Climb, play and eat at Seal’s Cove Activity Centre. Bring your buckets and cossies for the beach you can see from the balcony, plus others at West Bay, Weymouth and Sandbanks. Get stuck into the rides and arcades at Fantasy Island Fun Park in Weymouth. Or meet over 150 species of fish at Oceanarium.
Pick from aliens, apocalypses and spaceships at Mr Mulligan’s adventure golf. Ride the PierZip at Bournemouth, shooting you down to the beach from a high platform on two 250-metre wires (great for races). Stay in town for a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Head to Lulworth Cove to find ancient fossils (no, not grandad) or rockpools at Kimmeridge Bay.
Wild-swim at Knoll Beach, meet 230 primates at Monkey World, explore woodlands, wetlands and wildlife at Brownsea Island, or visit Farmer Palmer’s for pig-racing, guinea-pig-handling, tractor rides, deer-feeding and more. Or get an interactive insight into local sea creatures at Lyme Regis Marine Aquarium.
Take the miniature railway around Lodmoor Park and see the six-acre sealife centre. Make it a movie night at Cineworld in Weymouth or the Plaza in Dorchester. Kayak, coasteer, climb and sail at Weymouth Outdoor Education Centre. Or educate yourself on local history at Dorset Museum about fine art and author Thomas Hardy.
Keep your pulse rate down at Bridport Leisure Centre, with its squash, junior water polo, swimming and gym, and keep your serving arm in at Charmouth Tennis Club. Scale the heights at Rockburn Climbing Centre, rip up the go-kart track at Clay Pigeon Raceway or shoot guns in a road tunnel at the Target Sports Centre.
Take a brewery tour at Palmers and sample five fine ales and craft keg. Explore Dorset’s beautiful countryside on four legs with Bidlake Riding Stables. Or join the birds high in the trees as you tackle rope bridges, zip wires and walkways at the Tunnel Tree Tops or Go Ape at Moors Valley.
Even a bad card won’t spoil your day at Bridport and West Dorset Golf Club, with its scenic views of the sea and Pilsdon Pen and Lewesdon Hill. Explore those high points further on two wheels with Bridport Cycles. Or ride Shanks’s Pony on the Golden Cap walk or at iconic West Bay.
Get the hang of stand-up paddleboarding with Bay Paddle Sports, cruise the estuary with West Bay River Boats or trawl the seas with Harry May Fishing Trips. Rest, relax and rejuvenate on a day spa at Monart. Or dig deep into history at Lulworth Castle, Hardy’s Cottage, and Mapperton House and Gardens.
