Ideas for families heading to County Antrim

For slides and climbing frames, the superb 45-acre Ballymena’s People’s Park is a great place to start, plus there's lots of ducks nearby who love to be fed with delicious seeds. Antrim Lough Shore Park on the shores of Lough Neagh has sea-themed playgrounds, a miniature railway and mini-golf for wee pirate adventurers…har-haaar!

If the weekend weather is kind, you could take the older ones to Sandy Bay and hop aboard one of the Island Warrior boat trips to Ram’s Island for an island adventure and picnic or a Carnlough Bay Boat Tour to spot dolphins and seals on the converted ship’s lifeboat ‘Curiosity’. It’s a real hoot at the World of Owls in Randalstown where you can meet fascinating birds of prey up close and personal, or saddle up the perfect pony at Sheans Horse Farm in Armoy. And there is no end of open farms to visit like Watertop Farm in Ballycastle or Carrickfergus Urban Farm for a great day out in the fresh air.

Teens can make a big splash at The Lake Kilrea.  Northern Ireland’s largest water park near Coleraine with loads of inflatables, slides and fresh water lake activities but the 11-acre park is suitable for ages 6 and up. A thrill-a-minute walk on The Gobbins cliff path in Islandmagee will live long in the memory. The Insta pics alone will make them famous!

Ideas for families hitting the Causeway Coastal Route & Glens

On this stunning coastline, a visit to Giant’s Causeway has to be made with your older ones. There is a bit of walking involved on the trails to the stones so they’ll need to be reasonably fit. But the resulting views and pics will be worth the effort. For water fanatics, try kayaking with Causeway Coast Kayaking and see the coast from a unique angle. And of course, a boat trip to Rathlin Island to see the puffins, ‘upside down’ West Light lighthouse and amazing wildlife will stay in their memory banks for a long, long time.

Ideas for families exploring Belfast

For your little explorers The Maritime Mile Treasure Trail is a fun self-guided adventure along 18 stops on the waterfront where they uncover facts and answer questions about what they see – plus a chance to win prizes online! On fine days, Belfast Zoo is always a treat as is Colin Glen with its delightful Gruffalo Story Walk where they get to meet characters from everyone’s favourite storybook on this charming walking trail.

Curious older minds gravitate to W5, a must-see interactive experience. With eight zones packed with over 250 interactive exhibits to excite and inspire, it’s a no-brainer for families with kids from 6 years old and upwards. Not far outside the city, you can take them on fun and thrilling mountain biking trails in Barnett Demense where different coloured trails will suit all abilities. Or pay a visit to Streamvale Open Farm and hold cute little chicks, feed the rabbits, visit the deer – or maybe take a tractor ride for the first time!

Ideas for families touring around County Armagh

For great family days out and fun for the small ones, simply head to Gosford Forest Park outside Markethill and enjoy the Little Explorers playpark for the under-5s or Squirrels Drey for the over 7s. Hop across to the hidden gem of Lurgan Park - all 259 acres of it – will keep them occupied for the day too as will the wee delights of the playground and walking trails of the Palace Demesne Public Park in Armagh.

You can’t leave the Orchard County without a trip to Slieve Gullion Forest Park where all ages are covered with The Giant’s Lair Children’s Story Trail to keep the young ones enthralled and the action-packed Adventure Playpark for the older ones. Check out the state-of-the-art play park at the People's Park in Portadown too or let Oxford Island in Craigavon spoil you with miles of walking paths, ponds, birdwatching hides and meadows.

For budding stargazers, Armagh Observatory & Planetarium is out of this world for indoor fun. And for some outdoor adventure, they can learn all about Cuchulainn and his warrior gang - and meet ‘Iron Age Celts’ in person - at The Navan Centre and Fort.

Ideas for families visiting County Down

With superb forest parks like Rowallane Garden there’s loads of fun to be had on the climbing wall, fireman’s pole, rope-bridge – there’s even a giant spider at ‘Animal Wood’ in Castlewellan Forest Park, and don’t forget the mind-boggling Peace Maze there too. Between Bangor and Holywood is Crawfordsburn Country Park where kids can choose between the natural play area or spotting hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, seals and herons.

If you’re out Downpatrick way, get your gang into Delamont Country Park for adventure playground fun or a chug around on the miniature railway. Which reminds us that The Ulster Transport Museum is well worth a visit too with its collection of amazing machines including the iconic Delorean car! The fun never stops at Bangor’s Pickie Funpark which is great on sunny days with an outdoor paddling pool and big sand pit for playing, plus swan-shaped pedaloes for everyone to enjoy. Elsewhere you can just let those little and large imaginations run wild on the Narnia Trail or have a gentler time on the Fairy Glen walk at Kilbroney Park in gorgeous Rostrevor.

Ideas for families holidaying in County Londonderry

A few miles south, Jungle NI is choc-a-bloc with exciting activities, like a Tarzan treetop adventure course.

For your older crew (and even yourselves) Far and Wild run bespoke urban and wild adventures such as city rollerblading and paddleboarding, or moonlight kayaking and wild hiking and biking experiences.

Ideas for families aiming for County Fermanagh

Fermanagh is lakelands heaven, so naturally there’s lot of water-based family adventures waiting for you. Take a trip on Lough Erne on the MV Kestrel waterbus or aim for Share Discovery Village which works for the inclusion of disabled and non-disabled people and the perfect spot for thrilling outdoor activities. You’ll find soft play areas for the wee ones next to Enniskillen’s Lakeland Forum while your older kids will spend the day in tunnels, slides, swings and net climbers. If that doesn’t tire them out, Cuilcagh Boardwalk & Marble Arch Caves will, and is always a memory-packed visit for everyone with its awesome subterranean caves, sinkholes and rivers, or the gorges, waterfalls and ancient woodlands above ground.

Ideas for families spending time in County Tyrone

As our largest county, Tyrone is the daddy when it comes to fun and adventure. For high energy stuff, the award-winning Todds Leap has over 20 action-packed activities including off-road driving, 500-metre zipline, freefall drop-zone…and the Big Yella slide. Kids who love mountain biking will love Davagh Forest with its fast red trails but there are family-friendly trails too - or give the short skills course a go. Or aim instead for Blessingbourne Country Estate to meet working farm animals and they can bring their bikes along too to bop along on the fun bike trails.

Make memories at An Creagán nestled in the ancient and majestic Sperrins foothills, where you can follow the river, forest and wildlife trails or dive into a day of mini-adventures, with bike hire, an adventure playground, on-site café and all you need for a family picnic by the community garden and pond. Why not step back in time at the Ulster American Folk Park where you can learn all about the brave emigrants who left for America hundreds of years ago. Meet costumed characters with stories to tell of life before mechanisation, household appliances and TV – your kids will gasp in horror – step on board a life-size ship or grab a selfie in period costume. And of course, a family picnic in the stunning woodland tranquillity of Gortin Glen Forest Park nestled nicely in the Sperrins is one of life’s simple pleasures

Like we said, loads to do for families with kids of all ages. Your only problem is which thing to do first…thankfully we don’t have to work that one out for you. But do share your experiences with us on our hashtag #MyGiantAdventure… when you figure it out!