Flip Out Trampoline Park, Liverpool

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Disclosure - We were gifted tickets for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

We have been trying to keep busy this Summer, getting out and about so the boys don't just sit on their screens all day. As we can't rely on the British weather we have had to plan a few outdoor days out and also some indoors. Luckily we have quite a large selection of indoor play centres in the North West and we recently visited Flip Out, Liverpool.

What To Expect At Flip Out, Liverpool L9 5AT

Flip Out, Liverpool is not just a trampoline park, it is so much more. Flip Out is home to a 65ft donut slide, total wipeout, cyber towers, drop slide, stunt boxes, a huge interconnected trampoline arena and lots more.

The arena is split in to different sections. There are steps down away from the trampolines which lead you in to an area that has a play structure, donut slide, and climbing frame. It's a great addition to the trampolines and the boys spent a lot of time there, climbing and sliding. 

The simple trampolines are a great way to get you used to bouncing and work out where everything is. There are also some high power trampolines that allow you to launch yourself into a foam fit, flipping as you go if you wish.

The 65ft tube slide, which is very similar to an ice slide is lots of fun. You sit in a rubber ring and slide to the bottom. I haven't seen one of these anywhere other than in ice adventure areas, and it was just as much fun.

The stunt area has higher powered trampolines all around a well padded Lamborghini car that can be jumped on, or over.  This was a really good area to get some height into your bouncing. This area has a minimum height restriction of 1.2m.

There was also an assault course type area, again with minimum height requirement, this was similar to a play area structure with climbing, rolling, and a decent size slide at the end which was very quick.

You are guaranteed lots of laughs on the total wipe out zone. This is an activity where you stand on a spot and have to either jump over or duck under a moving bar. 

Anything Else?

Each standard jump session is 90 minutes which we felt was just the right amount of time. We were able to explore the large arena and enjoyed all the features inside. A 90 minute session costs £15.

You can enjoy some toddler time at Flip Out during off peak times. Monday 1pm then Tuesday to Friday at 10am, 11:30am and 1pm. Costs for the Toddler and Parent session is £12 with one adult free (term time only).

A family bounce is available which saves you money. Each family ticket is for 4 (must include one adult over 18) and costs just £50 anytime on any day.

For those who would like to enjoy a reduced sensory environment with dimmed lights and reduced noise you can enjoy an additional needs session. The sessions run on a Tuesday 5:30-7pm and Sunday 10am-11:30am. Price is £12 and carers go free. We found it very loud and busy when we visited so I would highly recommend these sessions to those who may be overwhelmed.

An after dark session brings a party atmosphere to the arena with light shows and super sound systems. After Dark runs for 2 hours every Friday and Saturday at 6pm. Cost is £16 or you can upgrade to a Flip Feast which includes a 9" pizza and drink for £20.

If you are thinking of a party there are some dedicated party rooms with plenty of space throughout and even free wifi for the parents. We didn't try the cafe although it looked to serve a good selection of food and drinks and there was plenty of seating around too.

It is recommended you book online to guarantee entry. 

Arrive at the venue 30 minutes before your bounce time and sign your waivers before you arrive to save time. 

Flip Out socks can be purchased from reception for £3 per pair. 

There are plenty of parking spaces however near the session times it was very busy to park.

We all really enjoyed our visit. The separate areas, slides and climbing frame really give the trampoline park that extra something. 

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Afternoon Tea On Board The Floating Grace

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John and I are always looking for places to go for date days and nights. Whilst looking online for something to do, John recently came across The Floating Grace. The Floating Grace is Liverpool's only floating restaurant and bar. 

What To Expect On Board The Floating Grace, Salthouse Quay, Liverpool L3 4AE

The Floating Grace is docked in the Salthouse Quay within The Albert Dock. There are a choice of cruises available which will take you on a historical tour of the Albert Dock taking in beautiful views of 8 of Liverpool's Docks. 

We bought an afternoon cruise and boarded the boat just before 2pm. The seating plans were already arranged and we were shown to our table for two. There were tables of two, four and six on our cruise and it was at full capacity. 

Once seated we chatted amongst ourselves, looking at the views whilst the staff came and took our drinks order. There is a bar on board, no draught beers or soft drinks but plenty of choice of bottled beers, wines, Prosecco and soft drinks. A drinks menu is on your table upon arrival for you to glance over. If you don't want to order drinks that is absolutely fine as you will be served tea or coffee with your afternoon tea. 

