AD    It is the summer holidays and days out with the kids can be expensive so I have been determined to explore more of the North East this summer, as we have some fab low-cost days out in the region. Somewhere we have not explored much of is Sunderland, so I decided to explore it a bit this summer with the kids - aged nine and eleven years old.  As I don't know Sunderland very well I thought it was best if we explored it via public transport, especially as children aged eleven and under travel for free this summer on Go North East buses in the region - making it a super ..read more

  Looking for ice cream or a dessert spot in Newcastle city centre? then you have to visit Mark Toney on Percy Street, opposite Haymarket bus station. I visited with my children and we couldn't believe how affordable it was. Serving everything from breakfasts to burgers, jacket potato's to roast diners and a delicious dessert menu.  This legendary Newcastle family run cafe has been here for years and years and serves hot meals and a range of sandwiches and light bites to their famous award-winning ice creams and desserts.  The Percy Street cafe looks fairly small from the o ..read more

  Somewhere I have been meaning to visit for such a long time is Turknaz in Whitley Bay, so many of our family and friends had recommended this award-winning restaurant to us over the years and we finally got round to visiting recently.   Located on North Parade right by the seafront in Whitley Bay you will find Turknaz restaurant. It is just a short walk from Whitley Bay town centre and there is a couple of car parks located just a few minutes walk away. We visited on a Saturday evening and had prebooked a table online the day before and I am glad we did as it was busy when we ..read more

 AD - Invited  Fly away to Neverland this Christmas with Peter Pan at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House in Newcastle. Staring Tyne Theatre panto favourites Lewis Denny and Charlie Richmond along with Eastenders Matt Lapinsky, X Factors Sam Lavery and CBBC's Cleo Demetirou. Last years villan (Gaston last year) actor Micky Cochrane returns this year as baddie Captain Hook and Phoebe Garr is a cheeky Geordie Tinkerbell.  From the moment the lights went down we were in for a treat with an opening Greatest Showman song routine. There was so many great pop songs throughout the sho ..read more

 AD - Invited    Are you looking for a nice festive meal out with family, friends or work colleagues that is not a traditional Christmas lunch? If so I have found the perfect place for you, Trenchers at Spanish City in Whitley Bay. They have a festive menu priced at £23.00 for two courses or £28.00 for three courses. I was kindly invited along to try it out with my dad last week, read on to find out what we thought. I love Trenchers at Spanish City, I have visited previously with the children for fish and chips which you can read about here. Spanish City is a beautiful venue ..read more

 AD - Invited  Regular readers will know that we adore the Pantomimes at Whitley Bay Playhouse and have been going to see them every year since 2016! Going to the panto here is like meeting up with old friends and you know you are going to be in for a giggle and leave feeling all festive and happy. We also love the Playhouse venue as it is so comfy and is local to us as we live in North Tyneside.  Cinderella  This year's pantomime is Cinderella and is the fastest selling Playhouse Panto with many dates already sold out! That shows just how popular this gem of a show re ..read more

Collaborative post We have never really celebrated New Year as we always have the children and they go to bed well before the clock strikes midnight. However now they are getting older we have been thinking about celebrating for once as I think it would be nice to celebrate it for a change. I would love to go away for New Year. My husband suggested going to Scotland for new year as they celebrate it better then we do with Hogmanay.  While I adore Edinburgh we always go there and it is so busy for New Year so I have been looking at Glasgow instead. Glasgow is somewhere that we have nev ..read more

 AD - Invited  Treetop Mini Golf has branches around the UK and it recently opened a branch here in the North East at the Metrocentre. There are two 18 hole courses to choose from - Tropical Trail which is rainforest theme and Ancient Explorer which we decided to try out and was ancient Amazonian themed.  Treetop Golf  Treetop Golf is located upstairs in the cube area of the Metrocentre, near all the restaurants - next door to the Chinese buffet. You don't need to pre-book you just turn up and play, they are cashless though so make sure you bring your card with you t ..read more

 AD  Looking for a spooky Halloween themed day out in the North East? Well Family Fright Fest is the perfect Halloween themed family day out for the whole family. Located at Lintz Hall Farm in Burnopfield - on the same site as the popular adult event Psychopath you will find Family Fright Fest. Read on to find out everything you need to know.  What Is Family Fright Fest Family Fright Fest is a family friendly Halloween day out in the North East of England. Located on the exact same site as Psychopath it uses some of the same scare mazes but they have obviously been tamed dow ..read more

 AD  The people behind Family Fright Fest and Psycopath have launched a brand new Pumpkin Patch this year called Pumpkin Patch UK and we were invited along for opening weekend. Located at Lintz Hall farm in Burnopfield you will find Pumpkin Patch UK situated on the same site as sister events Psychopath and Family Fright Fest.  Pumpkin Patch UK  Arriving at Pumpkin Patch UK there is plenty of free on-site parking available. It is clearly signposted so you can see where to enter and entry is £3.00 per person, children under one  year of age are free. You can pre-book ..read more