Cropton Lodges

Situated in Malton in North Yorkshire this has to be one of our favourite family days out.  It's a theme park and zoo all in one stretching over a massive 400 acres. With thrilling rides for the very daring like Cliff Hanger, Corkscrew and Kumali, there are also more gentle rides for the little ones such as Frog Hopper and Helitoys.  Family fun attractions include the 4D cinema, the lost river ride and the Little Monsters Den of Mischief. Check out their website for seasonal events which take place throughout the year and you can also gain more information about the zoo.  Flamingo Land is a resort as well as a theme park so you can also book accommodation there.

Castle Howard is one of the regions most beautiful and historic landmarks and is located in 1,000 acres of parkland with breathtaking gardens to explore. As well as exploring the castle visitors can enjoy attractios including the unique Land Train - the best way to see the entire park. There is also a large lake offering boat trips during the summer months. In high season the site is very popular with families and offers organised activities for children including tours, talks, crafting and animal encounters. The site also has a Nature Trail which is fun for the whole family and an Adventure Playground where children can run off some energy.

Located in Harwood Dale Village, North Yorkshire we think this attraction makes a superb family day out and couples will also enjoy the nature walks in the area.  There are 6 nature walks in total surrounding the farm so walkers and lovers of the outdoors will be in their element. Some of our favourite walks include the Spring Flowers, Pond and Village walk which takes around 35 minutes, and the Meadow and Trees walk which takes one hour.

Yorkshire Lavender is an amazing award winning attraction offering breathtaking panoramic views of York, a Café, Plant Nursery and Lavender Gardens. The 60 acre site is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is an excellent choice for a day trip. The onsite shops sells Lavender products such as bath and body treats, skincare, medicine and herbal remedies.

Betton Farm Visitor Centre is the ideal attraction close to the North Yorkshire coastal town of Scarborough. This animal farm has all the cute farm animals you would expect to see and will appeal to younger children especially.  A great place to both play and learn we think the Betton Farm Visitor centre is great value for money.  Check out their website for the latest opening times and admission costs.  Some of the highlights of the day might include meeting Sofie the Shetland Pony and Henry the goat, as well as the pot bellied pigs called Porky and Hammy. 

If you are enjoying a lodge break in the Yorkshire Moors and Coast then a day trip to the Scarborough Sea Life and Marine Sanctuary highly recommended. This centre is one of the regions most popular attractions and is educational as well as fun. Visitors will enjoy a journey beneath the waves, meeting many strange, beautiful and fascinating creatures of the deep. As well as mighty sharks and beautiful rays guests can get up close to some more common creatures including star fish and can also meet the otters, seals and penguins at feeding time. The site also has children's play area and picnic tables as well as a restaurant and souvenir shop. Family tickets cost £46.80 but the Tourist Information Centres in Scarborough, Whitby or Filey often offer fantastic discounts.

Located in the Scalby Mills area of Scarborough this makes a fun family day out for those who are interested in marine life. The fantastic ocean tank is well worth seeing - it's been transformed into a Turtle Reef and you can see an amazing array of colourful reef fish and coral. You may also catch a glimpse of the tropical sharks and turtles. Offering good value for money this is a day out with a difference and an all weather attraction.

This attraction is ideal for sunny days as the beautiful park is ideal for wandering out and taking in the scenery.  You can hire boats including rowing boats and canoes to enjoy the views from the water.  The pedalos with the dragon heads are always a popular choice too. Look out for special events including the Battle of Peasholm Park Naval Battle which has been described as a "must see".  You can also take a ride on the North Bay Railway which will delight children.

Come rain or shine children need to be entertained and Creepy Crawlies just north of York is the perfect place! This all weather attraction caters for toddlers and children up to 12 years old with a huge array of climbing equipment, ball pools, slides, chutes and adventure areas. Adults can relax and enjoy a coffee and a snack while the kids are having fun.  The site also has a large and rather impressive outdoor area with pet zone and pedal track with Go karts. There is also a pond with fish and a sensory zone where children can touch and feel new and interesting things.

Jorvik Viking Centre is a fun and educational attraction offering visitors the chance to learn all about the Viking-Age city of Jorvik. Thanks to the Archaeologists from York Archaeological Trust the amazing houses, workshops and backyards of the Viking-Age city of Jorvik are on display and give a clear insight to the way of life all those years ago.  The site aims to offer an interactive experience with the state of the art time capsule and the blacksmith's furnace being the top attractions.

Dig is a unique and somewhat educational attraction in York offering children the opportunity to enjoy excavation, discovery, and digging. Within the site is a discovery centre, several pits filled with Roman and Medieval ruins and a science lab where children can take part in exciting experiments. Staff are on hand at all times to help the children and to ensure they get the most from the experience. The attraction can get busy during school holidays and pre booking is recommended.

Madhyamaka Meditation Centre  a unique and very special centre in the Yorkshire moors offering amazing meditation experiences for experts and novices. The beautiful setting really ads to the experience and the gorgeous grounds are abundant with wildlife including Squirrels, Deer and Birds including Red Kites. The centre is now offering a special weekend retreat for families which includes family friendly guided meditations as well as fun activities such as face painting, games and a barbeque.

If you are enjoying a lodge holiday in Yorkshire then a visit to York Maze is a must! This summertime attraction is now one of the most popular in the region offering fun for the whole family. The maze has been improved this year and is now bigger and better than ever before. Carved from an amazing 1.5 million growing maize plants it is thought to be the largest maze in the world! As well as the maze itself the site boasts an adventure playground, 9 hole crazy golf courses and an animal petting area where children can meet the cute and friendly animals that eat the maize and watch pig racing! Tractor and trailer rides around the maize are also available and are recommended for those with young children.

Situated in the Ripon area of North Yorkshire this popular theme park makes a fantastic day out for the whole family.  The more daring will love the big and thrilling rides such as Raptor Attack, The Ultimate and Trauma Tower.  For the little ones there are some excellent attractions such as Flying Camels, Dodgems and a Magic Wheel.  Toddlers will like the Dragon Boats and the Lightwater Express amongst other things. There are over 40 rides and attractions in total and we think this is excellent value for money too.  If you book your tickets in advance online you can save even more money and beat the queues.

This is a recommended day out for families with young children visiting the Bedale area of Yorkshire.  Visit the farm and receive a warm welcome as well as a guided tour.  You will have the chance to bottle feed the lambs, bath a pig and handle some of the smaller animals.  Kids will love the big sandpit and the outdoor play area. There is also a cafe and indoor play area for when the weather is not on your side.