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Cool Kids Events-Final Updates!

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End of Summer updates: Well we are nearly at the end of the summer hols and we didn’t have the best of weather but we managed to almost complete our list! We are off to Messy Monkeys tomorrow and have one final update with a recent day in Bray! We hope to do Newbridge and Botanics in September and when the rain goes away head to Kilruddery before they close up for summer! You might fit in one or two before school is back next week! 

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Recently my pal asked me how I found out about some of the fun events we go to and it is probably a lot to do with my social media addiction and I know I have posted about things we have done in the past but here are some coming up in July and August that might keep your little ones entertained for a while and with the summer hols just started this may well be a perfectly timed post!

First 1000 Days, Pop Up Cafe-Airfield

We were really hoping to get a place on this but didn’t make the cut. 😩 I love the idea so keep your eyes peeled for the next one. I have written about the first 1000 days food method before and this combined in the beautiful surrounding of airfield it sounded like perfection. 

http://www.first1000days.ie/

Whilst on the subject of Airfield, we are recent new members and now that we are it’s great to be able to just pop up. The feeding/milking time for the chickens and cows is something I think Josh would love so like the rest of the activities below-it’s on the list! They also have a summer medley family event on 12th June which looks like great fun! 

  

http://www.airfield.ie/

{Review of June event}: I am really enjoying being a member of Airfield, it’s such a lovely spot to be able to nip up to as it’s pretty close to our house. Their Summer Medley was on Sunday and like everything they do, they did it well, with taste and kids considered in every element. There were lovely lawn games, bee keepers, seed sowing, flag making, classical kids music and all the usual animals to keep you entertained. They had a lovely BBQ on the go and their stables cafe running so plenty of refreshment options too. We didn’t get to face paint or cupcake decorate but you could have spent all day with all the planned activities but our boy was over due a nap so after a fun few hours we headed home. 

   
 

Teddy Bears Picnic 
Rathwood is known for all it’s seasonal events and when this one came up on Groupon we jumped at the chance and booked in a suitable day for early July. I think Josh is at about the right age and their other events get well received. I will post an update once we have been!

http://www.rathwood.com/events/teddy-bear-picnic/

{Review}: Josh was at the start of a gastro bug when we headed down here a couple of weeks ago but even still, he loved it! There have been a few things we have gone to, that I have wanted to experience with him before that I felt he was a little too young for but this was spot on. Older kids would enjoy it too but I would say about 4/5 would be the limit. The little train journey you take is perfectly timed and there is enough on and off the train without there being too much. You are kept well entertained throughout and it finishes with a picnic near the fairy house with the teddys before they head off for their next jaunt. I won’t spoil it too much but I would definitely put it on your toddler to do list. There is currently a groupon deal for this too. 

http://m.groupon.ie/deals/

   
 
 

We also stopped at Tinahely farm shop on the way home for some lunch and there is a big activity barn there that is rough and ready but looked lots of fun and for a full day out is really recommend this pit stop!

http://tinahelyfarmshop.com/
  

Kilruddery

It seems not a lot of people know about this spot just outside Bray. It’s a beautiful house, estate and farm with a weekly farmers market and great individual events throughout the year. A friend of mine is even heading to the family friendly groove festival this weekend which sounds like lots of fun!

http://www.killruddery.com/whats-on/

Sealife

On the subject of Bray, it is lovely on a sunny day-a real old school seaside town and with icecream parlours, fun rides and a fab pizza spot, platform pizza-we plan to make a day trip down here soon. I think Josh would be fancinated by all the big fish too. I have heard good things so I am looking forward to making the trip very soon. 

https://www.visitsealife.com/bray/

{Review}: We headed to Bray on a sunny Sunday. Having been out the night before the first stop was some grub and on the seafront if you want something more substantial than chips you can’t beat Platform Pizza. They have also opened a sister restaurant Box Burger that I can’t wait to try! We just happened to go on a day when a big fun fair was on and that certainly added to the fun. Josh just loved the rides and games! Not so much when we took him away..

