New York is often considered to be a grown-up destination - a place where couples go for romantic weekend breaks and girlfriends jet off to for designer shopping sprees, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t a great choice for those travelling with kids too. We take a look at some of the best child-friendly and child-orientated attractions in the Big Apple, to help you keep your youngsters happy in “The City So Nice, They Named It Twice”!

American Museum of Natural History

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New York has lots of interesting museums, but if you want to go somewhere which will really grab your kids attention make sure that you fit in a visit to the American Museum of Natural History. With its main entrance at Central Park West, the museum is easy to access and has an amazing number of permanent exhibitions as well as temporary shows which change throughout the year. Allow plenty of time to explore, and don’t miss out on the beautiful “Mammal Halls” dioramas and the stunning meteorite displays.

Statue of Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is one of New York’s most iconic landmarks and will make a trip to New York City memorable for kids of all ages. Given to the United States as a gift from the people of France, visits to the interior of enormous statue are on-hold until renovations finish towards the end of 2012, however a wander round the grounds is still worth doing. As the statue is located on an island, you travel there by ferry, which can be a lot of fun in itself.

FAO Schwartz

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New York’s reputation as a shopping capital probably isn’t something that makes your kid’s eyes light up with joy - but that is because they don’t yet know about FAO Schwartz. Established 150 years ago, the store focuses on selling toys for all ages, and has become legendary amongst residents of New York and beyond. With lots of high quality brands available, and playthings from board games to fancy dress costumes, your kids will be happy to pass an hour or two browsing…just remember to set a spending limit before you start shopping!

Central Park Zoo

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Located in the south-eastern zone of Central Park, the zoo is a top attraction for kids of all ages. Despite its proximity to the bustling Fifth Avenue, Central Park Zoo has a relaxed atmosphere and has exhibits featuring more than 150 different species, so you are likely to find your youngster’s favourites. You’ll even find a special children’s zoo, with gentle barnyard species that your little one can stroke and cuddle.

Have we missed anything? Let us know your favourites and add to our list by commenting below…

Located on the west coast of Ireland, the Connemara is an area of dramatic scenery and unique character, steeped in years of history. Bounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean, on land the Connemara’s eastern border line runs between Kilkieran Bay and Killary Harbour. For anyone looking to discover all of the delights of this region on a short break, we’ve put together a quick guide to the must do activities, sights to see and food to eat for a real Connemara experience.

The Great Outdoors

The Connemara is a top holiday destination for those who love the great outdoors, with a wealth of opportunities to enjoy the fresh air and explore the region at the same time. We recommend that you start by testing your skills on the Eddie Hackett designed championship golf course which incorporates the stunning natural features of the countryside. Later, why not see the Connemara from a different perspective and discover the rolling mountainsides from horse-back, with one of the many trekking companies offering tours in the region. If you prefer walking to riding, take a trip to the Connemara National Park, where a number of tracks with varying levels of difficulty wind through the 2957 nature reserve. After getting to know Connemara from land, charter a fishing boat and try your luck in catching skate, mackerel, cod, blue shark or even tuna. Land-lubbers who want to see if they can hook “the big one” don’t have to miss out - try fly fishing for salmon and sea-trout in the rivers instead.

History & Sightseeing

Perhaps the best place to begin to experience the history of Connemara is at the Connemara Heritage and History Centre. The centre has been created to tell the story of the original settlers of the region and includes reconstructions of a fort and a crannog (island house). Another place worth visiting is Kylemore Abbey and Walled Gardens, where you’ll find that you can easily wile away and hour or two. Constructed in 1867 as a castle, Kylemore became an abbey in 1920. The walled gardens are fascinating as they display only plants which would have been grown in the Victorian era. You’ll also find a cosy tearoom offering light snacks, and hand-made pottery which is produced using traditional techniques. After the tranquillity of the Kylemore, something more lively may appeal - a trip to the capital of Connemara is in order. Clifden Town is a hotspot for shopping, and has many bars and restaurants. While you are there, be sure to catch a music night and listen to some of the local talent - Connemara at its best!

Flavours of Connemara

No visit to the Connemara would be complete without sampling the best cuisine that peninsula has to offer. Hill-lamb, with its fresh, sweet flavour is a speciality, while seafood lovers will be spoilt for choice with mussels, prawns and more. Locally produced beech-smoked salmon is also well-worth trying and makes a favourable partner to Connemara whiskey, with its fruity, smoky aromas and flavours.

We want to know if you have been here and if so, what was the highlight?

Inhabited since the Stone Age, and with an unusually welcoming climate, the Isles of Scilly lie just 28km off the shore of Cornwall. England’s only archipelago with 145 islands rises in the Celtic Sea (part of the Atlantic Ocean) and it is believed that the small islands once formed a single land mass, before water levels rose circa 400 - 500 A.D. This group of islands is designated as an Area of Natural Beauty and tends to be warmer and milder than the rest of the UK, making the Isles of Scilly into an interesting choice for a short break, or a day trip for visitors based in Penzance. Read the rest of this entry »

Imagine relaxing on a hammock under the shade of a palm tree, listening to waves softly crashing onto the sandy shore. With not a care in the world, your only problem is deciding whether to spend the afternoon snorkelling, sampling tropical fruit cocktails at the beach bar or simply chilling out under those clear blue skies. If this sounds like your dream holiday, then why not make this the year when that fantasy visit to paradise becomes a reality? Here are our top picks for three of the best exotic beach destinations across the globe.

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With their unmistakeable bitter and piquant flavour, capers have long been considered a gourmet treat. Legend has it that Cleopatra considered the tiny caper to have aphrodisiac properties, while other ancient writings suggest that the caper plant was also used for medicinal purposes. Read the rest of this entry »

Summer is fast approaching, and with it people are busy making holiday planes. However, this brings up a great question: Where should you go? Well, there are millions of answers to this question. Since we can’t possibly cover all of them, we are going to cover the top five places you and your family should consider going this summer. Read the rest of this entry »

Located in north-west England, Liverpool is a top destination for a romantic weekend away or short break with friends. Founded in 1207, the city’s eclectic mix of historical architecture provides a fascinating backdrop to its lively modern atmosphere. If you are thinking of booking a self catering getaway in Liverpool, here are five suggestions of things to do during your stay.

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With 1000 kilometres of coastline, Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and has been attracting tourists from across the globe for decades. It is easy to see the appeal of the island - surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea, it benefits from a mild climate, hosts a wealth of significant historic sites and the locals are renown for their friendliness to visitors. The size of the island means that some areas have been developed to provide greater appeal to holiday-makers, while other areas remain typically Cretan. This makes it quite possible for a visitor to get a true taste of the traditions of the island, while still enjoying the modern facilities such as shopping malls and night-life that make a holiday more fun.

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If you enjoy regular holidays as a family, it is quite possible that one day soon, your child or children will pipe up with the question “Mum, can my friend come too?”. Of course, you might feel that this is a complete no-no, and prefer to keep your holidays as quality family only time, however if you are open to the idea there is quite a lot that you should think about before you commit by saying “yes!”.

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Located on the Adriatic coastline, Croatia remains an undiscovered gem for holidaymakers searching for a vacation with a difference.

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