The captain introduced himself shortly before setting sail at 2:30pm. He did a safety chat letting the passengers know where to find life vests and emergency exit. He was able to give us lots of information about the different docks we sailed in and out of and so much history. It was quite obvious that he loved the docks and his passion really came across. 

Afternoon tea was served shortly after the cruise began. The three tiered afternoon tea had ham and tomato, tuna and mayonnaise, cheese and onion and egg mayonnaise sandwiches. Two scones with clotted cream and jam, two small pieces of lemon drizzle cake, two small cupcakes, two coconut macaroons and two wafer biscuits. It was more than enough for two. 

Your tea and coffee is served to you in large mugs. You do not have your own teapot however we were asked if we wanted a top up of tea. 

The staff on board were very friendly and approachable. The lady serving us was the captains wife and the waiter seemed like a family friend. The cruise had a lovely feel to it and was very enjoyable. 

The captain spoke about the history all the way along the docks and it was so interesting to hear. Once we had reached the end of the docks and we could not go any further the captain switched off his mic and we sailed back to some music. 

We boarded at 2pm and we got back to the Salthouse Quay at just before 4pm. The price for the cruise is £20 per person. 

Anything Else?

The afternoon tea cruise runs Wednesday to Saturday

There is an evening dinner cruise which again runs Wednesday to Saturday. Enjoy a three course meal on board with a glass of bubbly on arrival. Boarding at 7pm, set sail at 7:30pm and return at 9pm. The price for the evening dinner cruise is £35.

You can also enjoy a Sunday lunch cruise on board The Floating Grace. The 2 hour cruise offers a 2 course lunch with a glass of bubbly on arrival. You can choose to board at 12pm or 3pm. The price for the Sunday lunch is £25 per person. 

If you have any allergies or specific dietary requirements you can let them know beforehand via email or in the comments when booking. 

We really enjoyed our cruise on The Floating Grace. It was a lovely relaxed atmosphere, great food and lots of historical information. We would definitely like to book another cruise to experience the Sunday Lunch or Evening Dinner.

To find out more about the cruises, menus and booking information visit The Floating Grace.

I am always so grateful for any support I receive on my blog and social channels. If you did find this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

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Brickosaurs Brick Trail, Blackburn

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Disclosure - We were invited to complete the Brickosaurs Brick Trail for the purpose of this post. We have been compensated for our time. 

Brickosaurs Brick Trail comes to Blackburn this Summer from 20th August - 1st September. It's the perfect day out for dinosaur fans as you roam around the town centre in search of 15 large Brickosaur models. 

What To Expect At The Brickosaurs Brick Trail, The Mall, Blackburn BB1 5AF

If you want to take part in this years Brickosaurs Brick Trail then all you need to do is head to The Mall Ask Me Point to pick up a trail map and quiz. From here you can then follow the trail to find all 15 models. If you would prefer to be more interactive, you can download the free experience Blackburn app to join in with the QR code trail. Both trails will give you the chance to win a prize too. 

If you would like an sneak peak of where you can expect to see the dinosaurs this year here are some confirmed locations 

Trespass, The Mall

Rhode Island Coffee, The Mall

Victoria Court, The Mall

New Look, The Mall

Blackburn Market – mini trail

Ainsworth Street (rear of Boots), The Mall

Primark, The Mall

Grays Outfitters, Northgate

Morrisons, Salford

Blackburn Cathedral, Darwen Street / Cathedral Square

Hobkirks Sewing Machines, Darwen Street

King George’s Hall, Northgate

Blackburn Library, Town Hall Street

The highlights this year include a whopping 2m tall Velociraptor and a Parasaurolophus measuring over 3m in length, made of over 113,600 bricks!

It's such a family friendly fun event and we completed a similar trail a few years ago when Paw Patrol took over the town centre and we went on a Paw Patrol trail. It was a great day out and one we still talk about now as we saw some parts of Blackburn we hadn't seen before. I know this trail will be just as fun and to make it even better it's free to join in. 

The Brickburn Brickosaurs trail is led by Blackburn BID (Business improvement district) and focuses on 'Summer being what you MAKE of it'

If you do join in the trail I would love to know please do tag us in your social media posts @playdaysrunways and also include @experiencebbn #brickburn and #brickosaurs.

