8 fun plans to enjoy the outdoors with children

Asturias is a land suitable for the enjoyment of all ages, because the options for fun multiply almost infinitely and can be designed to suit the wishes and needs of the protagonists. What's more, with a special feature: the plans for children also dazzle adults, so much so that they never tire of repeating them over and over again. In fact, the Natural Paradise is one of those unique places, where family leisure is truly a plan that enchants each and every one of those who take part in it...

Sport, gastronomy, nature, landscape... these are just some of the attractions that Asturias offers you for the most evocative experiences.

That's why activities with children will also be rewarding for you.

We suggest 8 plans with children to enjoy the great outdoors, which will be unforgettable!

It is a surprising place if ever there was one. Located in the council of Valdés, it is a different space where you will feel like you are unveiling some of the mysteries of Planet Earth and the Cosmos in the course of an educational and peaceful walk.

The Park of Life is very green and full of surprises. For example, there are several rooms where you can explore the bottom of the oceans with unusual species such as giant squid, and others from the abyssal depths.

And from the bottom of the ocean, to the firmament, in the planetarium. Or inside a spaceship, alien included.

On your tour of the Parque de la Vida, you will come across species in recovery, authentic pieces that belonged to spaceships, and even reptiles from different continents...

There is also a very vivid memory for scientists of the stature of Charles Darwin and Severo Ochoa, both deeply linked to research into the origin of life.

In short, the Park of Life is much more than an educational classroom or a museum. It is a place that will not only provide you with a pleasant moment of leisure, but also an unforgettable and very productive experience to broaden your vision of our common home called planet Earth.

What could be better than an experience in a lively garden to become aware of the environment in which we live? Indeed, a visit to El Bosque Zoo, very close to the city of Oviedo/Uviéu, specifically in San Esteban/San Isteba, will be one of those sobering and happy moments for both adults and children.

The forest arose from the love of nature of its promoters and continues to maintain that founding philosophy. It is a universe animated by different species, which you will find familiar, small and manageable, and which is also designed for a very human approach to the environment, learning to respect and care for it.

Monkeys, tigers, snakes and a wide variety of birds, among other species, populate a flowery garden of rich botany.

In short, a walk through the forest will make you feel like a true guardian of Planet Earth.

The zoological centre Tuernes el pequeño, located next to Posada de Llanera and only 15 kilometres from Oviedo/Uviéu, is a really healthy space, especially designed for children.

Tuernes offers the possibility of a different kind of leisure time, in the middle of nature and getting to know the life of a farm, with the help of friendly hosts like Luis and Maxi.

Geese, ducks, goats, emus, alpacas, Vietnamese pigs, parakeets... These and many others make up a well-adjusted family with which children and adults socialise immediately, in a beautiful rural and natural environment, in the heart of Asturias.

This charming farm, open on Sundays and free of charge, is perfect for any celebration or simply to let yourself be carried away by the placidity of communion with nature and its inhabitants. Reservations can be made on 697 935 530.

And if you want to continue strolling through the villages of Asturias, another magnificent and more than entertaining option is the Pepín Route, an authentic rural adventure led by the very genuine Pepín, a native of a fairytale place called Sirviella, in the council of Onís. In such a setting the children will have a great time, and the grown-ups too.

This route includes four activities: a pleasant walk through the Sirviella creeks, and an immersion in the rural and livestock world of the landscape and countryside of the Picos de Europa. Both adults and children will enjoy discovering the traditional Asturian architecture with its granaries, bread bakeries, bread ovens, houses with corridors, etc., as well as the products of the vegetable garden.

Of course, there is also a visit to the cider mill, including a cider tasting and a simple explanation of the art of making cider.

Once in the orchard, a replica of a shepherd's hut, like the ones you will find in the Picos de Europa, will show you the lifestyle of the people of this area, who dedicated their lives to livestock and to the production of one of the most famous cheeses in the world: Gamonéu.

