It IS rational to be afraid of heights. I remember my daughters being really reluctant to try abseiling on an activity holiday as kids. Then, when I rashly volunteered to do a charity abseil down a high building a few years later, I realised they really did have a point. (I did it, but I was QUAKING.)
The one and only time we have tried family mini golf was on holiday - it was mid afternoon, about 35 degrees with absolutely no shade, my husband and I were slightly pissed and the kids were completely high on all inclusive ice cream and sweets. It was probably the most successful family activity we've ever done!
Mini golf is just inherently fraught, I think. Last time I did it was in a place called the Four Thieves, a pub that peddles all those fun kid games, just with no kids about. You'd think that with booze and free reign to swear at the putter it might be more enjoyable. Nope, still fraught.
Ha, fraught is the right word! I generally enjoy pub games - beer pong/shuffle board etc.- but mini golf just not for me (that I happen to be quite shit at it is merely coincidental.)
You also touch on a massive bugbear of mine: The requirement to download apps in restaurants now. If it works well I'm a big fan. But so often it's just a cumbersome way of capturing data that doesn't even help the customer. I'll also never forgive TGI Fridays for getting rid of Jack Daniels sauce.
On the plus side, the e-karting at Xscape is good fun. And I think we're trying the weird immersive box thing for one of the small human's birthdays this month!
Ha, it's really poor, isn't it?! Overall, though, it's a good day out (even if it costs a fortune.) We will need to try the carting next time we visit.
Ah, sounds good - hope they enjoy the immersive box!
Always been a big mini golf fan. I take it very seriously and am competitive. Took my daughter for her first outing when she was 4 in Vienna, a course designed with a modern industrial architecture theme, but the quality of the course is poor. One of those courses where the slopes are off and the ball constantly ends up in the corners. Deeply frustrating for a serious mini golfer like me! 😭
Haha, serious mini golfers need the best conditions to showcase their talents, I suppose?!
I find it's always one of those things where the idea is often (always) better than the reality. Or maybe - say it quietly - I'm just not very good at it.
One of my progeny has been to Xscape with his school and seemed to have a good time. I actively avoid it myself, as I'm the walking disaster of the family. We did ice skating at Beamish once and it took me 90 minutes to pull myself along seven feet of completely horizontal fence line...so skiiing has never appealed. Not overly keen on drops, either. I did get a little ahead of myself once and booked us into Aerial Extreme at Kirklington. I had to be rescued by staff half way round and it took them a full half hour to get me down the ladder. Gave the kids something to laugh at, though. ;D
When we lived in Yorkshire and I had only recently met Peter, he said he had never tried skiing. I was a fairly competent skier who had been dragged down any number of slopes by my ex, but I wasn't sure that Peter with his fear of heights would enjoy it. A trip to Xscape, newly opened, seemed the first step and we booked a lesson. However the night before we went to such a good party that Peter had a hangover...about the only time in his life with me....we never made it to Xscape and Peter's new career as a champion downhill skier never took off...
Haha, just think what might have been?! That said, wise decision not going - Xscape must be one of the least hangover-friendly places going! Similar with us - Louise is a good skier but I've never been. We keep saying we will give it a go.
Several years ago we took our 3 and 4 year olds tobogganing at Milton Keynes Snowdome, which we all loved. I believe there are other venues. I would also recommend the West Midlands Safari Park, the Severn Valley Railway, Cadbury World, the Birmingham Thinktank, Kenilworth Castle, Ludlow Castle, Warwick Castle, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Hatton Country World (Nr Solihull) if you’re ever in the Midlands area. Also the Black Country Living Museum is great for slightly older children, say 9+, lots to learn there.
I love the switch from seeing where the end takes us to having a plan - spontaneity is so overrated! I also feel for your 2-app download issue in TGI Fridays - it’s so cold! And really embarrassing when it comes to the payment part. Great fun Andy as always!
I'm a serious mini-golfer... or at least I used to be. It was one of my favorite activities when I was a kid and teen. I remember going to this one particular course when we visited family every summer that was the old-school style with orange metal rails and predictable bounces. It was the best. Of course, when I've tried to take my kids, the only courses that exist now are these ridiculous courses with waterfalls and rocks around the edges so the ball bounces every which way and it's all luck. Terrible. (Did I make one of the characters in my novel do a version of this mini-golf rant? You bet I did.)
It IS rational to be afraid of heights. I remember my daughters being really reluctant to try abseiling on an activity holiday as kids. Then, when I rashly volunteered to do a charity abseil down a high building a few years later, I realised they really did have a point. (I did it, but I was QUAKING.)
😂 it is, isn’t it?! Good for you doing the abseil though!
I’m terrible with heights. Kids have been saying they want to do a hot air balloon at some point but don’t know if I could stomach it!
