Adventures dont always have to be expensive. No matter where you can always find a fun adventures. Here’s some of our favourites in north essex. From beach adventures, days at a free farm to play on penny machines we love a cheap day out.
Our family is most happy when we are at the beach. We are lucky that we have use of a beach hut so we go there quite often but we do love visiting over beaches. Stanley loves a spot of fishing, while the younger to love playing around in the sand. In the summer we love a swim in the sea and a bit of crabbing. Our favourite beaches are Holland-on-sea, Walton-On-Naze, East Mersea, Martello bay (Clacton), Brightlingsea and we have a new found love for Wrabness. Every beach adventure is never the same, sometimes we take packed lunch, other times a camping stove and we grab food while we are out. We love searching for fossils and “interesting things” as the kids call it. We also often take our litter pickers too! We have found sharks teeth, washed up jellyfish & fish, aswell of finding alot of living creatures too. We even got the cutest baby seal rescued last summer.
Next is Hall Farm this farm is 100% free to visit and the kids absolutely love it. The farm has pigs, chickens, Guinea pigs, sheep, peonies, goats, geese and highland cattle! On top of this they have fun little ride on toys, a play castle and tractors you can sit on. For a small charge you can buy a bag of food and mini golf. On peak days these a little cafe too. You can take dogs with you to the farm which is a big bonus for us. They also have a lovely farm shop and restaurant. P.s. most the year wellies are a must!
Next is out raining day cheap favourite a trip to the arcades with just £2 each to play on the 2p machines. We all love it! After many tried and tested penny machines we have to say you get most for your money on Clacton pier. Everytime we go the kids win little prize and than use the tokens to exchange for sweets. Who doesnt love winning 😜 see my previous blog about clacton pier.
A trip to a free museums is always good the kids love a bus trip to colchester. Which has too free 2 free museums just on the entrance to the castle park. Holytrees museum is a toy museum mixed with a bit of history and some clocks. These bits to play with in every room and you can even dress up as a servant. Across the road is the Natural History museum full of fossil, bones and all kinds of interesting things. The host a special events in half term also.
Right outside these the castle park which is always fun with its 2 parks, fish pond, boating lake and the squirrels love being feed a monkey nut. There are events on all throughout the year some are free and the charges vary. Then of course these the amazing castle which is reasonably price. If you live in the co postcode you claim a years pass when you buy a day ticket.
We also love to go walking and having a picnic. Here is a few of our favourite places to walk.
Dedham and Flatford is a big hit these so many different routes you can take through the stunning countryside. In the summer you can even have a paddle or go on a row boat. We also love a stroll into Dedham town with the beautiful church market full of goodies and art. We also love to pop in the nicest charity ever on the high street. Always full of bargains! If the kids are lucky or grab from the essex rose, the are so creamy!
Wivenhoe is also amazing to walk around and is right on our doorstep. These woodland, farm and river walks. Our recent favourite is a walk along the river to the hythe to grab a lunch time pizza deal. Big hit with the kids! Than of course we love to visit the rose and crown pub for a beer in the summer. These also cockayes nature reserve just out of wivenhoe which is fairly new and lots of fun to walk around.
We love walking in all different places especially when we find somewhere new. Other places we love to walk in are mersea, Friday woods, alton waters, harwich, frinton-on-sea and abberton reservoir.
Finally a firm family favourite is crabbing we love it! Our top spots for crabbing are Brightlingsea and mersea. On a good you will fill a bucket pretty quickly. If your lucky you may even catch the odd shrimp or fish too. We also like to crab at holland on sea, along the river in wivenhoe and pretty much wherever we can. It’s so simple all you need is a line, bucket, net and a bit of bacon.
That brings us to the end of our favourite cheap days out 😍
Jolene's Crazy Family of 6! 