Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory
Hard to miss with its brightly coloured shop front Aunt Sandra's Candy Factory in Belfast has been making homemade candy and chocolate since 1953. Aunt Sandra (yes she does exist) started as a young girl in the small shop and trained to make old time favorites like: honeycomb, nutty lumps, mint humbugs, traditional fudge and much more- many of the recipes are over 100 years old and all are made by hand!!
Aunt Sandra has now retired but the old tradition of hand made candy lives on, thanks to nephew David Moore. Take your taste-buds on a trip down memory lane or give the kids a real treat with a visit to Aunt Sandra's Candy Factory and see candy making as it used to be.
They can be found at 60 Castlereagh Road, Belfast T: 028 90732868 :: www.auntsandras.com
The Odyssey Complex
You could spend a whole holiday at the amazing Odyssey Pavilion in Queen’s Island. With a range of attractions to captivate all from the multi-award winning interactive discovery centre, W5 (can this be a link? – www.w5online.co.uk ), where the kids will be having so much fun they won’t realise how much they’re learning, to the state-of-the-art tenpin bowling and amusements at the Odyssey there really is something for everyone!!
Look out for the Belfast Giants ice hockey games at the adjacent Odyssey Arena too or when the Giant’s aren’t at home the arena hosts some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry from Oasis and The Killers to Pink, Take That and local boys Snow Patrol. And with a range of great value eateries and restaurants and the amazing Storm Cinema it really has everything under one roof!
2 Queen's Quay
Belfast, Antrim BT3 9QQ
028 9076 6000
www.odysseyarena.com
Dundonald International Ice-Bowl
Now it’s time to let the kids loose at Dundonald Ice Bowl, Northern Ireland's only Olympic sized ice rink, perfect for experienced skaters and beginners alike. But that’s just part of the story. There’s also 30 lanes of tenpin bowling, with the amazing ‘Extreme Bowling’ experience, with atmospheric lighting and glow in the dark flooring. Younger children will be captivated by Indiana Land, one of the largest indoor play worlds in Northern Ireland, where they’ll find
slides, rope bridges, tunnels and ball swamps, and plenty of padded mats!
That’s still not the end of your family fun! Step next door to the exciting Pirates Adventure Golf, 36 holes of incredible US-style crazy golf in the shadow of a fully rigged pirate schooner, with waterfalls, fountains, floodlights and the chance to win golden doubloons for a free game.
111 Old Dundonald Road
Dundonald, Belfast, Antrim BT16 1XT
028 9080 9100
www.theicebowl.com
Streamvale Open Farm
Streamvale is a working Dairy Farm only 5 miles from Belfast’s City Centre. Here you can see all the traditional farm animals in their homes, from tiny chicks to the massive shaggy Highland cattle.
The Farm is open to visitors of all ages and specialises in tours which are tailored to suit each group. Kids can get back to nature, meeting a range of animals up close, watching cows being milked and the animals’ feeding time, taking nature trails and barrel and tractor rides, picking fruit in season and so much more. There’s a fabulous café too. It’s closed in January, February and November. Call 028 9048 3244 for opening hours.
www.streamvale.com
Cinemas
The Strand
Feel like your steeping back in time in this beautiful Art Deco building on the Holywood Road. Catch any of the latest blockbusters in the only cinema left of its kind in Belfast. Website
Storm
This12 screen VIP cinema is definitely worth the visit. Website
IMAX
Or if you would rather have your movies on a larger scale visit Ireland’s only 3D and 2D large format cinema. Website
Omniplex
The first digital cinema to hit our shores can be found at the new Eastpoint Entertainment Village. Website
Spectator Sports
The Oval (home of Glentoran FC)
The home of Glentoran FC one of Northern Ireland’s leading football clubs is situated off Mersey Street in East Belfast. Website
Ravenhill Rugby Club
Home of Ulster Rugby and currently there is a great revival in the Ulster game with over 10,000+ spectators every other week. Found at Ravenhill Grounds, 85 Ravenhill Park. Website
Ice Hockey
The Belfast Giants are Belfast’s franchised team competing in the UK Elite League and are based at the Odyssey Arena in East Belfast. Website
Golf
Shandon Park Golf Club
Shandon Park Golf Club has long been one of Northern Ireland’s great 18 hole parkland golf courses. Situated just 3 miles from Belfast city centre in the leafy suburbs of East Belfast. Over the years it also has proved to be one of Ireland’s most successful amateur clubs winning the European Amateur Championships in 2000 and 2001.
In addition to this it is the home club of Michael Hoey, the 2001 British Amateur Champion. The 6282-yard parkland course was constructed in 1926 and has full practice facilities. Website
Knock Golf Club
Knock Golf Club is a beautiful parkland course which has a wonderful variety of large and small trees, with many deep bunkers and a river coming into play in front of the 8th and 18th greens. The 453, yard Par-4 sixth is considered to be one of the best holes on the course. The hole features what is reputed to be the oldest araucaria "Monkey-Puzzle" in the British Isles, said to be over 100 years old it stands at over 70 feet tall and is still thriving. This hole is particularly attractive in the spring when the Cherry Blossoms are in full bloom.
The Knock Golf Club has a very fine clubhouse that caters for the golfers every need. The visitor is extended a warm welcome here and a memorable game of golf. Website
Gilnahirk Golf Course
Gilnahirk is a parkland golfcourse with 9 holes over 5398 metres. It also has a practice area and outing green. Contact: 028 90448477
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