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Family Favourites - China Blue
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Family Favourites - Riviera Centre Swimming Pool
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Family Favourites - Steamer Quay, Totnes
Family Favourites - March 2014
We have just spent a lovely afternoon in Totnes, firstly walking along the river at Steamer Quay and then painting ceramics at China Blue.
When you fancy a pushchair walk or a toddler friendly wander, then head to the car park at Steamer Quay. It is a beautiful riverside walk, known as an Access for All Path, because it is designed to be suitable for anyone, of any age or mobility.
It is a very short walk from the car park to the end of the path, but it always takes us well over an hour because we have a snack on the benches at the end of the path (where you have to turn round) and if it’s dry enough we mess about on the grass and under the trees. We saw a seal playing up there not very long ago while we were sitting on the bench with our flask of hot chocolate. It swam around in front of us for a good five minutes. A real treat, all to ourselves. The path is a bit muddy in winter and was a bit puddley this weekend, but with wellies and scooters it was a perfect winter walk.
From Steamer Quay we headed to China Blue, to warm up a bit and paint some ceramics for presents. There is a huge selection of ceramics to choose from here and the kids were so excited choosing what they wanted to paint. Tom ended up with a dinosaur and Emma and her friend both had butterflies and hearts. The staff pretty much let you get on with it yourselves: there are rolls of aprons and pots of paint and brushes on every table. We had a happy half-hour of painting and fun.
It seemed quite a pricey activity, but if you think about keeping the ceramics for a life time, then for me it was fully justified. They do party packages and you can have drinks and snacks in the ceramics studio (from the café downstairs) – it is a very easy place to go and spend some time! A word of warning though – don’t expect to paint a present for someone and walk away with it immediately, it takes a week to fire the glaze.
After painting our ceramics we went into the café, where the staff were lovely and helpful, children are warmly welcomed and the atmosphere is great. We sat in the blazing sunshine in the conservatory, and felt as if we were on holiday. If you are an adult on your own, the home store is amazing, definitely a place to spend a happy hour browsing, but with kids (or my kind of kids) we had to steer them as quickly as possible away from all the beautiful things! For more information look at www.china-blue.co.uk.
Recently a friend with an eight year old recommended the Riviera Centre swimming pool in Torquay. We have now been a number of times. The pool is fantastic for younger children, as it is a beach entry style pool, which means that toddlers and babies can sit or walk in the shallows but older kids can go deeper and deeper or swim properly, depending on their ability. There is a variety of water fountains to play with or stand under, a pirate slide for the under fours, and a flume for older children.
There is a safe area at the side of the main pool for littleys to play in and also an area up a few steps for toddlers to have to themselves. Best of all though is the wave machine, which comes on every half an hour, and even the weeney children seemed to be loving this, sitting in the shallows and watching the waves come up around them. I highly recommend a visit to this pool, especially in the winter in the morning when the sun floods in through the huge windows, and you feel as if you’re abroad! In terms of practicalities, there is a large pay and display car park (if you take the voucher off the side of your ticket you can get some of your parking money refunded towards the cost of your swim, or to use in the café.) and the centre is well sign posted in Torquay. Look at www.rivieracentre.co.uk.
First published By The Dart March 2014
