Table of Contents
Combining a Nature Trail With Indoor Play for a Perfect Family Day
Image via Pixels
Want to plan a family day out that ticks every single box?
Combine a nature trail with indoor play. It may be the perfect combination you have been searching for. Allows the kids:
- Fresh air and adventure
- Energy-burning play time
- A proper break from screens
And wait for it…..this puppy works in any condition. Rain or Shine. Life is good.
In this article you will discover how to combine all of these activities into one amazing day. Ready? Let’s go!
What you’ll discover:
- Why A Mixed Day Beats A Single Activity
- Planning Your Nature Trail Adventure
- Getting Real Value From Soft Play Admission
- How To Structure The Perfect Family Day
- Smart Tips For A Stress-Free Visit
Why A Mixed Day Beats A Single Activity
Picking one type of activity for a family day out is hard work.
Children lose interest fast. Adults need breaks too. Plus, no one likes driving 45 minutes to an activity that ends up not being worthwhile.
That’s where the mixed day comes in.
Combine a nature trail with indoor play and you have something for everyone. Kids work up a sweat outdoors romping in nature. They have a cushy landing indoors when wee ones tire (or weather changes).
Evidence suggests as much too. Research from the National Trust reveals that 76% of children want to be outdoors more yet get asked how they want to spend their time outside one day a week or less on average. Mixing up your days out will help you close that gap so they’re not feeling force fed nature.
Looking for a great place to see this in action? Head over to Apley Playbarn in Shropshire. Here you’ll find woodland walks and farm animals complement soft play indoors. Your soft play admission covers entry to the climbing frames, slides and toddler areas. As well as exploring the adventure playground, there are walks through fields and woodland on the rest of the estate.
It really is that simple. One trip, two completely different types of fun.
Planning Your Nature Trail Adventure
Before you head out the door… A little planning goes a long way.
Great family nature trails are short, have lots of “stop and look” spots, and are intriguing. Don’t plan on hiking 5 miles. Find a loop that your kids will love.
Here’s what to look for in a great family trail:
- A flat or gentle path (pushchair friendly is a big plus)
- Loads of wildlife spotting opportunities
- Benches or rest stops along the way
- A clear loop that takes no more than an hour
When you decide on your route, prep the children. Tell them what they should keep an eye out for – birds, squirrels, ladybirds, leaves of different shapes. It turns your walk into a mini treasure hunt.
Even a basic scavenger hunt list is magic. Grab a copy, hand it to the children and send them off. Include items such as 3x different colour leaves, a pinecone, feather, something rough and something smooth.
Pretty cool, right?
When you reach the end of the trail, your kids have exercised creativity, expended some energy and learned something along the way. Win-win-win!
Getting Real Value From Soft Play Admission
Once the outdoor play portion is done… It’s time to head inside.
Soft play is heaven for children. Climbing frames, ball pits slides tunnels etc. The works. All in one safe place. And best of all…You get to sit down with a coffee.
But here’s the thing…
Timing is everything when it comes to maximising value from your soft play admission. Booking straight from a big walk to 3x hours of climbing is too much stamina for most young children. They’ll become exhausted, miserable and your whole day is ruined.
Don’t double-book your day. Pack a snack somewhere between the trailhead and the playground. Allow the kids some downtime for 15-20 minutes. Then send them on their way.
Top tips for making soft play admission stretch further:
- Visit on weekday mornings if you can – they are quieter
- Pack a change of clothes (socks are mandatory!)
- Set a “wind down” time before you leave
- Take advantage of any family ticket discounts
The best prices are usually when you arrive early and play for several hours. So plan on making a day of it.
How To Structure The Perfect Family Day
Now to put it all together.
Order of the day is more important than you realize. Get it correct = happy children. Get it wrong = tantrum before noon.
Here’s the structure that works best:
- Morning (9-11am): Start with the nature trail while everyone has fresh legs
- Late morning (11-12pm): Snack break at a picnic spot
- Lunch (12-1pm): Eat properly before heading indoors
- Afternoon (1-4pm): Soft play and indoor fun
- Wind down (4-5pm): Head home before the tired tears kick in
This works because it caters to the kids’ energy. They’re most patient first thing in the morning when you want them to walk. By afternoon they just want to climb all over the place.
Number one is doing soft play before anything else. The reason? Once the children have had their runaround indoors… They won’t want to go for what they perceive as a “boring walk”.
Why does this matter? Because outdoor play is severely lacking. The statistic is that according to one C.S. Mott poll, 1 in 10 young children spend just once a week outside or less.
Smart Tips For A Stress-Free Visit
Now onto the tips they don’t tell you about family days out. Little things that can turn a great day out into a stressful day.
Top stress-saving tips:
- Check the venue website before you go (opening hours change)
- Book online where possible to skip the queue
- Bring layers – outdoor weather and indoor heating clash
- Pack hand wipes (very handy on muddy days)
- Have a backup snack stash in the car
It’s information that sounds like common sense. Until you leave the wipes behind after a muddy walk and ice cream stop… you get it engraved.
Final Thoughts
Combining a nature trail with indoor play really is the perfect family day formula.
You get:
- Outdoor adventure and fresh air
- Indoor fun when energy is high
- Variety that keeps everyone happy
- Great value when you pair the activities
Family days out don’t have to be difficult. With some planning and finding the right venue, you can provide your children with a memorable day.
Ok. Choose a day, find somewhere that has trails and a course, and go do it. Sounds like a day well spent.
