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Fun things to do with a toddler, no car..help!

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  • 04-11-2019 1:54pm
    #1
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭


    Hi everyone. Haven't posted in Galway in a while! Moved back last year, and getting to grips with weather and public transport. Living in Oranmore and feeling a little uninspired..would like to find a few things anyone with a toddler has discovered in Galway that's easy to get to, without a car. Have done the museum and aquarium, regular library trips too. Find it frustrating that the transport links are dire! Toddler nearly two. Would love your suggestions.


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    #2
    sasal
    Registered Users Posts: 85 ✭✭sasal


    There's a toddler group in Kidsplace in Briarhill shopping centre on Tuesday 10-12. The 409 is every ten minutes from the Dublin Road up to Briarhill.
    On Wednesday morning there's a toddler group in Renmore, the 404 stops about 5 minutes walk away.

    If you use Facebook there's a group called "Galway parents out and about" that might have a few ideas.


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    #3
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,708 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    Tourist train (which will be turning in to a Santa train shortly).

    Merlin Woods, Aunteen and Uncleen Woods - the bus stop near Galway Crystal is close to the entrance to the latter.

    Fisheries Tower museum.

    The playground in Doughiska - it's about a 10 minute walk up from the bus stop by Roscam. Or if you're using a 24-hour bus ticket you might time it right to cross the road and catch a 2nd bus.

    Planet Entertainment on the Headford Rd has a ball pit .. not sure if 2 is old enough yet.


    Don't forget to look in other directions, too - there's a regular multi-stop bus to Limerick. Some things I know about:

    Dunguaire Castle - easy walk from the bus stop in Kinvara

    Gort - has a Farmers Market in the square on Fridays, and some 2 year olds might enjoy stories abou the weigh house that's there.



    Athenry castle (a pain cos you may have to catch the bus in to town to get to the train though .. such a shame Oranmore Station isn't more pedestrian friendly - but possible)


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    #4
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    sasal wrote: »
    There's a toddler group in Kidsplace in Briarhill shopping centre on Tuesday 10-12. The 409 is every ten minutes from the Dublin Road up to Briarhill.
    On Wednesday morning there's a toddler group in Renmore, the 404 stops about 5 minutes walk away.

    If you use Facebook there's a group called "Galway parents out and about" that might have a few ideas.


    Thanks! Yes, my family are in Ballybrit, logistics to get there without a lift are daft, getting train to town and then the 409 out, or else the 404 into Roscam and then the 409 across? All doable, just takes a bit of planning!


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    #5
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Tourist train (which will be turning in to a Santa train shortly).

    Merlin Woods, Aunteen and Uncleen Woods - the bus stop near Galway Crystal is close to the entrance to the latter.

    Fisheries Tower museum.

    The playground in Doughiska - it's about a 10 minute walk up from the bus stop by Roscam. Or if you're using a 24-hour bus ticket you might time it right to cross the road and catch a 2nd bus.

    Planet Entertainment on the Headford Rd has a ball pit .. not sure if 2 is old enough yet.


    Don't forget to look in other directions, too - there's a regular multi-stop bus to Limerick. Some things I know about:

    Dunguaire Castle - easy walk from the bus stop in Kinvara

    Gort - has a Farmers Market in the square on Fridays, and some 2 year olds might enjoy stories abou the weigh house that's there.



    Athenry castle (a pain cos you may have to catch the bus in to town to get to the train though .. such a shame Oranmore Station isn't more pedestrian friendly - but possible)

    Had forgotten about those woods. Didn't realize there's a bus to kinvara either 😂


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    #6
    Akrasia
    Registered Users Posts: 22,242 ✭✭✭✭Akrasia


    LadyMayBelle wrote: »
    Thanks! Yes, my family are in Ballybrit, logistics to get there without a lift are daft, getting train to town and then the 409 out, or else the 404 into Roscam and then the 409 across? All doable, just takes a bit of planning!

    Bunratty has a bus stop, you’d kill a full day there if the weather isn’t too bad and you can get nice food at Durty Nellys when you’re waiting for the bus back


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    #7
    irisheddie85
    Registered Users Posts: 762 ✭✭✭irisheddie85


    There is a parent and toddler group in marree community centre on Monday 10-12 and in the maldron hotel on Thursday from 10-12


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    #8
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,708 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    LadyMayBelle wrote: »
    Had forgotten about those woods. Didn't realize there's a bus to kinvara either 😂

    Actually ... its the 350 to Kinvara (was thinking 51 before). It goes a few other interesting places too, which are probably best in summer though. The beach in Lahinch is fantastic on a good day, but might be a bit too much of a trip for a 2 year old.


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    #9
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    irisheddie85 wrote: »
    There is a parent and toddler group in marree community centre on Monday 10-12 and in the maldron hotel on Thursday from 10-12

    Thanks, yes the maldron one is walking distance, maree way to far for us!


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    #10
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Actually ... its the 350 to Kinvara (was thinking 51 before). It goes a few other interesting places too, which are probably best in summer though. The beach in Lahinch is fantastic on a good day, but might be a bit too much of a trip for a 2 year old.
    Must explore this. Would be great if it stopped in Oran as opposed to having to go into town to go back out again if ya get me? Toddlers and public transport have a limited love cycle 😂ðŸ‘

    Edit- it does! Cheers!


