The Emerald - Fun Days Out

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.

There are keeper talks and live feeds, an outdoor play area near the meerkats and the Tarzan Trail behind the Savannah. Café Lemur, seasonal food outlets and plenty of picnic benches and lawns make it easy to stay for a while. Reviewers describe it as a smaller zoo that is good for young children who can't manage long distances, and a few hours is a typical visit. Some development work is under way, so parts may be temporarily closed.

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.

Alongside the owls you will find other animals, including wallabies, meerkats, foxes and lemurs. There is a play area and a cafe, plus a gift shop. Keepers run hands-on sessions where you can learn to hold an owl on the glove, or go into an enclosure to meet some of the animals. Education is a core part of the work, so you will learn about the birds and their conservation as you go round.

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.

The castle has been home to the St Aubyn family since around 1650, and its history stretches back to pilgrims and monks. Climb to the summit for panoramic views across Mount's Bay from the battlements. There are also terraced subtropical gardens, and the Steward's House Art Gallery, which shows Newlyn School paintings of everyday life in west Cornwall. It is a good choice for anyone who enjoys history, views and a bit of a journey.

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.

Other attractions include a 5D theatre with moving seats and 3D glasses, the Creeky's Playhouse soft play area and Swamp Busters. The park also runs special seasonal events through the year, and offers a Junior Keeper experience where children spend time behind the scenes caring for reptiles and meerkats. The park also says it has inclusive rides and facilities, with details on its accessibility page.

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.

The original circular keep and gun platform was later surrounded by extensive stone ramparts and bastions. The site's story runs from the Tudor invasion threat through a long siege in the English Civil War to the Napoleonic Wars, when it held up to 48 guns. It was rearmed in both world wars and saw action against the Luftwaffe in the Second World War before being decommissioned in 1956. Now managed by English Heritage, it is described by Historic England as one of the finest post-medieval defensive promontory forts in the country.

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.

You can see huge old rhododendrons and camellias, productive flower and vegetable gardens, an Italian garden and a series of lakes. The wilder valleys include The Jungle, filled with subtropical tree ferns. Look out for the pineapple pit, the only one left in Europe, and the Mud Maid and the Giant's Head, two figures made from rocks and plants. The grounds cover over 200 acres, with steep slopes in the wilder parts.

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.

Outside, a meandering path takes you through planted landscapes, vegetable gardens and outdoor gardens, with sculptures along the way, including a giant bee. There are cafés and restaurants on site, plus art, exhibitions and play areas. It suits plant fans, garden lovers and anyone curious about how the natural world works, and it is run by a charity.

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.

You can wander round the castle, climb to the battlements for views of the sea and passing ships, and look out for the carved inscriptions praising Henry VIII and his son Edward VI. The castle has a collection of 15 historic guns and cannons, plus a gun platform and bastions to explore. A model and hands-on activities help families look at the ornate sculptures, and there is a World Builder trail where children can build their own fort.

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.