The Botanics in Early Spring

If you ask me, The Botanics are at their best in Autumn and Spring. It may be a little chillier, but it lacks the crowds that Summer brings. Aswell as this, I think the trees look their best when they are bare,with buds just about to burst into life.

So, what is it that appeals most about the Botanics to your common garden toddler? One word: squirrels.Take a bag of nuts, find a quiet spot, break open a nut or two then wait patiently for a bit and they'll soon appear. Your wee one will probably be a bit cautious to begin with, but soon s/he'll be eager to feed them nuts right out of their hand.

As well as the squirrel factor, there are also The Glasshouses. The cost of getting into them may seem a bit steep ( £8 for two adults or a family), but they really are a fabulous thing to do on a cold or wet day. There's so much to see, touch, smell  and to talk about with your little one that it's definitely worth the entry.

The cafe is good, with a play area for children and a big outside area for sunnier days. I'd also recommend a look round the new visitor centre.

I miss living near the Botanics and I wish we went there more as it's one of the best places to witness the changing seasons.

Makeshift Playroom At EICA: Ratho

The EICA climbing centre at Ratho normally has a soft play room called Scrambles (we've never actually been to this), which is closed for refurbishment at the moment and so, in an inspired move, they've decided to open a temporary playroom upstairs which they've filled with ex-creche toys and a bouncy castle. It's massive, has EVERY toy you could imagine a toddler wanting to play with and still only costs £1.50 for an hour's play.
Areas include a reading corner, art tables, a mini basketball net, trikes, tents and tunnels, and a soft play area too. The bouncy castle was a real hit and it was Belle's first time on one ( I was almost crying with laughter at her falling over and struggling to her feet only to fall over again- she was too).
They're hoping to have the soft play opened again by February, but I kind of like this place the way it is and I think we'll be back soon!

Belle reading Hello magazine in the book corner

Vogrie Park

Vogrie is a good day out, all year round. We've been there on scorching Summer's days for a play in the park and lunch in the cafe but we've also been on chilly Autumn days, to collect leaves and cones. 

It has two good play parks that appeal to all ages although I think that the one next to the car park has more in it for toddlers, whilst the large one at the bottom of the hill has something to keep everyone amused. 

There's a couple of ponds to explore too. One of our favourite visits coincided with the frog spawning season in Spring, when the noise of the frogs' croaking was so loud it sounded like motorbikes revving their engines in the distance. They were really interesting to watch and kept Belle amused for ages.

There's lots to do here. We've been to a 1st birthday barbecue, rolled our Easter eggs down the  hill, and played in the soft play next to The Cedar Tree Cafe. There is more- we've never caught the miniature railway and have never managed to climb the giant chair and bike sculptures yet but I'm sure we will one day if Isabel has anything to do with it!

Egg Rolling

Soft Play

Giant Bike Sculpture

Goldilocks and the Ikea Chairs

If your toddler's anything like my toddler then they will love playing at Goldilocks in your local shed of dreams a.k.a. IKEA. Now I'm not sure that IKEA will love me for promoting their stores as free, indoor playgrounds (think of it as a giant soft-play, minus the ball pit and with a few hard corners and trolleys thrown in for sport). 

Isabel just loves trying out all the chairs (as does her Auntie Louise, see above) and testing out the beds to see which one is the comfiest. Best of all, there's a fabulous children's department with lots of try before you buy toys out on display to mess about with. 

Just as long as you don't head there planning on getting a new kitchen designed (this is just asking for trouble with a Wee One in tow) and are happy to hang about whilst said Wee One saunters back and forth through the rainbow-ribbon-curtained-tunnel two dozen times or more, then its happy days.

Cove Harbour