Emma at Sea Breeze Cafe
Emma at Sea Breeze Cafe
Family Favourites - October 201
Recently we have discovered Avon Mill Garden Centre near Loddiswell. My kids like a little wander around the shops on a rainy day, and they enjoy looking at the plants and things for sale. When little hands cannot look anymore, then there is a lovely table of colouring in for them to sit down at, in a gorgeous undercover area in amongst the beautiful things for sale.
The café is child friendly, with loads of delicious things to eat, a menu suitable for little people, a toy basket in the corner by the door and plenty of high chairs. There always seem to be plenty of grannies and grandads and families in there, which makes me happy to take my unruly monkeys along with me.
If you can ever snatch a moment without the kids this is a really great place to sit, eat and shop, with galleries, a clothing boutique and a fantastic deli, as well as the usual garden centre plants and gardening kit for sale. The French man in the deli is particularly enthusiastic about his produce and always wants to advise on what the children might like to eat (the last thing was a jar of French caramel sauce for ice-cream, croissant, brioche or toast!) Soon we will be investigating the riverside/meadow walks from Avon Mill as it is right on the footpath along the river – more to come on walks at Avon Mill but so far we love it there.
A while ago, during one of the times my daughter Emma and I had a moment together without Tom and the dog, we headed to Dartington to the clay shop there. Mary, who runs Crazy About Clay, is one of the most patient and enthusiastic teachers you could ever hope to meet. Emma was probably only four when we went over there, and she produced a beautiful heart shaped bowl, which is now glazed and fired and is in daily use in our house. This is a really lovely activity for the autumn, as the studio is indoors, warm and so friendly. Crazy About Clay is at The Shops at Dartington, right next to the toyshop, and it is opposite the play area and just off the footpath down to the river walks. So, if the weather is nice, add a river walk and a play to your outing and you will not be disappointed.
We have spent a lot of time this summer on Slapton Sands, because it is so beautiful there, but also for other practical reasons such as easy parking, the beach is dog-friendly, there are ducks to feed in Torcross and so on. We will continue to head to Torcross as the weather gets cooler, because despite the greyer days we still need to walk the dog and let the kiddies get some fresh air. They really like going to Torcross and making the most of the flat walk along the promenade, because they can bike/scoot safely along the front and then have a little play on the beach and not be too far from the car if it starts raining.
One of our favourite stops at Torcross (after our walk, of course) is the Sea Breeze Café. Ideally we sit outside (Emma calls this the orange umbrella café) but inside is also lovely, with a great coastal vibe and decorated with blues and white. You really feel you are beside the sea. The staff are very child friendly in this café. They always chat with the children. They have toys and books available and a menu that is good for all ages. I highly recommend this café to anyone, with or without the family (www.seabreezebreaks.com).
Sometimes when the weather has been really awful for days and days on end and my husband has been at sea for a long time, and I am feeling really cooped up with the dog and the kids, we head to Goodrington Sands for our doggy walk and fresh air. Part of the beach is dog friendly all year round (North Sands) and there is a large expanse of promenade to enjoy, which is easy for bikes, scooters, pushchairs and running along. On a lovely day this is a good place to go. I mention it because it is generally mud free and an easy place to take the kids to play. After the cobwebs have blown away we sometimes go to the Inn on the Quay. There is a small soft play area and the food is good (amazing ice cream sundaes) and reasonably priced with a good range of food for children. It is not the healthiest place in the world to eat but sometimes we just need a break - here the children can play, you can drink coffee and eat cake and everyone has a good time. It does not cost a fortune. Have fun on the beach!
First published October 2013 By The Dart