Nine very good reasons why spring at Center Parcs is the best

1. Ducklings, gosling and cygnets

Our lakes are home to a thriving wildfowl population – ducks, geese and swans make their homes on the water at every village. From April onwards, eggs hatch and tiny, fluffy, impossibly adorable babies emerge to take their first tentative, wobbling steps into the world. So bring your camera, it’s not to be missed on a spring break.

2. Blossoms and blooms

As the forest begins to turn green again, some of our trees sprout their candy floss-coloured blossoms, while daffodils and bluebells shoot up out of nowhere. There’s a carpet – and ceiling – of colour, and it makes family walks through the forest extra magical.

3. Mercury rising

As the temperatures creep up ever so slowly, we remember what it’s like to sit outside and feel the sun warm our faces. Whether you find your spot on a sandy beach, a bench overlooking the lake, or just on the terrace outside your lodge, a peaceful moment in the warmth of spring is pretty special.

4. Take to the water

Now that Jack Frost has packed up, we re-open our boating lake and invite you to take a turn on a paddleboard, a kayak, a pedalo or a rowing boat. There are dozens of ways to explore the water, whether you fancy something energetic or peaceful.

5. Seasons in the sun

There’s a certain charm to riding a Segway in the snow, or Paintballing in the rain. But there may well be nothing better than clambering through Aerial Adventure with a low sun streaming through the newly-green forest canopy onto the rope bridge in front of you and the air still cool enough to keep you moving. Some of our activities just sing in spring, which means it’s the perfect time to try something new.

6. A bite to eat

Spring is the season of renewal, and many of our restaurants are ringing in the changes. There’s a scrumptious new menu in Sports Café that’s perfect for warmer days – try the Mediterranean flatbreads or the rotisserie chicken with roast potatoes. Café Rouge has ushered in some changes too, with a tempting vegetarian tagine and a light and bright crab tian with avocado.

7. Spring into shopping

Fancy picking up a piece or two to freshen up your spring/summer wardrobe? The new lines have arrived in our village shops, so whether you’re looking for Ray-Ban shades, a Joules dress, Fiorelli handbag, Hilfiger denim or a Michael Kors watch, we have you covered.

8. Rain, rain, go away

But if it refuses to come again another day, there’s still plenty to discover at Center Parcs. There are dozens of indoor activities, from Pottery Painting to Badminton, Indoor Caving Adventure to Cupcake Decorating. And open every day from 10am to 9pm, with unlimited entry included in the cost of your break, is our famous Subtropical Swimming Paradise, complete with pools, rides, slides and splashes.

9. Springtime spa

Journey between hot and cold experience rooms, take a dip in the outdoor pool then find a comfy spot on a sun lounger with a magazine to while away an hour or two. Spring sunshine makes our Aqua Sana terraces the perfect spot – warm enough to stretch out but cool enough to stay wrapped up in your fluffy white robe.

Are you joining us for a spring break? Let us know in the comments…

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Digital Village Life 46 is here!

The Spring/Summer 2017 edition has landed, and you don’t need to wait for it to drop onto your doormat, as it’s the third edition to live on our snazzy digital platform.

Enhanced with videos, animations and exclusive content, it’s probably the best way to read Village Life – and that’s coming from die-hard print journalism fans!

Read the magazine here

Here’s a peak at what you can enjoy in the latest edition:

• The 10 biggest things we’re doing in 2017
• Meet our birds of prey, Cuddles the Golden Eagle and his friends, in our new video
• Italian recipes that are perfect for warm summer evenings
• Behind the scenes with one of our suppliers, Springhead Brewery
• A complete guide to our imagination-inspired activities
• Win a Center Parcs break by taking part in our creative scavenger hunt challenge

As ever, we love to hear what you think about Village Life, and hear your lovely Center Parcs stories. Our star letter each month wins £50 of Center Parcs vouchers, so keep writing to us at village.life@centerparcs.co.uk

Happy reading!

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‘We arrived as a family of three and left as a family of four’

When The Perrina Family arrived at Woburn Forest, they didn’t expect their mid-week break to be cut short by the early arrival of their son, Lawrence. Not wanting to miss out on the family fun, newborn Lawrence decided to make his arrival into the world an early one.

Dad, Kevin, shares their story…

“My pregnant wife, 2-year-old son and I checked in on the morning of Monday 27 March. My wife was having mild pains and we dismissed them as braxton hicks as she was only 35 weeks into the pregnancy. At about 10:30am whilst at The Venue, they got increasingly worse and we were advised to call an ambulance by our midwife.

