Fast Minute dagen zijn gestart! boek je je kerstvakantie nu extra voordelig.

De Fast Minute dagen bij Center Parcs zijn begonnen!Snelle beslissers opgelet: Tijdens de Fast Minute dagen boek je je kerstvakantie nu extra voordelig. Neem even tijd voor elkaar, deze kerstvakantie. Zeg ja tegen wat er toe doet! Boek nu je verblijf al vanaf €329 voor een 4-pers. cottage incl. verplichte kosten.

De vanaf prijs is gebaseerd op een weekend in een 4-persoons Comfort Cottage op Limburgse Peel, Het Meerdal en Les Ardennes met aankomst 3 januari 2020.

Start a self-care routine on your break

Just spending an hour or two trying a new activity by yourself is all you need to feel recharged and ready to have more fun with the rest of your party on your break. It’s also the perfect way to pick up lost fitness plans. Here are just some of the activities you could take part in to grab a bit of me-time and kick-start your fitness again at Center Parcs.

Yoga 

If you really want to spend time caring for yourself, look no further than yoga. The physical benefits of improved strength and flexibility are great, of course, but it’s the clear-out for your consciousness that really makes it a winner. As your instructor talks you through the flowing movements, you’ll zone in on yourself and emerge feeling lighter, looser and a whole lot happier!

Boogie Bounce

There is no better way to forget your responsibilities than to unleash your inner child with a blast on a trampoline. Boogie Bounce uses mini trampolines to keep your heart-rate up as you bounce your way to better fitness and muscle tone. With motivating music to keep you going, you’ll finish full of energy, with a smile on your face – and the children will never get a look-in on the trampoline at home again!

Gym Pass 

Sweat out your worries with a session in the gym, where you can tune in to your breathing or zone out with music to keep your mind quiet. Choose from a range of cardiovascular machines and weights and go at your own pace.

Pilates 

You’ll need to concentrate on your core in a slow, controlled Pilates class, which aims to target the muscles that support your body. Pilates improves your posture, banishes aches and pains, and helps your body to move well during more intense activities – such as boxfit, or lifting your two-year-old into the car.

Kettlecise 

Our Kettlecise classes use serious strength training to build confidence and blast away worries. Exercises target major muscle groups and you’ll have expert supervision to ensure your kettlebells technique is spot-on. Keep it up once your break is over and be amazed at how quickly this class can reshape your body and make you feel physically and mentally stronger.

Aqua Sana Spa

For the ultimate in self-care, book a three-hour session at the Aqua Sana Spa. Keep the wellness vibe going with a treatment to soothe aching muscles. The Decléor Bamboo Massage is a powerful deep tissue massage that produces a profound sense of relaxation, serenity and inner wellbeing.

To book all classes and Aqua Sana Spa days and treatments, log in to your Center Parcs account: centerparcs.co.uk/activities

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2019 Winter Wonderland activities

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Center Parcs, with Winter Wonderland arriving on our villages, the snow has set, and the festive cheer is in full swing. So why not get in the seasonal spirit and start off here with our guide of festive activities your family can enjoy during your visit to the forest until 1 January 2020.

Elf Academy

Bring your little ones to join the Elf Academy to learn from Santa’s elves themselves on all things Christmas. Learn some elf dance moves and games, get creative with some Christmas crafts and decorate some delicious festive treats to eat.

Design a giant Christmas stocking

Join your little ones as they get creative with glitter, colourful fabric pens and festive stickers to make their very own personalised stocking to hang on the fireplace on Christmas Eve ready to dazzle Santa when he comes down the chimney.

Festive Carriage Rides

Riding a horse and carriage ride is always an exciting experience, but what would make it even more special is travelling through the transformed festive woodland during Winter Wonderland. So, take in all of the picturesque views and let the peaceful sounds of the forest wash over you as you trot across the village.

Festive Treasure Trail

Get your bearings of the village as you team up with your family to weave along the woodland trails on two wheels to track down festive clues and discover sparkling surprises in hopes to find all the answers and receive a prize.

