farm I have to say, but there are certainly enough and the hands on experience you can have with them is just lovely.<br />
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There's a barn full of rabbits of all shapes and sizes (one was bloody massive!) in their own enclosures, and between the hours of noon-1 I believe these enclosures are open for visitors to go inside and spend some time with the rabbits. Unfortunately we missed this but we will definitely go back again to visit the bunnies.<br />
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There is also a pig enclosure, a fox hide (we didn't manage to spot any foxes unfortunately), a couple of donkeys and a few absolutely delightful little goats! The goats were roaming free in the farm and were just the cutest and friendliest little creatures! Tyne, in particular, was delighted to see them and spent a good 10 minutes petting one in particular and chatting to it - insisting on telling the goat his jokes and declaring it his best friend!<br />
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Noah was a little bit more reluctant but still gave the goat a little stroke.<br />
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After we'd visited the animals and washed our hands (which was nice and easy, as there are lots of sinks dotted about with soap and hand towels, and even step stools so little ones can reach!) we headed to have a look around the play areas.<br />
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There is a cafe and indoor soft play area which looked lovely but we didn't want to waste the nice weather indoors, and stuck to the outside play areas instead - there were two decent sized sand pit areas with diggers, and buckets and spades which the boys loved. There were two big trampolines, a sit on Tractor, and a really fun little park area which Noah absolutely loved!<br />
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There was also a ride on tractor track which was good fun - the ride on tractors cost £1 each and seemed to run for quite a while!<br />
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After a good long play, we went in to see the hedgehog hospital talk where one of the staff members was telling us all about the plight of the hedgehog - I was quite shocked to learn that they expect hedgehogs to have disappeared from Britain within the next 10 years, to be honest I hadn't even realised that they were endangered. We learnt all about how this is happening due to changes in the weather and in living conditions, and that if ever we see a hedgehog in our garden during winter we need to weigh it - if it weighs less than 650g it will not survive the winter!<br />
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This is where Prickly Ball Farm comes in as they take in and care for poorly or underweight hedgehogs, until they are fit and strong enough to be returned to their natural habitat.<br />
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We got to see a hedgehog close up, touch its spikes and even see it curl up into a ball - unfortunately I didn't get any photos as I didn't want to frighten it, but take my word for it - it was very cute!<br />
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We all had a really lovely afternoon at Prickly Ball Farm - it was the perfect size for little ones, and just the right mix of fun and educational for a family day out. We will definitely be returning soon!<br />
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To find out more, please visit <a href="http://www.pricklyballfarm.co.uk/">www.pricklyballfarm.co.uk</a><br />
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Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-948365695703675764.post-22758311993288146272017-03-13T07:30:00.000+00:002019-03-02T00:15:40.605+00:0012 Perfect Rides For Toddlers At Disneyland Paris<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you're about to visit Disneyland Paris for the first time with young children, then you may be wondering which rides are going to be the most suitable for them...<br />
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Well wonder no more because today I am sharing with you what are, in our opinions, the Top Not To Be Missed Rides For Young Kids At Disneyland Paris!<br />
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<b>1) Pirates Of The Caribbean, Adventureland, Disneyland Park</b></span><br />
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<i>What is it:</i><br />
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This is the favourite ride of our entire family, and what we really love about it is that it's one that all of us can ride together without being separated.<br />
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It's basically a boat ride which takes you through a variety of Pirate related scenes, with a few little thrills along the way as the boat goes down some inclines and splashes back down into the water.<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b><br />
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The initial few moments are quite dark, but the rest is well lit and not very frightening at all. The "thrill" moments are are only very minor - my 3 year old barely batted an eyelid!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">2) Peter Pans Flight, Fantasyland, Disneyland Park</span></b><br />
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<i>What is it:</i><br />
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This almost got first place as we do love it so much, it is truly the most magical ride at Disney and one that always makes me tear up when I ride it.<br />
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It's a dark ride which means that its pitch black inside with neon moving scenes and figures, showing scenes from Peter Pan - you are carried along in a boat which flies through the night sky, it really is very magical!<br />
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Each boat sits 4 people I believe, 2 in front and 2 at the back.<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i>: A few moments of darkness but with stars lighting your way, nothing to worry about for most.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">3) Ratatouille, Walt Disney Studios</span></b><br />
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<i>What is it:</i><br />
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On the way through the queues you grab your 3D glasses, and then await your mouse car to take you on a journey through Paris via the eyes of a mouse! The ride makes you feel as though you have been shrunk down to mouse-size, and is so very effective! It's a mix of whizzing about in the carriage, watching scenes play out on giant screens which make you truly feel a part of the movie, and even 4D effects such as air and water spraying you - it is truly immersive and one of the most fun experiences for the whole family! All of us loved it! The mouse cars seat 4 I believe.<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> There are a few dark moments but they are fleeting, there are also a couple of scenes where the "angry" chef yells which my little one did jump at but it's not anything too intense.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">4) Cars Quatre Roues Rallye, Walt Disney Studios</span></b><br />
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<i>What is it:</i><br />
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This is SUCH a fun ride and the bonus is that the queue has always been short when we've been there, which is great as it feels like the ride is over quickly and the kids always want to go again - which we can usually do!<br />
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It consists of a bunch of cars from the movie, you sit inside 4 at a time (2 in the front, 2 in the back) and are basically spun around at high speed! It always has us all in stitches, a really fun ride!<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> It is quite fast and the spins do feel quite full on, but my 20 month old loved it and laughed his way through!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">5) Toy Soldiers Parachute Drop, Walt Disney Studios</span></b><br />
