A lovely walk in the park!…read more We came here just to walk around on our last afternoon in Cardiff. We were tired of the Arcades and shopping. We wanted some natural scenery. This was a lovely walk. There was a cute cafe we popped into for a cup of tea on our walk.

We love walking through this park. Bute Park was originally part of the Cardiff Castle grounds…read more It is a spot of peaceful tranquility along the River Taff. There are a couple cafes in the park for drinks or a snack. It really is a beautiful place to stroll and enjoy the trees.

This is a beautiful old house just outside Newport, very easy to get to from the motorway, and well…read moreworth a visit. For anyone who's a fan of BBC costume dramas, then this is the type of house that would make any Jane Austen heroine fall in love with even the most ruthless and cutthroat of villainous rich men. It packs quite a punch. Sitting in 90 acres of surrounding parkland, this is a lovely oasis of tranquillity. The house and gardens are open to the public during the summer months, and there are also countless festivals and seasonal events happening throughout the rest of the year. There is also a short avenue of arts and crafts shops which are open throughout the year. Here you'll find Busy Bees Patchwork and many other pottery, art and smithies. Pop along for a cultural afternoon.

Tanya is right on the money when she says this park is straight out of a BBC costume drama (don't…read moreeven get me started on their version of Pride and Prejudice - I know the whole damn thing by heart and that series is most likely the reason I moved to the UK in the first place). I used to work at the government building that's right around the corner, so a few lunch hours were spent walking around this park's stunning grounds. The park and woodland walk is open from 9 am to dusk. The House is open from Easter to the end of September, with house tours from Wednesday - Sunday. Tours last a little over an hour starting at 11am, then run hourly until 4pm. Events are held year round, and more information can be found on their website. Tredegar House is licensed for weddings and caters for conferences, although I'm happy just meandering around the park with the grand house serving as part of the background. If you're not a driver, you can get here via the number 30 and 36 Cardiff Bus, which I'd recommend instead of taking the train, as Newport Railway Station is a fair bit away.

The Big weekend is an annual 3 day music festival in the city that encompasses a range of different…read moremusic types and aspects for families as well as the adults. Last year The Zutons and The Lightening Seeds were headlining and this year you can see Chaka Demus and Pliers (I'm excited about that!) as well as Welsh rockers The Blackout and Feeder. There's also a funfair, fireworks and the whole town comes to life.

The summer counterpart to the annual Winter Wonderland, Cardiff's Big Weekend is an event that…read morebrings the whole city to life. Sponsored by Admiral, the Weekend is an annual three day festival based in the heart of the city, completely swallowing up the civic centre and the museum area with its fairground rides, games stalls and massive stage. Every year, the festival puts on three nights of gigs from a selection of local talent, old stalwarts (such as this year's fantastic Chaka Demus and The Pliers) and major contemporary bands such as The Zutons or Athelete, all for free. The atmosphere is always loud, lairy and happy with most people being there just to have a good time. There are the occasional problems amongst the teenage crowd, loaded up on adrenaline and this can put a damper on small pockets of the area, but nothing that isn't resolved quickly. Everyone's too busy thinking of what to do next to stay mad for long.

A grand event with a perfect setting. The Big Cheese Festival takes place on the last weekend in…read moreJuly in Caerphilly, Wales. In the shadow of the wonderfully preserved and partially restored Caerphilly Castle. A large food tent with all sorts of stuff. Cheese, of course. But also whiskey and baked goods and pies (the savory kind) and beer and Indian foods and more that I just can't recall. Several food trucks with burgers and fish & chips and sausages and just about anything you can cook. At least two coffee trucks too. I bought £20 worth of cheese! Long line of vendor tents with postcards, paintings, all kinds of tchotchkies and goodies. I managed to pick up a sweet pair of ear rings. This year's event had a falconer who brought about a dozen of his birds, demonstrating falconry and even letting some people hold the birds (with the gloves on!). Fresh cider being made. Big demonstration of medieval weaponry, chain mail, shields, swords, pikes and such. The guys even had a bit of a demonstration, looking like they were doing some serious fighting! And of course the castle, which is reviewed separately. I had a grand time and I would recommend this event!

This is a historical, cultural, heritage festival set in and around the grounds of Caerphilly…read moreCastle which is one of the largest castles in Europe and entry to both the castle grounds and the festival is FREE! It all happens on July 29th, 30th and 31st and there is something different every day. How about that, Last time I went to this event I met some medieval knights and they let me try on their gear. Heavy stuff indeed. You'll also see live bands, re-enactments, craft stalls, live acts, cheese racing, fireworks and a whole lot more. There is something for everyone at this festival, and the whole town comes to life. Caerphilly itself is very easy to get to from Cardiff city and if you don't want to take the car it is just as easy to get the train or even bus. Every time I have visited the festival it has been lovely weather and you couldn't ask for much more of a picturesque place to have such a great festival which is an ideal day out for children and adults of all ages.

Fantastic event, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is by far the best day out of the year in…read moreBristol (One of my top 5 events in the world) They have night glows on the Thursday and Saturday witch is superb. I highly recommend that this be on your to do list.

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta is one the major world events in the ballooning calendar. Each summer…read morethe skies of Bristol are dotted with balloons as people come to celebrate being able to float around without any motor propelling you. A little commercialised, this event is not quite as quaint as one would imagine. It is magical to watch the ballons getting heated up (I'm sure that's not the technical term) and into the air, though. Go there in the evening when the 'Night Glows' will be taking place for the best experience. It's a pretty big event and this year the roads were jammed around Ashton Court, where it's held. I recommend trying to park in nearby Clifton and walking over the Suspension bridge if you must drive at all (check that the bridge is open). Don't worry too much if you can't make at all, the sight of balloons sailing through the sky can be seen from all over Bristol and is an event enough itself.

This is a very concealed park, despite it being quite large, and having a beautiful tower at the…read moretop of it! Seemingly only known by the locals, I feel there should be more signs towards it so the tourists can find it easier, as it really is a park not to be missed when visiting Bristol. The park is a big hill that gets higher and higher till you get to the top, which is where Cabot Tower is. Perfect for summer barbeques, leisurely walks, or sitting on one of the benches staring out into the amazing view. You can see for miles out, on a clear day. It is a wonderful park that everyone should visit at least once, and after that once, I'm pretty sure you'll keep coming back!

Brandon Hill is a patch of greenery between Jacobs Wells Road and Park Street. A blessing for…read moreBristol it has got a little bit of everything. At the peak is Cabot Tower, for your dose of history. This is free to enter and well worth the climb for the incredible views of Bristol. Although you only have to get half way up the hill to see South Bristol spread out before you like a tablecloth - an doable climb even if you're not the fittest of people. As well as getting an education, you can have some fun and experience a bit of a nature. There's a children's play area and a basketball hoop (which are few and far between in Bristol). There's usually someone on the basketball court and I've had a few good games, mostly with students. The only downside is that the courts very small, and you'll often find yourself losing your ball in the buses down the side. Nature comes courtesy of various little reserves that have been set up. They've got a little pond that's chock-a-block with frogs spawn in the spring. I think it's a sight of special scientific interest for something or other too, but I'm afraid exactly what escapes me at the moment. Either way, it's nice to have something really wild right in the centre of the city.