Spectacular Fireworks

Our fireworks display happens every Sunday and Wednesday evening at 6pm (6.30pm pyrotechnics display at Woburn Forest) on breaks from 10th November to 22nd December during Winter Wonderland.

Festive Jingles Skate

Perfect for the whole family, whether you wobble on the edge or elegantly skate in the middle of the rink, dress in your Christmas best and shimmy and shake to some festive tunes and our elves Rolo and Rollie will choose the ultimate winner.

Mrs Claus Gingerbread Decorating

Get you and you’re your little one’s imaginations flowing with Mrs Claus, as you help her decorate some gingerbread biscuits while learning some tips and tricks along the way and of course a delicious sweet treat to nibble on afterwards.

Festive Cupcakes for Little Ones

Combining your love of food and family, why not try your hand at a festive cupcake decorating masterclass with your family to learn the tricks of the trade and present at the end your box of beautiful festive cupcakes to share you friends or family or snack on yourself!

Elf Hunt

Explore the woodland trails with your family as you hunt for exciting hidden clues, once you have solved them there will be a special festive treat waiting for you at the end.

Santa’s Woodland Workshop

You better watch out, you better not cry, Santa Claus is coming to Center Parcs. Let your little ones meet the big man himself in his magical Woodland Workshop nestled in the forest. Tell him what’s on your list, take a photograph for a special souvenir and take home an early Christmas present.

Little Elves party hour

Christmas means one thing… it’s party time. Get your little elves dancing shoes on and join us in the festive fun as they shimmy and shake to festive music and play games. There are snacks to keep their energy up and they get a little goody bag so they can keep the party going a little longer in your lodge.

Festive Chocolate Chefs Academy

Perfect for your little budding chefs get all kitted out in their little apron and hat and set off creating their very own range of tasty seasonal-themed chocolate treats. To finish off enjoy some fun festive games to get in the ultimate Christmas spirit.

To book your family’s festive fun, check out our online activities website and make sure that you don’t miss out on the ones that you really want to take part in.

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The Hideaway, the hidden gem of our Longleat Forest Aqua Sana Spa

The best-kept secret of our Aqua Sana Spa at Longleat Forest is our Hideaway.

Designed for a minimum of six and a maximum of ten people, it’s the perfect place to spend time with your friends and family to mark special occasions such as pre-wedding, birthdays, baby showers and graduations, all within the relaxing and laidback environment of Aqua Sana.

The Hideaway is a private room incorporating an area for lounging, socialising and private dining, equipped with a mini treatment area, drinks station and washroom facilities. Guests booking The Hideaway will have full use our spa and benefit from a dedicated spa host who will meet and greet guests before being on hand throughout the day to ensure your experience is as enjoyable, relaxing and effortless as possible.

As well as unlimited access to our 15 experience rooms, each guest can choose from one of the following 15-minute treatments which will be carried out in The Hideaway.

• Scalp Massage
• File and Paint on fingers or toes
• Hand and Arm Massage
•  Foot and Lower Leg Massage
•  Eye Treatment
•  Express Facial – Cleanse, Tone, Mask and Moisturise

This hidden gem is the perfect private chill-out space to make any celebration extra special.

For More info, please visit: https://www.aquasana.co.uk/spa-locations/longleat-forest/the-hideaway.html

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Vegan Thai Green Curry

There are definitely no Masterchef level skills required to make this and you can prepare it in half an hour so it’s a great option to celebrate Vegan Month. You can add any vegetables you like, but we have added some autumnal options to keep it seasonal, so there are chestnut mushrooms and butternut squash added to the mix. Ready prepared vegetables are great for this if you are in a hurry…or hate to peel and chop!

The method is so simple, first, you make the sauce in a blender, like a spicy Thai smoothie. Then stir fry your favourite vegetables until they are cooked just the way you like them, then add these to the just-simmered sauce to keep everything fresh and vibrant. Add noodles to make it a filling meal for two and roasted cashews for extra crunch and flavour.

