Although January is typically a miserable month with bad weather and no money, it’s also the perfect time to start making plans for the year ahead.
Whether you’ve made a New Years’ Resolution (or 100) or you’ve decided to just keep being yourself, there’s no reason why 2016 shouldn’t be the year of fun plans and things to look forward to.
Below, I’ve put some ideas for fun things to do, places to visit and holiday inspiration. If you’ve got any recommendations to add I’d love to hear them – then we can all have a happy and exciting 2016!
Holidays
Of course, there are the usual suspects of Spain, Greece and the various islands along with British staples like Southport, Wales and Dorset, but there are some new favourites emerging.
France has a huge selection of cities and country locations to visit. Thanks to the size of the country, it’s possible to do theme park magic, sizzling sunbeds and skiing in the same break (assuming you want to drive a lot in between) or you could just choose from Paris, the French Alps or Biarritz and make your holiday around a single resort.
Dubai is also becoming extremely popular. As well as stunning weather, there’s also plenty to do with theme parks and hotels galore, water activities and some of the best (and most spectacular) hotels in the world.
If you’re pushing the boat out and you’ve got young children, Florida is a firm favourite. From Disney and Universal to the Kennedy Space Station, there is literally something for everyone, as well as a warm welcome and perfect weather.
Days out
Wherever you are in the country, Britain has it all when it comes to days out. Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Drayton Manor Park and Zoo and Legoland are the best in theme parks whilst there are also museums, safari parks and natural monuments such as Stonehenge to enjoy. There are also new attractions like the Doctor Who Experience in Cardiff and Harry Potter Studio Tour to visit.
There’s a fantastic website called Days Out With The Kids where you can set your location and find attractions and events in your local area so a fun day out doesn’t have to cost the earth.
Cinema Days
2016 looks like a great time to visit the cinema and enjoy a movie afternoon, with many family films already planned for release. Both IMDB and Wikipedia have a full run-down of the films due to come out. However, if you fancy Kung Fu Panda 3, Zootopia, The Jungle Book, Captain America: Civil War, Batman V Superman, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Finding Dory, The BFG and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them (adapted from the J K Rowling book) 2016 is going to be a good year for you!
