Take advantage of the school holidays to spend time and have fun with the grandkids, as well as helping to educate them about the future of our planet with a visit to Nausicaà, the Europe’s largest aquarium.
Family holidays in France are a fantastic opportunity for grandparents to spend more time with the younger generation and to pass on their values and traditions, while having unforgettable days out and learning new things together.
Nausicaà aquarium
Easily accessible less than three hours from London, the charming port of Boulogne-sur-Mer is an unmissable destination with kids. Since 2019, Nausicaà Centre National de la Mer is Europe’s biggest aquarium, following a vast extension in the shape of a manta ray, housing lots of new interactive elements.
There are so many reasons to discover Nausicaa with grandchildren. As well as being great val-ue (it’s cheaper than Sea Life in London, with free entry for children under three), this is one of the world’s leading research centres into the marine environment. Hence, it’s a brilliant place for grand-parents to play their role in engaging young people with the imperative to protect our oceans for future generations.
Visiting Nausicaà aquarium with grandchildren will give them new knowledge and an awareness of the importance of sustainable development, as well as lasting memories of an amazing fami-ly day out.
Younger kids will especially love seeing the fish in the tropical lagoon being fed, watching the acrobatic high jinks of the Californian sea lions, and visiting Penguin Beach. Meanwhile, children aged around 7–12 will adore the shark aquarium with its feeding sessions and the touch pool where they can caress stingrays who come to outstretched hands in search of cuddles!
Other things to do in France near Boulogne
After enjoying Nausicaa with grandchildren, discover the rest of Boulogne with its many indoor and outdoor activities for children. Picnic on the sandy beach or feast on mussels and chips for less than £15. Watch the fishing boats return to the harbour and buy fresh seafood from fishermen’s stalls. Discover Boulogne’s old town, steeped in history, including the castle and the cathedral with its atmospheric crypt. Hire bikes and take a gentle bike ride to the Grand Site des Deux Caps nature reserve for views back to the English coast. And take a trip to La Fromagerie Pas de Calais – Ferme du Vert to buy cheese direct from the farm.
Where to stay with kids near Nausicaa Aquarium in Boulogne-sur-Mer?
You can also spend the night here in rural bliss – the Grande Suite sleeps up to five.
Ferme du Vert
555 Rue du Vert
F-62720 Wierre-Effroy
Tel: + 33 3 21 87 67 00
or at Hôtel La Matelote
70 Boulevard Sainte-Beuve
F-62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer
Tel: +33 3 21 30 33 33
Nausicaà
Boulevard Sainte-Beuve
F-62200 Boulogne-sur-mer
Tel: + 33 3 21 30 99 99
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