If your kids are bored of the usual park and soft play, an adventurous day out can be just what you need. Something a bit different, a bit of adrenaline, and memories that last much longer than the day itself.

We're an outdoorsy family, and over the years we've tried everything from aqua parks and giant slip and slides to mountain hikes, caves, high ropes and theme parks. Some were brilliant, some were great value, and a couple weren't quite worth the money.

Here are the adventure days out we've done as a family, what they cost, and lots more ideas to add to your list.

Water adventures

Aqua parks

If you've never been to an aqua park, it's basically a giant inflatable obstacle course on the water. You climb, slide, bounce and jump your way around it, and fall in a lot!

We loved the aqua park at Adrenalin Quarry in Cornwall. We went for my husband's birthday, when the kids were 9 and 12, and the whole family had so much fun.

It was meant to be £20 each, but a local voucher took £1 off every ticket, so we paid £76 for the four of us. The session was 45 minutes, which went really quickly, and our son felt it was too short to try everything.

There are slides, trampolines, climbing obstacles, jumping platforms and a swing that throws you into the water. My husband loved the slide that launches you into the air (I didn't try that one!).

Everyone gets a buoyancy aid, and kids need to be at least 6 and able to swim 25 metres. We wore our own wetsuits, but on a warm July day, swimwear would have been fine.

We've also done the aqua park on the lake at Center Parcs. It was good fun, but not as impressive as Adrenalin Quarry, and better suited to younger kids.

Aqua Park at Adrenaline Quarry in Cornwall

Giant slip and slides

The kids loved our giant slip and slide days, and asked to go back the very next day! You fly down a long inflatable slide on a ring or a bodyboard, and it's brilliant for all ages.

We've been to two in Cornwall. The Cornwall Slip and Slide at Atlantic Reach is 350ft, and the Giant Slip and Slide near St Columb Major claims to be the longest in the UK at 440ft. Both were £12 each for a one-hour session when we went.

Bodyboards were the fastest option! Book ahead in the school holidays, wear a wetsuit or swimwear, and full-length clothing helps avoid friction burns.

For younger kids, Body Bounce in Newquay is a seasonal inflatable fun park with a 300ft obstacle course and big slides, for ages 2 to 13. You can stay for the whole session, and our kids were buzzing (and shattered) afterwards!

Slip n Slide at Atlantic Reach in Newquay

Wakeboarding

Wakeboarding is a great one for older kids and adults. My husband had a go at the lakes in South Cerney in Gloucestershire, where we used to live nearby.

Now we live in Cornwall, Retallack is near us, and there are cable wakeboarding parks all over the UK. Most offer lessons for beginners, so you don't need any experience.

Kayaking and paddleboarding

We have SUPyaks, which work as both a paddleboard and a kayak. Our favourite calm spots are the Camel estuary and Pentewan on the south coast, which is often much flatter than the north coast.

If you don't own any kit, lots of beaches and lakes offer hire and guided tours. Always wear a buoyancy aid, check the wind direction as well as the speed, and avoid offshore winds, which can sweep you out to sea.

Surf lessons

Living in Cornwall, surf lessons are a big one. My husband and I did a couples surf lesson, and the kids have had surf lessons through their schools.

A good surf school provides the boards and wetsuits, keeps everyone safe and teaches you the basics. It's a brilliant adventure, even if you spend most of it falling off!

Tidal pool in Cornwall

More water adventures to try

• Coasteering: scrambling along the coastline, climbing rocks and jumping into the sea with a guide. It's really popular in Cornwall, Devon and Pembrokeshire.
• Gorge scrambling: wading, climbing and sliding your way up a river gorge with a guide, often in Wales and the Lake District.
• White water rafting: centres like Cardiff International White Water and Lee Valley offer family-friendly sessions.
• Wild swimming in tidal pools: many Cornish beaches have natural or man-made tidal pools that are calmer than the open sea.
• Boat trips and wildlife spotting: we've done wildlife boat trips on holiday abroad, but there are brilliant ones in the UK too, from seal trips in Cornwall to puffins on the Farne Islands and dolphins in Cardigan Bay.

One of the many bouncy castles at Body Bounce in Newquay

Waterfalls, mountains and gorges

Waterfall walks

Waterfall walks are one of our favourite adventurous days out, and many are free apart from parking. We've done the Four Waterfalls Walk in the Brecon Beacons a few times now.

