We joined my in-laws in their yearly trip to Cornwall. It is a little joke in the UK, that some people go to the same places every year and my in-laws are part of that crowd. They do Cornwall in late June and the Lake District in October. As far as I know, they stay in the same places and do the same things every year. I guess there is comfort in familiarity.
I thought it would be nice to join them because of the new arrival of Bug to the family. So this wasn't a holiday that I really planned because I didn't want to seem rude and dashing off all the time. We really liked Cornwall and know we will go back another time. Whether or not it is when the in-laws go out there or not, that is still up in the air. It is also nice to see how other people holiday, even if it is different from the way you do things.
My in-laws like the Polzeath area of Cornwall. They spent their honeymoon here and just started to spend their summers here when they went back for their 40th anniversary (cute isn't it!?!?).
We stayed in the National Trust cottages which are very nice but a bit on the pricey side for us. We West Cottage (it was the only NT property that allowed dogs to stay in the area) whilst they stayed in the Overhaven. Both were very nice. We decided to book the suggested cottage because it was near to them even though it was kind of a lot for our budget but we saw it as a one-off. I have since looked and there are a lot of properties that allow dogs at different budgets. My in-laws book their holiday a year in advance. You don't need to do this but the sooner you book it the better. Cornwall is a very highly visited place, so if you can book before the universities and schools are out, you can save money.
I loved Cornwall. I always tell Mr B that I want to retire in a thatched cottage in the North Norfolk Broads but now I am considering Cornwall as it is beautiful and much warmer than Norfolk!
The area that we stayed had many walks. I got up in the morning and Dusty and I went for a run along the coast. Mr B, Bug, Dusty and I went out and just wandered along the paths. My in-laws told me that puffins are out on some of the islands but we were unable to see any.
We went down to the beach and my sisters-in-laws and Mr B went body boarding, whilst Bug and I built sand castles. Everyone that was in the ocean was wearing a wetsuit. So I have come to the conclusion (and Mr B agrees) that the seas here are not warm enough to just go for a swim in a bathing suit. That is the reason that the British go to Spain, France, Greece and Italy for holiday.
Eden Project
Ever since I knew we were going on holiday to Cornwall, I knew we were going to visit the EdenProject. But you know how crafty I am so I was not willing to pay full price! It is not a cheap attraction as it is £25 an adult!
I got my vouchers from my Tescos Clubcard points because it is better to use them on things to do than actual groceries. This was a recommended place from a fellow American expat. It is a relatively new place with it only just celebrating its 15th birthday this year.
I loved it here. It was built in a clay pit. The Eden Project was meant to show the importance of plants and our impact on the world. There are two different domes which are two different climates, the Mediterranean and Rainforest. So one is dry and the other is very moist.
We liked the Rainforest Dome more than the other. It is by far the biggest dome. There are cooling rooms as it is very hot. We were unable to go to the observation level because only infants that can walk can go. There were winding paths and animals. It was all so breathtaking.
We brought our our lunches but there is a large cafe for lunch. As you may know, I live with a food allergy which makes eating out a bit difficult. But you would be alright not packing a lunch. In fact, it smelt so good, I almost asked if they could alter their burritos so I could have one!
It was raining too hard for us to enjoy the gardens outside but everything was beautiful!
I think this really appealed to me. I am already on the track to owning less (I still try to keep to this even with Bug), growing my own food and reduce my impact on the environment.
They also have exhibitions in The Core that highlight our impact on the environment.
I highly recommend this place if you are in the area!