Staying active with a large family can be a challenge and although we are not the type of people to spend hours in the gym or playing sports, we definitely enjoy exploring our local area.
For blogging challenge 2, the lovely team at Mark Warner are asking what we do to stay active as a family, for a chance to win a family ticket to Go Ape.
Living in Dorset we are spoilt for choice when it comes to outdoor activities, with the beach, Jurassic coast, New Forest and lots of fabulous National Trust properties to explore.
One of our favourites has to be the beach. The little ones get to jump over waves, build sand castles and bury each other whilst the teens play frisbee, football or go for a swim. We love the beach in the winter too as it is much quieter!
As the teens have got older I see their adventurous side coming out. Last year they went coasteering and kayaking for the very first time and they have really caught the bug. Last year I was recovering from a c-section last couldn’t join them, but we have booked to go this year and I cannot wait!
The kids enjoy the New Forest as much as the seaside. We often visit Moors Valley and do their fabulous play trail, which is a mile and a half walk that is littered with wonderful play equipment for them to try. Linford Bottom is another favourite as they can fish for minnows in the river.
Our best activities are where there is something for everyone to do. The older ones (and hubby) can enjoy their adrenalin sports whilst the younger ones enjoy activities aimed at them.
Living at the coast it is important that the children are able to swim and all the older kids are confident swimmers thanks to having weekly swimming lessons. Sebastian is 12 months and he loves swimming too – it is amazing how much he can actually do in the water.
Keeping the family active doesn’t have to cost the earth, or take lots of effort. We walk (or scoot) to school on a daily basis and even soft play on a rainy day gives the kids a chance to run around. We invested in a backpack for Sebastian which has enabled us to go to some more “off-road” destinations. Explore your local area, you’d be surprised by just how much there is to do………I am still discovering stuff everyday!
If you fancy the chance to win a family ticket to go ape, why not enter too. Closing date is 21st July at 6pm!
Wow you really are spoiled for choice where you live. Dorset is such a beautiful place.
Good luck and I hope you win the Go Ape tickets! Looks like your monkeys would love it
You really are active! Puts me to shame…we don’t do as much as we should.
Good luck with the comp!
Great post! I wrote similar recently, it’s so hard with large age gaps sometimes – you have to get creative 🙂
Good luck! It looks like you’ve all had such a super time together.
Good luck I hope you win. I enjoyed looking through all your photo’s x
I have to say we love the beach too and the boys are keen to do surf school this year
wow, this all looks so fun as well as good exercise!
It sounds as though you have so much to do, right on your doorstep! Your teens are far braver than I though x
What some amazing activities – it looks like some wonderful times were had by all 🙂 x
Great challenge and fab ideas. I think Go Ape would be perfect for you guys!