How did you start your New Year? Did you tackle Veganuary, go plastic free, take up an unusual hobby or just promise yourself some new experiences in 2020?
However, you started, holidays are the ideal time to try something new. Whether that’s a place you've never been, a sight you’ve never seen or the taste of the unknown, we’ve put together some great things for you to discover this Spring.
Taste of the west?
If you thought you knew the taste of a good Cornish Pasty, you might need to think again, as the annual World Pasty Championship steams into the Eden Project late this February.
The great and the good of bakers have been stoking stoves, tweaking ingredients and even booking plane tickets, as amateurs, professionals and juniors alike head to Cornwall from across the globe.
Traditionalists look away now, as this is a chance to push the limits of the perfect pasty. Some of last year’s accolades went to unusual fillings that included everything from a egg, sausage and bacon combo to the highly controversial barbecue chicken pasty laced with pineapple!
The championships will be the finale of Cornish Pasty Week, starting on Sunday, February 23. Events include World’s Fastest Crimper competition, music, drinks and family fun.
Not all heroes wear capes!
With so much in the news about wildlife and conservation, why not learn more about our feathered and four-legged friends at Paradise Park in Hayle.
There are some real Superheros to discover! Find out who flies underwater, juggles the best and has the strongest beak. Put on your favourite Superhero outfit and zapp, zoom and kapow, your way through the half-term Super Quiz.
The park offers daily events such as ‘Carrot Time’ in the Fun Farm and if the weather is fine the ‘Flying Macaws’ come out to swoop and soar over visitors. If you are super lucky you could be chosen to help feed the penguins or experience the ‘Flight of the Rainbows’ where you are able to buy nectar to feed their cute and colourful little parrots.
If you’ve time you can test your own superpowers in the Jungle Barn Play Centre, while toddlers can show off their ultimate ‘nap-avoiding’ powers in their own play zone.
Rewarding times on the beach
On your family holiday to Cornwall (and to our beautiful Sands Resort Hotel & Spa), why not take a little time to give back to the community and take part in some of the amazing organised events taking place nearby.
From beach cleans that earn you free tea and coffee via a handy app, to wildlife talks and walks ending in hot chocolate and pasties there’s so much going on. February and March are some of the busiest times on the coast where nature counts, cleans and repairs take place. Check out organisations such as Cornwall Wildlife Trust, The National Trust and Surfers Against Sewage for some of their events.
Or, if you want to do something in your own time, why not plan a trip down to the beach with the family? Grab a bucket and spade from our free rental facilities and spend the day enjoying the crisp sea breezes and ever-changing colours whilst rock pooling. Then when your day is done use our bucket to collect any pieces of litter or objects that might not belong on the beach before heading back to the warm welcome of the hotel.
Even the smallest collection makes a massive difference and keeps Cornwall one of the most beautiful places on the planet (this opinion might be a little bias).
Find the next event: www.sas.org.uk/region/south-west/
Get your head in the clouds
If you’re visiting Sands Resort Hotel and Spa from April why not get a bird’s eye view of just how beautiful Cornwall is? Discover the beauty of Cornwall aboard a Robin DR400 plane, where you will experience an aerial tour of some of the county’s most beloved landmarks.
Whether you are on a romantic break, celebrating an anniversary, or it’s that special big birthday (it’s alright we won’t ask which one) these trips for two will take you soaring over stunning areas such as St Michaels Mount and St Ives, Land’s End and the Minack Theatre, and Looe and Polperro.
Sit back, relax as you take in the breath-taking views of stunning coastlines and countryside for that ultimate selfie moment. From the towering and rugged cliffs, to the sparkling seas and hidden coves to the brightly coloured beaches and winding villages, each flight offers you a unique view of this diverse and special county.
If flying is your dream the company also offers hands-on Flight Experiences an unforgettable thrilling gift on that magical Cornish Indulgence holiday. Gift vouchers can be bought in advance and paired with your perfect visit to Sands.
Find out more at www.flynqy.co.uk
Get teenage kicks!
If you’re on a family holiday to Cornwall, why not let your teenagers take the driving seat - quite literally. Just a few miles down the coast in the seaside town of Perranporth you can find one of the UK’s only purpose-built driver training facilities, and what’s more you can drive there from the age of 12!
You don’t need to have a driving license as the road network is on private land, but you do require a qualified driver sitting beside you (if you don't have one of these they can lend you one!).
The site also offers a range of packages including the opportunity to drive supercars or be driven around the site by an expert so you can experience the full thrills and spills of speed!
With seven and a half kilometres of private roads, teenagers and adults alike can undertake all types of driving from lorries to cars and from supercars to bikes.
Later in the season they also host a number of public spectacles including the massively successful drag and drift events, where the fast and the furious wow crowds with their high-powered cars.
www.perranporthdrivingcentre.com