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Easter breaks at Portmarnock
If you’re planning an Easter break to Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links with the family, you’ll be spoilt for choice on what to do to fill your days.
Dublin is just a short train ride or drive away, so you can make the most of everything the city has to offer – as well as enjoying all the facilities at the hotel, and in the immediate surroundings (golden beaches anyone?)
Have a Wicked time at Malahide Castle
Malahide Castle is just 10 minutes down the road from the hotel and has some really fun things planned for Easter. On 3rd and 4th April it’ll be running an Oz-themed Wicked Easter Adventure with an enchanted garden trail, a live performance in the grand marquee and lots of easter treats and refreshments, including a crepe truck. Just follow the Yellow Brick Road and see where it takes you! Book your tickets in advance here: https://malahidecastleandgardens.ie/a-wicked-easter/ Also sure to be a winner – the castle is running a K-POP Camp on 1st and 2nd April. Youngsters are invited to hunt the beat and get inspired by the action-packed world of K-Pop: Demon Hunters. Perfect for those who love music, movement and creativity, this is a 3-hour immersive musical theatre experience where they’ll get to shine dancing and singing on the stage and take part in imaginative storytelling. And no – adults can’t join in! And that’s before you’ve even explored the castle, the grounds and Ireland’s only exotic butterfly house!
Farm and zoo fun
Newbridge Park Farm is open for Easter from Monday 30th March to Saturday 11th April. There’s a tractor ride included, Easter scavenger hunt, zipwires, rope swings, sandpits, go karts, slides, soft play – and much more! If you’re a wildlife lover, Dublin Zoo is a fantastic place to visit. It has over 400 animals across 70 species, from elephants, lions, tigers, giraffes and rhinos to gorillas, lemurs, orangutans and penguins - and everything in between! It usually runs lots of fun Easter-themed events such as trails, face painting, bunny appearances and special zookeeper chats. There’s Easter Workshops for 6-12s and for teens on certain days too, giving youngsters a great opportunity to learn more about the animals at Dublin Zoo.
Go on an outdoor adventure
If the sun is shining (we are in Spring!) there’s lots of places to enjoy some outdoor adventures within easy reach of the city. Phoenix Park is a great place for family picnics and trail walks. It is one of the largest enclosed public parks in any capital city in Europe. As well as being the perfect spot just to enjoy the surroundings and get back to nature, there’s also a visitor centre, playgrounds, zoological gardens, Victorian flower gardens and a café and tea rooms. You can do a spot of deer-spotting too. St Stephen’s Green is another lovely Victorian park to visit, set just off the famous Grafton Street and near Trinity College. If you like to get really active, how about heading to Zipit Tibradden. Set up in the Dublin mountains, kids need to be at least 7 years old – but for the daredevils out there, it’s perfect! Explore the forest adventure park, climbing high into the treetops, swing into cargo nets, ride BMXs and whizz down one of the many ziplines.
Museum madness
There’s lots of brilliant museums to visit in and around Dublin. Collins Barracks, the National Museum of Ireland, often has lots of interesting activities for kids to tackle during the school holiday, from history riddles to fun hunts. Explorium (Sandyford) offers hands-on adventures and science fun for kids – and adults. In fact, it’s great for all ages! It combines science, sports and being active, and visitors can try one of the climbing wall challenges or step into new worlds with VR (virtual reality). If Viking and medieval history interests you, Dublinia would be a great place to visit. Kids can experience life as a Viking, complete with a replica Viking ship and lots of opportunities to dress-up. They have different events taking place across the first two weeks of Easter, from The Big Dig for budding archaeologists, or Viking Storytelling, to a historical quest with a future Easter Bunny!
Chocoholics unite
There’s no denying that chocolate plays a central role at Easter. So what better place to visit than The Chocolate Experience at Butlers Chocolate Factory? Families can take a guided tour to see how chocolate is made, complete with tastings and a behind-the-scenes look at the factory. The 90-minute tour includes dressing up, learning the history of chocolate, a glass-panelled walkway over the factory floor, demonstrations, nibbles (of course!) and the chance to decorate your very own chocolate novelty to take home. And, it would be a waste to finish the visit without a trip to the Butlers Chocolate Café! Hot chocolates all round!
Hit the beach
Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links is incredibly lucky to be situated at Dublin’s only coastal resort – The Velvet Strand, aptly named because the sand is so smooth and soft. This gorgeous, long (5 mile!) sandy beach is ideal for kite flying, picnics, beach walks, shell hunting – and having a dip in the water if you’re brave enough! You’ll frequently see people kite surfing or wind surfing when conditions allow. It has a lovely view of the Dublin Mountains and Howth Harbour, and directly connects to Malahide Beach, so it’s a great place to spend some time soaking up the surroundings and exploring.