What to expect from a family holiday at Séquoia Parc
Last summer we spent a day in Marseille as part of a Mediterranean cruise. This all too short stop off got me thinking back to some of my childhood holidays in the country. And also more recent visits with Mr Tin Box before we had kids. It’s surprising how just a quick trip across the English Channel can take you somewhere that feels so much more exotic. Al Fresco Holidays offer family breaks in 41 stunning locations across France. To help promote their parks and campsites they have asked me to share my idea of the perfect family holiday at Séquoia Parc.
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A family holiday at Séquoia Parc
Séquoia Parc is a 5-star mobile home and camping site in the grounds of a grand chateau near Marennes in the Charente-Maritime region of western France. It’s an area I’ve never explored so it immediately caught my eye. Just from clicking through Al Fresco Holidays’ website I can see so many reasons why Séquoia Parc is a great place to stay with kids and extended family. Here’s why:
Fantastic family facilities
There’s so much to do at the campsite that you could fill every day without venturing further afield. The complex of four pools (three heated) with its lazy river and waterslides looks like somewhere we could lose whole days splashing around and enjoying the region’s warm and sunny climate.
If we could drag the kids out of the water there’s a children’s playground and two kids clubs – one for four to seven-year-olds and another aimed at eight to 13-year-olds. Other activities thrown in with your stay include pony riding, bicycle hire and tennis lessons.
At night the Parc’s entertainment team takes over with cabaret shows and discos. Our girls have really enjoyed being able to ‘party’ during previous holidays. We love it too because it wears them out, giving us some adult time in the evenings.
Séquoia Parc also has its own bar, pizzeria, and restaurant, plus a mini-market, and those handy extras that help make holidays go smoothly like wifi, a launderette and cash machine.
Family friendly holiday homes
Séquoia Parc’s accommodation is set in woodland glades to give you the right balance of sun and shade in the hotter months. You can stay in spacious mobile homes accommodating up to eight people or you can pitch up with your own touring caravan or motorhome. Even dogs are welcome to stay in some mobile homes.
Lots of great places to visit nearby
Even though there’s lots to do at Séquoia Parc, we have itchy feet and love to explore. Within 25 miles of Séquoia Parc you can find sandy beaches, historic sights and picturesque fishing villages. Slightly further afield there’s La Rochelle – said to be France’s most unspoilt seaside resort – and the vineyards of Cognac.
Top of our Charente-Maritime sightseeing bucket list would be:
- seeing the 1,600 animals and birds at La Palmyre Zoo – France’s largest zoo park
- a visit to France’s second largest island, Ile d’Oleron with its popular beaches and historic fortifications
- touring the Roman ruins at Saintes
- and a boat trip to the historic prison of Fort Boyard.
Getting there
Getting to Séquoia Parc is relatively simple from the UK with flights to La Rochelle from many local UK airports. The holiday park is then a 64km transfer. Hiring a car would be a good idea. Alternatively you can sail from Plymouth to Roscoff and drive 500km to Marennes or take the ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo which is 402km away.
Who would enjoy a stay at Séquoia Parc?
There’s no doubt Séquoia Parc is an ideal place for families to holiday in western France. We could see ourselves enjoying a week or two here with our extended family. Tin Box Tot and Baby’s cousins are slightly older but there would be just as much to occupy them on the campsite. We often see them during the school holidays. This has become even more important in the past year since we moved from Hampshire to Devon. It would be brilliant to share a French adventure with them.
Have you been on an Al Fresco Holidays break or a family holiday at Séquoia Parc?
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written in collaboration with Al Fresco Holidays and Tots100.
The park looks fab!! We would all love that pool 🙂
It looks brilliant, right. I’d love to have a float around that lazy river!
I’m really craving a holiday abroad, it’s been so long since I saw any proper sun! Séquoia Parc looks awesome, would love to take Finn somewhere like that. #MondayEscapes
Lauren Moseley recently posted…Mini Meadows Farm, Northants
That looks like an amazing park to choose, here’s hoping you win so you can get to try it out! #MondayEscapes
Mini Travellers recently posted…Review of Woodfarm Barns, Suffolk
Thanks Karen! We’d love to go there!
We’ve not been this far south in France. It looks fantastic. #MondayEscapes
Helena recently posted…My Monthly Bucket List – March
It’s a new area for us too. We’ve been to the north, south and straight down the middle. The west coast is a bit neglected!
This looks a lovely place to stay! I love having things to do on site so that we don’t always have to move the van, – the playground, the bicycle rides and pony rides and of course the water park…the kids would be in their element!