(If you don’t want to miss out on meat you could add chicken breast and a splash of fish sauce)

Sauce Ingredients

1 400ml can of full-fat coconut milk
1 small bunch of coriander
1 small bunch of basil
6 mint leaves
The juice of 1/2 a lime
1 Tbsp maple syrup
2-3 tsp green curry paste (Blue Dragon or Thai Taste are vegan options)
1 tsp salt
1/2 a red Thai chilli or a pinch of chilli flakes
2 tsp soy sauce

Vegetable Options (add any of your favourite vegetables)

1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/4 butternut squash – peeled and cut into 1cm cubes
1 courgette – sliced
6 baby corn cobs – sliced
1/2 orange pepper – cut into 1cm pieces
A handful of chestnut button mushrooms – halved
A handful of sugar snap peas
Salt and pepper
Optional 2-3 sliced shallots or spring onions
Cashew or peanuts – roasted in the oven for a few minutes until dark golden
Extra herbs and lime to garnish.

Method

1. Add all the sauce ingredients to a blender and blend well, for a minute or two until you have a smooth, glorious green liquid
2. Stir fry the vegetables in the oil, starting with those that need the longest cooking. For our curry we cooked the butternut squash well for a few minutes to make sure it was slightly caramelised and soft, then we added the courgettes and cooked a few minutes more, followed by the rest of the vegetables.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Prepare some noodles by boiling in water for 3-4 minutes.
5. Toast some cashews or peanuts in the oven (170ºC) for a few minutes until brown.
6. Heat the sauce in a small pan until simmering and check for seasoning.
7. Pour the sauce into bowls, add the drained noodles, stir-fried vegetables and top with the nuts, fresh lime wedges, and extra herb leaves.

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What’s so special about Winter Wonderland?

Whether you are joining us for your first or 21^st Winter Wonderland break, the excitement of coming to Center Parcs during this time never dwindles. To give you a glimpse into Winter Wonderland, here are our top seven reasons why Winter Wonderland is so special.

The festive season starts in November

Winter Wonderland will get the whole family excited for the Christmas season and why wait till December when you can start in November? Christmas is the jolliest time of year, so we say, why not extend the celebrations?

Guaranteed snow

Yes, that’s right. The weatherman may not be able to guarantee a white Christmas this year, but we certainly can. The start of November marks the month that all of our Villages are transformed into Winter Wonderland with a dusting of glistening snow.

Firework displays

At all our villages, Winter Wonderland celebrations go off with a bang. Twice a week, on the run-up to the big day, our villages host spectacular Winter Wonderland firework or pyrotechnic displays. So whether you join us in the week or at the weekend, this is one event not to miss.

Meet Santa at Santa’s Woodland Workshop

A break at Center Parcs during Winter Wonderland is not complete without a trip to see Santa if you’re joining us with little ones. Santa’s marvellous Center Parcs workshop is a treat for all the family as you explore Santa’s Woodland Workshop, meet the elves and take your Christmas letter to the man himself. We think Bailey has the perfect question for Santa!

Festive dining

The best part of winter is being able to indulge in delicious food, so whether it’s a festive carvery with the whole family or a sweet treat for yourself, Center Parcs offers something for everyone. Enjoy a Starbucks Christmas beverage, a festive carvery at The Pancake House or buy all the trimmings from ParcMarket and enjoy a home-cooked meal in your Lodge.

Festive activities for the whole family

Center Parcs is full of thrilling, creative, adventurous and enjoyable activities all year-round. This winter you could find yourself exploring our Festive Treasure Trail, enlisting your little ones in our Elf Academy or watching the family pantomime. Do a little or do a lot this Winter Wonderland, the choice is yours.

It’s not too late to book a last-minute, magical Winter Wonderland break for you and your family

If you are coming to stay, we want to hear all about your break, so whichever village you’re at, share your photos and videos with us, tagging @CenterParcsUK and using the hashtag #mycp.

