Sunday, December 19, 2010

Center Parcs Sherwood Forest treehouse: Ideal for family weekend holiday retreat

By MARGARITA MADDEN

Fun in the trees: The games den attached to Margarita's treehouse


I woke in an enchanted forest blanketed in snow. My five-year-old son Lucas was already outside in boots and PJs checking out the white stuff. We were staying for a long weekend at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest in one of its new luxury treehouses.

It looked amazing. Raised up on stilts with connecting walkways and surrounded by woodland, from outside it was difficult to see where the trees stopped and the house began.

Inside were four en-suite bedrooms, a spacious living area, and an open plan kitchen and dining area. A wooden walkway connected you to a games den with a pool table – I could see this as the perfect place for teenagers to escape their parents. If all that was not enough, there was an outdoor hot tub and infra-red sauna.

The treehouse was the perfect place for a family get-together. We were a big group comprising my father-in-law, my sister-in-law with her two children, my brother-in-law, my husband and our two children.

I was surprised by the range of activities on offer. From badminton, falconry and archery to quad-biking.

And if it rained, there were lots of things to do indoors. We were visiting during the pre-Christmas Winter Wonderland which included carriage rides, outdoor ice-skating and a visit to Santa’s woodland workshop.


Holiday on ice: Margarita's extended family enjoy the snow


On our first day, Lucas was given a ride to see Santa on a very well-behaved pony. It was great to see some real reindeer munching their way through a stack of hay just outside the workshop. My son Theo and his cousin Tom – both two –- were convinced they were horses. We went into the workshop with my sister-in-law and the four children.

Lucas had his letter ready to show Santa and, after a chat with the man himself, we had photos taken by one of his helpers and the children chose presents from a chest full of toys. After lunch we cycled to the Subtropical Swimming Paradise. There were flumes and slides for all ages. My niece Georgia, ten, headed straight for the big ones. The rapids were a favourite, they whisk you out of the dome in a fast-flowing stream, drop you into a plunge pool and spit you back inside. It was full of surprises the first time – Georgia and her grandfather, who is in his late 60s, loved it. Later on I was off to the Aqua Sana Spa for an Elemis skin facial – such peace! How silly of me mot to have asked my sister-in-law along – we could have escaped from the children. I later met my husband at the village where we watched a brass band play carols.

We did constantly get lost on our bikes but as I enjoyed riding through the woods I didn’t mind. The next morning after breakfast, we dragged the children away from snowballing to jump on our bikes and explore more. We found the golf driving range and the country club with the Forester’s Inn, where we later had lunch, completely covered in snow. We cycled down icy paths and past a beautiful frozen lake. Exhausted, we decamped at Starbucks for hot chocolate and to thaw out our freezing hands.


Center barks: The Sherwood Forest treehouse is perfect for a family weekend


The outdoor synthetic skating rink was one of the highlights for Lucas and Theo. I thought they would struggle – how wrong I was. Theo was soon skating with confidence in his double-bladed ‘bob’ skates and Lucas did amazingly well too.

On our last evening, we reluctantly packed our car and said our goodbyes to each other, to our wonderful treehouse and our biking adventures.


Travel facts
The three treehouses at Sherwood Forest are available for guests to book for breaks in 2011.

Short breaks in the treehouses start from £2,249 and sleep up to eight people. Midweek breaks are from Monday to Friday (four nights) and weekend breaks are Friday to Monday (three nights).

For further details please visit http://differentview.centerparcs.co.uk/treehouse.php. Visit the Center Parcs website (www.centerparcs.co.uk) from December 23, 2010 until midnight on January 31, 2011 for short breaks in 2011, starting from £249.


source: dailymail

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