Parks, Gardens and Garden Centres
Fota House Arboretum and Gardens
This place is just beautiful and I love going here. Cafe open during the summer months. The seasons are beautiful to witness here. All that enjoyment and only 3 euro for the carpark.
Blarney Castle and Gardens
Donnerail Park
lovely playground, gorgeous park to walk around with Deer to see aswell
Regional Park Ballincollig
Fitzgeralds Park
Just love a bit of Fitzgerald’s Park. Parking is disc only and for 2 hours and the playground is huge and has amazing facilities but not enclosed so if you are going with more than 1 toddler beware.
Glenview Gardens
Carewswood Garden Centre
This place is fantastic. The Cafe/Shop is lovely, great food. Lovely little play gym for toddlers outside next to the chicken coop. They also have a few toys and a bench inside the cafe for those rainy days when you can’t get outside! The seating area outside is a sun trap and you can feel like you are on your holidays sitting there, eating great food, drinking coffee while the kids play. Great destination and it is a regular for us! Obviously they have a great selection of plants and flowers as well! They also do arts and crafts saturday morning for kids. Check out the classes page.
Ballyseedy Home and Garden
Great food, Great coffee…. love Badger and Dodo coffee so this is a favourite of ours. Little table and chairs for kids down the back with a few books. There is a little toy shop inside here as well which is great for picking up a few bits. Part of the outside area is covered so even when it is raining I find this place great for a wander.
Ballymaloe Gardens at the Cookery School
I haven’t actually the walked through the Gardens with the girls yet, have a been couple of times for Saturday Pizzas in the Garden Cafe.
Ballymaloe House
The famous Ballymaloe House and Grounds are lovely for a wander. It has a cafe with lovely cakes and a nice shop to walk around. Ballymaloe festivals during the year are a great source of excitement to East Cork and always a fun family day out.
Bishop Lucey Park
Bailick Park, Midleton
Tiny little park on Bailick Road near Midleton. It has the Choctaw memorial which is a beautiful piece. Park looks onto the water and is lovely for a small toddle but there is no parking really you have to park in the estates close by and walk down.