Center parcs - Our perfect day

The center parcs & Tots 100 blogger challenge for January is to describe your family’s perfect day at Center Parcs. Sounds easy, right? I thought so too until I tried to write this post. They offer so much for families, it's actually pretty tough trying to fit all the things you'd like to do into one imaginary day!

For inspiration I looked through the center parcs website and their social media accounts to see what everyone else had been up to! It's worth a look, people share some pretty gorgeous photos. I also checked out these videos to see what other families had been doing whilst at center parcs. I think my favourite video is 'Three families go away together' because it includes so many things we'd like to do as a family at Center Parcs - swimming, bowling, playing outdoors and going to the spa (ok, that one is more for me!)

So, feeling inspired, we set about to plan our perfect family day.

The boys were easy, they both wanted to 'play in the forest' and 'go swimming'. Jakob also wanted to go bowling. He loves bowling anyway, but was mesmerised with the bright colours of the Center Parcs bowling alley!

Me and Ian had slightly different ideas, he would love to do anything fun and adventurous like fencing, quad biking or a tree top adventure. I would much rather chill on a boat on the lake, sit in the swimming pool cabana and treat myself at the spa!

So we tried to work out how we could all do something we enjoyed. 

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Wake up early... the only time i don't mind waking up early is to look out of the glass patio doors and see a deer roaming, bunnies hopping, to open that door breathe in the fresh woodland air, so different of the air I'm used to in London.

I know the boys would be absolutely amazed by this, as they've never been to Center Parcs, and neither has Ian. He doesn't believe me how awesome it is, but maybe if I win this we can prove him wrong? ;)

After breakfast, once everyone is ready we'd start the day slowly, have a wander around the forest, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the nature around us. We may even join in with a 'Ranger's Ramble' - accompanying a conservation ranger around nature trails to discover more about the wildlife and habitats in the forest.

After that Ian would be up for a little more excitement, namely in the form of an Ariel Adventure. While he is completing terrifying sounding challenges (think 'giant spiders web') up in the tree tops, me and the boys will head inside for some pottery painting. Jakob will probably produce a gorgeous, creative, lovingly crafted piece of work that will be taken out to show everyone he sees in the near future, Joshua will probably smear some handprints onto a bit of clay and go looking for the next adventure.

So the boys have finished their ice creams, and we're ready to get out onto the lake! Ian could do all the hard work while I relax, cuddled up to the boys, feeling the gentle waves almost soothe me to sleep! Of course this won't last long, because my boys and sitting still... well, it's almost a contradiction - but I'll enjoy it while it lasts!

We'd then have lunch at the Lakeview restaurant, and afterwards take a slow wander over to the subtropical swimming paradise. Paradise. The perfect word to describe it.

The swimming pool is definitely one of my favourite parts of center parcs, and I can't wait for the boys (the little ones and Ian!) to experience it one day. The boys absolutely love swimming and splashing about in the pool, in fact we'd probably spend all afternoon there so I might as well go ahead and hire a family cabana. Here I could get a few minutes relaxation in between swims, whilst Ian plays with the boys. I might even be lucky enough to read a real life book.

Heading back to our lodge, accompanied by the faint smell of chlorine and wrinkly fingertips, we'd get ready for dinner. The food and atmosphere at Huck's American Bar and Grill is amazing and again, I know the others would love it, so that's where we'll go! The best part is - I get to have a cocktail! A real one, with alcohol in and everything! For the first time in forever I won't be driving home, which will feel amazing - I'll really be able to relax and enjoy the evening with my family.

After dinner, if the boys weren't too tired we'd go bowling. Jakob loves bowling, and although Joshua doesn't love it or hate it, he does love the atmosphere of places like this, surrounded by loads of other people having fun. He's like a contagious little fun-bug.

I'm pretty sure after our day the boys will be exhausted and go to sleep as soon as their heads hit the pillows. This means something awesome. It means me and Ian time. Together. Without tidying the house, washing up, or working. We'll put on the fire, snuggle on the sofa and watch a film together and actually have adult conversation. It will be amazing. In fact, we'll probably end up talking about all the exciting thing's we're going to get up to tomorrow.