This year round attraction has been described as Devon's most magnificent historic gardens.  Located in the Otter Valley area of East Devon you can enjoy a fun day out in a picturesque setting. Highlights include historic Palm house, containing some of the world’s most endangered species and Bicton Woodland Railway - which takes you on a 25 minute journey through the lovely grounds.  For children there is a miniature village with mini golf, nature trail and indoor play area.

This popular adventure park is full of thrills and excitement as well as having loads for younger children to take part in as well. The best theme park rides include the Tidal Wave log flume and Maximus the rollercoaster.  Other fantastic rides include the the New Vortex Watercoaster ride and the Queen Bess pirate ship.  Indoor fun is plentiful too with the Adventure Zone, the Magical Kingdom and Dina's Lost World.

This family orientated museum is dedicated to Teddy Bears both old and new Edward Bear and his family of people sized bears are one of the main attractions.  You can buy teddy bear gifts from the quaint shop including top notch brands.  The Steiff Teddy Bear and Merrythought bears are very popular.  Open 7 days a week all year round (except 25th and 26th December) this is a perfect all weather place to visit.

Kingston Maurward Gardens and Animal Park is a magical place to visit with grand gardens and plenty of animals to meet.  From goats and ponies to alpacas and pot bellied pigs this attraction is excellent value for money.  You can feel free to explore the grounds too which are especially lovely on sunny days.  You will see majestic floral displays, stone terraces, a temple and even a lake.

The Walled Gardens of Cannington offer a range of attraction for adults and children alike. The grown ups will love to wander around the beautiful gardens taking in the stunning floral displays while the children will enjoy the garden games, nature trails and open space to run around. The site also has a picnic area and exhibitions and workshops can be enjoyed at peek times of the year.

Go Ape is the latest craze sweeping the UK offering thrilling adventure for energetic older children, teenagers and adults. With several sites across the UK, Go Ape aims to bring climbing and swinging fun the masses. The sites attractions include Tree Topping, Cargo Nets, Aerial Swings, Zip Wires and Climbing Walls. Suitable for children over 10 years old. Booking ahead is advised.

Monkey World is not only a local attraction but the work they carry out is amazing.  Rescuing and rehabilitating monkeys and assisting governments around the world to stop the smuggling of primates are just some of the purposes of the centre. You get to see the primates themselves many of which have become famous from appearing on the TV show Monkey World - a documentary about this place. Open year round we think this is one of best attractions in Dorset and you even get the chance to adopt a monkey if you choose.

The Donkey Sanctuary is a working refuge for rescued Donkeys but is also a popular place for a day trip in South Devon. The site will appeal to animal lovers of all ages and gives visitors the chance to meet some of the friendly animals and also learn about the work done at the sanctuary. Visitors will also have the opportunity to adopt a Donkey.

Brean Leisure Park in Somerset is the place to head for family fun. The site has over 130 rides and attractions with something for all ages and abilities. Adults and children alike will love the more traditional fairground rides which include waltzes, roller coasters and of course dodgems! Older kids and teenagers on the hunt for white knuckle attractions can try out the terrifying 'XTreme' ride - 130ft of exciting twists turns and drops. For younger children the Canoe River is one of the most popular rides and the whole family can team up to enjoy the Laser Quest. Other facilities at the park include a Snack Bar serving tasty food to go, a Restaurant for a relaxing sit down dinner and an Amusement Arcade with slot machines and video games.

If you are looking for a fun family day out with a difference then a visit to the Hedgehog Hospital is a great choice. While visiting the hospital children can learn about these shy wild animals and the dangers they face in the wild as well as how we can help them. The farm is a halfway house for sick hedgehogs and children can meet some of the animals that are almost ready to go back to the wild. The farm also has a gift shop, a coffee shop and a wildlife garden as well as a pet's area with Rabbits and Guinea Pigs.

Paignton Zoo is one of the UK's largest zoos and is home to thousands of animals from all over the world. Family favourites include the fun and playful Lemurs of Lemur Wood, and the inquisitive and cheeky Monkeys of Monkey Heights. The zoo also aims to educate its visitors and offers regular talks and displays. Other activities include Face Painting, Boat Rides around Gibbon Island and miniature Train Rides. There is also a large Play Area, Restaurant and several Snack Bars.

The award wining Court Farm Country Park is the ideal all weather attraction with over 25000sq ft of playgrounds and attractions which are all undercover. Come rain or shine this place is perfect for families and children can really let of steam while adults have some time to relax. The site has several large and safe areas for fun and games, a stunning Adventure Castle with slides and ball pools and a range of small fairground rides. There are also educational shows to see including Milking Show and the twice daily Bottle Feeding Show.

Mendip Outdoor Pursuits is the perfect place for an action packed day of fun and is recommended for families with children aged 8 and over. The fantastic setting could hardly be better far activities such as Abseiling, Archery, Climbing, Caverning and Canoeing. The site also has a fantastic assault course. Family friendly activities include Raft Building and Nature Walks and environmental bush craft sessions.

The very unique Seaquarium in Western Super Mare is a fantastic site based on a beach surrounded by 3 miles of sand offering an educational and fun experience for the whole family. The site is packed with marine life from all over the world and has an amazing Underwater tunnel where visitors can view Sharks and Sting Rays There are also several open top displays  allowing closer inspection of the elegant Rays as well as other creatures. Special events take place throughout the year in high season including talks and crafting sessions.

You may have seen this amazing attraction on the BBC1 Animal Park programme.  This is actually the first safari park outside of Africa where you can get close to the animals from the comfort of your own car. Some of the highlights include the zebras, the wallabies in wallaby wood and the sea lion escorted cruise to Gorilla Island.  And of course the magnificent lions and tigers are a must see.  This really is an animal experience with a difference and you can save money by booking your tickets online.  This attraction is open until the end of October. Check out their website to see some fantastic video podcasts of the park.