There’s pay-as-you-play fun at Heatherton, with paintballing, go-karting, face-painting and bumper boats on the lake. Get down to Oakwood, where you can journey high up into the sky, loop, drop, and roll your way to an adrenaline high. Or go back to the land that time forgot at The Dinosaur Park.
Pick your own adventure at Folly Farm, from the zoo, with its rhinos, giraffes and penguins, to the barn’s furry, feathery, friendly farm animals, to yesteryear fairground rides, or simple themed adventure play. Or join the apes on the Tarzan swings, high ropes and zip wires of the Tree Tops Trail.
Meet meerkats, tigers, lemurs, gibbons and the first southern white rhinos in Wales for 40 years at Manor House Wildlife and Leisure, or join the daily pig walk. Try a little laser combat at jungle-themed Battlefield Live, or ride track and trail quads at Ritec Valley.
Spot dolphins with Tenby Sea Cruises, meet the Cistercian monks on Caldey Island, or let off some steam with indoor play at Ocean Commotion. Or just bring your buckets and spades and explore acres of golden sands backed by dunes at Barafundle Bay or secluded rock-pooling havens such as Cwm yr Eglwys.
Bring your boat to Hideaway Cove and enjoy vehicle access down the side of the house to the slipway. Just give us seven days’ notice to clear the slipway. Launching a day out instead? Go back in history to the ruins of Tenby Castle on the headland overlooking the harbour or walk the 13th-century town walls.
Take a trip to Skomer Island to see seals with their young in late summer, Manx shearwaters swooping in at night and giving birth to their young in August, and puffins from May through to July. With Atlantic seals, fulmar, chough, bluebells, porpoise, dolphin and sun fish, too, Skomer is a true wildlife safari.
When the tide is out, whiz over to Caldey Island for a walk around the monastery and some fine views. See the walled gardens at Stackpole, the castles at Narberth and Pembroke or the peaceful harbour at Saundersfoot. Watch the product of six generations of cheesemaking at Caws Cenarth, home of creamy Caerffili.
Bathe and laze at one of Britain’s best beaches, at Barafundle Bay. Backed by dunes and pine trees, it comes with swathes of golden sand, crystal waters and a half-mile walk from the car park that’s well worth it. Or enjoy rides, flumes, rapids rivers and a wave machine at the indoor Blue Lagoon Water Park.
