Brown bears, lemurs, camels and sea lions are among the animal attractions at the Welsh Mountain Zoo. Pack a picnic for the forest path and gardens. For more sea lions, plus sharks, puffer fish, moray eels and more, head to Rhyl Seaquarium. Stay in town for the Palace Fun Centre, including the largest, fastest vertical drop in the North West.
Go up in the world at The Boardroom, with indoor bouldering and climbing coupled with a great café. Stay up high on the longest cable car in Britain at Great Orme Country Park, home also to trails, rare birds and wild goats. Or head back into history, exploring the vast corridors and ramparts of Conway Castle.
Love beaches? Talacre is a vast space, great for racing dogs on a windy day. Head to Llandudno, home of North Shore Beach and 19th-century Llandudno Pier, with its shops and games arcade. Or pop over to the Wirral’s West Kirby, with its sand dunes, sand flats and marine lake.
Meet pigs and pooches, and goats and geese at Manorafon Farm Park. Visit Thurstaton Nature Reserve, a haven for birds, butterflies, and hide and seek. Gen up on the industrial revolution at Greenfield Valley Heritage Park. And enjoy a raft of funfair rides, arcade games and evening entertainment at Knightly’s Fun Park.
Over the border sits Chester, with its Roman roots and famous Rows. Victorian and Tudor architecture make a pretty picture by the river, coupled with plenty of cocktail bars and great shopping in town and down the road at Cheshire Oaks. Stay in town on race days if you fancy a flutter at the Roodee.
Get your friends together and shoot some pigeons – clay, of course, at The Big Shoot – and wrap things up in the on-site café. No pigeon on the menu. Learn the ropes, or the reins, at Pennant Park Riding Centre, with fully qualified British Horse Society instructors. Or ride the rocky trails by bike with One Planet Adventure.
Head over to the Snowdonia National Park to climb Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales. Feeling lazy? Take the mountain train, described as one of the most wonderful railway journeys in the world. Or head to Llandegla Forest, with 650 acres of hiking and mountain bike trails for all levels of ability.
Shoot some golf at Conway, Prestatyn or Rhuddlan clubs. Try windsurfing, powerboating, kayaking or sailing at Colwyn Bay Watersports. Fish the deep sea with Supreme Sea Services, or learn ancient skills such as basket making, beekeeping, spoon carving and survival bushcraft at the Woodland Skills Centre.
