Escape to The Forest @ Center Parcs

What do you look for in a holiday? Whenever I ask that question I get a different answer, all of which are perfectly reasonable. Some of us look for a holiday that is adventurous and action-packed, whilst some of us prefer to get away from anything busy and just relax. That's why I love our annual trip to Center Parcs, it's the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.

All Center Parcs sites are set under the treetops, with lodges scattered throughout the deep forest. The natural scenery and forest trees provide you with peace and privacy, without leaving you feeling isolated. A short bike ride in any direction will take you to an activity of some sorts, from simply shopping and having a meal out, to taking part in an aerial adventure or swimming in a subtropical paradise!

Throughout the years we have always gone to the Center Parcs site situated in Elveden, but this year we mixed things up and headed to Woburn Forest. There are five different Center Parcs sites across the UK, all of which contain roughly the same activities and restaurants, just in a different layout. Trying to find our way around this site caused us to work up an appetite, so, as always, our first port of call was The Pancake House.

Taking a seat in The Pancake House is the moment I finally feel I'm on holiday, it's not every day you have the option to order an entire meal on a pancake! Just as I had hoped, The Pancake House here also caters for Vegans like myself! The Restaurant is set in a perfect location, overlooking the beautiful lake. Coming here in the winter months adds to the natural beauty, the lake was covered by a thin layer of ice causing it to glisten in the low setting sun. Without any hesitation, we tucked into our pancakes and then got our bikes ready, eager to locate our lodge under the trees!

Our lodge this year was a cosy four bedroom, with an open plan kitchen-diner-living room. The glass patio doors open onto a perfectly secluded barbecue area, although it's a little too cold to be put to good use in January! Instead, our eyes are drawn to the log fireplace indoors, which we planned on using daily. Center Parcs seems to become something magical during the winter. I love wrapping up for a walk in the cold, feeling the crisp air on your cheeks and returning to your lodge with red noses ready to warm up with a hot chocolate by the fireplace. An added bonus to coming in winter is being able to see the twinkling fairy lights wrapped around the towering trees and tortuous pathways. There really is something special to see around every corner.

The forest surroundings aren't just put in place to add to your holiday experience and provide picture-perfect moments. Protecting the natural environment is important for many reasons, and Center Parcs do well to acknowledge that. With the help of The Wildlife Trust, they are able to enhance and maintain the habitats and wildlife in the local area. All staff are trained and educated in biodiversity conservation, this is why there is an extensive range of activities related to learning about and meeting the wildlife. Forest Management plans are set in place every ten years to ensure the woodlands are not just kept in line with the local and national standards, but to ensure they rise above them. Whichever Center Parcs site you choose to visit, you can be sure to encounter plenty of well-cared-for wildlife!

Our second day at Center Parcs was rather gentle, much like the first. I love being at one with nature and spotting the wildlife that usually goes unseen. So, we took a lightly paced stroll to Starbucks, where we could kick up our feet, take in the surroundings and sip some much-needed Caffeine. Next door to Starbucks is The Plaza, a large portion of our time is often spent here. The Plaza is the hub of all things sporty, it offers something for every type of sports lover. You can spoil yourself in a Shopping spree at Sportique, watch a game on the big screens at the Sports Cafe or participate in some of the action with your friends. The list of both indoor and outdoor activities at Center Parcs is pretty extensive. So let's talk about the adventurous side of this holiday!

All that time spent walking underneath the high-reaching trees can leave you feeling a little small, but with the aerial adventure at your fingertips, you have the opportunity to master the trees like Tarzan! Only the brave can conquer the rope course and swing through the trees in order to experience the exhilarating descent on a zip wire over the lake. Or perhaps you'd rather catch some Robin Hood vibes by taking part in The Archery Experience. My friends and I particularly enjoyed the Field Archery, and of course, we used the opportunity to challenge one another. All participants receive the same equipment and instructional talk, so it's all down to your precision and technique if you want to be top of the scoreboard!

I'm sure you can tell by the photos that our visit to Center Parcs was a little chilly, for this reason, the outdoor activities may not sound very appealing! Although I do love the forest in winter, nobody wants to swing through the trees while the wind is below freezing! With that in mind, I think now is a good time to mention the Subtropical Swimming Paradise! At the heart of every Center Parcs is an incredible water park, heated to 29 degrees Celsius all year round and filled with lush foliage to make you feel as though you're in the Tropics. You are given unlimited access to the swimming area at zero extra expenses, so we like to make the most of it! The Swimming Paradise is family-friendly and fit for all ages, complete with relaxing whirlpools, lazy rivers, thrilling outdoor rapids and wild water rides! You can even hire your very own cabana or have a snack at one of poolside cafe's if you feel like spending the day in 'The Tropics'.

After a day filled with activities such as badminton, table tennis and swimming, we like to dine out at one of the high-rated restaurants. Each year we try a new restaurant in order to widen our horizon. This year's pick was Las Iguanas, home to fresh & authentic Brazilian, Mexican & Latin American food. I enjoyed my evening at Las Iguanas so much that I felt it deserved its own blog post! So if you wish to join in on my experience at Las Iguanas, I will leave a link to it at the bottom of this page! Las Iguanas, however, was not the only eating place we enjoyed. Throughout our week I made a fair few stops at Leon's, the healthy alternative to fast food! Leon's vegan boxes served as a perfect pick-me-up halfway through the day and its Mediterranean spices can help keep you warm before a brisk bike ride through the forest. Another two restaurants that are worth mentioning would be Huck's American Bar and Grill and The Sport's Cafe, exclusive only to Center Parcs!

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. However, our five fun-filled days left us feeling happy weeks after they finished. I might be a little worn out from all the activities, but at least I sleep well on the way home! These few activities are really only scratching the surface, if I were to mention them all I'd probably run out of blog space! I've left a lot of exploring for you to do on your own. That's part of the fun about going somewhere new. Thank you Center Parcs for bringing us the best start to 2019, here's to many more adventures ahead!

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