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    #11
    milout
    Registered Users Posts: 57 ✭✭milout


    LadyMayBelle wrote: »
    Must explore this. Would be great if it stopped in Oran as opposed to having to go into town to go back out again if ya get me? Toddlers and public transport have a limited love cycle 😂ðŸ‘

    Edit- it does! Cheers!

    If you are getting the bus out to Kinvara then the Burren Nature Sanctuary is a manageable walk in good weather. It has indoor and outdoor play areas plus animals for the little ones to feed and pet.


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    #12
    youngrun
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,477 ✭✭✭youngrun


    Renville is a nice walk and park with playground near oranmore


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    #13
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    youngrun wrote: »
    Renville is a nice walk and park with playground near oranmore

    Thanks but that's the stuff that's actually the harder to do...it's a 5km walk just to get there and no public transport links...im finding In Galway there's lots to do but unless you have access to a car it's almost impossible to get there, like pet farms, some woods, the pumpkin farm for example...

    Great suggestions in this thread tho!


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    #14
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    milout wrote: »
    If you are getting the bus out to Kinvara then the Burren Nature Sanctuary is a manageable walk in good weather. It has indoor and outdoor play areas plus animals for the little ones to feed and pet.

    Really like this. About a half hour walk from the bus stop either way but doable on a nice day 😊


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    #15
    Mrs OBumble
    Registered Users Posts: 25,708 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    LadyMayBelle wrote: »
    Thanks but that's the stuff that's actually the harder to do...it's a 5km walk just to get there and no public transport links...im finding In Galway there's lots to do but unless you have access to a car it's almost impossible to get there, like pet farms, some woods, the pumpkin farm for example...

    Great suggestions in this thread tho!

    Agreed. Not just Galway, much of the country is like that.

    If you have a license and your own car seat, sign up with GoCar to use occasionally.


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    #16
    flazio
    Registered Users Posts: 12,847 ✭✭✭✭flazio


    I'm surprised no one suggested that since you told us in the thread title that the toddler doesn't have a car that maybe you could ask santa to get them a car
    https://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/gift-finder-18-36-months/little-tikes-cozy-coupe-car/p/102538
    :p
    Just kidding. Not sure about the age limit but there's a soft play area in the Galway shopping centre on the town side close to the tyre centre.


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    #17
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    Mrs OBumble wrote: »
    Agreed. Not just Galway, much of the country is like that.

    If you have a license and your own car seat, sign up with GoCar to use occasionally.
    I am, and am hoping they'll have base in Oranmore soon too. I did use it in Dublin and there was a lot more public transport options and activities that didn't require a drive, but yes it's an issue not isolated to Galway!


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    #18
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    flazio wrote: »
    I'm surprised no one suggested that since you told us in the thread title that the toddler doesn't have a car that maybe you could ask santa to get them a car
    https://www.smythstoys.com/ie/en-ie/gift-finder-18-36-months/little-tikes-cozy-coupe-car/p/102538
    :p
    Just kidding. Not sure about the age limit but there's a soft play area in the Galway shopping centre on the town side close to the tyre centre.

    Genius!! ðŸ‘ðŸ‘


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    #19
    what_traffic
    Registered Users Posts: 4,876 ✭✭✭what_traffic


    LadyMayBelle wrote: »
    Hi everyone. Haven't posted in Galway in a while! Moved back last year, and getting to grips with weather and public transport. Living in Oranmore and feeling a little uninspired..would like to find a few things anyone with a toddler has discovered in Galway that's easy to get to, without a car. Have done the museum and aquarium, regular library trips too. Find it frustrating that the transport links are dire! Toddler nearly two. Would love your suggestions.

    Is cycling an option? Will still limit ya, but will widen the distance radius of possible destinations compared with a buggy.
    I use the following the odd time with a 16month old. https://bobike.com/en/product/cat/frontseats/


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    #20
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    what_traffic wrote: »
    Is cycling an option? Will still limit ya, but will widen the distance radius of possible destinations compared with a buggy.
    I use the following the odd time with a 16month old. https://bobike.com/en/product/cat/frontseats/

    It can be, once we get our bikes...in storage at the mo. And obv weather dependent but yes, it's hopefully something we will get doing!


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    #21
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 5,121 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Do you attend the toddler group in the community centre?
    Others are available at different times in different places.


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    #22
    LadyMayBelle
    Registered Users Posts: 5,095 ✭✭✭LadyMayBelle


    [Deleted User] wrote: »
    Do you attend the toddler group in the community centre?
    Others are available at different times in different places.

    Yup, sorry I should have clarified really in the first post, its more looking for fun stuff to do that's not what we might already do (playgroup, library song times, Museum, aquarium, cinema, soft play areas etc). Am plugged into that stuff but would love (and have got some great suggestions here!) Some stuff that's pretty easy to get to from Oranmore with no car that maybe I didn't know about 😊 we spend enough time on buses as it is!


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    #23
    Geuze
    Registered Users Posts: 13,102 ✭✭✭✭Geuze


    LadyMayBelle wrote: »
    Must explore this. Would be great if it stopped in Oran as opposed to having to go into town to go back out again if ya get me? Toddlers and public transport have a limited love cycle ��ðŸ‘

    Edit- it does! Cheers!


    350 timetable:


    https://www.buseireann.ie/timetables/350-1516876337.pdf


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