Hi there!
I’m Fiona, a passionate travel blogger based in the Southwest of England with my husband and two young kids.
Since becoming a Mum, our holidays have shifted a bit, so you’ll find plenty of posts on family-friendly UK destinations like Butlins, Center Parcs, and Haven mixed in with older posts from when we travelled to the USA.
We’re always looking for fun weekend adventures and school holiday activities, so I often write about our family days out too.
Head over to my UK Holiday and Days Out travel hub if you’re looking for inspiration.
Get To Know Me
Favourite Trip I’ve Ever Taken
The best trip I’ve taken was our Honeymoon in 2017, where we spent a week in Las Vegas, followed by a road trip through the Mojave Desert and then drove along the west coast of the U.S via San Diego, eventually ending up in Anaheim to visit Disneyland California.
Las Vegas was my husband’s choice, and I was really surprised how much I loved it – there’s just so much to do there, and it isn’t all casinos and gambling.
Highlights included watching Penn and Teller live and seeing the largest piece of the Titanic ever recovered.
My Favourite U.K City
My favourite UK city is Bristol. It’s friendly, easy to explore on foot, and always feels like there’s something happening, whether that’s spotting Banksy artwork hidden around the city, trying themed escape rooms, or discovering somewhere new to eat.
I’m also a musical theatre girly at heart, so I’m a regular visitor to the Bristol Hippodrome for shows.
My favourite restaurant in Bristol is Cow and Sow in Queen’s Square, and I love the cakes from Ahh Toots bakery, located at the bottom of the Christmas Steps.
My Favourite Beach
My favourite beach is Charmouth in Dorset. As well as having lots of happy childhood memories of visiting here, I have really enjoyed taking my own children.
I love that kids (and adults!) can paddle in the river when the tide is out, and, of course, we all love fossil hunting too.
My Favourite Place in the Southwest
As someone who loves being in nature – I actually prefer a woodland walk over a trip to the beach – one of my favourite places is Ramscombe picnic area in the Quantocks hills.
A beautiful sheltered meadow, with a stream, plenty of space to run around, play games and generally enjoy being outside.
My Favourite National Trust Property
My favourite National Trust property is Tyntesfield, just outside Bristol. I love the play areas hidden among the woodlands, stopping at the cafe and then taking a look around the kitchen gardens.
A Place That Completely Surprised Me
Las Vegas – I didn’t expect to love it as much as I did.
Paris – I did a day trip to Paris while visiting DLP and didn’t enjoy it at all – always thought I would love it.
My Favourite Family Day Out
My top pick for a family day out is Crealy, Devon. There is just so much to do there, from rides to soft play, meeting animals, shows with Sooty & co, plus a woodland adventure walk.
We visit every summer during the school holidays and Crealy often run offers where you can return for free the following week making it excellent value too.
My Favourite Theme Park
It’s a tough one between Disneyland Paris and Disney World. While Disney World does have more to offer overall, DLP is much closer to home and easier to visit.
That said, Flight of Passage remains the best ride I have ever been on.
My Best Holiday Memory
I have two, and I must admit I feel a tiny bit guilty for neither involving my kids!
I first visited Disneyland Paris in 2014. We entered the main park for the first time during extra magic hours. There was hardly anyone there and it was Halloween themed on a misty morning. I’ll never forget the thrill I felt walking up Main Street USA practically alone towards the castle (which I think is the best of all the Disney Castles!)
The second is winning $1200 on a 50c spin on a slot machine in Las Vegas. Pure luck but very exciting and a perfect end to our last nght in Vegas.
My Dream Destination
My current top picks would be:
Dubroknik – I don’t feel like I’ve explored many European cities, and the history combined with Game of Thrones filming locations mean this is somewhere I would love to visit.
Efteling: You might have guessed by now that I love a theme park! A change from the polished magic of Disney, I really want to explore somewhere more rooted in fairytale realism.
My Travel Style
I am, without a doubt, a travel planner. I love researching, finding the best hotels, best deals and best things to do.
Last mitnute trips are not for me, espeically when travelling with two young children!
I hope you enjoy reading about our family adventures as a way to share my travel experiences with others.
Feel free to reach out if there’s anything I can assist you with.
Contact: Hello@cathchingsunsets.com