In the last of my posts about our recent trip to Mallorca I’ll share what 8 adults and 6 preschoolers got up to on a day trip to Palma, Mallorca. The day was organised by Thomson as Shine and I had the fortune to stay at one of their Thomson Family Resorts (Protur Aparthotel Bonaire). You can read about the trip here and here if you’d like to know more.
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Our day trip to Palma began with a visit to the Palma Aquarium. I can honestly say it was the best aquarium I have visited with kids. There was so much more than just the pretty fish. There was a large playground and splash park as well as two bouncy castles which were brilliant for burning off a little energy. There was a tropical jungle complete with a waterfall that mesmerised the kiddies. The karp pond was beautiful and the shark tank was spectacular.
One of the best things about the aquarium was that they’ve obviously thought about how children will view the marine life. Each tank had a little platform or ledge where children could stand and peer into the tanks and the larger tanks, like the sharks, had cushions scattered so you could sit with your kids and watch the fish. The music playing and dim lighting all added to an overall feeling of calm, which was lovely.
You could easily spend a full day at the aquarium and not get bored, which makes the admission price very reasonable.
After the aquarium we headed to the marina for lunch at Can Eduardo. I say lunch but really it was more like a feast. Fresh seafood, tasty tidbits and an impressively giant paella.
I’d definitely recommend it if you’re looking for somewhere to indulge next time you’re in Palma. The food was superb and the views looking over the marina and cathedral were to die for.
The children were well cared for too with their own entrees and mains, plenty of highchairs, space for buggies galore and a baby change table in the restroom.
Following lunch we staggered our way through the old town exploring some of the narrow lanes of Palma on our way to the cathedral. The city reminded me a little of Naples because of the harbour, crossed with some of the architectural styles found in parts of Madrid and Barcelona.
We passed so many little boutiques, cafes and bars that were really tempting but by this point in the afternoon Shine was crashed out in the buggy and I couldn’t risk waking her by pausing motion, damn it.
It was lovely to have the option to take a day trip from the resort and spend time exploring Palma and it’s definitely given me a taste for more. I’d love to return to Palma for a weekend soon and see what else it has to offer. If you’re visiting Mallorca with children don’t miss the aquarium, it was spectacular!
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If you want to read more reviews of our Thomson Preschooler Trip written by the lovely bloggers we travelled with then head to Mummy and Boo, Life According to Mrs Shilts, Confessions of a Crummy Mummy and Mum on the Brink.
If you’d like more information on the resort, like costs and details on the all-inclusive options visit Thomson Family Resorts and there’s a brochure on the right of the page. Or feel free to tweet me or comment on this post if you’ve got any questions.
Thomson paid for Shine and I to travel and stay with them, including all expenses on our day trip to Palma, but all opinions are my own. I am a member of the Mumsnet Bloggers Network Research Panel, a group of parent bloggers who have volunteered to review products, services, events and brands for Mumsnet. I have not paid for the product or to attend an event. I have editorial control and retain full editorial integrity.
Ah I’m dying to travel again now having read this and looked at these beautiful photos! I am big fan of large paella and large glasses!
It’s so easy to forget that beautiful cities like this are right on our doorstep. We’re very lucky really. All the hipsters were wearing their glasses upside down, Shine loves to get down with the locals 🙂