Summer 2010
Read on for great suggestions to keep the whole family happy.
Chances are with our weather, there’s going to be a few rainy days over the holidays that will leave you thinking, ‘What can we do with the kids?’ Read on for great suggestions that will keep the whole family happy.
Drive away the boredom blues and present a new creative experience to your children during the school break!
Jumping Clay is a new air drying modelling clay, safe, non toxic, no mess! Available in eight vibrant colours that can be mixed to create any colour in the spectrum and suitable for any level of learning ability age three years and up.
An educational and creative tool, Jumping Clay helps children (and adults) to develop skills through safe, inventive play.
Workshops run Monday to Saturday at their Academy on the Stranmillis Road. With an exciting programme of activities for the summer months you can choose from a variety of workshops – half an hour introduction to a four week master class. Or bring your friends and family along to share in the fun! Everyone completes an individual art piece to take home on the day and prices range from £7 for ½ hour to £30 for a one-hour family class. With bags of colours and creative materials, let Jumping Clay provide every child with an unforgettable clay making memory.
Meanwhile in County Down, Space Quest at Downpatrick, is Ireland’s new 3D state-of-the-art laser tag arena with Area 51 restaurant and games area. Designed with safety, playability and excitement in mind, the arena is an impressive sight for everyone with its high-tech appearance, special props, effects and obstacles. The designer of Space Quest have stepped outside the box and produced a facility that has more in common with a movie set than just another maze and you can even have Space Quest host your party for you. Opening hours in winter: Monday to Thursday 3pm – 10.30pm, Friday-Saturday 10am – 10.30pm, Sunday 1pm – 10.30pm. summer and school holidays: Monday – Saturday 10am – 10.30pm, Sunday 1pm – 10.30pm. If you’re dodging rain and but prefer to be immersed in water instead, Waterworld is one of Antrim’s seaside resort attractions for families where water and bowling are the draws.
Based at the Harbour, Portrush, there’s two great facilities on offer for visitors; its unique Pirates Cove fun pool and Pirate Bowl, providing six lanes of 10 pin bowling. The Pirates Cove is one of the country’s favourite ‘wet’ indoor attractions. Its current range of waterslides, cannons, water playground and swimming area ensures its popularity remains undiminished. With Pirate Bowl, visitors can enjoy a state of the art 10 pin bowling experience, including superb graphics on its six overhead-computerised scoring screens. Everyone from young to old, experienced and beginners can enjoy 10 Pin Bowling, an enduringly popular activity over the years. Or if you are looking for a ‘cool’ day out, go along to Dundonald International Ice Bowl this summer and enjoy a great day out with a range of sizzling activities all under one roof.
Located only five miles from Belfast City Centre, Dundonald International Ice Bowl offers a host of fun activities for the whole family. You can enjoy two activities for £8.50 per person every day throughout the summer, choose to ice skate, tenpin bowl or play in Indiana Land. Alternatively round up the troops and experience the fun factor with their fantastic family discounts and scorching summer scheme rates. It’s the hottest place in town!
But if you want to make a splash this summer, cooling off is easy at Ards Leisure Centre with swimming pools to suit all age groups from just six months old. The paddling pool is the ideal place for kids seven years and under to play safely in water. At only 18 inches deep and filled with floats and toys it encourages even the most shy to join in. It’s handy for mum and dad too as they can simply roll up their trousers to go into the pool or sit around the edge, relax and watch. Being separate from the main pools with its own changing area it offers a quiet place for young children. Older children can enjoy swimming and splashing in the main pool. During the summer the Aqua Run is in the water for a session in the morning and afternoon to challenge even the most competent swimmer! For those five years old and over not yet swimming, Waves crash course swimming lessons run weekly from July 19. Complete beginners can learn while others can improve their strokes and techniques in more advanced classes. Mum and dad can learn too as adult classes are included in the programme. Both Ards Leisure Centre and Portaferry Sports Centre run schemes for children from four to 15 years old.
For thrill seekers when it’s pouring down, County Down’s room2race now has branches in Bangor, Belfast and New buildings and delivers a real race experience without the high cost. Established in 2009 in Bangor, there’s up to 20 linked state of the art race simulators loaded with 100’s of tracks and cars ranging from RallyX, touring cars, GT cars, WRC and F1. The software used at room2race is also used by four F1 teams to train their drivers but can be tailored to suit all driving abilities with auto gears and brakes available for the first time user or younger driver and during June, July and August. You can benefit from a schools out summer special where under 16’s can get a one-hour session between 2pm and 4pm for only £4 and with their new 3D simulator now available you can experience racing in full 3D! You won't get a better value treat for the kids this summer so what are you waiting for get yourself down to room2race.
Celebrating its first anniversary in July, Charlie’s Den in Lisburn is a great place to let the kids burn off some energy when its raining. With a four-lane wavy slide, three-tier large play frame, a ball cannon, ball pit, large free fall, a sports court and dedicated toddler soft play area, your kids will love this active soft play centre while you relax and have a coffee. And, if you are planning any birthday parties this summer and want to make sure that your plans aren’t rained off, Charlie’s Den can arrange the ultimate birthday treat for little girls with a fairy princess party.
Suitable for ages four to six, the lucky birthday girl will be transformed with her friends into a beautiful fairy for the day, compete with wings. For older girls aged seven to 11, there is also a ‘Neon Fun’ option with dress up in feather boas and tutus in bright fantastic colours. Everything you need is included with all party packages such as the invitations, party bags and a party meal. Parties are available for a minimum of eight children for 90 minutes which is 30 minutes play on the frame and a hour in the party room, (Neon Fun parties are a minimum of six to a maximum of 10). The birthday girl or boy will also receive a free return pass for another visit.
So, there’s nothing left to worry about. Let our suggestions inspire you so that when the rain clouds roll in, you are armed and prepared for days out whatever the weather!