19 photos every Cardiff parent has of their child

Cardiff
Techniquest

Have you have ever been scrolling through Facebook or Instagram, seen a photo of a friend’s child and thought “I have that exact same photo of my kid”. It’s been happening to me a lot recently so with that in mind I put together this list of 19 photos I think the majority of parents in Cardiff will take of their child at some point.

How many can you tick off the list? Let me know in the comments below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or by tweeting me on @cardiffmummy. You can see more of our photos from Cardiff and surrounding areas on the Cardiff Mummy Says Instagram feed.

 

1. With the Gruffalo at Mountain View Ranch 

It was a friend showing me a photo of her daughter next to the Gruffalo at Mountain View Ranch which inspired this article. “I think every child in Cardiff must have this photo,” I joked. Mountain View Ranch is a fantastic place for a family day out – 100 acres of free range fun to explore including tree houses, a fairy wood, den building, an Indian village and, of course, The Gruffalo trail featuring all the characters from Julia Donaldson’s best-selling book.

You can read our review of Mountain View Ranch here.

 

2. With the dinosaurs at National Museum Cardiff

Cardiff kids can be split into two types – those who love the dinosaurs and those who are terrified of them. All three of my children have fallen into the latter at some point but thankfully now they all love the prehistoric replicas and skeletons in the museum’s Evolution of Wales gallery. We can’t go to the museum without taking a dino photo.

Read more about our visit to the museum here.

 

3. Whizzing down the slide at Roath Park 

This has to be the biggest most exciting slide in Cardiff, right?! It’s terrifying when your child goes on it for the first time – but the kids don’t half love it. It’s not always easy capturing your child when they come down though. In half of my photos, my child is nothing but a blurry mess or they’re so fast I get the slide and not the child.

 

4. Standing in front of Roath Lake lighthouse 

One of the most iconic views in Cardiff, the lighthouse at Roath Lake commemorates Captain Scott’s ill-fated voyage to the Antarctic which left Cardiff Bay in 1910. If you follow me on Instagram you will have seen numerous versions of this photo over the years. I love how the scenery changes with the seasons.

 

5. In a tree at Bute Park 

 

Bute Park has so many amazing trees to climb. Our favourites are the one by the Summerhouse Cafe and two near the Secret Garden Cafe. My children love lying on the branch of this tree; there’s one with a hollow trunk that all three of them and their friends can fit inside plus another with huge low-lying branches where we take an annual photo of all five us so we can see how our family has changed over the years.

Read more about our trip to Bute Park here.

 

6. Inside this tree sculpture at Bute Park

Children love playing in this sculpture carved into an old tree trunk. For my three, it’s always a little coffee shop where I have to order drinks and food 75 times in a row. I’ve seen so many parents taking photos of their children in this carving; it definitely deserves its place on the list.

 

7. On the giant keyboard at Techniquest 

Techniquest

One of the most popular exhibits at the hands-on science centre, the oversized keys you play with your feet make for a great photo. The challenge on busy days is photographing your little one without loads of other children ruining the shot!

Read more about our trip to Techniquest here.

 

8. Sat on one of the old tractors at Cefn Mably Farm Park 

Cefn Mably Farm Park

Go to Cefn Mably with a group of friends; get a photo of all the children piled on to one of the tractors. It’s the law! You probably also have one of your child holding a rabbit or a guinea pig in the petting area too.

 

9. On the wooden draw bridge outside Castell Coch

Castell Coch

No visit to Wales’s fairytale castle is complete without a photo on the wooden drawbridge outside. And it’s not a new thing either. There are photos of my and my brothers in this very spot as children.

Read our review of Castell Coch here.

 

10. Outside the Gwalia Stores at St Fagans

St Fagans National Museum of History is one of the most fascinating places in Cardiff. More than 50 buildings from across Wales have been rebuilt in the grounds of the open air museum, really bringing history to life. Along with the Victorian school and Rhyd-y-Car mining cottages, the Gwalia Stores are one of the photos I see most often on social media.

Read more about our visit to St Fagans here.