I phoned the Center Parcs Medical Centre for some advice and reassurance and I spoke to Diane, who called security to assist us immediately and advised us that she was on her way too. Alison from security arrived and looked after my son and I whilst Diane and her colleague tended to Rachael, in what soon escalated to become a panicky moment as we realised it was the real thing!

We thought at one point my wife would give birth there and then on the floor of the manager’s office!

Whilst we waited for the ambulance, other staff members were already thinking ahead and offered to take my 2-year-old son to the crèche for the day. I am so grateful for that because it would have been very traumatic for him to witness his mum and I panicking.

When we arrived at the Bedford maternity wing at 12:20pm the baby was having difficulties and Rachael was rushed to have an emergency caesarean. Lawrence Perrina weighing 4lbs 6oz was born, healthy, albeit a little early at 36 weeks. After a week stay for baby and mum in hospital, we are now home and both are doing wonderfully well.

Rachael’s mum came over from Wales to stay in the lodge with us and with her help, our 2-year-old son still had his break at Center Parcs and enjoyed it very much. Center Parcs was a very handy base as I was able to make the 15-minute drive to the hospital to visit my wife and newborn son twice a day.

It was a very emotional time for me and I am still only coming to terms with it all right now! I just want to say a big thank you for the gifts and to Diane, the crèche staff and especially to Alison who was very reassuring and kept me together that morning. It was a break to remember and we look forward to visiting again soon!”

Congratulations to The Perrina Family – we hope to see you again as a family of four very soon.

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Easter ‘freakshake’ recipes

Last year I photographed some incredible milkshakes for The Pancake House menu, and we just finished shooting the new speciality hot chocolates coming to Vitale Cafe Bar this summer (they’re pretty spectacular too).

So it looks like delicious drinks topped with a towering mountain of whipped cream and extravagant toppings are here to stay.

They’re known as ‘freakshakes’ and the Easter weekend is the perfect time for you to try your own. They’re completely over-the-top, but if there comes a moment when you think ‘I simply couldn’t eat another chocolate egg…but perhaps I could drink one?’ then this is the recipe for you.

I’ve created three versions (each recipe makes two very indulgent shakes), but don’t be afraid to try out something different. Happy Easter!

Creme Egg Freakshake

Mix the following together in a blender until smooth and frothy:

• 500ml whole milk
• 2 Creme Eggs
• 3 generous scoops of chocolate ice cream
• a good squeeze of chocolate syrup

Toppings:

Nutella or melted chocolate
Mini Eggs
Whipped or squirty cream
Chocolate sauce
A chocolate flake
Creme Egg

Method:

1 Coat the edge of your glass with Nutella or melted chocolate
2 Stick on broken mini eggs and fill in the gaps with sprinkles
3 Pour the shake into your decorated glass, top with cream, chocolate or chocolate syrup, a flake and a Creme Egg on a wooden barbecue skewer
4 Drink immediately and scoop out the bits of chocolate at the bottom with a spoon!

Strawberry Doughnut Freakshake

Mix the following together in a blender until smooth and frothy:

• 500ml whole milk
• 1 ring or jam doughnut
• 3 generous scoops of vanilla ice cream
• a handful of fresh strawberries

Toppings: 

Ring doughnut
Melted white chocolate
Sprinkles
Strawberry Sauce

Method:

1 Coat the edge of your glass with melted white chocolate and dip in some sprinkles
2 Pour some strawberry sauce into the bottom of your glass then add the shake
3 Top with a doughnut and drink straight away

Raspberry Cheesecake Freakshake

Mix the following together in a blender until smooth and frothy:

• 500ml whole milk
• 1 large slice of raspberry cheesecake
• 3 generous scoops of raspberry or strawberry ice cream
• a handful of fresh raspberries

Toppings:

Small slice of cheesecake
Melted white chocolate
Biscuit crumbs
Raspberry sauce
Fresh raspberries on a skewer

Method:

1 Coat the edge of your glass with melted white chocolate and drizzle a little inside the glass. Sprinkle the rim with biscuit crumbs
2 Pour the shake into your glass and top with cream, the raspberry sauce, crumbs and the raspberry skewer
3 Enjoy immediately!

From all the team at Center Parcs, have a fantastic Easter weekend (and we went this whole article without an egg pun, so you’re welcome. Cracking.)

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How to make the most of the long weekend at Center Parcs

Four-day week, four-day weekend, four-day week. The calendar never looks better than it does over Easter, and it’s the perfect time for a few days away at Center Parcs. With Friday and Monday off work (for most of us), there’s no need to rush your arrival or departure. So we’ve put together some tips for making the most of your time in the forest.

