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The Kildare Maze Activity Park
Reigning as Leinster’s largest hedge maze, The Kildare Maze is sure to provide excitement and adventure for families of every age group. Challenging and exciting, families can work together to escape the outdoor maze while also enjoying the park’s alternative entertainment such as the Wooden Maze, Crazy Golf, an Assault Course and Zip Wire. Picnic areas and a snack shop can also be found on site for refreshments. Opens from May to September yearly, as well as during selected school holiday periods. Costs for a family of two adults and two children is €25.00. Children under the age of two go FREE. thekildaremaze.com
KBowl Entertainment Centre
KBowl Enterinment Centre in Naas has all you need to keep kids entertained on a rainy day. Bowling, the Wacky World play zone and arcade games are on offer, ensuring both tiny tots and teens can find enjoyment here. After all the fun, kids can grab a bite to eat in the KDiner to reenergise, while adults can relax here too. kbowl.ie
Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park
Celebrating nature and history, Lullymore Heritage and Discovery Park also has unique appeal for families seeking a brilliant day out. It is the only venue in Ireland offering a thorough insight into the Irish Peatlands and the people who have lived around them. In addition, it has child friendly areas which are state of the art and ideal for children. Indoor and outdoor play areas, a pet farm, treasure hunts and train tips can all be enjoyed here, as well as leisurely trails through the peatlands, where your little ones can run amuck among woodlands and lake sides. They also run popular seasonal events at Christmas, Halloween and Easter, so these are worth keeping an eye out for too. What’s more is there is no time limit on your stay, so your admission lasts for the entire day if you wish. lullymoreheritagepark.com.
Straffan Steam Museum
For those intrigued by trains and engines, this is a must see. Standing near where Inchicore Railway Works once resided, you can spend the day seeing unique exhibits; a display of various engineering, models, historic appliance and mechanical art. After learning about these exquisite inventions, take a stroll around the Lodge Park Walled Garden where exotic flora and plantation make a great natural playground for little ones. Refreshments and snacks can be purchased on site in Steaming Kettle Teahouse, making this an ideal spot to spend an afternoon. Admission from €7.50 per adult and €5.00 per child with family packages also available. steam-museum.com
Theatres
Never underestimate the joy that can be had seeing a show in local theatre! Riverbank Arts Centre and The Moat Theatre run regular shows and it’s always worth keeping an eye out for children’s productions and family friendly performances in their line ups. Be it plays or musicals, a live theatre show is sure to make for a great day’s entertainment for all the family. moattheatre.ticketsolve.com and riverbank.ie.
National Heritage Week
Kildare’s National Heritage Week 2019 runs from August 17-25th and is hosting tons of events across the county to celebrate. As always, family friendly events and activities are in strong supply throughout the celebrations many of which are free of charge. Events include an adventure day with author Johnny Magory featuring a treasure hunt, fishing demonstrations and readings from his book. An ideal week of entertainment for all the family at a low cost. heritageweek.ie.
The Playbarn
A brilliant entertainment centre for tiny tots, The Playbarn caters for kids up to the age of 12 as they have different designated areas for various age groups. Climbing frames, slides and ball pits are all on offer here, as well as a giant Lego section. There is an on-site café for snacks and meals throughout your visit. Playbarn also runs parent and toddler mornings, and is equipped with comfortable relaxation areas with televisions and Wi-Fi so parents can be at ease while their children are at play. Admission from €7.00 for kids under the age of three and €8.00 for kids over three. thepaybarn.com.
