Carden Park Hotel For Families And Why It Is Perfect For Mid-Term Breaks

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We recently took a weekend trip over the Cheshire to find out about Carden Park Hotel for families and what it has to offer for family weekend breaks

Getting away for a mid-term weekend break is so underrate. Sometimes you just need to step away from the chaos of life for a little while. Now the key to this is not going too far. Of course half term gives the option to venture a little further, but frankly when you have country estates like Carden Park within 2 hours why on earth would you want to go much farther?

Carden Park Cheshire Country Estate is a sprawling estate that is somewhat like a small village

Offering 2 restaurants, bars, swimming pool, golf course, spa (with a new and exciting spa coming this year) event station packed full of high adrenalin, fun family activities, adventure golf, football pitches, nature walks and giant chess boards. Carden Park really does have it all. Gone are the days where you have to go and stay in a holiday village for such adventures. Carden Park Hotel offers adventure with refinement, luxury and fantastic dining. Which for us really did tick all the boxes having an adventurous teen who doesn’t sit still.

Yet this family friendly hotel in Cheshire offers a level of refinement too

Because as much as we want chaos and activity, we also want a little down time to sit by a coal fire with a coffee or glass of wine and chat or play a game of UNO. And with a stylish bar offering lots of nooks and cozy corners you can get that much-needed down time in a calm environment.

The Carden Park Rooms were beautiful 

We were located in the main building overlooking the lake, something you don’t really appreciate when you check in at dusk. But wow the view against the glorious blue sky the next morning was stunning. The room was tastefully decorated in tones of red (There are also green rooms that are exactly the same but in muted greens) they were beautiful and very well-appointed, with 2 queen beds offering plenty for space for traveling families. And should you need a cot there is plenty of room for one.

Also having all the practical things you expect from a room in a luxury hotel such irons and ironing boards, hairdryer, tea coffee facilities. And the little extras, fluffy dressing gowns and slipper should you want to nip to the spa and Espa toiletries.

An evening meal in the Vines restaurant.

I did wonder about the Carden Park restaurant dress code before our trip and took a few options to wear. The Vines dress code is smart casual, although if you want to get dressed up you would not look out-of-place. The food is an inspired gastro pub style menu with enough choice to suit all tastes, but not be overwhelming. Joe chose a medium steak, which was cooked to perfection, whilst Chris and I opted for a burger and chicken, both delicious. The service was great and the drinks frequently checked on so we never ran dry.

Breakfast was served in Redmond’s which had a good choice of cereals, yoghurt, pastries and cooked breakfast. You could also opt for filter coffee served at your table or speciality coffees from the machine. And the waitress was amazing, Joe asked for hot chocolate and she made it with all the trimmings.

After a chilled out evening enjoying pre dinner drinks a family dinner and a fantastic nights sleep. ( The beds are so comfy) We awoke Saturday ready for a day of adventure. After breakfast and a long walk around the grounds we packed up our room and loaded the car and then head over to the Event Station for a day of adventure.

The Event Station at Carden Park Hotel For Families and Teens 

We loved everything about the hotel and our stay, however the Event Station is an absolute highlight for families with teens. It’s a reason to visit Carden Park, the activities on offer are not only extensive but also real. When I say real I mean the exhilarating version with trained professionals in that field. Not tame versions of an outdoor activity, which is something that we have discovered the older the boys get, not all adventure activities hit the spot. But at Carden Park they totally met our expectations.

Before our activities, we got to spend a little time in the event station. This is a super cool games room hub which has pool, snooker, football and hockey tables. Joe was in his element as he and Chris worked their way round the tables whilst I grabbed a magazine, cup of coffee and sat by the log fire. The games room is great value at £5 per wrist band which lasts for the duration of your stay and gives you access to the games room and miniature golf. If you have teens who love table hockey, football and snooker you will know this is AMAZING value. Because teens never get bored with these games.  There is also a driving range, a great place to practice your technique without getting in the way of the pro golfers.

We were booked in for Archery, Rifflery, and the Carden Park Kong Ropes and Zip Wire.

Let me make this clear, I have great difficulty in hitting a target, I always lose at shooting and archery. Chris and the boys all shoot and Chris has had lessons from ex Olympians. So yes, it’s safe to say they were not only very confident about archery and shooting they were also excited. Shooting is a sport they enjoy together. (shooting clays obs!)

I went into this activity the total underdog. However our instructor Terry was incredible and gave me the confidence to take my time and get my technique right, and it turns out I am pretty good at archery and shooting. It’s all about having someone with the patience and understanding of working with a left hander. Chris and Joe were happily competing with each other in their own little shooting bubble and failed to notice me romping up the inside and taking some cracking shots. I can’t tell you how many times I have failed at this and given up to watch Chris and the boys, so was thrilled to have actually learnt how to shoot an arrow straight. And even hit the bullseye!

Once we had warmed up and enjoyed a coffee, oh and Joe squeezed in a quick game of pool! We met up with our instructor Ryan who went through a safety talk and kitted us out for the Kong Ropes.

This is something we have done many times before, Joe whips round these courses like a ferret! Many a time he has been frustrated, waiting for a weeping grown man in front of him to be taken off a course. He was ecstatic that we had  the course to ourselves and he was at the front. The Kong Ropes are more challenging that some courses we have tried in the past and Ryan was fab at encouraging me to get through the trickier parts, but also reining Joe’s confidence in a little. At one stage I felt like I couldn’t get across the scramble nets, but Ryan was having none of it, I had to get across.

And then came the zip wire! I wasn’t prepared how high and long it would be. As Joe prepared to jump off the platform I felt a little sick.That parental instinct kicked in as he fearlessly jumped and whizzed away into thin air in front of my eyes. My turn came and I had to go, I was the last the take the plunge and everyone was watching in anticipation to see if I would do it! Would I do it all again? Yes in a heartbeat, family days like this are so much fun. Showing your children its great to be brave, take those steps and fly is the best lessons you can teach them.

So it Carden Park Hotel for families and teens? Yes, is a great destination hotel, perfect for families that want to find adventure, or just eat great food and chill. And it just shows you can enjoy adventure but also have a little pamper time and luxury without compromise.

We were invited for a complimentary stay, dinner and activities in return for an honest review. All thoughts and photos are my own. 

 

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