Going on holiday with the kids is not like travelling with your partner, as it is important to have a whole host of activities up your sleeve to entertain them at any given moment. This means planning in advance as opposed to flying by the seat of your pants.
To maximise your time away it is a good idea to hire a car and this is easily done in Dublin. It will allow you to all pile in and head off to the best family attractions just outside the city, as well as those located in the centre.
Read on for ideas for where you might like to head.
Artworks Cafe
We all know that kids love to get stuck in and it’s great creating something they can take away with them. That is why Artworks Cafe in Portmarnock is a great idea. The adults can join in alongside the children as everyone makes their own pottery objects.
These range from throwing a pot on a pottery wheel to painting a teapot or mug to act as a special souvenir. There are no age limitations and plenty of staff on hand to help teach new techniques. It’s a great way to focus the kids’ attention and enjoy some quality time together.
Butlers Chocolate Experience
What kid doesn’t like chocolate? None right? So indulge their sweet tooth with a guided tour of a real life chocolate factory. Located not far from Dublin Airport, the Butlers Chocolate Experience is convenient to get to and will keep them entertained for hours.
Visitors learn all about the history of chocolate and where it comes from, as well as seeing how it is made. As well as chocolate, the factory also produces toffee and fudge, so demonstrations into creating these are also included on the tour.
There are plenty of opportunities to taste the chocolate along the way and interactive displays as well as a chocolate movie. The highlight for most children, however, is dressing up as a chocolatier and getting stuck in.
Decked out in the full outfit, everyone will be able to decorate some chocolates of their own to take home with them. It’s fun, messy and chocolaty and they’ll love it!
National Library of Ireland
It may be difficult to persuade your kids to visit a library while on their holidays, but this one goes way beyond books. With more than eight million items in its collection, they are bound to find something to interest them. You may then find it hard to tear them away.
There is everything from old photographs, maps and manuscripts on display. If your family has an Irish connection you could use a visit as the opportunity to look into your genealogy, as it is something you all share.
An exhibition celebrating the life and works of the poet William Butler Yates within the library has won awards. Meanwhile temporary displays explore everything from the voyages of Captain Cook to 17th century home remedies.
Father Collins Park
Sometimes the kids just need somewhere to run around and blow off some steam and where better to achieve this than in an award winning park? Father Collins Park is the newest public space opened up in Dublin and is an example of sustainability in action.
Its lights and water features are powered by the five huge wind turbines on site. It is great for children to see the connection between the way that energy is generated and it being used. There are sports pitches, play areas and even a skatepark to keep them entertained.
