As one of the UK's most popular family holiday destinations, Devon provides many family attractions. Some are farm based, some are adventure based, some are quirky, and some are huge attractions that cater to all age groups. As a Devon native, I've visited many, and these are my favourite family attractions for visiting with toddlers.
1) Living Coasts, Torquay
This coastal zoo's small size makes it well suited for a half day visit, and ideal for a toddler's attention span, as well as older children. Designed for sea birds and coastal wildlife, it has penguins, which are always popular!
2) Haldon Forest Park, Kennford (south west of Exeter)
Haldon Forest Park has a family play trail with a playground (best for slightly older children) at the beginning, little wooden buildings, playgrounds and sculptures dotted around in the middle, and giant wooden musical instruments for the children to play with at the other end.
The trail itself is quite long, making 2 - 3 hours' walk with small children, so bring outdoor clothes, plenty of supplies and a sturdy pushchair if you're planning to walk the whole way round.
3) World of Country Life, Exmouth
World of Country Life is big enough for a whole day out, and has many indoor and outdoor play areas suitable for toddlers, including outdoor playgrounds and play houses, and indoor soft play areas for different age groups, with ball pits and ride on toys for the little ones. They also have areas with farm animals and pets, and a mini train ride to feed llamas.
4) National Marine Aquarium, Plymouth
The National Marine Aquarium is built on several floors, and you start at the top, where there is a children's soft play area and cafe (be warned - if you've paid to get in, you might want to whizz through that part and leave it till after-wards!)
The top floor is aimed more at older children, but the next one down has a tank for coastal animals and plants along one side of a room, at just at the right level for toddlers to look into, with a rock pool area in the middle. You'll need to lift up toddlers to look in the tanks along the next corridor, but around the corner there is a huge two storey room with a fish tank taking up the whole wall, and model whales overhead.
Corridors from this room lead to the shark exhibit, the coral reefs exhibit, and of course the lift, which has buttons to push and a colour-changing waterfall - probably at least as interesting to toddlers as the fish themselves!
5) Beer Pecorama
Beer Pecorama has rides on little trains - need I say more! Toddlers will have fun exploring all the hidden pathways, and you'll find it also has some very pleasant walled garden areas, outdoor playgrounds, an indoor area with model trains, and a stage area for children's entertainment.
Given the many excellent family attractions provided in Devon, I know this list is nowhere near complete, but I hope it might be a good starting point for those with very young children. Devon can be a great family holiday destination for all ages, so if you're planning a family holiday in Devon, I hope you and your toddlers have lots of fun there!
For more information about family attractions and family holidays in Devon, visit Stairway to Devon: the local Devon directory and travel guide for holidays in Devon.
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