Thanks for reading, Wendy.
The one and only time we have tried family mini golf was on holiday - it was mid afternoon, about 35 degrees with absolutely no shade, my husband and I were slightly pissed and the kids were completely high on all inclusive ice cream and sweets. It was probably the most successful family activity we've ever done!
Haha. Excellent. Slightly pissed in the sun, kids happily wired - you can't go wrong!
Mini golf is just inherently fraught, I think. Last time I did it was in a place called the Four Thieves, a pub that peddles all those fun kid games, just with no kids about. You'd think that with booze and free reign to swear at the putter it might be more enjoyable. Nope, still fraught.
Ha, fraught is the right word! I generally enjoy pub games - beer pong/shuffle board etc.- but mini golf just not for me (that I happen to be quite shit at it is merely coincidental.)
Mini golf seems fun in theory. But the times we've tried it with our kids, it's always turned out terribly frustrating for everyone involved.
Yes. Very much my experience, too. Always looks like fun but quickly deteriorates into the the opposite! Thanks for reading, Lee!
You're right. That mini golf is awful.
You also touch on a massive bugbear of mine: The requirement to download apps in restaurants now. If it works well I'm a big fan. But so often it's just a cumbersome way of capturing data that doesn't even help the customer. I'll also never forgive TGI Fridays for getting rid of Jack Daniels sauce.
On the plus side, the e-karting at Xscape is good fun. And I think we're trying the weird immersive box thing for one of the small human's birthdays this month!
Ha, it's really poor, isn't it?! Overall, though, it's a good day out (even if it costs a fortune.) We will need to try the carting next time we visit.
Ah, sounds good - hope they enjoy the immersive box!
Always been a big mini golf fan. I take it very seriously and am competitive. Took my daughter for her first outing when she was 4 in Vienna, a course designed with a modern industrial architecture theme, but the quality of the course is poor. One of those courses where the slopes are off and the ball constantly ends up in the corners. Deeply frustrating for a serious mini golfer like me! 😭
Haha, serious mini golfers need the best conditions to showcase their talents, I suppose?!
I find it's always one of those things where the idea is often (always) better than the reality. Or maybe - say it quietly - I'm just not very good at it.
One of my progeny has been to Xscape with his school and seemed to have a good time. I actively avoid it myself, as I'm the walking disaster of the family. We did ice skating at Beamish once and it took me 90 minutes to pull myself along seven feet of completely horizontal fence line...so skiiing has never appealed. Not overly keen on drops, either. I did get a little ahead of myself once and booked us into Aerial Extreme at Kirklington. I had to be rescued by staff half way round and it took them a full half hour to get me down the ladder. Gave the kids something to laugh at, though. ;D
Haha, oh dear. Must've been a loooong half an hour. At least you gave it a go though, right?!
Thanks for reading, Sarah!
When we lived in Yorkshire and I had only recently met Peter, he said he had never tried skiing. I was a fairly competent skier who had been dragged down any number of slopes by my ex, but I wasn't sure that Peter with his fear of heights would enjoy it. A trip to Xscape, newly opened, seemed the first step and we booked a lesson. However the night before we went to such a good party that Peter had a hangover...about the only time in his life with me....we never made it to Xscape and Peter's new career as a champion downhill skier never took off...
Haha, just think what might have been?! That said, wise decision not going - Xscape must be one of the least hangover-friendly places going! Similar with us - Louise is a good skier but I've never been. We keep saying we will give it a go.
Thanks for reading, Sarah (and sharing!)
Hi Andy,
Several years ago we took our 3 and 4 year olds tobogganing at Milton Keynes Snowdome, which we all loved. I believe there are other venues. I would also recommend the West Midlands Safari Park, the Severn Valley Railway, Cadbury World, the Birmingham Thinktank, Kenilworth Castle, Ludlow Castle, Warwick Castle, Cotswold Wildlife Park and Hatton Country World (Nr Solihull) if you’re ever in the Midlands area. Also the Black Country Living Museum is great for slightly older children, say 9+, lots to learn there.
I love the switch from seeing where the end takes us to having a plan - spontaneity is so overrated! I also feel for your 2-app download issue in TGI Fridays - it’s so cold! And really embarrassing when it comes to the payment part. Great fun Andy as always!
I'm a serious mini-golfer... or at least I used to be. It was one of my favorite activities when I was a kid and teen. I remember going to this one particular course when we visited family every summer that was the old-school style with orange metal rails and predictable bounces. It was the best. Of course, when I've tried to take my kids, the only courses that exist now are these ridiculous courses with waterfalls and rocks around the edges so the ball bounces every which way and it's all luck. Terrible. (Did I make one of the characters in my novel do a version of this mini-golf rant? You bet I did.)