When you arrive…

Arrive early – you won’t be able to access your accommodation until 3pm (3.30pm at Whinfell Forest), but you’re welcome to arrive from 10am. Simply park up in the car park and head onto the village to explore.

From 2pm, you’re welcome to start your break in the Subtropical Swimming Paradise. We recommend packing an ‘arrival bag’ to have handy, so you don’t have to go through all your nicely packed suitcases to find that last pair of trunks.

Swimming, splashing and sliding works up an appetite, so you’ll want to stop for some lunch. Pop into Sports Cafe – there’s no need to book a table so you can arrive whenever you’re done in the pool, and the casual vibe means you’ll feel at home, even with post-pool wet hair! Try the new Middle Eastern flatbreads for a light, colourful lunch.

Once everyone is fed and watered, why not start exploring the forest? It’ll give some time for the car park to quieten down so you can zip straight to your lodge later on. Venture out of the village centre and walk some of our miles of woodland trails. In amongst the trees, you can enjoy the peace, spot some wildlife and get your bearings (if it’s your first visit).

By the time you’re all ready to rest your feet, your lodge will be ready, the car park quiet and you can go and settle in. Do remember to return your car to the car park once you’re done though – it’s really important we keep our villages traffic-free for all our guests’ enjoyment and peace of mind.

Tips for your arrival bag:

• Swimming costumes
• Flip-flops
• Towels
• Changes of clothes
• Comfy shoes for exploring post-swim
• Camera for snapping wildlife on your walk
• Magazine/book/e-reader for poolside

On your last day…

We ask you to vacate your lodge by 10am so that our housekeeping teams can begin their twice-weekly marathon of turning around thousands of rooms for arriving guests in just a few hours.

But you don’t have to go home just yet! You’re welcome to stick around and enjoy the village until as late as midnight if you like.

So pack up your things on Monday morning, fetch the car, load up the suitcases then pop it back in the car park. We suggest putting a few essentials – bottled water, camera, purse – in a ‘last day bag’ like you did for your arrival. That way you have everything you need at your finger tips without having to traipse back to the car park.

After all that packing, the family’s probably ravenous. How about a last brunch at The Pancake House? Our favourite is the American stack with bacon and maple syrup (because we’re suckers for sweet-and-savoury), but the all-day-breakfast omelette is pretty sensational too.

If you’re visiting without little ones, why not head to Aqua Sana for a relaxing morning in the spa to unwind before your journey home? You can explore the different experience rooms, journey between dry saunas and steam rooms, cool down in the outdoor pool and curl up with iced water in a comfy cocoon chair or stretch out on a lounger.

When you’re suitably relaxed, just change out of your fluffy robe and wander to the village centre for a quick browse around our shops. From souvenirs to sweets, designer jewellery to top fashion brands, you might just find something perfect to take home with you.

Retail therapy done, head back to the car park to make your way home, thoroughly invigorated by your stay in the forest.

Do you have any tried-and-tested tips for squeezing everything possible out of your Center Parcs break? Let us know in the comments!

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Port Zélande breidt uit met waterpretpark

Het vakantiepark Port Zélande in Ouddorp breidt uit met een groot waterpretpark. Dit wordt het 'zusje' van Aquapark Splash in Hellevoetsluis. Vanochtend hebben general manager Patrick Bosman van Center Parcs Port Zélande en eigenaar Erik Hazelzet van Splash de contracten getekend.

14 mei al kunnen bezoekers voor het eerst klimmen, klauteren en glijden op de waterattracties. Dan houdt Port Zélande open dag om ook het zwembad, de 250 gerenoveerde huisjes en nieuwe vloer in het Market Dome – de ruimte waar ook de restaurantjes en winkeltjes zitten – te tonen. 

Hazelzet noemt het 'onwerkelijk' dat alles nu rond is. ,,Vijf maanden hebben we er ziel en zaligheid in gestoken en nu kunnen we kinderen en hun ouders een belevenis aanbieden. Het is zo gaaf om kinderen de kans te bieden te spelen en te bewegen. Ik kan niet wachten'', zegt hij.

Bron en hele artikel: AD

It’s an A+ from us for Max’s travel guide

We love receiving emails from our guests especially when they’re as special as the one we received from 7-year-old Max. Writing to Martin Dalby, Max said he wanted to impress us with the Whinfell Forest travel guide he created for a school project – we were definitely more than impressed!

