WHAT better way to blow away the post-Christmas cobwebs and start the new year, than letting the kids have a wild west shoot-out. No, we aren't talking horseriding or cobwebs, but a visit to Northern Ireland's latest soft play adventure centre.
Just outside Ballynahinch, Global Adventure Play is a 10,000 sq feet space with different themed areas for babies up to 11-year-old children. The time travel themed three-tiered adventure area takes young adventures from the Wild West shoot-out area to Ancient Greece and Egypt, through to space adventure.
Younger children have their own area, based on nursery rhymes, with a large roundabout, interactive music wall, sensory panels, an eye-spy panel and a walkable keyboard, where my youngest was in her element attempting to play nursery rhymes from the number and colour-co-ordinated chart above the musical play area.
For older kids, there is the multi-sports simulator. This separate, bookable area, features a five metre HD screen and surround sound, transport you to the pitch of your favourite teams stadium with real crowd chants and cheers when you score a goal, a try or shoot a basket. There is also a Golf Pro simulator, where you can play Royal Portrush golf course.
While the battle zone of the Wild West area, with it's ball-shoot zone, was by far the favoured area for my kids, my intrepid explorers were also amazed to uncover a secret Egyptian cave, where they could 'trap' their unsuspecting cousins.
As for myself, the cafe area, with it's separate mirrored wall, brought a welcome bit of peace and quiet.
:: For more information visit Globaladventureplay.com