DESTINATIONS — ACTIVE & ADVENTURE HOLIDAYS
On target for fun
Juliet Dennis found activities for all the family at Hoseasons’ Go Active Park in Somerset
F
inding a holiday that met all the needs of our family, including our four-year-old twins Joe and Nina, struck me as a bit of a challenge. Joe wanted play-acting of the
pirates or super hero variety with fellow, fearsome four-year-olds. Nina wanted swimming, running around, drawing and a good playground. My husband wanted relaxation time, red wine and beautiful countryside. Personally, I wanted to combine chilling out with fun, quality family time and the chance for me, and the kids, to learn some new sporting skills.
On top of that we wanted
comfortable, dare I say luxurious, accommodation. Was that too much to ask? We scanned the UK holiday parks, a favourite for Joe and Nina because of the on-site activities. A UK break meant we could throw all their paraphernalia – from scooters and footballs to buckets
and spades – in the car. If there was room, it could come. One glance at Hoseasons’ range of Go Junior activities for three to seven-year-olds, introduced in 2012, and I was confident Joe and Nina would be happy, occupied and tired out (meaning a good night’s sleep for all of us – hurrah!).
Hoseasons has 18 Go Active parks in the UK and each offers activities catering for three-year- olds up to adults, ranging in price from £4 to £12. The choice of activities at Go
Active parks feels endless, from river rafting and rambling to canoeing, gorge walking, tennis, yoga and trampolining, depending on which park you plump for. We chose Cheddar Woods
holiday park, nestled in the Mendip Hills in Somerset and revamped under the Go Active brand last year. Before I knew it I’d signed the kids up for Pirates Paradise, Robin Hood Juniors, a
balanceability course to learn to ride a bike, and swimming lessons, and booked myself an archery lesson, something I’d always fancied having a shot at, forgive the pun.
The kids’ excitement in the car on the way down was palpable. “Are we there yet?” Answer: “No, not yet.” “When can I get dressed up as
a pirate?” Answer: “Wait and see.” “Will I have a dagger like Robin Hood?” Answer: “No, absolutely not!”
“Will there be lots of other
children there?” Answer: “If there aren’t, I’m not sure how we’ll cope.” The kids’ fun and parents’
relaxation time started the minute we turned up for their first one- and-a-half hour Go Juniors session, Pirates Paradise. Or in other words; pirates for kids, paradise for adults – they pretended to be on the high seas searching for treasure,
we pretended to be footloose and fancy free and searched out a drink, child-free, in the bar. The leader, a
‘pirate’ with a loud, West Country
Nina masters the balance bike with mum Juliet
16 October 2014 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 67
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