Rain or Shine, Coast or Trail: Your 42 days of boredom busting summer plan

Kelly
4 hours ago
8 min read

The summer holidays is upon us and parents get way too stressed out trying to think of things to do to keep everyone happy. My youngest is 14 and I still stress about making sure we have plenty of things planned. Obviously you will need to plan for the weather as it can be unpredictable.

So, I have put together a guide to try and help you plan a day out. In this guide I have included:

Six ideas for something Coastal

Six ideas for a Budget day out

Six ideas for a trail

Six ideas for a history day out

Six ideas for something Teenager friendly

Six ideas for a walk

Six rainy day ideas

That's one thing each day for the six weeks. Check out my ideas below

Week 1

Coastal Idea

Seaburn - Head to the beach and build sandcastles, collect shells. You could pop over the road (behind the Seaburn inn) and check out the newish play area if you fancy spending a few 2ps you could head to the arcades

Budget Idea

Hancock Museum - This is a fantastic museum full of History including Romans, Dinosaurs, Egyptian and more. There are some fab trails you can take part in too.

Rainy Day Idea

Life Centre Newcastle - One of the best attractions in Newcastle. Over the summer holidays it will be running a dinosaur event which looks fantastic but it also has all of the other brilliant activities running too (Keep an eye out because they sometimes offer UC discounts for Summer)

Trail

Room On The Broom Trail at Hamsterley Forest - We have been visiting Hamsterley for years and the trails are always fantastic. There's a charge for car parking but you can do the trail without spending any money or if you really want to you can purchase a trail pack which is usually around £5

History day out

Warkworth Castle is a brilliant day out, its free for any English Heritage members ( check out my deals post for discounts) or you can pay entry on the day for non members. There's always trails and events on for kids plus you can explore inside of the castle, have a picnic and just have a lush day out. We like to wander around the village and walk up to the coast too (you can drive up if you prefer)

Teen Friendly

Air Trail Tees Barrage is the place to be for any adrenaline mad teenagers who love to climb. You get some epic views from the top too. There's also a trail you can do if you fancy walking off those wobbly legs after climbing.

Week 2

Coastal

Tynemouth - Regularly voted as one of the best beaches, there are also play areas and arcades you can enjoy.

Budget

Discovery Museum is another fantastic free entry museum in the centre of Newcastle. It has so much to see including the very popular Big Science room on the top floor There's always crafts and extra activities running throughout the summer holidays.

Rainy

Head to your local Cinema - Omniplex, Vue and Cineworld always have special deals throughout the summer holidays.

Trail

Gibside NT - National Trust trails are always really well thought out and Gibside is the perfect place to let off some steam because not only do they have brilliant trails they always have out door games in the walled garden, den building, high ropes trail and some lush walks.

History day out

Belsay Hall, Castle & Gardens has to be on your list this summer. There's so much to do from exploring the Castle, running through the gardens, admiring the hall and enjoying the new ish epic play area

Teen Friendly

Head to a climbing Wall and let them burn some energy. There are brilliant facilities in Sunderland, Newcastle & Durham

Walk

Herrington Country Park is a really good place to head for all ages. There are walks, woodland, play area, bike park, nature reserve and more. Create a scavenger hunt and enjoy the great outdoors.

Week 3

Coastal

Seaham Beaches are fantastic for sea glass hunting and there are some fab walks you can do too.

Budget Friendly

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens is a really underrated museum in my opinion it has loads to see from local history. They always have crafts, trails and more on offer over the summer. There's also the winter gardens where you can spot dinosaurs and watch the fish. Plus its all free entry. Don't forget Mowbray park, it has a brilliant updated play area and some lovely gardens to explore.

Rainy Day idea

Locomotion is brilliant! It has so many trains to look at and now has another shed full of engines to admire. In the main shed there's always a craft station set up for the kids to enjoy. There's also a play area and walks.

Trail

National Trust Ormesby Hall is always a good shout when you have kids. The house isn't massive so doesn't feel overwhelming and they always have a fantastic trail throughout summer including garden games.

History day out

Raby Castle is somewhere everyone should visit at least once. The castle itself is beautiful inside and out. There's so many rooms to enjoy and outside there's a large walled garden and deer park.

