The Llyn has been a holiday hotspot ever since the railways arrived. In the early days it was all very adult-orientated, but increasingly the First Law of Family Life has kicked in – Happy Kids Make Happy Adults. There are plenty of fun things to do on the Llyn for kids (and adults) of all ages. Here's a selection.

1 Glasfryn Park
There's a lovely, hands-on feel to Glasfryn Park. Whether you're slamming a go-kart through a bend on one of the circuits, riding a quad-bike on a guided trek across the estate, firing arrows on the archery range, flying hawks from your fist or bringing down clay pigeons, it's all go. All the activities are supervised by local experts who speak Welsh and English. Most activities are available to kids, some as young as three, and a lot of thought has gone into making most things suitable for all ages. The park also offers excellent disabled access.
The park has a children's play area, a restaurant, a farm shop that sells Welsh produce, and an Internet café. There are even plans for a ten-lane bowling alley for next year.

2 Tanrallt Hovercraft
This small, family-owned attraction is on a farm almost in the hamlet of Llangian, one mile from Abersoch. Approved by the Hovercraft Club of Great Britain, Tanrallt operates its machines in a secluded valley some five minutes walk from the farm.
You drive around a defined course with lovely scenery all around. The hovercrafts are surprisingly quiet, but it soon becomes clear why they never replaced cars as our main means of transport – they drift, they yaw, they slither and slide. Which is also why they're such great fun.

3 Hafan-y-Mor
Hafan-y-Mor was, until the late 1990s, a Butlin's camp, and, as such, has much of what you'd expect, including a fun palace, bars, restaurants, sports facilities, amusements, crazy golf and a boating lake to name but a few.
Information sheets on local wildlife are also available, and there is a field full of wild flowers that can enhance your garden. Guided walks are led by members of the garden team, and nature games are run for children. Such has been the success of the park's environmental work that it has been awarded the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award. The jewel in Hafan-y-Mor's crown, though, and the main reason for a visit with the kids, is the Splash Zone – a huge leisure centre, with flumes, a four-lane slide, wave pool, rapids and kids' pools.

4 The Ranch
Just outside Llanystumdwy, the Dwyfor Ranch Rabbit Farm and Farm Park ('The Ranch' for short) is a great day out for younger children. A working farm and rabbit-breeding centre, it gives kids the chance to feed farmyard animals and chickens – you can buy bags of feed as you enter. There is also a small play area, a bouncy castle, and pony rides. Former British Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, was brought up in Llanystumdwy. There is a dedicated museum in the village, and you can also visit his grave, next to the River Dwyfor.

5 Ropeworks
Could you climb a telegraph pole, stand on a tiny platform at the top, and launch yourself into the air on a dangling trapeze? Or perhaps you fancy something tamer; in that case, how about negotiating the 'High Course', tip-toeing along logs and leaping gaps onto high wires?
A day out for the daring, Ropeworks consists of a network of high poles linked by a series of ropes, cables, nets and climbing walls. It's popular, so book in advance. You're provided with safety harnesses and helmets, and will be safe in the hands of Ian Roberts and his team of fully-qualified instructors.

6 Ffestiniog Railway
The Ffestiniog Railway is considered to be Wales' finest narrow gauge railway line. Starting from the Cob at Porthmadog, it climbs for nearly 14 miles through meadows and woodland, across rivers and estuaries, past waterfalls and lakes, and arrives at Blaenau Ffestiniog a little over an hour later, and 650ft higher. It feels like you're on the world's biggest toy train, and the whole journey is spectacularly beautiful.
The trip is exhilarating, and the engines and rolling stock are fascinating even if you aren't a train buff. A good range of refreshments are on offer, there is is a well-stocked shop, and special events run throughout the year. But what makes the Ffestiniog Railway special is that it is truly a labour of love, rescued, revived and run largely by unpaid volunteers.

7 Portmeirion
Portmeirion has been called a 'home for fallen buildings'. Brainchild of eccentric architect Clough Williams-Ellis, it consists of parts of masonry from demolished buildings all over Britain, incorporated into an Italianate village based, it is claimed, on Porto Fino. It's enchantingly beautiful, but very weird – which is perhaps why it was chosen as the location of the surreal 1960s TV series The Prisoner.
This village is great for kids because it has a sense of humour. At every turn there are amusing statues, winding pathways, little flights of steps, alleys, views and vistas. It appeals to the imagination, and children will love exploring. Portmeirion also has the usual things you need for a day out with the kids, including cafés, shops and ice-cream parlours.
That's not all. Take a stroll in mysterious woods on the village's fringes and find the spooky Victorian dog cemetery hidden within. Or walk along the firm sands of the wide estuary. The currents are very strong so don't attempt to swim here, and note the times of the tides printed on your entry ticket.