Christmas Experiences for all the Family

Christmas is the most wonderful holiday of the year to spend much needed time with your family and friends. So why not give the gift of experience and enjoy making special memories together with our top picks for adventure days out and much more this Christmas!

As Christmas creeps closer we are all starting to think (and perhaps panic a little) about the same thing – what presents should I get everyone this year?! Well, this year we think the best gift is the gift of time, and more specifically, time with your family. So, to make life that little bit easier for you, we have hand-picked the best experiences in Devon and Cornwall for you and your loved ones to enjoy.

Devon and Cornwall are packed with exciting experiences that your family will love this Christmas. We have relaxing and pampering days for those that deserve a break, adventure days that will be sure to give you an adrenaline rush, and fun-filled family days that the kids are sure to remember.

Meet the man himself, Santa is coming to the Eden Project!

The best magical moments and unmissable experiences are waiting for you and your family this Christmas at the Eden Project. Meet Father Christmas’ Eden camp and sing along with his little band of elves. Take a spin (and perhaps a slip) on the ice rink, do a little festive shopping at the gift shop, and finish the day by enjoying an unmissable after-dark experience across the beautiful Eden gardens.

Bounce your way into the new year this holiday period!

We all have that one family member who is so excited on Christmas morning they can’t help but bounce about, well this year why not help them bounce higher at Super Tramp, Plymouth’s number 1 Trampoline Park! With over 50 trampolines they offer a great day out for the whole family to enjoy together. Check out their website and book you place for hours of family fun and hop, skip, and jump your way into the new year!

Keeping it chill with snow sports this year.

Perhaps you want to keep with the theme of Christmas and spend time on the (fake) snow, in which case how about treating your family to a day at Plymouth Snowsport Centre. They offer skiers and snowboarders of all levels the facilities to learn and develop their ski and snowboard skills with qualified instructors. If skiing and snowboarding aren’t your thing then you can spend a day out with the family getting stuck into snow-tubing, tobogganing and viper dropping. Winter really is ‘snow’ much fun!

Forget the snow, point me to the tropical paradise!

Maybe you want to forget the cold weather and want to experience a tropical paradise for the day. In which case don’t forget Plymouth’s brand new Adventure Golf. Why not ‘swing’ by the UK’s leading indoor adventure golf company for a day of family fun at Paradise Island Adventure Golf. You’ll find two 18 hole indoor adventure golf courses spanning across 16,000 sq/ft of tropical utopia where you and your family can explore the deadly jungle together!

Hold on for deer life!

For a lot of people Christmas is the highlight of the year, so this year, why not send them even higher with Aerosaurus Balloons! Aerosaurus Balloons are the largest hot air balloon company in the West Country. Available for all ages, everyone can enjoy the experience of a lifetime offering some of the most spectacular views in the UK. You can travel with a loved one or as a group, so why not join Santa in the sky this year and see the festive season from up high! To find out more head to www.ballooning.co.uk.

Sing and dance and create a magical experience for the whole family!

How about some extra Christmas magic this year? You and your loved ones could enjoy a magical experience at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal. Start the day off right by relaxing in a stylish and contemporary setting and enjoy lunch or dinner in The Apron, and enjoy the view of Royal Parade. Once you are finished dining it’s time to see this year’s must-see production of Cinderella, the Fairy Godmother of all pantomimes! You and your family shall go to the ball with this spectacular family panto that will be the experience your Christmas needs!

Cinderella will feature star casting, laugh-out-loud comedy, stunning special effects, and to top it of give you and your family the chance to join in and sing and dance to your hearts content. Cinderella will be in theatre from the 20th December to the 18th January, so head to theatreroyal.com to get booking for a new fabulous family experience this year!

Treat your loved one with the gift of relaxation and pure pampering.

Do you know someone who has worked super hard this year and deserves to be spoilt? If the answer is yes, we have the perfect gift ideas that will be sure to make them feel special this Christmas, and the best part is you get to join them too!

The Voyage Spa in Plymouth offers various spa days which include full use of the spa facilities, heated swimming pool, steam room, sauna, fitness suite, speciality showers and a hydrotherapy pool. Plus, with three luxurious beauty therapy rooms, the spa offers manicures, pedicures, traditional massage, reflexology and a selection of spa speciality treatments too! Combine this with either lunch at Thurlestone Hotel’s Terrace Bar or an indulgent afternoon tea, and voilà, you have the perfect pampering gift that you and your loved one can enjoy together. Visit www.thurlestone.co.uk to find out more and book.

It’s the most wine-derful time of the year!

Maybe you know someone who needs a break from the everyday cooking chaos that takes place every evening after a busy work day. What could be a better gift than spoiling them to a tasty meal out!

Devon and Cornwall offer a scrumptious selection of restaurants, including Kuku, a Japanese Cusine restaurant in Plymouth. Kuku are celebrating Christmas this year with exclusive Christmas menus, designed to make everyone feel festive, with a Japanese twist! Whether the gift is intended for a romantic date, or as part of a family and friends group, their signature tasting menus are a great alternative to the usual gift-giving experience. Check out their Christmas menu online and reserve your table this year for a totally new Christmas experience to remember.

What better way to spend time with your loved ones – a holiday of course!

Perhaps you can’t afford to give your loved ones a pre-paid holiday package, but what you can do is start a savings pot. Why not wash-up one of those old jam jars and get creative with it – stickers, glitters, ribbons, anything to make it truly personal. Once you are done getting sticky, pop some money inside and attach a note about the holiday you want to save up for and share with them. It may not seem like much now, but just wait until you are away on a beach in the Carribean or hitting it up in Vegas, spending each and every day with your loved ones – it will be so worth it!

Instead of pushing your way through the crowds of people in the shopping malls all scrambling to find the ‘perfect’ gift this Christmas, why not spend that time being around the ones you love and enjoy a new experience together that you can remember in years to come. We hope you have some fabulous festive fun and have your ‘elf a merry little Christmas.