It's about 8.6 km and the terrain is rough in places, with rocky, slippery paths and tree roots, so wear sensible shoes. The highlight is walking behind one of the waterfalls, which is amazing.

It does get very busy at weekends, and there can be a long queue to walk behind the waterfall. If you can, go on a weekday or early in the day.

In Cornwall, St Nectan's Glen has a stunning 60ft waterfall that flows through a hole in the rock. It cost us just under £30 for the four of us, and it's about a 30-minute walk down steep, slippery steps from the car park.

Golitha Falls on Bodmin Moor is completely free, with parking too. It's more cascades and rapids than one big waterfall, but there are shallow spots for the kids to paddle, logs to balance on and wish trees full of coins.

The best waterfall in the Brecon Beacons in Wales!

Climbing mountains

We've climbed mountains in the Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia and the Lake District. It's hard work, but the views from the top are worth every step.

When the kids were just 4 and 6, we walked up Cadair Idris in Snowdonia to the lake. It took around two hours up and an hour back down, with steep, rocky steps, waterfalls and bridges along the way, and the kids did brilliantly.

My husband and I have also done Pen y Fan and Cribyn in the Brecon Beacons, including the steep climb up Jacob's Ladder. It was about 16 km and five hours, so that one's better for older kids and teens.

Choose a route that suits your family's fitness and your kids' ages. Check the weather, take layers, snacks and plenty of water, and turn back if the weather turns.

Climbing mountains in the Lake District

Climbing rock tors on Bodmin Moor

In Cornwall, we love Roughtor on Bodmin Moor. It's brilliant if you love the outdoors and natural landscapes, and there are loads of naturally formed granite tors to climb, which look like stacks of giant pebbles!

The rocks were our favourite part, and there's a tunnel-like section that the kids loved exploring. We walked on to Brown Willy, the highest point in Cornwall, which made it about 5 miles and just under three hours with the kids.

We saw wild ponies along the way, and it's completely free. The car park is small and fills up, so get there early.

Having fun climbing rocks at Roughtor in Bodmin

Gorge walks

Walking through a gorge is a real adventure, with towering cliffs on either side. Cheddar Gorge in Somerset is a brilliant day out, with dramatic cliffs and wild goats on the hillsides.

We climbed a steep path up for the views, then walked back down through the gorge. The road through the gorge has blind bends and no pavement in places, so walk in single file with kids.

Get there early, as it was really quiet at 9am but the car parks filled up later.

We've also walked the Avakas Gorge in Cyprus on holiday, which was quite scary in places! It was mostly dry, but very narrow, with large boulders wedged in the gap above our heads.

You don't have to go abroad for that kind of adventure, though. In the UK, Lydford Gorge in Devon and Gordale Scar in the Yorkshire Dales are both dramatic gorge walks. Wear sturdy shoes, and avoid them in bad weather when paths get slippery.

Exploring caves

Caves are a great adventure, especially on a rainy day. We visited Wookey Hole in Somerset when the kids were little, and the dinosaurs, circus and mirror maze were a big hit.

Standard tickets were £19 per adult and £15 per child at the time, but we used Kids Pass to get both kids in free with two adult tickets, saving us £30. Here's how to save money on UK family days out with Kids Pass.

We've also been to Clearwell Caves in the Forest of Dean, where you explore the caves yourselves rather than on a guided tour. Other great caves include Cheddar Gorge's show caves and Big Pit National Coal Museum in Wales, where you can go underground.

Heights and adrenaline

High ropes and treetop adventures

We've done the aerial tree trekking at Center Parcs, and it was great fun but still slightly scary! My husband and daughter had already done it, and I opted for the lower course with our younger son.

Our son was meant to come with me, but he got too scared and the instructors helped him back down. So if your child is nervous, start on the lowest course.

There are lots of treetop adventure courses in forests across the UK, like Go Ape, and many have junior courses for younger kids.

High ropes fun at 270 Climbing Park in Witcombe, Gloucestershire

Zip lines

Zip lines are perfect for adrenaline lovers. We have an annual pass for the Eden Project, which has a long zip line, but we haven't done it yet!

For the ultimate thrill, Zip World in Wales has some of the fastest and longest zip lines in the world. There are smaller zip lines at lots of adventure parks too.