I am always so grateful for any support I receive on my blog and social channels. If you did find this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

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Michelle

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Breakout Liverpool, The Detective Office

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One of the things we have really missed over the last year and a half is date nights. John and I love heading out but not for the usual trip to a restaurant or cinema, we love doing something different. One of our favourite things to do is an escape room. We have visited quite a few escape rooms and also played lots of escape room games at home. We recently played our first Breakout room in a long while, The Detective Office. 

The Detective Office

Oh no! A dear detective friend of ours has been murdered. As we were the last people to see him alive there is a warrant for our arrest. We are definitely not the killers but we must prove our innocence and find out the real killer. We have managed to sneak in to the building where the detectives office is and we know that all the officers will leave for a one hour lunch. We have an idea that our friend the detective would have left clues to help us solve the mystery of his murder, who the killer is and prove our innocence.  We manage to sneak in to the detectives office, shut the door and we have just 60 minutes to find out who the killer is and escape arrest. 

Once inside the room you can expect to find lots of locks which need to be opened by key, numbers or codes. The idea is you search high and low to try and find clues which might help to solve the puzzles and escape. 

There is a large TV on the wall which will show the clock. This will count down from 60:00 to the time you escape or to 0:00 if you don't manage to break out.

The screen will also offer you clues if you are stuck. It will get your attention by playing a sound. While we were inside we found a key which we were certain opened a specific lock but it didn't. We got a message on the screen to let us know it was the right lock and to keep trying giving it a little wiggle. 

The Detective Office is rated 3 out of 5 for difficulty. We haven't tried a 4 out of 5 yet...maybe next time. 

Each Breakout room is suitable for 2-5 people. Detective Office actually have two identical rooms so would be ideal if you were a larger group and maybe wanted to race. 

Prices vary depending on the number of players and also the day of the week. 

For more information visit Breakout

Both John and I were nervous upon entering The Detectives Office as we have a 100% escape record and we would like to try and keep it. Did we escape - Yes we did, just! We had about 1 minute and 45 seconds to go but we made it. We found out who the killer was and proved our innocence. 

This was my favourite of the Break Out rooms we have done so far. It took us the longest but I really enjoyed the story and the puzzles were good. 

To view the range of rooms available and for more information visit Breakout

I am always so grateful for any support I receive on my blog and social channels. If you did find this post useful there are a few ways that you could say thanks and support Playdays and Runways.

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Michelle

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Visiting Goin Golf, Stoke on Trent

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Disclosure - We were invited to Goin' Golf for the purpose of this post. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own. 

Goin' Golf is a new virtual golf experience that has recently opened in Stoke On Trent. It is the biggest golf simulator experience in the UK with seven individual bays that you can book for the length of time that suits you.

When you play on a simulator at Goin' Golf you can choose to bring your own clubs, or borrow a set to use for your round. Goin' Golf supply the balls, which are all good quality brands that you may use yourself. If you have a spare hour you can actually get a full round of 18 holes in, on a course of your choice from over 190 available.  There are many reasons why you might want to play golf indoors - No need to walk the length of the course and you wont get stuck behind a group of slower players. There is also no adverse weather conditions to worry about either which means you will always get your full round in no matter how bad the rain outside may be. 

We chose to borrow a set of clubs from the centre as we didn't have my clubs with us at the time we visited. All clubs looked new and all had been cleaned before use. For the three of us playing we actually were given 3 sets - one mans, one ladies and one children's set which I didn't expect at all. 

We had the choice to play on one of the many courses, or play some of the arcade games available. We started with the arcade games and played both block breaker and darts. These are brilliant games for younger players and although Little J hasn't played golf before he loved the games and didn't want to come off them! While we played we got drinks, the menu lists everything available. We got a Latte, Pepsi Max and a Skittles Milkshake which went down very well!  Each simulator has its own sitting area where you can relax whilst waiting your turn or just take some time out for a drink. 

After we played the arcade games it was on to Pebble Beach to try the course out. You could choose your tee height, and use a large controller on the floor to move your angle of aim before taking your shot.  The simulator is intelligent and knows when the ball should be on the tee and when it should be on the floor. Once you have set your shot up you just need to pick your club and away you go.  

Initially I found the fact that I was indoors a bit different.  My swing was shortened and a little rushed as I thought I might hit the ceiling or maybe hit the ball too hard at the screen in front. After a few shots I was able to relax and play as I would outside. You soon get used to the space you have available - which is plenty and the ball always drops down from the screen once hit to be returned into the machine. 

