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Travelling with Toddlers
Travelling with toddlers can be stress-free with a holiday to Wexford. With easy to access activities just a short drive from any accommodation, toddler-friendly restaurants, guesthouses and hotels, and a host of indoor and outdoor entertainment that’s guaranteed to keep them amused, you’ll need a second visit to fit it all in! Here are our top tips for a toddler-friendly holiday in Wexford:
Up close and personal with baby animals
Picture your little one’s hand-feeding the kid goats, enjoying a friendly ride on the pony, and petting the many gentle animals in their paddocks, including bunnies, guinea pigs, lizards, raccoons, prairie dogs and more. Secret Valley Wildlife Park is a one-of-a-kind animal park that allows children to get up close and personal with a host of unusual, fun and playful animals, with pony rides, arts & crafts, adventure hunts and a new, indoor play area a bonus! Families are more than welcome to bring a picnic and spread out on the many grassy lawns, creating memorable moments for great value. Kia Ora Mini Farm offers a similar fun-filled family day with its beautiful outdoor setting and friendly animals galore. As well as petting animals and milking a cow, the farm includes a host of fun activities including real mini diggers for kids to operate, a fire engine ride, a crazy maze, go-karts, giant ‘buzz off’ and much more! They will love to see up close the puppy rescued seals at Seal Rescue Ireland so make sure you visit them.
Ballycross Apple Farm is a hidden gem for families who love to get out in the open and enjoy the beauty of the natural countryside. This working farm features horses peeking out of stables, birds chirping in the trees, and a wafting smell of home-baked goodies from the on-site café. Activities include animal feeding, tractors for kids to ride, pony rides, an apple crate maze and more! With 5 kilometres of walking trails to explore, each of them graded for different abilities, children will be in their element meandering through the unspoilt countryside, along canal and river banks, through orchards spilling with apples, exploring natural pathways formed by the animals, and navigating the many hand-built bridges.
Climbing frames, slides and more!
LeisureMax in Wexford town is an ideal destination for a wet day, or when mum and dad want to sit down and relax, and let the toddlers have all the fun. Leisure max is an indoor and outdoor centre featuring a multi-storey play and slide area, which is divided into different sections for different age groups. On the other hand, Courtown Adventure Centre is an outdoor-built leisure centre, featuring 3 swimming pools including a learner pool as well as a junior playground complete with slide, climbing frame, swings and sandpit for the younger children, along with a host of more adventurous activities for the older kids.
Toddler-friendly accommodation
Hookless Holiday Homes is a premium, rural retreat for families who prefer self-catering accommodation. This holiday village is situated on a private and peaceful five-acre site, boasting spectacular views over the picturesque Hook Peninsula landscape, with an on-site play area, ideal for little ones, whilst Sandeel Bay is just a short walk away for a dip in the sea. Wexford is also home to a series of guesthouses and hotels that are more than accommodating for toddlers, such as the best family-friendly hotel in Ireland, The Amber Springs Hotel, with its playground, indoor play zone and swimming pool, and the Clayton Whites Hotel, which is uniquely situated in the heart of Wexford Town with underground car park and swimming pool, and newly decorated family rooms with adjoining bedrooms, a range of bed options, and cots on request.
Eating out with toddlers
Lunch and dinner can be enjoyed in any number of affordable family-friendly restaurants in and around Wexford, including The Kitchen in Gorey that offers a children’s menu and smaller portions. Those who prefer something quick and easy, consider takeaway fish & chips from Little Saltee Restaurant which can be enjoyed along the beachfront at Kilmore Quay.
Travelling with Teenagers
Let’s face it – travelling with teenagers can be challenging. But a well-planned holiday to Wexford will guarantee you both enjoy each other’s company! Make sure you plan ahead, booking accommodation that gives them their own space, finding activities that fuel their adrenalin, and choosing restaurants and lively entertainment that you can all appreciate together. Here are our top tips to keep your teens satisfied and content on holiday:
Adrenalin-fueled activities for teenagers
Hit the waves with The Surf Shack, Wexford’s gateway to surfing, and a tiny gem on Curracloe Beach, where you can rent a board, grab a wetsuit and dive into the salty sea spray for a memorable morning that will set everyone’s heart racing! Get into the competitive spirit with a spot of go-karting or experience cross-country driving at its best at the Quadventure Centre, to quench your need for speed. Try your hand at paddleboarding and kayaking along the Wexford coastline with Hook Head Adventures.
The International Adventure Outdoor Centre activities include High Ropes park – which consists of 2 levels of high rope’s 4 m and 7 m, Jacob’s Ladder and Crate stacking, Low Ropes Challenge Course, Battlezone Archery tag, Airsoft target range, Archery range as well as Kayaking or Raft building on our purpose-built Activity Lake.
The imposing Loftus Hall is a fantastic experience for the brave at heart – known as the most haunted house in Ireland, this chilling tour is guaranteed to set hearts racing! One thing’s for sure – they’ll be hooked, weary and happy to holiday with you again!
Accommodation with space to breathe
Wexford boasts a wide variety of hassle-free accommodation at a great value, but make sure to choose wisely with a home-away-from-home that’s large enough to give your teens their own space. Consider simple boutique hotels that offer high-speed broadband and a room of their own, like Treacys Hotel in Enniscorthy or Kelly’s Resort Hotel in Rosslare. The Upton Court Hotel boasts large family rooms with interconnecting rooms and a selection of beautiful holiday cottages with exceptional living rooms, television and DVD player. The family-friendly Riverside Park Hotel also features superior family rooms and a fantastic indoor heated swimming pool. Alternatively, a self-catering holiday home is an ideal option for fussy eaters, and those who want some down-time on the sofa, so look no further than Talbot Suites at Stonebridge, with luxurious 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments within a 2-minute walk of Wexford’s main street.
Popular restaurants and evening entertainment suitable for teenagers
Teenagers love a bit of nightlife but don’t expect them to boogie the night away with you. Look for restaurants and casual pubs that offer entertainment you can all tap your toes to. For food and drink with a bit of atmosphere and entertainment, try The Shipyard Inn for a quiet pint, a game of pool, a tasty meal or a lively music session. Meyler’s Millhouse Bar & Restaurant features an on-site windmill that’s free to explore, a 55-seat restaurant, a poolroom and darts area, and of course, free Wi-Fi throughout! Templar’s Inn offers a casual seafood dining experience in a wonderful al fresco setting. The Bolg Bui Bar hosts Friday night sessions with local songwriters and artists and a cosy bar at the Brandon House Hotel serves great food with live entertainment every Friday and Saturday.