You will also see in situ some of the local breeds such as the pita pinta, the asturcón and the xalda sheep.

As a finishing touch, the best flavours of traditional Asturian cuisine, carefully prepared by artisan and wise hands based on the excellence of a unique raw material.

The Aula de la Miel is located in an idyllic village in the surroundings of the Picos de Europa called Alles, capital of the council of Peñamellera Alta. A divine place to enjoy with the family, and where children will feel a special connection with the world of bees.

In this classroom you will learn about the whole process of honey from the flower to the packaging, seeing how bees play a key and decisive role in the maintenance of our ecosystems.

Moreover, with the advantage that the classroom has glass hives to observe the life and daily work inside the hive.

All the tradition and history of beekeeping will appear before your eyes, as well as the present and the technical evolution of this activity.

As a sweet culmination to this unique experience, you will be able to taste the menu of the beekeeper, in which there will be corn cakes with honey, hazelnut cream with honey, cream of quesu picón with honey, Asturian bean stew, curd with honey, stew coffee, home-made shots... in short, a delight with Asturian flavour to savour with the family.

Asturias is a more than perfect place to motivate children's vocation for nature. In fact, it is one of the ideal destinations for a real baptism of ecotourism, and one of the main activities for this is to follow the rest of the brown bears in their habitat.

One of the best places to make the sightings is the Natural Park of Fuentes del Narcea, Degaña and Ibias, where you can also enjoy splendid landscapes, incredible villages and friendly people dedicated to the preservation of the environment.

A day with the children in contact with the ecosystem in which the brown bear lives is absolutely didactic and very pleasant, not only because of the possibility of making discoveries as a family, but also because the Natur guides will show you many aspects and tell you many anecdotes of daily life in nature, which you would not otherwise get to know.

Recreational areas are places where you will feel freedom above all else. They are usually in the midst of places of spectacular beauty, with superb views and surroundings, whether on the coast or in the mountains. Splendid examples are the beach parks of Porcía, in El Franco, and Moniello, in Gozón, or the recreational area of La Pesanca, in Piloña, to name but a few, where the beauty of the landscape is palpable.

They are a very appealing place to go with children, because they can run around and play in total relaxation, becoming improvised explorers of an environment that holds endless surprises for them: trees, forests, rivers, streams, beaches, mountains...

Moreover, they are especially comfortable for adults when it comes to having lunch or a snack, as they are equipped with tables, benches and even barbecues in some cases.

The recreational areas in Asturias are located in privileged places and become authentic open-air theme parks, where you can enjoy nature, gastronomy, sport, contemplation of the landscape, or conversation in a placid and peaceful way, and always with the family, all enjoying themselves like children.

Obviously, another similar option are the countless picnic areas or restaurants with outdoor space that you will find in many corners of Asturias.

Hiking is one of the healthiest activities you can do, and Asturias is a total paradise for walking thousands of trails. In fact, there is no end to the trails in Asturias, as there will always be a dream route to discover...

Of course, it is one of those ideal experiences to live with the family, because walking in the midst of dream landscapes is always fascinating. A relaxed conversation, the illusion of feeling the children discovering a new world at every step, the motivation to take the best photos or record unique videos, the laughter shared between 'selfie' and 'selfie', the feeling of a challenge accomplished when completing the route... In short, a torrent of positive emotions will invade the family space.

There are many options for enjoying hiking with the family. Here are some possible and well known ones, such as the Beyu Pen path, in Amieva; the route of the viewpoints, between San Esteban and Aguilar beach, or the Camín Encantáu, in Llanes.

Moreover, some of them, such as the Beyu Pen or the Camín Encantáu, have figures from Asturian mythology carved in wood, a circumstance that especially pleases children and unleashes their imagination. Hiking routes are a highly recommended exercise for children to learn through play, gain self-confidence, train values of coexistence and dream as if they were in a huge open-air amusement park...