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When it comes to family breaks, it can be tricky to find the ultimate experience that will somehow manage to tick everyone’s box and keep complaints to a minimum.
Balancing adrenaline-fueled days that will tire the kids out with leisurely evenings that will allow the grown ups to unwind, an Easter staycation should leave all parties rested, rejuvenated and ready to return to reality.
With a welcome break from the classroom coming up, you’re going to want to give the little ones a good reason to forgo screen time and embrace the great outdoors. Whether it’s heading off on an aerial adventure or cycling around the Aran Islands, we’ve got some top notch recommendations…
For those who haven’t yet paid CenterParcs a visit, it’s got just about everything you could hope for from a long weekend away or midweek escape this Easter. Set on 400 acres of forest, you can choose from outdoor activities ranging from aerial tree trekking, archery and adventure golf to paint balling, paddleboarding and quad biking. Indoor activities include wall climbing, rollerblading and pottery painting, and there also just so happens to be a spa on site, if you’re in need of a bit of pampering. With luxury lodges and a range of restaurants on site, this is the ultimate holiday from reality.
Whether you’re staying on site at the five-star Ashford Castle or are heading off on a Mayo staycation, experiencing the ancient form of falconry first hand has got to be done. On your private Hawk Walk at Ireland’s oldest School of Falconry, you’ll get to fly your very own Harris Hawk throughout the magnificent woodlands and learn all about these mighty birds before they swoop down and land on your gloved fist. There’s a minimum age of 7 years to participate, but younger kids can come along and watch.
A trip to the Aran Islands is always time well spent, and the best way to explore Inis Mór is by bike. Aran Bike Hire is located right there on the pier with a selection of children’s bikes, child seats and buggies, so you can get peddling from the get go. You can take in the indescribable landscape, mosey around Kilronan Village and — if your legs are up for it — make your way to Dún Aonghasa. Rewards in the form of refreshments at Tigh Joe Watty’s!
In the interest of preserving family traditions, why not return to the high ropes at Trabolgan? Having just reopened their 140 acre site, they’re ready and waiting to provide the backdrop for many more memories. From nature trails to zip wires, this family adventure centre blends entertainment with education and have a range of accommodation options to choose from.
If you’re looking for something a little different this Easter, a trip to Seal Rescue Ireland down in Wexford is definitely a unique option. During the seal feed and enrichment tour, you and your family will get up close and personal with cute little seal pups and help the charity get one step closer to releasing them back into the wild. Watching their little whiskered heads dip and dive as they compete for fish is quite the experience!