Tasked with a geography project, Max had free choice on what to produce for his school project and decided to create a Whinfell Forest travel guide, inspired by a recent visit. Covering everything from the weather and the wildlife to how to get there and activities you can do, Max’s travel guide leaves no question unanswered.

Max hopes the information he provided will help you plan your next break – here are some of our favourite top facts and tips Max wrote in his guide.

Location

Whinfell Forest is in the north of England in an area called Cumbria – it’s very close to the Lake District.

What to do

There are lots of fun things to do and lots of places to eat at Whinfell Forest. Max suggests hiring a bike from the Cycle Centre, going for a paddle on a katakannu, then relaxing in The Pancake House (sounds like a perfect day to us!)

In his travel guide, Max says that his favourite thing to do at Center Parcs is to head out onto the Watersports Lake in a katakanu.

Wildlife

There is lots of wildlife to see at Whinfell Forest – spot a red squirrel in the treetops, look out for roe deer and pheasants and learn all about owls at the Rangers Lodge.

Weather

July is the driest and warmest month to visit and December is the coldest. But, whatever the weather you can still go and have fun!

So has Max convinced you that Whinfell Forest is the place for your next break?

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Zoover award voor Center Parcs

De Zoover award is weer terug bij Center Parcs. Gisteren werd tijdens de Zoover awards uitreiking bekend dat Center Parcs de Award had gewonnen voor Vakantiepark Aanbieder XL, voor Landal en Roompot.

Center Parcs had deze Award al eerder in 2014 gewonnen.

In 2016 ging de prijs voor populairste naar Landal en beste vakantiepark naar Hogenboom vakantieparken.

Dit waar was er maar 1 overal categorie waarbij Center Parcs als winnaar uit de bus kwam.

bronnen: zoover en faceboek Center Parcs Nederland

Meet Adam: Our Tommy’s Super Sibling award winner

Mark 10 April 2017 in your diaries as it’s National Sibling Day! To celebrate the special day, we’re introducing you to a very special sibling, six-year-old Adam Corry-Wilson – the deserving winner of the Tommy’s Super Sibling award 2017.

The facts are that every year, one in four women in the UK lose a baby during pregnancy or birth. Tommy’s are an incredible charity that are helping to tackle this statistic by funding research into pregnancy complications and providing important pregnancy health information for parents.

Now in its 22nd year, the Tommy’s Awards celebrates special individuals who have shown courage and strength during times where their family have dealt with difficulties during a pregnancy. The Center Parcs-sponsored, Tommy’s Super Sibling award, recognises superstar siblings who have proven to be of great strength and support to their family, even in their young years.

This year the Tommy’s Super Sibling 2017 title was awarded to Adam Corry-Wilson, who proved to be a big support to his parents during a time when they faced pregnancy complications.

Get to know their story and meet our deserving winner Adam, alongside his little brother Hugo, mum, Rachel, and dad, Stephen, here.

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What’s new this month: March

Have you spotted the forest creatures?

If you’ve been to Center Parcs recently you will have noticed a few familiar faces hiding out on our driveway. Our friendly forest creature have come out to play. To find out how you can play our game of I-spy and many more imaginative activities on your journey to our village, take a look here.

Explore our Imagination Trail

We’re looking for all forest explorers who are looking for an adventure on our village. With our latest imaginative activity, you will search for unique locations around our villages to crack our mystery word. To find out more about how you can take part, check it out here.

What’s coming to Center Parcs in 2017

From exciting activities coming soon to our villages to a one-of-a-kind lodge being built at Sherwood Forest, we’re giving you a glimpse into our year ahead. So read it here first and find out what you can expect from Center Parcs in 2017. This is one not to miss!

First look at Aqua Sana Sherwood Forest

This is the big reveal we’ve all been waiting for! A first look into the new Forest Spa at Aqua Sana Sherwood Forest. Bringing the outside in, the natural surroundings of Aqua Sana have been reflected in the Forest Spa. Take a look at what you can expect from the breathtaking new spa once it’s all complete.

A new look for Huck’s American Bar and Grill

Our Huck’s American Bar and Grill at Elveden Forest has undergone a makeover. We’ve given our favourite stateside diner a fresh new look and we won’t be stopping there. Huck’s will also be receiving a makeover at Whinfell Forest, Sherwood Forest and Longleat Forest later this year.

Coming soon…

If you thought this month was great, well next month is set to be even more exciting. We’ll be giving you another glimpse into what’s coming to Center Parcs, celebrating National Sibling Day by introducing you to our Tommy’s Super Sibling award winner and showing you a Center Parcs-inspired piece of homework we received.

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