The Emerald

Newquay Zoo is a 13-acre zoo and garden site in Trenance Leisure Park, in the middle of Newquay. It is the largest zoo in Cornwall, and its planted grounds have won a Britain in Bloom Gold award. Visitors can see hundreds of species, including lynx, penguins, otters, zebras, sloths and meerkats, in a mix of indoor and outdoor habitats.

Tip: Check the zoo's website for current opening times, ticket offers and parking details before you go, as these can change.

Screech Owl Sanctuary & Animal Park is a home for owls and other animals on Goss Moor, near Indian Queens in mid Cornwall. Founded in 1990 by Carolyn Screech, it shows owls from around the world, with British, European, African, American, Asian, Australasian and West Indian species. It also rescues and rehabilitates wild owls in Cornwall, and there is a Siberian Eagle Owl breeding project.

Tip: If you want an owl or animal experience, call ahead to book, as busy periods may mean walk-up requests can't be fitted in.

St Michael's Mount is a tidal island in Mount's Bay, near Penzance, linked to Marazion by a causeway of granite setts. At low tide you can walk across; when the tide is in, ferry boats run instead. On the island you'll find a historic village with cobbled streets, a harbour, shops, a café and a restaurant, all beneath the ramparts of the castle.

Tip: Check the causeway times when you book, as they decide whether you walk across or take a boat from the mainland.

Camel Creek is a family adventure park near Wadebridge in North Cornwall. The mix includes thrill rides and rollercoasters, outdoor play areas and animal areas, so there is plenty to fill a day. Its indoor play space covers 45,000 square feet, which means a wet day need not spoil the plan.

Tip: Check the park's website before you go for current tickets and events, as offers change. If a free return pass is offered with day tickets, read the terms first: it is non-transferable and excludes Toddler Takeover days, birthday parties, group bookings and school visits.

Pendennis Castle is an artillery fort built by Henry VIII near Falmouth between 1540 and 1542. It was designed to protect Carrick Roads, the waterway at the mouth of the River Fal, and works alongside St Mawes Castle on the opposite side of the water.

Heligan is a set of Victorian gardens near Mevagissey that were neglected after the First World War and restored in the 1990s. The story is a big part of the visit: 16 of the gardeners died in the war, and the gardens were lost to the brambles before being brought back to life.

Tip: Pre-booking is advisable for day visitors, and if you use a sat nav, approach via St Austell and follow the brown signs to avoid narrow single-track lanes.

The Eden Project sits in a reclaimed china clay pit in Cornwall. At the bottom of the pit are two huge domed Biomes made of inflated cells on steel frames. The Rainforest Biome is one of the largest indoor rainforests in the world, with tropical plants such as banana, coffee, rubber and giant bamboo. The Mediterranean Biome has olives, grape vines and sculptures.

Tip: Check the opening times page before you set off, as last entry to the Biomes and closing times change through the year, and some dates are closed.

St Mawes Castle is an artillery fort built by Henry VIII between 1540 and 1542 to guard Carrick Roads, the anchorage at the mouth of the River Fal. Its sister fortress, Pendennis Castle, stands on the other side of the water. The distinctive clover leaf design has a central tower and three round bastions, and it is now run by English Heritage.

Tip: Advance tickets were advertised with a 15% saving, so check the English Heritage website for the current offer before you go. A ferry runs between St Mawes and Falmouth if you'd like to combine it with Pendennis Castle.