It would be a fab spot for a bit of touring. I’m quite tempted to take Tin Box! 🙂
This looks idyllic! I had no idea such fabulous places existed in my home country.
#MondayEscapes
It’s a beautiful city. However, I still have so much of the rest of Catalunya and Spain to see too!
This campsite looks perfect for families! My boys would love the lazy river and the go karts look great fun! We were really impressed with our holiday staying at two different Al Fresco campsites, the facilities were great and the staff were really helpful too.
Lisa recently posted…Monday Escapes #54
I think the lazy river would,be my favourite part 🙂
We love France and this is our perfect type of location to base ourselves at! Will keep this in mind for future holidays #MondayEscapes
I agree, this type of park is the perfect base for an adventure.
I think the French have perfected camping, there’s such a variety on offer. We usually stay at small sites but I kmow my kids would enjoy the water slides at this one! #Mondayescapes
I think at this stage Mr Tin Box would enjoy the slides more than the girls…although Tin Box Baby is getting more adventurous 🙂
This sounds like a fun family holiday #MondayEscapes
Yes, I really think it would be
It looks like so much fun and seems there’s so much more to do than a single day allows. #mondayescapes
Tania @ Larger Family Life recently posted…How to cut the cost of travelling (even with 13 kids!)
Yes, I think you’d need a week at least to enjoy it all and see the area
It looks fantastic, so much to do and that lazy river looks amazing. Just what I need now a little sunshine x
Me too! Bring on the sun 🙂
Water parks are always a big hit with kids. We’ve done similar Eurocamp type holidays when the children were small it’s such a convenient type of holiday. Plenty to do at Sequoia Park! Thanks for hosting #MondayEscapes
Ture, it’s such a good holiday with little ones – just the right balance of things to do and opportunities for quiet time.
I can’t believe all of the amenities and activities available! This looks like a great place to visit. #mondayescapes
It’s impressive, right?! I like the balance of what’s available at the park and things to do close by.
We have had some great holidays in France at holiday parks like this one – they are so perfect for families. Sequoia Parc looks wonderful!
#mondayescapes
Trish @ Mum’s Gone To recently posted…Why Porto is the perfect city for a short break
We’ve not done a holiday park in France yet, but would absolutely love to give it a go with the better climate and outdoor facilities.
There looks to be loads of things to do with kids here. I’ve love to go. #mondayescapes
Me too. Having the pool and lovely place to visit close by is the perfect combination for us.
looks like a great place! #mondayescapes
Tanja (the Red phone box travels) recently posted…Who still sends postcards?
It does, doesn’t it?! I’d love to head there and explore the area.
I’ve never stayed at Séquoia park or with Al Fresco, but I do love these sorts of holidays. We stayed in two holiday parks in France last year, and loved it. Good that you’re near the Ile d’Oleron, too. I’d love to visit – I’ve heard it’s beautiful. #MondayEscapes
Nell (Pigeon Pair and Me) recently posted…Exploring Norway in Mountain Warehouse skiwear
These sorts of holiday are ideal for us too. They can be as slow or as exciting as you like.
When I was young we used to go to France every year for our annual 3-week family holiday. Such fond memories! My parents loved the French countryside and always rented gîtes in tiny french villages, far away from the tourist hassle. It’s funny how we take after our parents, cause that’s what I prefer too. But this park does look like fun for kids! #MondayEscapes
Lisa – FlipFlopGlobetrotters.com recently posted…Children’s Book Museum – meeting our favourite book characters!
I bet those were great holidays. Yes, I tend to lean towards the holidays that I did as a child too!
Oh we love Al Fresco Holidays and have enjoyed them 4-5 times whilst the kids have been little. I love the relaxed pace of life they offer! We haven’t tried this particular park yet but it looks lovely – the swimming pool looks fab!
I know! I could lose hours floating around that lazy river 🙂
This holiday park looks fantastic for a family holiday. What a shame France is not just hop and skip over the water from Oz as it is from the UK.
Sally’s Tips 4 Trips recently posted…A Review of the Sanur Paradise Plaza Suites, Bali
Sh yes, a bit ore of a distance for you. We feel very lucky to have Europe so close. But then, you have other benefits down under too 🙂
Sounds like a fun base in France for families. It would allow you a little sight seeing with plenty of fun back at th parc at th end of your day. #MondayEscapes
Yes – the perfect combination, especially with little people who tire quickly of all the sights that we want to see 🙂