Holiday at Home

Ideas to make the most of our beautiful town
Collage
Be creative, make an art piece with the kids. If you don’t have much in the way of art stuff, why not use leaves or twigs or fabric… or recycle stuff you would have thrown away. Get some PVA glue, some paper, and away you go
Green fingers
I think a great activity for kids is learning to grow fruits and vegetables. It can be a great tool to learn where food comes from (not the supermarket), an opportunity to learn some cooking skills when harvest time comes around and besides all the fun science stuff they can learn from it, they can gain a sense of achievement with their own abilities (Lucy Cuzzocrea)
Cake decoration
Cupcake decoration is a fun and yummy way to spend an afternoon (Dawn Howitt)
Geocaching
Geocaching: it’s treasure hunting basically! You download an app which tells you where people have hidden the capsules. There’s a free app that only does a 10mile radius of where you are, or a paid app that you can search anywhere in the country. We use the pay app so we can find out if there are any geocaches if we go away. There’s some in Albert Park, Linthorpe Cemetary and round Tees Barrage and other places locally. The kids love going treasure hunting and if we can’t find 1 we blame it on the ‘pirates’. (Eleanor Nixon)
Make your own board game
Get some pens, bits of card and paper, maybe some dice. Design a board game with the kids. This can be hours of fun and creativity… plus you get a free rainy-day activity. If you fall out over games like us, make a co-operative game instead of a competitive one
Yarden party
I hired a bouncy castle last summer in my garden and invited friends to come along with a picnic…everyone contributed £5 and I did juice n cakes was a lovely day xx (Rebecca Snowdon)
Water Slide
Feeling adventurous? Make your own water slide!! Slide away
Bubbles!!
Make bubbles… massive bubbles!!  Massive bubble maker
Orienteering
There’s an orienteering course in Albert Park – not well maintained, so a couple of the markers are missing – that’s free. Throw in a packed lunch, a play in the park and some food for the ducks – it’s a nice cost effective little day out. (Annalise Higgins)
Sand castles
I’ve just spent hours of quality time making sand castles with my son. Find a park with some sand, or get some for the yard. Et voila! Search google for ideas if you’re not sure where to start
Scavenger hunt
Scavenger hunt!  (Lucas Blake) Make a treasure hunt for the kids in a wide, open area – like Pallister Park or Albert Park. Send them off to find a list of items (you decide how tough to make it). Either do it for fun or as a race
Foraging
Kids could do some foraging in the green areas surrounding Boro. They could make their own jam and then do their own farmers market! Ahh, how fun would that be?(Lucy Cuzzocrea)
Parks and playgrounds
In Boro we’re actually spoilt for parks within walking distance. See the good around you. Make the most of that playground, even if it looks ropey now. Enjoy what’s right under your nose.
Transporter Bridge
A trip over the refurbished Transporter. My son loves it! It’s cheap, especially if you’re walking. A short walk from town, taking in a good bit of Boro heritage on the way. (Andy Falconer)
Active Parks
Middlesbrough Council have some good activities on in their parks this year. Have a look in case any of these sports/activities take you fancy.  Active Parks
Guisborough Forest Walkway
Guisbrough Forest Walkway usually have free things on over the summer months. Bus stops close by for those that don’t drive. Parking £1 all day. (Rebecca Smithson)
Hand on Middlesbrough

Hands on Middlesbrough are hoping to host free family events over the summer. Please join our page and I will keep you informed.  (Scarlet Pink)
HoM on Facebook
Pixies, Elves and Flower Fairy Fun Day on Thursday 28th July 11-2pm

RSPB Saltholme

Saltholme Nature Reserve is a great option. Number 1 bus from town or keep walking north after a trip to the Transporter. The Reserve has beautiful walks with a spectacular industrial back-drop. It’s amazing having so much of nature crammed so close to home. (Andy Falconer)
Saltholme

Fairy Dell

Always something on at Fairy Dell (Dominic Gilchrist) It’s a beautiful open space to visit even if there are no events on. Lovely beck  and woodland between Coulby and Marton
Fairy Dell

Flatts Lane

Flatts lane country park is a great day out. (Dominic Gilchrist)  Just beyond Ormesby, it’s well worth a look. They have a Family Fun Day on Sunday the 21st August Flatts Lane

Dorman Museum

Dorman Museum – our local museum! During the summer there’s a free kids craft group every Wednesday and Friday, 1-3pm! Albert Park is close by if you need to blow off some steam afterwards. Dorman Museum

MIMA / art trolley Saturdays

Mima is always worth a look. An impressive art gallery on our doorstep! Every Saturday they also have a kids art trolley.mima

Darlington by the Sea

Darlington-by-the-sea was a lovely surprise when we heard about it last year. They’ve made a beach, run crafts activities and cater really well for the kids. This year i hear there’s an outdoor cinema, too. (suggested by Sandra Falconer

Thorntree hub

Thorntree Community Hub has a program of activities. Worth having a look

A load of other places

Dorman Museum
Captain Cook Museum and Stewart Park
Preston Hall Museum, Butterfly World and Preston Park (Eaglescliffe)
Kirkleatham Hall Museum & Owl Sanctuary (near Redcar)
Wynyard Country Park (Castle Eden Walkway)
Guisborough Forest Walkway
Ropner Park (Stockton)
Flatts Lane country park
RSPB Saltholme (near Port Clarence)
Hartlepool Historic Quay and Martime Museum
Locomotion, National Railway Museum (Shildon)
mima
Thorpe Perrow Arboretum (not sure how much this place is)
Hamsterley Forest (near Bishop Auckland)
Hardwick Park (Stockton)
Saltburn (Pier, Saltburn Valley Woodland/Skelton Beck, the beach)
Redcar (Amusements, Beach, Locke Park, the pond on Majuba Road, Vert Pier, Lemontops!)
… (Helen Costello)

Last summer we did lots of park trips with a picnic…paddling pool in the garden….boys loved the camp of champions at Preston park. I bought an unlimited play pass for crazy corner. I’ve been told that summerhill at hartlepool is good they do orienteering. Also I use the primary times to find free activities to go to usually with friends and then have a picnic to make more of it.
Rebecca Snowdon

As a single parent I know how difficult it is to find free fun things to do local community centres are a good place to start to look at what’s going on cheaply in your area.
Arrange a gathering of friends to meet in a park & all bring something to contribute to a picnic. bringing your water pistols, footballs, bats, etc. Fun way to spend the day and very cheap.

Rebecca James