The accuracy of the simulator seemed spot on. I have a natural slice to my driving which was unfortunately replicated on the simulator! Putting was a little difficult to get used to but again after a few holes you get the hang of it. 

Once we finished we went to have a look around the building which is really impressive. The owner really loves his golf and that is evident from the decoration and the time that has gone into setting Goin' Golf up. There are some lovely pictures of golfing greats, an enormous upstairs putting green, and 2 VIP rooms where the simulator will actually replicate the lie of the ball as on a real course, whether that be on an angle or in sand or rough. The toilets where very clean and easy to access. 

We really enjoyed our time at Goin' Golf and it was fun for us all. You can join up as a member to receive discounts on future visits which we have done.  

For more information and to book visit Goin' Golf

John

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The Jungle Cruise Movie Review

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Disclosure - We already have a Disney+ account through a previous collaboration. Our account has since been upgraded to include Premier Access to watch The Jungle Cruise. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own unless stated. This post contains affiliate links. 

Friday 30th July saw the release of the new Disney movie The Jungle Cruise. It was released in both the cinema and on Disney+ Premier Access. We do usually love to head to the cinema to watch new releases however we haven't been to the cinema in over 18 months and would much rather create a cinema movie night at home these days. 

Even though we are huge Disney fans, until 2017 we had no idea what The Jungle Cruise was. We boarded the cruise in the Magic Kingdom and had no idea what to expect. None of us had a clue what was happening and we left the boat feeling confused although the other passengers were thrilled and excited. There was a buzz in the air. 

Now after seeing the movie The Jungle Cruise I definitely understand the ride now and know why it is so iconic. 

The movie follows the story of Dr Lily Houghton and her brother MacGregor. They both head to South America in search of a skipper who can navigate a boat through the Amazon in search for a mythical tree which has flowers called 'Tears Of The Moon' which are said to have healing powers for all illnesses. They soon find Frank who offers jungle cruises to tourists. They set sail on the Amazon in search for the tree but soon realise they are not the only ones on this adventure. There are others searching for the Tears Of The Moon including long forgotten conquestadors, and as the film takes place in the time of World War I there are also soldiers in submarines looking for the same prize. 

There are lots os surprises along the way, not least the story of Frank which I won't give away here. 

I wasn't too sure about Emily Blunt being cast as Dr lily Houghton as she is already a popular Disney Character, Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins Returns however she does suit the role perfectly. Dwayne Johnson as Frank is a fun character full of corny jokes and I like the chemistry between him and Lily.

The movie has the same feel as Indiana Jones and also The Mummy. It's a family friendly comedy with lots of action and adventure. 

Michelle

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Staying At The Drayton Manor Hotel

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We recently planned a trip to Drayton Manor and with it being over two hours drive from home we decided to extend our trip and stay at the Drayton Manor hotel. It was the first time we have stayed at the hotel and we would definitely stay again. If you are planning a trip to Drayton Manor here is what you can expect if you stay over at the Drayton Manor Hotel.

The Drayton Manor Hotel, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B78 3TW

The Drayton Manor Hotel is just a few minutes walk to the main entrance to the Drayton Manor Theme Park. Drayton Manor Theme Park is home to over 100 rides and attractions including a 15 acre zoo and Thomas Land. 

Although Drayton Manor is probably best known for Thomas Land the hotel hasn't really picked up on this apart from a very small Thomas and Friends gift shop and a small carousel moving display in the reception area.

Rooms

The hotel has a variety of bedrooms to meet all needs including

Thomas and Friends Themed Room

Rooms are spacious and include a double bed and Thomas theme bunk beds. Adults can relax in front of their own TV, whilst the children watch a DVD in theirs. 

Family Room

Family rooms are spacious enough for two adults and two children or a maximum of three adults. Each room has a double bed and a sofa bed.

Family Deluxe Room

Family Deluxe Rooms have 2 double beds giving you extra space for the little ones. 

Presidential Room

A separate staircase leads up to the Presidential Room which offers a queen size bed and lounge area. 

Executive Room

An Executive room can accommodate two adults and one child when adding a single bed or cot.

Accessible Room

A spacious room with all areas accessible by wheelchair. 

Triple Room

The Triple room can accommodate two adults in single beds and one child in a pull out trundle bed.

