Cruising with kids – a new adventure everyday

Leading boating holiday provider Le Boat have just launched their 2009 brochure and for the first time it includes a dedicated section on family-friendly holidays and hints and tips – even introducing a brand new brochure symbol to flag the very best routes for family cruising. To celebrate the launch, Le Boat are offering Primary Times readers 15% off boat hire prices at all family-friendly destinations*.

Kids will love the adventure of visiting new places each day and helping to decide where to go and what to do is all part of the fun. With playgrounds, museums and outdoor swimming pools all along our routes, you can be sure of always having something up your sleeve to keep the kids amused, wherever you choose to cruise. What’s more no previous boating experience is required.

Cultural fun

Castle dungeons and medieval museums, such as those found in Carcassonne on the Canal du Midi are perfect for bringing history lessons to life or why not find out how salt is made in the Camargue or discover the origins of cartoon strips in the unique comic museum in Angoulême, near our base in the Charente. England’s Royal Windsor Castle on the banks of the River Thames is the place to see modern-day guards at work while the chocolate museums of Bruges in Belgium tend to appeal to people of all ages!

Enjoy the outdoors

Why not hire a canoe or sailing boat for the day and swap the slow pace of waterways cruising for something slightly faster! Watersports facilities can be found on all the rivers and lakes in this brochure, but are especially good on the River Lot and in Germany. Being so close to nature also provides a unique opportunity for children to chart the huge variety of birds and wildlife they will see on their travels.

For exploring further afield or for mini-excursions along the towpaths, don’t forget that children’s bikes and helmets are available at all our bases.

If you’re looking for seaside fun, why not head to the beaches close to the Canal du Midi in the South of France and the Camargue where fantastic fun parks and lively beach resorts offer everything from pony rides to shrimping in the rock pools. Closer to Le Boat’s base in Nieuwport in Belgium, the wide sandy beaches of northern France are also popular with families, and much less crowded too!

Happy families

For many families, going through locks is all part of the fun. Older children will love being 1st mate and having a responsible job to do. Tying knots and holding ropes (with the help of an adult) is all part of the adventure.

If you would prefer lock-free cruising, then head to the Etang du Thau in the Camargue, to the wonderful Loughs along Ireland’s Shannon-Erne waterway or to the Norfolk Broads in the UK, where kids can explore in a hired rowing boat or create their own ‘swallows and amazons’ adventure. Family holidays don’t get much better!

Being together as a family without the benefits of modern-day entertainment provides the perfect opportunity to enjoy more traditional forms of entertainment. Board games, card games and charades are all great favourites and perfect for all ages; you’ll find these evenings together provide a source of happy holiday memories for years to come! (Please note - TVs and DVD players can also be hired from some of our bases if required).

Safety first

Safety of course is paramount and we recommend that children wear life jackets at all times. Choose a boat that’s best for you and your children – our ‘dancing range’ of boats (Salsa, Calypso and Tango) all have front sundecks that are accessible from the saloon and are perfect for younger children. Some boats have sliding roofs and these too are good for smaller children as they can be safely kept within the confines of the boat. Boats with flat roofs and larger sundecks are great for sunbathing and alfresco family get-togethers.

With boats available to sleep from two to twelve people and holidays of one-week or longer available as well as short-breaks, Le Boat has flexible options to suit every party size and budget. For more information call 0844 463 3577 or visit www.leboat.co.uk.

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