  
We then headed to Sealife, we had a Dunnes receipt discount code so it was €17 euro in for the three of us (Josh was free). The square footage is small and certainly stuck in the 80s but Josh loved it. Most of the  viewing points are at toddler level and for older kids there are good information sessions. The highlight is the big shark tank at the end. A crepe was bought nearby to end a lovely family Sunday! 

  

Newbridge Farm

I have heard great reports about this North Co Dublin spot so this is on the list too. It is also half way to one of our fav eating spots, eastern seaboard and brown hound so double reason to put it high up on our ever growing list!

www.newbridgehouseandfarm.com/joomla

Skerries/Ardgillan

A great summer day out. A drive to this lovely seaside town, some lunch in a skerries spot and an icecream treat for afters from the lovely storm in a tea cup. Just 5 minutes drive away then is Ardgillian playground. It is a little walk from the car park but with it has fab views and a good selection of age appropriate play equipment so some Sunday this is definitely on our list to revisit. 

  

http://www.ardgillancastle.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=70&Itemid=68

National Gallery Workshops 

We have gone to these since Josh was small and their new brochure has just been released. There is so much passion from the organisers and a lot of thought goes into each one, it is almost infectious. They are well worth a visit but with some booking is essential and all ages are covered. 

http://www.nationalgallery.ie/Learning/Families_and_Young_People.aspx

Powerscourt Gardens

We had been to the Avoca a number of times but this was Josh’s first visit to the magnificent gardens. He was free in and on a lovely sunny day the house and setting shone at it’s best. Josh loved counting the many steps, the bridges in the Japenese Garden and running in the grass to his hearts content while we lapped up the surrounds. There are also seasonal events that happen in the house so it is well worth keeping an eye.

  

http://powerscourt.com/events

Glenroe Farm

We revisited Glenroe farm recently too and Josh loved getting up close with the animals. It is a simple set up but there are lovely picnic tables and a great playground for a sunny day!

 

http://www.glenroefarm.com/

Messy Monkeys

Finally I just got notified this week that Messy Monkeys is returning for 2 dates this summer and we will be sure to be booking one of those!
   

    

http://messy-monkeys.ie/dublin-south

There are other places on my list that are new and I want Josh to experience like the botanic gardens and places I want us to revisit like brittas bay. Keep banking happy summer memories for our wonderful little boy! 

We got to Brittas too which you may have seen and as a sunny day out it really is a super spot.

  
Happy summer exploring..

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Some of our Summer Bucket List ☀️-{Updated}

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I think we may now have offically seen the last of the summer and I am fine with that after a great first one with my boy! The paddling pool has been deflated and the bucket & spade put away until next year… We did manage to squeeze in a few last adventures and a family night away {kind of} which I thought I’d fill you in on below.

{Glenroe Farm}

This was a late comer to the list and off we went one sunny Sunday. It was more for nostalgia sake we visited the farm and I was a little sceptical and it has a relatively pricey admission fee but overall the nostalgia won me over. It’s a simple set up and definitely aimed at the tourist side of things wth some of the attractions in some need of a spruce up.. However I liked the open farm format so you could get up close to the animal and the playground is decent too. There are picnic tables dotted around but we decided to stop off at our fav spot The Delgany en route home for a cuppa and large slice of cake!

{Malahide Castle/Gardens}

I headed out here with my mum and her friend after an ikea pit stop on a very warm Thursday. It was just what was needed after an ikea dash. We sat outside in Avoca and ate our overpriced plates of salad but enjoyed wandering the shop afterwards. We then strolled around the castle grounds and headed for the village where we stopped in a local cafe to give Josh his bottle then headed back on the road home. I think it’s a lovely day out and if you start at the castle and then wander down to the village via the playground it’s a perfect family activity for the day!

