Our 2020 Bucket List

I hope that you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. December was a busy month for the majority of us but with our winter wedding thrown in too it really was a crazy one - I'm only just starting to feel like we are getting back to some sort of normality and routine!

The Mini Mes went back to school last Tuesday and I'm back at work properly today so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to have a think about the year ahead and write our bucket list. The only resolutions I've set are to be kinder to myself and read 52 books but there are quite a few things I'd like to tick off as a family/couple, as you can see below.

From our break in East Meon 2019

Planning the Perfect Family Vacation

Choosing what to do for your family holiday can be a difficult decision to make as there are so many types of offerings that all provide their own advantages. All inclusive vacations allow you to relax and not have to lift a finger while self-catering rentals give you a seclusion and ability to choose and cook your food when and how you want. So if you’re trying to decide what type of vacation best suits your needs, here are some tips to choosing the option that will make your vacation as fun as possible and help you avoid those holiday nightmares.

 

 

Self-catering

The option to self-cater your holiday can be a great one for couples and families alike, it is

WIN 1 of 5 Bluestone National Park Resort Breaks

Bluestone National Park Resort has something to offer for everyone. Whether you're seeking a fun filled family holiday, a romantic getaway for two or an action packed break with friends, it's the perfect location to create magical and unforgettable memories.

 

Not only is the accommodation luxurious but there are activities to enjoy whatever the weather for those after some rest and relaxation or adventure. The spectacular 500 acres of stunning Pembrokeshire countryside where Bluestone is situated has a variety of great restaurants, including the newly opened Oak Tree, an exclusive spa and also the incredible Blue Lagoon Water Park and Adventure Centre to enjoy.

Pols Piece Holidays, Cornwall

Pols Piece Holidays is situated on the north coast of Cornwall near Padstow and is the perfect setting for a peaceful family getaway. We recently visited for a long weekend as our first assignment for Approved Family Friendly and we had a lovely break. The apartments are like a home from home and are well equipped with everything you will require during your stay - we were even greeted with scones, clotted cream and jam upon arrival!

We found Pols Piece with ease using our sat-nav and there was plenty of parking. The key was waiting in the door for us to let ourselves in. I was quite pleased that there was no hassle of checking in and completing forms after a long journey in the car!

We stayed in the ground floor apartment named Crugmeer, 1 of the 7 available, and it was clean and

Center Parcs Family Blogger Club

Most of our trips within the UK involve camping but we would love a more luxurious retreat to a Center Parcs Village, Elveden Forest in particular. Having access to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise and Wild Water Rapids, going on the TORNADO™ and the BehemothBOWL™ and staying in a beautiful 3 bedroomed Woodland Lodge would be amazing. 

The perfect location to create more magical memories together as a family.

We have NEVER been to Center Parcs before so it would be a wonderful experience for us.

I'd love to hire bikes to explore the area, have a go at some water sports on the lake and have a relaxing treatment at the spa. 

It sounds like the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of every day life.

Center Parcs currently have a bloggers challenge where you can win a break to 1 of 4 of their villages -

 the video below is our entry.

It shows who we are as a family, our love of playing outdoors and what activities we really enjoy.

What do you love to do as a family?

We want to be members of the Center Parcs Family Blogger club #CPFamilyBreaks and this is our entry.

You can find out more information on the challenge here:

http://www.centerparcs.co.uk/blog/the_blog_competition.jsp

Try Something Different on a Half-Term Holiday in Lincolnshire

The summer seems to be well and truly over and with the Mini Mes back at school I long for October; when they have some time off for some family fun together again. The weather this time of year isn't always that pleasant though and this is why one mum has chosen to book a holiday with Haven in Lincolnshire for guaranteed good times....

For us, half-term holidays aren’t just about escaping our everyday routine, they’re also about going somewhere different and discovering something new. Being long-time holiday park fans, we’ve been to many of the UK’s main hotspots but this year we decided to break out of our old habits and go somewhere original. That’s why this year, we’re setting our sights on Lincolnshire.

With October half-term only lasting a week or so, we usually go away for about four or five days at half-term. That’s just long enough to fit in loads of great activities and feel well rested, while leaving enough time either side to pack and settle back in at home before school starts again.

The holiday season isn’t over in October but with autumn in full swing, chances are the half-term holiday could be hit by the odd rain shower. That’s why we usually book a half-term holiday at Haven to guarantee there’ll be things to do just in case it’s a bit drizzly outside. Each holiday park has indoor heated pools, sports activities and sometimes even a spa so whatever the weather there’s always something to do. 

But what made us decide to go to Lincolnshire this year? The great events that will be taking place throughout the autumn were a major attraction as it means there’ll be plenty going on when we decide to explore the local area. And with not long to go until October, we decided to book our October half-term holidays early to avoid missing out.

Lincolnshire Sausage Festival

The Lincolnshire sausage is one of Lincolnshire’s most famous exports and there’s nowhere better to try it than at the Lincolnshire Sausage Festival. I love quirky, one-of-a-kind events and this sounds like it’ll be just that. 

It’s taking place on 26th October at Lincoln Castle and Castle Hill – slap bang in the middle of October half-term. It’ll be the eleventh time the festival has taken place and last year more than 11,000 visitors turned up to celebrate this world-famous sausage.

We’re particularly looking forward to watching a sausage-making demonstration and, of course, eating a few too. There’ll also be music and entertainment throughout the day and something for the kids who can take part in a children’s cookery demonstration and meet the festival’s special guest, Mr Sausage. 

Visitlincoln.com has a whole page dedicated to the festival so you can find out all you need to go before you get there, including what’s on and how to get there. And you know what the best thing about it is? Entry is completely free. 

Lincolnshire Food Festival

We can’t wait to spend a day at the Lincolnshire Sausage Festival. Lincolnshire seems to have great events for foodies all year round and heading over there in September will get you there just in time for the Lincolnshire Food Festival. 

It’s taking place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September and like at the Sausage Festival, there’ll be plenty for the whole family to get stuck into. Not only will there be loads of delicious foods to sample from Lincolnshire and around the world, there’ll also be a whole host of celebrity chefs running cooking demonstrations. 

And if you’re bringing your kids along, this event will cater for them too. The ‘Kidz Korner’ will have plenty of events running where your kids can learn how to cook healthy food and have fun in the kitchen. There’s also going to be face painting and arts and crafts so there’s no way they’ll get bored. Kids even get in for free!

Will you be going away this October half-term?

*Sponsored Guest Post*