 

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Why it’s good to eat out with children

With such a huge selection of family-friendly restaurants to choose from, Center Parcs is the perfect place to eat out with your children. This can be a positive family experience that helps boost your children’s communication skills, confidence and sense of adventure. We asked Anita Cleare, a parenting coach and author of the Thinking Parenting blog (anitacleare.co.uk/thinking-parenting), to tell us more about the benefits.

Time to talk

Eating out together gives families an often-rare chance to come together and shoot the breeze. “Having conversations with your children is one of the best ways to boost their intelligence and neurological development,” says Anita. “Research shows that the number of conversations a young child participates in can still be seen 10 years later in their language and literacy levels. So, it’s not just about the amount of language they’re exposed to, it’s the number of conversations. And the dinner table is one of the best places to have conversations.”

Fewer distractions (and zero washing up to do)

Do you ever sit down for a meal at home, only to get up two seconds later to check on something? All you can think about is the washing that needs to be done – you can’t switch off. “When you go out to eat, you have that luxury of someone else cooking the food and doing the dishes for you,” says Anita. “That means you can focus on the nice bits rather than it just being one more chore – because dinner can be a bit of a chore when it’s at home and part of a busy life.

Confidence building

Eating out together as a family helps children learn how to behave in different places. Even ordering a drink can hone your child’s social skills. Plus, talking about what you’ve done that day over dinner helps them to make memories. This plays a part in carving out their identities, in turn boosting confidence. Anita says: “Memories are important for children’s resilience and an internal resource to draw upon – they’re a little well of happiness. They help form a sense of family identity, answering questions like, ‘Who are we? What do we do together?’ And that’s important for children to build their own sense of selves.”

Adventurous eaters

Anita says children are more likely to be adventurous in their food choices when they got out to eat. “When children see other children eating different foods, they’re more likely to try it themselves,” she says. “If children are willing to take a risk on something little like trying new foods, then hopefully that gives them the confidence to take calculated risks in other situations where they may be unsure at first.”

Book it

Our restaurants can get very busy so we advise that you make a reservation. A £5 deposit per person will secure a table and will be taken from your final bill. To book, sign in to your account: centerparcs.co.uk/my-account. There is no need to book at The Pancake House or Sports Café – just turn up. Children’s play areas can be found in many of our restaurants.

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Four Luxury Treehouses are coming to Whinfell Forest

Introducing brand new Treehouses at Whinfell Forest, available to book for breaks from July 2020.

This luxurious accommodation includes four en-suite bedrooms and whichever bedroom you choose, each has a private balcony so you can soak up the forest views as you wake. The beautifully styled open-plan living area makes Treehouses perfect for an extra special family escape.

Guests with limited mobility can also enjoy the most spectacular accommodation at Whinfell Forest, in our adapted Treehouse.

10 spectacular Treehouse features…

• Early arrival from 2pm
• A games den with a pool table, games console and bar
• Dedicated parking for you and your guests
• A luxury hot tub, perfect for stargazing
• A gas barbecue
• En-suites in every room
• A sauna
• Welcome hamper and bottle of fizz on arrival
• An entertainment system with Sky TV
• A dedicated Treehouse host – making your break hassle-free

Find out more about Treehouses here.

Book your next Center Parcs break here.

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Center Parcs (UK) bans transgender guests from using single-sex changing rooms unless they have fully transitioned

Transgender visitors to Center Parcs England cannot use the changing rooms of their choice unless they have gone through a "full transition".

The UK holiday company's policy came to light after a transgender woman emailed customer services ahead of her visit to ask if there were any rules she should be aware of.

Victoria Hodges was planning to visit Center Parcs in the Lake District, where she's been with her family every year for the last three years, but the forthcoming trip would be her first since transitioning.

At first, Center Parcs replied by saying that transgender guests could make use of "private changing rooms" on site.

When Hodges emailed back to ask if that meant she could not use the women's changing rooms, a representative for the holiday company said: "Transgender guests are welcome to use the changing rooms that match with their acquired gender if they have gone through the full transition

....

Bron en hele artikel: Independent

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Bron: Center Parcs