Running out of ideas for entertaining the kids?

Museums, galleries, and attractions in Cork City have come together to create a Playful Culture Trail, featuring 30 fun and playful places where kids can explore the city’s culture, heritage and green spaces through play.

Each attraction on the trail will have a unique activity pack for kids on arrival with various challenges to complete, from scavenger hunts, to sketching tasks, crosswords and investigation work.

Families participating in the trail will have the opportunity to hop through labyrinths at St. Fin Barre’s Cathedral, design costumes for superheroes at Crawford Art Gallery, find their Bog Age at the Cork Butter Museum, trace tombstones at St Peter’s Church, make daisy chains at Nano Nagle Place and enjoy the playground at the Old Cork Waterworks.

Here’s a quick guide to every stop on the Cork City Playful Culture Trail:

1. Scoot down the Marina
2. Explore with Coke Zero Bikes
3. Go otter spotting along the Lee
4. Have a picnic at Bell’s Field
5. Find Bláithín the lizard
6. Make a daisy chain at Nano Nagle Place
7. Find out your ‘bog’ age at The Butter Museum
8. Get locked up at Cork City Goal
9. See underground at Triskel Christchurch
10. Get in the stocks at Elizabeth Fort
11. Find the medieval bowling ball at Cork Public Museum
12. Fire your imagination at the City Library
13. Play chase or fly a kite in the Lee Fields
14. Skim a stone across the Lee
15. Float a paper boat on the Lough
16. Stargaze at Blackrock Castle Observatory
17. Find the centre of the labyrinth at St Finbarre’s Cathedral
18. Discover the playground at Old Cork Waterworks
19. Pose like a sculpture at the Crawford Art Gallery
20. Find the right time on one of the four clock faces of Shandon
21. Play pooh sticks at the Glen River Park
22. Make a wish on the witches wishing steps at Blarney Castle
23. Run over the Shaky Bridge
24. Balance on a silver ball at Fitzgerald’s Park
25. Find the little boys on the rubble of St. Peter’s
26. Find the shiny tree in Fitzgerald’s Park
27. Do the UCC art trail at the Glucksman
28. Find the Cork town walls at Bishop Lucey park
29. Hunt for medals at the military museum, Collins Barracks
30. Treat yourself to sweets in Lenihan’s, Shandon

“Lots of us want to bring kids to museums, galleries and attractions, but often there isn’t anything designed for them to do.” explained one of the key organisers, Dr Danielle O’Donovan, Programme Manager at Nano Nagle Place.

“This summer in Cork we have turned that problem into a creative opportunity by designing playful and engaging activity packs for kids so that families feel welcome in our cultural spaces. We are delighted to launch this innovative Playful Culture Trail, which will make kids VIPs at cultural venues throughout Cork City.”

Some venues are free, while others offer family rates. You can pick up your free canvas goodie bag or download the virtual map at purecork.ie/playtrail.