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FIVE Days Out in Northern Ireland For All The Family
Whether it’s “School’s out for summer” or trying to keep the kids entertained on the weekends it can be hard to think of exciting & fun things to do in NI. So we’ve come up with a wee list of places to visit in Northern Ireland to give you a few ideas for something different for the whole family. This isn’t just a random list of places, but instead they are places we have tried ourselves and would definitely recommend (we have thrown a few personal pictures in as well). Get out and have some fun with the family and make those precious memories. (Prices correct as of time of writing)
Whether it’s “School’s out for summer” or trying to keep the kids entertained on the weekends it can be hard to think of exciting & fun things to do in NI. So we’ve come up with a wee list of places to visit in Northern Ireland to give you a few ideas for something different for the whole family. This isn’t just a random list of places, but instead they are places we have tried ourselves and would definitely recommend (we have thrown a few personal pictures in as well). Get out and have some fun with the family and make those precious memories. (Prices correct as of time of writing)
PRISON ISLAND - Belfast
One for the older kids / teenagers (although there is no age restriction). It is a Crystal Maze type experience (like an escape room but better). The goal is to work as a team to score as many points as possible in Prison Cell themed rooms solving different challenges. There are 25 different cells which require a combination of intellectual, technical and physical skills. Caroline has tried it out and can report back that it’s a great day out! Do you think your family could boss this challenge??
COLIN GLEN - Belfast
If you’re looking for a giant adventure for the whole family - give Colin Glen a wee visit. There are so many different activities that will suit any age. There’s Laser-Tag, a Gruffalo Trail, a Forest Flyover Zipline and even Ireland’s first Alpine Coaster, to name a few of the activities on offer. They offer adventure packages depending on what you would like to experience. I feel like it would take me a few trips to make my way through all the activities I want to try! This was one of my favourite places to walk with my dad as a young child before we moved to Newry so has been lovely revisiting it.
Prices vary depending on activity / package
ROSEPARK FARM - Ballymoney
Rosepark is a great wee attraction for families with kids who love animals and the outdoors. There’s plenty to keep everyone entertained with play parks, zip line, duck ponds & lake and a wide selection of animals and birds! You can purchase bags of animal feed as well which was a big hit with the kids (&adults) when we visited.
THE PLANETARIUM - Armagh
For anyone interested in Space, the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium is the place to visit. You can experience the wonders of our universe in the digital dome theatre and the Sensory Space or get a closer look at scientific research with hands on activities and workshops. Perfect for a day out to try something different!
AIRTASTIC ENTERTAINMENT CENTRES NI - Bangor, Craigavon & Newtownabbey
If you want to try various different activities under one roof give Airtastic a visit. There is something for everyone in the family, with bowling, inflatable activities, ninja zones, soft play and loads of others depending on which location you visit (have a look on their website to see which location offers what). Plenty of choice to keep you occupied all day and definitely need a snooze after! I got annihilated at Bowling last week but using the excuse that I haven’t played in years :)
Prices vary depending on activity / package
A day at the beach
In Northern Ireland we are truly blessed with such a beautiful coastline and many blue flag beaches. My all-time favourite beach is just down the road from me at Ballygally. It's about 10mins drive along the stunning Antrim Coast Road from Larne so just 1/2 hr from Belfast.
Ballygally beach is situated in a lovely sheltered bay & if you time it right with the tide being out there is a wide expanse of golden sand and crystal clear water. Across from the beach is a well stocked Spar shop, complete with Mauds ice cream and Barista coffee so adults and kids are well catered for. There is ample free car parking. However on sunny days this can get very busy so best to try & get there early as this carpark is also overflow for the hotel which is busier during summer months with wedding guests needing to park their cars.
There is also a newly renovated toilet block, with water tap for rinsing off sandy feet located nearby as well as a shower located at the back of the toilet block. Across the road from this is a fab children’s play park.
If you’re not wanting to bring a picnic to the beach you could opt to get a bar or restaurant meal at the stunning Ballygally Castle Hotel situated just across the road from the beach.
I adore Ballygally Beach, I dip in the water all year round & I am a recommended wedding photographer at the castle, so it does hold a special place in my heart. This is why I love it when families ask me to capture their family memories on the beach. If you are planning a beach day why not book a photoshoot with Caroline Smyth Photography. Outdoor on location photography packages are £295 and include all your images to download and keep (current price in 2024)
TIPS FOR MAKING A PHOTO SESSION WITH KIDS EASIER
Some tips on how to ensure you get the best out of your child’s portrait session
No.1 - What time is good for them??
Schedule your photo session at a time the kids are generally in good form. If it would normally be their nap time / lunch time don’t change their schedule to squeeze in with us; grumpy kids won’t want fussed over! If you have booked in at a time and their routine changes it’s not an issue don’t stress, just let us know and we will try our best to work something out. We want everyone to have an enjoyable experience!
No.2 - Snacks
Who wouldn’t want the chance to get some of their favourite snacks?! They are a great way to keep kids happy and content. Avoid messy foods like chocolate, crumbly crisps or orange vegestix - got to keep those gorgeous outfits clean. Mini marshmallows are always a great shout!
No.3 - Change at the studio
We know you have probably spent weeks choosing the perfect outfits for your little ones. So the last thing we want is for something to happen to it on the way to the studio (explosive nappies or car sickness happens when you least expect it). Just bring the kids is their normal clothes and there is plenty of time for them to get changed into their outfits at the studio.
No.4 - Tell us about them!
We send out some information gathering forms to help us prepare for your photo session in advance. Fill it out as accurately as possible and we will use this info to make the kids more at ease. What are their favourite songs and we can play them on Alexa in the studio. Do they love princesses or superheroes? Let us know what they like and we will make their time in the studio fun for them!
No.5 - Reschedule if you need to
If your little one is teething or you think they are coming down with something please contact us and we will reschedule the session. The last thing we want is your kids to be unhappy or uncomfortable in the studio and we want to be able to capture the best family photos we can for you. We are parents too so know what its like when our kids aren’t feeling their best!
No.6 - DON’T STRESS
Kids pick up on your mood! We have had to actually put parents in the naughty corner during a session and the child found this hilarious (the photos were fantastic). Don’t stress about your child ‘misbehaving’ we love children with a bit of character. Don’t forget too that most wee ones have seen very few people because of the pandemic, so coming into a new space with new people may mean it takes a little while for them to come round. If all else fails Caroline is a bit of a magician with Photoshop and she can do head/ body swap edits to make sure you get some great photos!
AVAILABILITY
We have limited availability for the rest of the year so if you’re thinking of booking a photoshoot with the kids get in touch as soon as possible to secure your space in 2021