This year, we are going to the Isle of wight, with our caravan. Not booked yet, although we have decided which site we'll be staying on. Has anyone been? Any places you could recommend visiting over there?
Also a bit stuck as to which ferry to go with? any ideas?

Cheers.  :)

Ferries really depend where you are coming from (my mother lives on the IOW and I have been going down there regularly for 43 years :D ) We use the Portsmouth to Fishbourne - it is probably the best - takes about 40 minutes - BUT if you are going in the height of the summer you may have left it a bit late to book for a weekend ferry. When we were children we had to book in January for August :( - they do have bigger boats now, so may be a bit better.

As to what to do - depends what you like really - ranges from the Needles Amusement Park and Black Gang Chime - good for children - to Osborne House (Queen Victoria's house).

Daisy

Ferries really depend where you are coming from (my mother lives on the IOW and I have been going down there regularly for 43 years :D ) We use the Portsmouth to Fishbourne - it is probably the best - takes about 40 minutes - BUT if you are going in the height of the summer you may have left it a bit late to book for a weekend ferry. When we were children we had to book in January for August :( - they do have bigger boats now, so may be a bit better. As the island is quite small - it doesn't matter, distance wise which ferry you get.

As to what to do - depends what you like really - ranges from the Needles Amusement Park and Black Gang Chime - good for children - to Osborne House (Queen Victoria's house).

Daisy

Thanks Daisy - well we have 2 children aged 6 & 7. We had planned to go to black gang chine & also the zoo looks nice. QV house, not really our thing, but needles amusement park sound good.
Thanks again.

At Sandown there is a good Dinosaur sort of museum. Also on the Shanklin to Newport road there is a very good Amazon 'zoo' - can't remember what it's called - Amazon World or similar :) The Waxworks at Brading is good (at least it was a few years ago) - but may be a little scary for your children. There is a donkey sanctuary in the north of the island - my daughter thought that if we adopted a donkey, it would arrive in the post when we got home :)

The Needles Park is probably just about right for your two - not a big place, but fine for younger children.

Have a good trip :)

Daisy

Thankyou so much. The dinosaur museum sounds good, the kids will like that & we'll have to visit the donkeys too.  :)

Where will you be styaying Smudgley.
As a child we went to the Isle of Wight for our holiday every year, my parents were obssessed with it.
But seriously though I loved it as a child. Ive also been with my partner before the kids were born, which was great, and twice with the kids. You'd think I'd be sick of going by now,:D But I'd go again.
It's a really pretty Island, for all ages. Lovely countryside, great views, loads of nice beaches and clifftop walks, plenty for the kids. A lot more since I went as a child, a few places are a lot more commercialized (sp) than they were, but in my opinion not spoilt.
Depends what you want out of a holiday, and of course if you have children as to where you'll visit.
Blackgang chine is great for the kid, especially as night falls, as it's all lit up. A lot of it has crumbled into the sea since I was a child. The Needles is also great for kids, a few rides, chair lift down to the beach, boat ride round the needles, not forgetting the coloured sands. There is also a funfair at Ryde. A model village, a Zoo at Sandown small but very interesting, lots of places of interest, all depends what your interests are.
Sorry can't help with the ferry.

Michelle.
I used to love the open top double decker buses.

Sorry, It took me so long to write my post (got interupted) that you've already had info on the places I mentioned. Never mind.
Forgot to mention, Robin Hill adventure park, It's got a great toboggan.

Michelle.

Thanks Mitch - I'm getting excited now. We're undecided weather to go for 7 / 10 days. I think i need about 3 weeks there to fit it all in. :)