With the kids off school for half term and petrol and diesel prices soaring, many families will naturally be looking for activities to keep their little ones entertained that don’t involve travelling miles or paying a hefty admission fee.
Luckily, for those local to the Cardiff area, there is an abundance of activities on offer to keep the whole family entertained, all within walking distance. Why not set out on your own easter trail this year, seeing how much money you can save and steps you can clock up at the same time?
A Dog’s Trail
New for 2022, an exciting new art trail has taken to the streets of south Wales this Spring. Dog’s Trust’s A Dog’s Trail with Snoopy, features 40 super-sized Snoopy sculptures designed by Welsh and national artists, as well as 75 smaller sculptures created by schools, colleges and community groups, turning South Wales into an outdoor art gallery.
The trail takes visitors through the heart of Cardiff as well as nearby towns of Caerphilly and Porthcawl, raising vital funds to support Dogs Trust’s rehoming centres in Bridgend and Cardiff, helping the 14,000 dogs normally cared for by the charity every year.
The trail is now live until 5 June 2022. To find out more about A Dog’s Trail with Snoopy, visit www.adogstrail.org.uk, or download the interactive app.
Red Dragon Centre
Cardiff Bay’s leading entertainment venue houses a multitude of interactive, lifestyle and food and drink venues including Odeon Cinema, the home of Wales’ only IMAX screen, as well as the Hollywood Bowl.
If you’re following A Dog’s Trail, you’ll pay a visit the Red Dragon Centre this Easter to find one of the giant Snoopy sculptures. While you’re there, check out their Tweet Tree, which will fill the Centre with the sounds of some of the UK’s greatest songbirds, in partnership with Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Cymru.
Children can also join The Wildlife Trust at The Red Dragon Centre on Wednesday 13 April to learn about hedgehogs with some fun, creative activities, as the most famous hedgehog, Sonic, returns to ODEON cinema for Sonic the Hedgehog 2.
Peter Rabbit and Lily will also be visiting the Centre on Good Friday to celebrate Easter weekend.
Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve
Covering over 8 hectares of former salt marsh, Cardiff Bay Wetland Reserve features a rich diversity of plants and animals, including invertebrates, fish and other wildlife.
Located on the northern shore of Cardiff Bay, between the St David’s Hotel and river Taff, the reserve is easily accessible via a gravel walkway and boardwalk.
Young explorers can download and follow the Wildlife Explorer Trail to find the 12 marker posts hidden in and around the reserve.
Pontcanna Fields
One of the city’s earliest recreational grounds, Pontcanna Fields are located just north of Bute Park with the villages of Llandaff and Gabalfa on either side. The 40 acres of green land is perfect for a picnic, run around or ball game, with toilets, cafes and playgrounds all within a stone’s throw.
This Easter, Cardiff Riding School, who are based is Pontcanna Fields, are hosting an Easter egg hunt across the park for children of all ages on Saturday 16 April and Sunday 17 April. Tickets cost £4.90
Bute Park
Perhaps one of Cardiff’s best-know parks, comprising 130 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland right next to the city centre, Bute Park is the perfect stop on your trail of the Capital.
As well as featuring its very own giant Snoopy sculpture as part of A Dog’s Trail by Dog’s Trust, Bute Park offers another ten free-to-follow trails, where visitors can discover the history of the park, learn about our arboretum, hunt for sculptures, play on the woodland trail, and take part in a fitness challenge.
The Park will also be holding a Spring Open Day on 16th April, with a range of free events, talks, tours and demos.
Roath Park
At Roath Park you’ll find a large play park, picnic benches, a lakeside cafe, an ice cream kiosk and plenty of ducks, geese and swans to feed. The park and nearby pleasure gardens are open from 7.30am, to 30 minutes before sunset.
The famous boating lake reopens just in time for Easter, with Parkwood Outdoors managing all activities there. There are both rowboats, four- or six-seater, and pedal boats available for you to explore the lake, with prices starting at £7.