Teenager friendly

Go karting at Teamsport karting , my teens absolutely loved this and had so much fun. There's even darts and other games available too.

Walk

Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve - there are various ponds to walk around, trails to follow and so many birds to see. Feel free to take along some seed to dot around on the fence posts but please don't take bread. (this is not nutritional and it attracts rats which are dangerous to nesting birds and their eggs)

Week 4

Coastal

Beadnell Beach is one of my favourites, it can get busy but if you just walk a little bit away from the entrance it tends to be quieter. The sand is gorgeous here and perfect for epic sandcastle building

Budget friendly

Dorman Museum - Middlesbrough is a really good museum and has quite a lot packed into it. There's also a fantastic new display set in the dome of the building. You can combine this visit with Albert park, right next door which has a fab play area, fields, gardens, walks and even a roller rink area.

Rainy day idea

Bowling - The North East has some brilliant Bowling alleys. It kills a few hours and its great fun

Trail

Solar System Trail - York, now this isn't one I've done yet, its on my list but it looks brilliant. Its also free.

History day out

The Bowes Museum - I absolutely love visiting Bowes Museum. There's some epic artworks, currently a brilliant exhibition on Vivienne Westwood and her collection, play area, woodland walk, gardens and not forgetting the impressive silver swan. It also has a separate craft room, a chill out room and there's an art trolley at the door as you go in with activities. Your ticket also lasts the full year.

Teenager friendly

Theme Park visit - Most teens love the adrenaline rush a theme park gives you. Our favourites are Alton Towers and Flamingo Land.

Walk

Lambton Park offers some really picturesque walks through the grounds. There are a few walking routes to choose from so you can make it as easy or as hard as you like.

Week 5

Coastal

Druridge Bay - You can absolutely have a full day out here, there's an amazing coastline, play area and walks and there's even a café on site too.

Budget Friendly

South Shields Museum - There's plenty to learn about, pets corner, hands on activities and more. You could combine it with a visit to the park or even Arbeia Roman fort and you wont spend a penny!

Rainy Day

Eden Camp should be on your list! It is epic. There's so much to see and do you wont get bored plus you go in and out of each hut so its a good rainy day idea but further away for most of us making it feel like an adventure.

Trail

High Force Waterfall always has brilliant trails running throughout the year. You can complete the trail as you walk down to admire the waterfall and then if you feel up to it head up the steps and through the woods to complete the trail.

History day out

Alnwick Castle is a great day out with the castle to explore, broomstick training, dragons and so much more. You could combine with Alnwick Gardens or even Lilidorei

Teenager Friendly

A bit further afield but I Fly Manchester is a brilliant option for teenagers - We visited a few years ago and the boys had so much fun (well, Toby did Elliot didn't like it!) It doesn't last very long but it is definitely an experience I think teens would love. If you do head down you could also take part in the Pac Man experience which again was so much fun or even the crystal maze experience which was amazing!

Walk

Hannah's Meadow is a beautiful place to go for a walk, there are no facilities so please prepare but its a fantastic walk.

Week 6

Coastal

South Shields - I love walking along the coast here, especially later on in the day with the dogs but if you are looking for a family day out then it is perfect. Budget days out you can just chill on the beach, build sandcastles and you can even grab a bag of seed, head to the park and feed the birds.

Budget

Grace Darling Museum in Northumberland is small but well worth a visit. It is so interesting. Its free entry, there's also a lovely church across the road, Bamburgh walled garden with a play area or of course the epic coast line all free.

Rainy day

Crazy golf is always a popular option in this house hold - our favourites are Hole in wand - Dalton Park or Treetop Golf in the Metrocentre.

Trail

You could pick up a self guided treasure trail and head out on an adventure.

History day out

Kiplin Hall is one of my go to places for a wander, the house is steeped in history (it even has a block of wood that is supposed to be from a beheading of a monarch) there's gorgeous gardens, woodland walk, walks around the lake and buckets of fun dotted around the site.

Teenager Friendly

Pack up those mountain bikes (or hire one) and head to your favourite bike trail. Kielder forest is fantastic!

Walk

Sunderland Sculpture Trail is a gorgeous walk along the marina and you can walk as far as you want. There are some lovely sculptures to see. You could call into the National Glass Centre (this is set to close in July thanks to the university refusing to fix the building) hopefully it stays open.