The Garlic Farm

Amazon World Zoo Park, a conservation centre with rainforest plants as well as over 200 animal species including tapirs, meerkats and armadillos, is only a five-minute drive away. Further afield, Tapnell Farm Park at Yarmouth (30 minutes' drive) is another place for the kids to get close to wildlife such as wallabies and goats, as well as let loose in the Straw Bale Adventure Zone and huge indoor play barn. If woodland theme parks are your bag, an afternoon at Robin Hill Country Park will be a top pick, with rides and adventure and play areas. Blackgang Chine is another first-rate theme park well worth a look: here you can fight pirates aboard your own ship or explore a sunken shipwreck. A 10-minute drive from the site brings you to the coastal prehistoric museum of Dinosaur Isle. Or make your way towards the Needles Lighthouse - set on a chalky peninsula, the historic building is 45 minutes’ drive from The Garlic Farm. From here, you can explore an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty for hiking, cycling and, for those in the know, stargazing. There are also any number of beaches close to hand for sand basking on one of the UK's sunniest destinations.