Why Bluestone is perfect for young families
Our friend Helen from the hilarious blog Twins, Tantrums, and Cold Coffee came to stay with us recently with a toddler, twin one and twin two, and husband Nick.
As her blog title suggests, life can often be hectic for Helen! She was looking for a holiday that would keep the children wonderfully entertained while giving her and Nick the chance to take a breath.
Why You Should Visit Bluestone
Here are her top reasons why Bluestone National Park Resort makes the perfect holiday destination for young families.
1. There's SO much to do
It’s easy to say ‘there’s lots to do’ when it comes to a holiday resort. But this place REALLY DOES have activities coming out of its ears. You can choose from over 100 of them online before you get there, so you’d be hard pushed to NOT find something you or the kids fancy.
And don’t worry that there won’t be anything for pre-schoolers, toddlers and babies - you’ll be spoilt for choice.
2. The amazing Blue Lagoon Water Park
Everyone loves a swim when they’re on holiday, and for us it was always a go-to activity for Thomas - now slightly trickier with two extra kids to bob around in the water. But Bluestone’s pool is beyond cool for young children.
Its beach-style design means your babies and toddlers can happily splash around in the shallows if they don’t want to go too deep, and there’s even a separate Water Cove wet play area for the littlies. For the adventurous there are two water flumes, a river rapids ride, a lazy river, pirates’ shipwreck and wave machine. It’s impossible for kids (whatever their age) not to have fun in this place - and it’s all absolutely free!
3. Fun in all weathers, all year
Bluestone promises all-weather fun, and with their huge Serendome that’s a promise they can definitely keep. Under the giant umbrella, there are different free play areas, including a water play which kept the boys entertained for ages.
The theatre in the centre looks amazing and we will definitely be booking a show when we come to stay next! We also stopped for a bite to eat at the terraces, where there's a variety of menus to choose from meaning there is something for everyone!
4. Family-friendly eating options
Okay, so when you have small children, eating out is probably way down the list of priorities. It definitely is on mine - it’s not exactly the most enjoyable experience with a fussy two year old and two babies. But if you have kids who are willing to eat more than just pesto pasta or peanut butter sandwiches, you’ll be spoilt for choice for dining options. There are five restaurants, cafes and a village pub (and even a chippy), so if you wanted, you wouldn’t have to go to the same place twice. I can definitely recommend the cake in Ty Coffi!
5. A car-free, safe haven
Once you’re unloaded at your lodge, cars need to be taken back to the car park and not allowed on site, so this has to be one of the safest places you can go on holiday when you have young children. Obviously I wasn’t about to allow my toddler to run off on his own, but it was great knowing that there weren’t cars speeding around.
6. Bluestone Buggies - fun and practical
The no cars thing leads me onto this: golf buggies! What a great way to ferry your little ones around the resort. It was literally the most exciting thing to happen to our toddler all week. Bluestone covers 500 acres, so you might not want to be walking (carrying) everywhere. But most of all it’s FUN! Our toddler was beside himself when we hired one (Emma to be exact - they all have names), and couldn’t wait to take a ride. We weren’t about to fit our double buggy on there at the same time as us five, but with some babywearing/sling action and a strapped-in toddler, we were off! You can also hire bikes with child seats or trailers if you fancy a more energetic option. Just watch out for the hills!
7. So many places to explore
If you fancy a day away from Bluestone (you won’t btw), it couldn’t be more ideally located for exploring its beautiful surroundings. The resort is set within the Welsh Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, so on the doorstep, you have stunning beaches just waiting for your kids to build sandcastles on, as well as family-friendly attractions, villages, and the famous seaside town of Tenby.