This last week has been a clear example of how our lives have changed since having Mini Bite. Two years ago, Mr Bite and I were travelling Scotland, thinking nothing of driving 4+ hours in a day, and walking extensively whatever the weather. Fast forward to now and we just had a week in Suffolk - all of 1.5 hours north of our home - where the key factors in our accommodation choice were the presence of a playground, indoor swimming pool, and animals for Mini Bite to visit. It was a different holiday, although equally enjoyable in its own way.
I suspect this is the start of a phase where our capacity to relax is directly related to Mini Bite's entertainment, and picking family-friendly accommodation was really helpful in that regard. We stayed at
Gladwins Farm and they offer self-contained holiday cottages with full kitchens and everything you might need for small people - toys, plus cots and highchairs if required. In the grounds there is a playground; outside Wendy house; indoor heated pool; indoor games room with an astonishing amount of children's toys plus table tennis and Wii for adults; tennis court; and pigs, goats and chickens.
We stayed in 'Hadleigh' cottage which was very well equipped, useful given we ate all breakfasts and evening meals there. Mr Bite and I loved having the fire, although that was one thing we didn't do until Mini Bite was asleep at night (there was a fire guard, but she showed a firm interest in rattling it).
Whilst we picked the holiday for the accommodation, and proximity to home, we were also impressed by the towns and villages around Suffolk and north Essex. Ipswich and Colchester are the oldest towns in England and the lovely architecture reflects that. Both also had excelkent town centres with sympathetic matching of old buildings with new shops.
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| Ipswich |
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| Ipswich |
The smaller villages were also picturesque and whilst we prefer our Kent countryside (possibly a biased view), the villages were different and more scenic to what we have locally.
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| Dedham |
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| Dedham |
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| Hadleigh |
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| Hadleigh |
The wilds of Scotland it wasn't, but it was an enjoyable week!
What have you been up to this week?
I really enjoyed seeing your photos and hearing about your travels! Those buildings are beautiful! Now that I'm a proud Aunt and able to see how my niece is growing I can look to you and a couple of others as to what to look forward to! Trinity is 5 months now! Shes can't crawl yet but she's able to turn over and shuffle a little! LOL
ReplyDeleteI remember the shuffling phase! :-) Enjoy watching her grow x
DeleteHow wonderful! Thanks for sharing your vacation with us.
ReplyDeleteOur holidays are very different now with child in tow too. We used to love a B&B but not it is more practical to rent a holiday home with a kitchen and we don't get out for evening meals on holidays as much as we used to. Though we are at least past the cots and highchairs phase! Your holiday sounds really lovely - I would love to drive around those villages in what I think is called the Home Counties and am glad to hear there was something for both little kids and big kids (boy, she is growing!)
ReplyDeleteThanks Johanna and I imagine our requirements will continue to evolve over the next, oh, 16 years! It does feel like B&Bs and hotels may be a long way off but at least we liked self-catering options before Mini Bite arrived.
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