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<i>What is it:</i><br />
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This is one of my eldest son's favourites (He's almost 4) - the queue is always one of the longest you'll find in DLP, but the theming is quite fun and looking at the toy soldiers on display generally keeps him reasonably entertained while we wait.<br />
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The ride seats 3 people at a time, you buckle in and are then shot up to a height where you can view the whole park - you then "freefall" down toward the ground before being pulled back up and dropping again two or three times.<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> I won't lie...I don't like heights at all and this does make my tummy flip, and I always scream louder than anyone else! But it's nothing TOO bad, and my 3 year old thought it was the most fun ever!<br />
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<i>There is a height restriction of 81 cms for this ride.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">6) Mad Hatters Tea Cups</span></b><br />
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<i>What is it: </i><br />
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It basically does what it says on the tins - its the teacups! You sit in the cup and it spins you around! It sounds very basic but it is really good fun, you control how fast you spin and at night it is particularly lovely as all of the lanterns on the ride are lit up and it just looks so magical!<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> None that I'm aware of!<br />
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<b>7) Haunted Mansion, Frontierland, Disneyland Park</b></span><br />
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<i>What is it: </i>This is a ride that has two parts - to start with you are taken into the mansion by a "creepy" cast member, and led into a large room which is actually a lift - they talk you through the safety information and the lights all go out, while a creepy sounding voice speaks in French and cackles. You then leave the lift and walk through the haunted house area which has some spooky pictures but not much else, before stepping aboard the Ghost Train style ride.<br />
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These seat 2 people at a time, or 2 adults and 1 small child.<br />
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The ride is dark in places, and tells a story of a widowed bride - it features some dark rooms, skeletons and scary mannequins but it's nothing too intense.<br />
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Our favourite bit is right at the end when you see yourselves in the mirrors, look up to see who is hitching a ride on your carriage! The dancing ghosts are also very cool.<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> It could be a little spooky for some children, the mannequins are quite creepy to look at and it is dark in parts - but the main bit that could cause an issue is the complete darkness in the lift, the booming scary voice and evil laugh, and the flashing thunder and lightning in the lift area too - however, my 3 year old and 20 month old didn't flinch at all and came out asking to go again - so I'd say its probably worth a try, they can surprise you! I expected mine to hate it!<br />
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<b>8) Dumbo, Fantasyland, Disneyland Park</b></span><br />
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<i>What is it: I'm sure we've all seen this one on the adverts, but it is basically the flying elephant ride - it seats 2 people at a time and goes up and down, you control the movements yourself with a stick. It's a lovely ride as it's so iconic and synonymous with Disneyland.</i><br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> None really!<br />
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<b>9) Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, Discoveryland, Disneyland Park</b></span><br />
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<i>What is it: You sit in a little carriage that whizzes you through a galactic world, your carriage has 2 shooters and the aim is to shoot the targets in each room and try to defeat Zurg! It's lots of fun and you get to control and spin your own carriage too.</i><br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> Barely any - some easily frightened little ones may be a bit unsure of some of the Zurg scenes, but it's really nothing too bad at all.<br />
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<b>10) It's A Small World, Fantasyland, Disneyland Park</b></span><br />
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<i>What is it: </i>A charming boat ride around the world, whilst the worlds most annoyingly catchy song plays constantly! It is very bright and colourful, so a perfect sensory experience for very little ones. It is super cute and very chilled, and one of the longest rides in the park too so a nice excuse for a little rest as you boat carries you!<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> None!<br />
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<b>11) Casey Jnr, Fantasyland, Disneyland Park </b></span><br />
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<i>What is it: </i>A very colourful and cheerful little runaway train! There are some reasonably sharp twists and turns and it does go at a decent speed, but it is by no means a rollercoaster, it's ideal for little ones and very sweet!<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> None really!<br />
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<i>Not suitable for children under 1.</i><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">12) Slinky Dog, Walt Disney Studios</span></b><br />
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<i>What is it: </i>It's basically a little up and down ride that goes around and around, not the best description but I struggle to know how else to describe it!<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> Zero!<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace; font-size: large;">Special Mention: Big Thunder Mountain, Frontierland, Disneyland Park </span></b><br />
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<i>What is it: </i>A runaway train with some bigger spills and thrills than the likes of Casey Jnr - not a huge rollercoaster, but a rollercoaster nonetheless!<br />
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<i>Fear Factor</i><b>:</b> The first few moments are in the dark, and there are some fast turns and biggish dips but my 3 year old loved it!<br />
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<i>Height restriction 102 cms.</i><br />
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I hope you've found this list of our favourite rides helpful if you're planning to visit soon with little ones, we'd love to hear what your families favourite DLP rides are! And don't forget to k<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;">eep your toddler having fun after the amusement park check out these </span><a href="http://www.proscootersmart.com/10-best-balance-bikes/"><u style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.3px; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;">balance bikes at <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-style: initial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit;">proscootersmart.com</span></span></u><b style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, serif, EmojiFont; font-size: 14.3px; text-align: justify;"> </b></a><br />
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Hayley: Sparkles and Stretchmarkshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653232539343925928noreply@blogger.com4