{Seafield-Wexford}

We had planned this family night away for a few months and managed to get a deal so off we headed a few Sundays ago. We set off on a sunny day stopping off at the delightful Wexford Lavender Farm for a sweet treat and lunch for Josh. This is a fairly new attraction near Gorey and whilst the playground needs a few more bits and bobs they have a very cool looking quad bike train ride, free of charge that kids seemed to love! The cafe is a lovely addition with delicious home baked cakes and the waft of lavender was very soothing in the sunshine. We arrived at Seafield a little before check in so left our bags, including Josh’s swim ring and headed down the beach walk to the sea. A really nice stroll to a pretty beach spot. Josh loved playing in the sand and as check in time approached we decided to head back and take a dip in the pool to wash off our sandy toes and before nap time. It was not to be, as we went to collect our bags and asked the direction to the pool we were told that Josh was not allowed into the pool area. We were stumped-it was one of the main reasons we had decided on the trip, fun family time in a nice pool as Josh loves to splish splash! So we made an executive decision and decided to not check in at all and return to diblin. We stopped via the lovely Ballymoney Village Cafe for some more cake and then hit the road. I felt awful for the little man even though he was totally unaware of the whole escapade. A take away and a glass of wine for mama and dada was required on return and a lesson learnt to check policy before our next family night away!

{itsa IMMA}

A few people had mentioned this as a great spot for kids so after our disastrous seafield trip we had the Monday free, the sun was shining so we headed off for a spot of lunch. Monday was probably not the best day to go as the museum was closed but they have lovely gardens too.

{Powerscourt Waterfall}

Finally, we got an afternoon here with friends for a weekend BBQ/picnic. We had been earlier in the year for an annual Good Friday tradition but this time it was a little warmer if not as sunny. It’s such a beauty spot and with a few sausies, toes dipped in the river and a swing in the playground it was time to finally say goodbye to our summer adventures and look forward to what autumn will bring!

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As I recently wrote we are working through a list of things I want to do with Josh before the summer is out. Here is some of the places and things we have done so far…

{Airfield Farm}

We are regular coffee goers to Airfield but decided to visit the farm for their mid summer festival which was Victorian themed with the highlight for us being the teddy bears picnic. We started by taking a walk around the extensive, beautiful gardens and visited all the themed events throughout the estate. We then headed to the teddy bears picnic for a song song and finished with a slice of Victoria sponge overlooking the wonderful house and gardens. A really lovely family day out. Admission is 10 euro per adult and kids under 2 go free. We are considering the annual pass as it would work out good value as a regular and because we love close by too.

http://www.airfield.ie/

{Brittas Bay}
We headed off to Brittas on a last minute whim one Sunday. We had just returned from a night away and wanted to spend some fun time with the boy. We travelled down the day of the bray air show so traffic wasn’t the best but got down under the hour. It was a perfect weather day for the beach for Josh, warm but not too sunny. We played in the sand, dipped our toes in the water and I even got in for a swim! On our return we did an obligatory stop for Wexford strawberries too. Our poor boy was a little warm in the car and cried most of the way home which is very unlike him but after a cool bath and a cuddle he was back to his usual happy self. A great cheap day for some summer fun.

{The Zoo}
This was an addition to the list as I realised how much Josh would enjoy it as the months went on and some of our list as the summer went by, I also knew may not be completed. We were lucky to get on the guest list as it can be quite a pricey day out. We set off on a blustery summers day and arrived about lunchtime-probably the busiest time to visit. Luckily we got to skip the queue.. We went to all the main animal sites and we were lucky enough to see the new baby elephant. Josh seemed to know he was on a ‘day out’ as he squealed with delight as we brought him from place to place. He seemed fascinated by the giraffes and before we left we bought him an elephant teddy as a first visit memento. It’s a great day out, possibly for older kids but you could easily spend a small fortune and I’d say early morning is the best time to visit too!

http://www.dublinzoo.ie/

{Glendalough}
We set off on a sunny summer Sunday up the hills to this beauty spot. It’s about an hour from where we live but well worth the trip. It’s such a pretty spot, perhaps not the best of destinations for Josh but he thought it was hilarious that as we set off to look for the lake walk the heavens opened and a summer shower soaked mama & dada whilst he was happy out under his rain cover. We never did find the route and the ruins are not very buggy friendly but would be a great trip for older kids. We stopped in Clodagh’s in Laragh on her way back for a cuppa and a wedge of delicious lemon drizzle. A really nice family day out!

Next up before summer is out we hope to get to Kilruddery Farm, Mount Usher & Malahide Castle. Dalkey island for a picnic would be great too if we get a return of good weather!IMG_9828.PNG