Family Fun in Cork

The county of Cork is full of fun for families. Regardless of whether you have smaller children or teenagers, there are plenty of activities to choose from for all ages.

Kids and grown-ups don't always have the same preferences when it comes to entertainment. So finding something that suits the whole family isn't always easy. Going out on a skating rink, though, is something everyone would enjoy. At RollerJam Roller Skate Rink in Ballincollig you can be sure that a good time will be had by all. If you haven't tried roller skating before, this is a perfect opportunity.

Fota Wildlife Park has been awarded as ‘the best family day out activity in Cork and Munster'. It is also the most visited tourist attraction in Cork. At this zoo you can come close to some of the most fascinating animals in the world, like zebra, flamingos and kangaroos, just to mention a few. This is a great opportunity for you to meet animals you may never have the chance to see in the wild. Many of these animals walk around freely making this an unusual and exciting experience for the kids.

Lifetime Lab is situated at Old Cork Waterworks along the River Lee. This is a place to learn about the environment and history in a fun way with an interactive exhibition, themed playground, and beautifully restored buildings and equipment. This is suited for people in every age and is perfect for families, but especially for those with primary school children.

When you're in Cork visiting the famous Blarney Castle is a must. For more than 200 years, this has been one the most popular sights in Ireland, making the nearly 600 year old castle a major landmark. One of the reasons for this is that it contains the Blarney Stone. Rumour has it that if you kiss this stone you will gain the gift of eloquence and never be lost for words again. Wouldn't that be something!

Do you have teenagers and want to test how tough they are? Then make sure you take them to The Nightmare Realm. This is an intense and scary experience and will definitively test how brave both you and your teenagers are. The attraction may be too frightening for smaller children and it's not advised to bring kids younger than 13.

For a less scary, but still heart-pumping experience, you can take a trip to KartWorld for some thrilling karting. With two purpose-built tracks this is a great place to prove who the best driver in the family is. KartWorld also offers other fun activities like paintball, laser tag, laser clays and archery.

If you are in the mood to just relax, then bring your family along to the beautiful Fitzgerald Park on a sunny day. Make sure you pack a blanket and your picnic basket. Don't forget a Frisbee or some other activities to keep the smaller ones entertained. This calm and well-kept park, with ponds, sculptures and even a skateboard park, has been cherished by both locals and visitors for years. Recently, the park has been upgraded and today it looks both colourful and tranquil. The Cork Museum is also located here, which is a public museum with free entry.

Another excellent place to recharge your batteries is at the Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Cork. The hotel offers a spa and fitness centre where you can indulge in treatments and feel instantly rejuvenated while your children play around in the pool area. Located 15 minutes away from Cork city centre, the hotel offers a relaxing haven, but at the same time is close to all of the activities of Cork.