We stayed in a Triple room and you if you want to take a look click our triple room tour at Drayton Manor hotel

Stay and Play

The Drayton Manor Hotel offer a Stay and Play package. The package includes a stay in one of the rooms at the hotel, a full english breakfast and tickets for Drayton Manor Theme Park for each member of your party.

Meetings

One of the reasons I think the hotel hasn't gone for a Thomas and Friends decor throughout is that the hotel is very popular for meetings, conferences and events. There was an event on while we stayed and it was very popular. 

Restaurant and Bar

The Parklands Restaurant and Bar offers a wide variety of meals including steaks, grills, pastas and risotto. They do offer a children's menu too.

If the restaurant and bar isn't for you then you can head to the park for Fish N Chips or Safari Pizza and Pasta with both restaurants staying open till 7:30pm after rides close. All you need to do is show your room card. You can also order Fish N Chips to your room. 

Anything Else?

There is a small arcade on the ground floor close to reception. It has a selection of games and machines for the chance to win.

The Thomas and Friends Gift Shop is also situated close to reception and is stocked with lots of Thomas  goodies. 

Outside at the back of the hotel is an outside patio with a selection of table and chairs.

There is also a small woodland play area for children. 

There are plenty of car parking spaces situated at the front of the hotel and an overflow to the side. 

If booking a Stay and Play trip you can use your tickets on the day of your arrival or on your departure day, the choice is yours. 

There is no pool, gym, sauna or steam room at the hotel which is a shame as I think this would be a great addition. 

When leaving the hotel on foot you can follow the yellow path marked PE (park entrance) this will take you to the back of the theme park within a few minutes. 

We booked our room quite late so there where limited rooms available. We chose a triple room which suited our needs. We did think we would be able to push two of the single beds together however this wasn't possible as there was a nightstand between the beds which was fixed to the wall. 

The rooms all come with tv, free wifi, toiletries and tea making facilities. 

Our room had an interconnecting door. I am not sure how many rooms are available with this choice but if required I would contact the hotel directly as I did not see an option when booking.  

If you would like to see our full room tour video you can see it here. Like I said earlier we stayed in a triple room however I think the room size, layout and features in the room are all very similar unless staying in the Presidential or Executive room. 

Would We Stay Again?

If the price was right we would definitely use the Stay and Play offer again when visiting Drayton Manor. Although the hotel is situated just 5 minutes away from the park, it was the school holidays and there was an event taking place it was extremely quiet. 

The rooms were spacious and breakfast set us up for the day with a full english available, cereals, croissants and fruit.

The Theme Park has a great mixture of rides and attractions and makes for a great day out. 

To find out more information about the hotel and to check out the special offers visit The Drayton Manor Hotel website.

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Comments - I love reading your opinions and thoughts - Have you visited Drayton Manor before?Leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought.

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Michelle

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Kids Against Maturity Game Review

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Disclosure - We bought the below product for the purpose of this post. We were paid for our time. All thoughts, opinions and photographs are our own unless stated. This post contains affiliate links. 

We love playing games here and as there is an eleven year age gap between the two boys it's sometimes hard to find games they both can play and they will both enjoy. Kids Against Maturity ticks all boxes for us. Not only is it age appropriate for both boys, it's simple to understand, easy to play and is based around toilet type humour which the boys love. 

Kids Against Maturity is so simple to play. Each player gets 10 white cards. White cards have possible answers on them. Blue cards have a partial sentence on them. When a blue card is flipped over each player has to choose a possible answer card from one of their ten white cards that they think would get the most laughs. 

As an example - The blue card shows "The _____________ is always greener on the other side." You then need to decide which card to place down which you think is the funniest answer but also what you think others will find funny. Would you choose Poop Emoji, Ding Dong or Diaper Hat

Now as I said before this game has lots of toilet humour so as long as you are ready for talk of farts, poops and butts then you are good to play. 

Once all the white cards have been placed down on that turn the winner is determined by the amount of laughs given for each white card. 

You should always have ten white cards in your hand so you need to pick up white cards after each turn.

There is no set time limit for the game so you can play for as long or as little as you want. It's estimated that five turns will take 45 minutes. 

The game is recommended for players aged 10+ and for 4 or more players however we have played with 2,3 and 4 players and found it funny each time. 

The box does come with a warning saying there are a lot of poopy jokes in the blue box. Simply remove any cards which you would deem offensive. 

We have haven't found any offensive yet and we all found this hilarious and it definitely made us all laugh out loud. 

Michelle

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