11. Dressed up at The Cardiff Story

One of the city centre’s hidden gems, The Cardiff Story is an interactive museum detailing the history of our city. The downstairs level has a brilliant play area for children with period dressing up clothes, a kitchen area and – the star attraction – a wooden coal train which all the children can’t get enough of. Here’s my eldest two dressed up as evacuee children but I also have them as coal train drivers and kitchen maids.

Read more about our visit to The Cardiff Story here.

12. In front of the beach huts and/or climbing wall at Barry Island 

Barry Island

 

Those brightly coloured beach huts and the climbing wall which spells Barry Island and Ynys y Barry were made for social media photos, weren’t they? Totally worth walking to the end of the prom for.

 

13. In front of the I Loves the Diff Taffywood Library poster in St David’s shopping centre 

 

As if the Taffywood prints with Welsh twists on classic novels aren’t fantastic enough, the ever-brilliant I Loves The Diff went and created this giant wall art which is oh-so-perfect for putting your children in front of and photographing.

 

14. In the stocks at Cardiff Castle 

Cardiff Castle stocks

My children never get bored of putting their heads and hands through the stocks and hearing stories of how medieval people would pelt people in the stocks with rotten vegetables. Bonus points if you also have a photo with The Abandoned Soldier sculpture too.

15. In front of ‘the letters’ at Wales Millennium Centre

There’s no other building quite like it. Those letters look amazing during the day and even better at night. Perfect backdrop for a photo of your little ones.

16. Sat on the Croc in the Dock

Croc in the Dock

The Enormous Crocodile first appeared on Cardiff Bay Barrage to mark the city’s celebrations of the centenary of Roald Dahl’s birth in September 2016. Thankfully the Croc in the Dock has stuck around and is one of the most photographed sights in the Bay; a wonderful reminder that one of the world’s greatest children’s authors was born here in Cardiff. Bonus points if you also have photos of your children on the Enormous Crocodile book cover bench too.

While you’re in the Bay you can also try the Tiger Bay Trails app and take your photo with virtual animals along the Barrage. You can read our review here.

 

17. Running along Penarth Pier

Penarth Pier

Another place where you need to subtly get rid of all the other random kids ruining your shot. The traditional Pier with its wooden boarded floors and wrought metal railings looks instantly atmospheric in photos.

 

18. In among the bluebells at the Wenallt

Wenallt Bluebells

Every other photo on social media is of a child in among the bluebells at the Wenallt. My three included. It’s beautiful there and well worth a visit if you’ve not already been.

Read more about our bluebell walk at the Wenallt here.

 

19. Stood next to a Snowdog

Snowdogs

New for autumn 2017, Snowdogs are the latest must-have photo for all Cardiff kids. There are 43 Snowdogs and 57 Snowpups around Cardiff, Barry Island and Penarth so you don’t have to search too hard to find one. The Snowdogs are here until 26th November raising money for Ty Hafan children’s hospice so be quick if you want to add this one to your list.

Read about our Snowdog hunting in Cardiff city centre here and Cardiff Bay here.

How many can you tick off the list? Let me know in the comments below, on the Cardiff Mummy Says Facebook page or by tweeting me on @cardiffmummy. You can see more of our photos from Cardiff and surrounding areas on the Cardiff Mummy Says Instagram feed.

Thanks to Cardiff Girl for inadvertently inspiring this blog post and Baby Holiday, Teddy Bears and Cardigans, First Time Valleys Mam, We Made This Life, and Pixie Does for their suggestions.

 

7 Comments to 19 photos every Cardiff parent has of their child

  1. tonecardiff

    Every single one of them.

    Plus, peeking through the peephole pillars in the Hayes; looking at the birds and panda in the Market; and climbing the Alliance sculpture.

    • Cardiff Mummy Says

      10 is brilliant going! Hope you have fun finding the rest. The keyboard also reminds me of Big too x

    • Cardiff Mummy Says

      Two is a good start especially as you don’t live in Cardiff. Glad it has given you some inspiration for days out though x

  2. This is so funny as I follow a few Welsh bloggers on IG and I see the Lake Lighthouse and photos from Bute park all the time. I can see why though, they are both lovely places to go x

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