Toddler friendly Days Out
Holidays in Cornwall aren’t all about extreme water sports, hikes along the South West Coast Path and days lolling on the beach. There are plenty of attractions that babies and toddlers will love, and where parents of young children can relax, explore and have fun too. Here are some of our favourite toddler friendly days out:
Eden Project, Bodmin
Where else can toddlers step into a rainforest, explore the Med and get up-close to nature with weather-proof, child-friendly facilities at hand? Exploring our natural environment, children can step inside jungle huts, take a walk in the rainforest canopies, enjoy story-time in the iconic biomes and ride a tractor-train up through the gardens. As well as themed events throughout the year, during winter Eden hosts toddler ice-play sessions on the ice rink.
National Maritime Museum, Falmouth
Boats, helicopters, pirates and sea life… experience maritime adventures with your feet firmly on dry land. At the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, kids can take the helm of a model sailing boat, checkout the underwater gallery and climb aboard a rescue helicopter. With interactive exhibitions designed especially for younger children, family trails and half-term art and craft workshops, it’s no wonder that this was the winner of the Telegraph Family Friendly Museum award 2014.
St Ives beaches
The pearly beaches hemming St Ives are a haven for children wielding buckets, spades and bodyboards. Treat tots to a ride on the coastal train from St Erth, and footsteps from the station you can dip your toes in the Caribbean-blue waters lapping Porthminster beach. Head into town and tuck into Moomaid ice cream (made from local cows) while you watch the boats on harbour beach, build sandcastles and spot dolphins from The Island’s Porthgwidden, and splash in the waves with the surfers on Porthmeor.
Paradise Park, Hayle
With plenty of animals to gawp at, from flamingos and red pandas to parrots and giant rabbits, Paradise Park really is paradise for young children. Join in with penguin feeding time, pet the farm animals, hop onboard the mini train and watch free-flying bird shows. Wildlife takes centre stage, but there are also plenty of park areas and the indoor Jungle Barn with slides and soft play for rainy days.
Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay
Peering into the underwater kingdoms on display at Newquay’s Blue Reef Aquarium, children will feel as if they’ve just dived into the Finding Nemo film set. Come face to face with all sorts of sea life from clown fish and sea cucumbers, to spider crabs and a giant octopus. The highlight is the underwater tunnel, where children will be mesmerised by close encounters with stingrays, reef sharks, turtles and tropical fish.
Glendurgan Garden, Mawnan Smith
Get dizzy on the Giant’s Stride swing, find the heart of the cherry laurel maze, wend through the bamboo jungle and take shelter under giant Gunnera plants. Glendurgan is the perfect setting for a day out in the garden with toddlers: tumble through sub-tropical gardens, picnic on the beach, skim stones in the Helford River and scoff ice cream in the family-friendly café.
Enjoy all of these toddler friendly days out in Cornwall while you’re staying in one of Carbis Bay Holidays’ cottages in and around St Ives. Our family friendly cottages are ideal for babies and young children, and we provide all sorts of equipment from travel cots and toys to highchairs and toddler steps.