Powderham Castle , built in 1391, is the ancestral home of the 18th Earl of Devon. The Castle, which withstood the ravages of the Civil Wars, lies in the beautiful setting of an ancient deer park alongside the River Exe, on its' 4000 acre estate. Embellished in the 18th century, the Rococo plasterwork is amongst the finest in England. The Castle is open to the public from Easter to October each year and welcomes thousands of visitors.

Killerton House, close to Exeter in Devon, is owned by the National Trust, and its' large gardens were originally laid out in the 18th century. For children there's a quiz trail, and if you get tired you can choose between the restaurant and the tea-room.

Buckfast Abbey is a living Benedictine Monastery by the River Dart, with a magnificent Abbey church set in tranquil gardens, with three unusual shops. Book in advance for guided tours with the monks.

Buckfast Butterflies and Dartmoor Otter Sanctuary offers a great, enjoyable, educational experience. Wander around the butterfly farm and see new butterflies emerge in tropical surroundings.

Why not pay a visit to the Shaldon Wildlife Trust, a breeding centre for endangered species, concentrating on small animals and birds.

For a fantastic journey around the coastline go to Living Coasts , from loud loveable penguins to cute furry seals to colourful puffins, they're all at home here. Focusing on the conservation of coastal and marine life around the globe, Living Coasts is a unique, aquatic visitor attraction.

The Hedgehog Hospital and Wildlife Garden Centre at Prickly Ball farm is a very busy hedgehog hospital and wildlife centre. You get a real chance to meet, touch and learn about the hedgehogs. You be "hands on" or just watch some treatments, with talks running throughout the day.

Paignton Zoo is one of the West Country's leading visitor attractions, with the opportunity to meet literally hundreds of animals in its 75 acre setting, a real chance to learn about the world's endangered species and their habitats. As well as the zoo itself there are botanical gardens and all the usual amenities making for a great day out.

The Miniature Pony Centre near Moretonhampstead has donkeys, pygmy goats, pigs, wildfowl, and of course miniature ponies! With both indoor and outdoor adventure playgrounds, the children's farm, craft gallery and shops it makes for a great day out.

Becky Falls Woodland Park is high on Dartmoor and provides some of the most scenic and enjoyable walks in the south west, as well as lots of family fun year round.

Canonteign Falls, in the beautiful Teign Valley area of Dartmoor, is England’s highest waterfalls. The falls descend 220ft (67m) almost vertically, before running on through rock formations and ancient woodlands, then cascading into the tranquil lakes below. Canonteign Falls offers a spectacular day out for all the family with walks and quiz trails, a wetland nature reserve, plus all the usual necessities for a great day.

The South Devon Railway at Buckfastleigh, is a steam operated country branch line, running along the side of the River Dart between Buckfastleigh and Totnes. This historic steam locomotive's 7 mile journey will take you through beautiful Devon scenery and is well worth a ride.

Pennywell Farm and Activity Park is a fantastic family day out with a wealth of things to do and see. Be it the Bird of Prey centre, the Farm animals, Pony centre , Puppet shows, Go-Karts or Mini Diggers you won't have a moment to waste!

Quaywest at Goodrington Sands in Paignton is a must for waterbabies of all ages! With the children's fun pool, the Submarine Playzone, the Devil's Drop, the Toon Town pool, the Kamikaze and the Screamer, there will hardly be time to get in the actual swimming pool! But if you tire of the water, you can try your hand on the Go-karts or Crazy Golf. Open May to Sept.

Woodlands has a great combination of indoor and outdoor attractions set in 60 acres, with all weather fun guaranteed in their massive indoor venture centres. Don't miss the falconry display or the animal zone!

Rain or shine, Babbacombe Model Village in Torquay is a well worth a visit.

The Rainbow Fun House is a great place for kids to explore. There are flumes and slides and even a race track! Adults are welcome to join in the fun but if you can't keep up you can relax in the cafe.

At Crealy Adventure Park in Exeter you can discover six great realms including Action Realm, Adventure Realm and Natural Realm. There are also six excting rides and over 200 animals to visit. Special events include Saints Days - for example on St Anthony's day all Anthonys get in free (but don't forget your ID)!!!

World of Country Life in Exmouth is packed with family fun! Giant slides, ball ponds, quad bikes and trampolines are just a few of the exciting things you can experience there. But don't miss out on a pirate adventure or forget to visit the pets corner where you could walk a pygmy goat!

For a different kind of day out, why not try Sorley Tunnels in Kingsbridge? Face your fears and try to make it through the disused railway tunnel in Scary World, or just play on the beach in Sand World. With six other worlds to explore, there should be something for everyone!

Stuart Line Cruises offer a range of boat trips along the calm River Exe. You can enjoy the spectacular views of Lympstone, Starcross, Topsham and Powderham Castle and if you're lucky you may see some seals! For special occasions, why not go on a Firework Cruise complete with disco, BBQ and bar.

Haynes Motor Museum in Sparkford takes you through motoring history, with Britain's most spectacular collection of historic cars from around the world.

Kents Cavern in Torquay, one of the most important Palaeolithic caves in Northern Europe, has the oldest recognisable human dwelling in Britain. It holds beautiful and spectacular geological formations and significant prehistoric finds, some of which are over 700,000 years old.

If you're a connoisseur, why not visit the Lime Bay Winery, sited in the lovely Axe Valley, the heart of Devon's countryside. Established in 1992, originally brewing traditional ciders, they have since diversified local wines and have a shop sited within the winery.

Spanning nearly 300 years of horticultural history, Bicton Park Botanical Gardens is set in East Devon's beautiful Otter Valley, between the ancient city of Exeter and southwest England's Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site. For a scenic ride around the park, there's the Bicton Woodland Railway which is a treat for children and grown-ups alike.

If you are a horse lover the Miniature Pony and Animal Farm is a great place to visit. You can see the horses being groomed and fed but it's not just horses that you'll find! There are fish, birds, pigs, cows and many more!

And for any shop-a-holics, why not take a trip to Trago Mills in Newton Abbot? Trago Mills offers the biggest range of discounted goods in the West Country. Set in 100 acres of rolling countryside it has it's own lakeside miniature steam railway as well as some great children's rides, including Dune buggies, Trawlers Boats and Supakarts.