Indoor climbing walls

Climbing walls are a brilliant adventure in any weather. We did the indoor climbing walls at Center Parcs for our daughter's birthday, and they were amazing, with fun, themed wall designs.

We also go bouldering as a family twice a week, which I've written about in our family fitness activities post.

Fun climbing walls at Center Parcs

Archery

My husband and our son did target archery together at Center Parcs. It's a great one for kids who love a bit of competition, and lots of outdoor centres offer family sessions.

Paintballing and laser tag

We haven't been paintballing as a family, but our son has been for friends' birthday parties. Some centres offer low-impact sessions for younger children, while others have higher minimum ages, so check before you book.

Outdoor laser tag is a good alternative for younger kids, as there are no paintballs, so it doesn't hurt!

Indoor skydiving

Indoor skydiving lets you experience freefall in a vertical wind tunnel, without jumping out of a plane. There are centres around the UK, and many are suitable for kids from a young age.

Track days and driving experiences

This one is perfect for petrolheads. My husband has done a track day driving a Lamborghini, as well as an off-road 4x4 experience.

Some driving experiences let teenagers have a go too, with junior experiences for younger drivers. If you're a keen driver, you can even take your own car to a track day.

Go-karting is another fun one. Our son has been go-karting at Adrenalin Quarry, and we've all had a go on the smaller tracks at Diggerland and Flambards.

For mountain biking, we love the bike trails at Lanhydrock in Cornwall. There are woodland trails at different levels of difficulty, plus a pump track with jumps and ramps, so there's something for everyone.

Quad biking is another adventurous idea on wheels, and lots of farms and outdoor centres offer junior sessions.

There are cycle tracks for all levels at Lanhydrock in Cornwall, for free

Theme parks

We've been to lots of theme parks over the years, including Alton Towers, Legoland, Peppa Pig World, Diggerland and Camel Creek in Cornwall.

At Camel Creek, the big water slide with rubber dinghies was the kids' favourite, and you'll get soaked on the log flume! It's gentler than the bigger theme parks, so it's best for kids up to around 12 or 13.

Here's my very honest Legoland Windsor review if you're thinking of going. We also went to Flambards, but sadly most of it, including the rides, closed in 2024.

If you have kids of different ages, look out for single rider queues. One adult can go on the big rides while the other stays with the younger ones.

Rainy day adventures

Not every adventure has to be outdoors. Here are some indoor adventures we've tried:

• Pixel Pop in Newquay: an interactive game room where you tap coloured squares on the floor and walls while dodging red "lasers". It was £12 each for an hour, the kids didn't want to stop, and our son wanted his next birthday party there!
• Wake the Tiger in Bristol: an immersive art and light experience. It cost us £77 for the four of us at peak pricing, and we spent about two and a half hours there. Our daughter loved it, but our son preferred We The Curious, the science centre we visited later that day.
• Trampoline parks: we've been to a few, including local ones, AirHop and Ninja Warrior in Gloucester.
• Ice skating: we went ice skating at the Eden Project at Christmas, and have been to the outdoor rink at Gloucester Quays before, as well as indoor rinks.
• Climbing centres and caves: both are brilliant, whatever the weather.

Other indoor adventures include indoor surfing, escape rooms and indoor skydiving.

Kayaking in Newquay

How to save money on adventure days out

Adventure days out can get expensive, especially for a family of four. Here's what has helped us:

• Use Kids Pass for discounts and free child tickets at lots of attractions.
• Look for local vouchers and early bird tickets. We saved on our aqua park tickets with a local voucher.
• Buy an annual pass if you'll go more than a couple of times, like we do with the Eden Project.
• Go outside the school holidays if you can, for shorter queues and sometimes cheaper tickets.
• Take a picnic. Food at attractions is often expensive, and there aren't always many vegan options.
• Stay nearby, not on site. For Legoland, we stayed at a nearby hotel instead of the resort hotel and saved around £300.
• Mix in free adventures. Waterfall walks, mountains, gorges and rock tors cost nothing but parking.

For more ideas, here are 50 free and cheap things to do in the summer holidays with kids too.

Final thoughts

The best adventure days out for families aren't always the most expensive. Some of our favourite days have been climbing tors on Bodmin Moor or walking behind a waterfall, which cost us nothing but parking.

But every now and then, it's worth splashing out on something like an aqua park, a giant slip and slide or a driving experience. Mix the free adventures with the occasional treat, and you'll have plenty of family memories to look back on.