Over the last year there has been an explosion of food trucks and fun outdoor dining options as businesses have had to adapt and change. From pancakes to seafood, coffee to falafels and everything in between, you are sure to find something that everyone in the family will enjoy.

If you’re planning an excursion and want to enjoy a range of meals, snacks and treats beyond the usual nuggets and chips (!), then check out these great family days out around Ireland.

With 350 hectares to explore, Lough Key Forest Park certainly offers plenty of adventure for families of all ages. They have both outdoor and indoor activities to enjoy, some paid and many free. From walking and cycling trails, to treetop adventures and heaps of history, a day out here is sure to be a hit.

When it comes to food options, you won’t be disappointed. The Lakeside Café offers indoor and outdoor dining with hot and cold food. During restrictions they also introduced the Lough Key Food Truck which is open daily serving hot and cold delights, while the Coffee Cart and Cecil’s Treat Shack are also both open daily.

And set along the shores of the lake, there are picnic benches – many with built in BBQ holders – which are perfect if want to pack you own food and cook it when you arrive.

Enjoyed by locals and visitors alike, the Irish National Stud offers a unique, fun-filled day out with the Japanese gardens, a kids-zone, a stud where you can see horses and maybe even enjoy a pony ride. The latest experience for 2021 is The Irish Racehorse Experience where you can enjoy being part of the horse racing action!

Also introduced for 2021 are unique picnic dining options which can be booked in advance. Alternatively, for those looking for a tasty meal, The Japanese Gardens Restaurant offers simple, wholesome food with an emphasis on freshness and flavour.

Get our best content direct to your inbox! You’ll receive quick and easy recipes, fun ideas to entertain the kids, parenting tips, great competitions, as well as offers from brands we trust.

Do you fancy sharing your picnic with a peacock? Well that is what could happen when you visit Johnstown Castle & Gardens and the Irish Agricultural Museum in Wexford. There are 4km of picturesque gardens and lakeside walks to enjoy along with an outdoor playground. You can also visit The Irish Agricultural Museum which houses some of the best farming and rural Ireland displays in the country; and take a castle tour (subject to availability).

Peacocks, swifts, bats and other wildlife roam the grounds and, for those who haven’t packed a picnic, you can purchase hot and cold treats from the Café in the visitor centre with tables inside and out (subject to availability).

Be sure to ask about the quizzes, trails and fairies and check out more than 200 species of tress and shrubs.

The Powerscourt Estate is simply stunning with walks, trails, award-winning gardens and plenty to do for all ages. Visitors can pack a picnic or their own BBQ to enjoy at the waterfall (picnics are not permitted in the gardens) or can pick up everything they need from the Avoca Terrace Café and shop, where you can also dine in or enjoy some treats on the terrace.

For those looking for a more casual dining experience, how about a pizza from the food truck in the courtyard, followed by ice cream?

For adults visiting, the Powerscourt Distillery and visitor centre is open for tours and sample tasting! They also offer food and whiskey pairing experiences which can be booked in advance.

Offering indoor and outdoor adventure to suit younger children right up to adults, Wildlands on the outskirts of Galway City is a fun, active day out.

After a work out taking part in the challenges on offer, you can enjoy a feast for your tastebuds at The Olive Tree Kitchen. All food is prepared fresh daily using local ingredients and veggies grown on-site. They offer daily hot specials and pizzas cooked in a traditional firebrick oven. You can eat in or get your meal to take away.

For those looking for a quick fix treat, check out the Wildlands Wagon offering hot and cold savoury and sweet treats, drinks and award-winning coffee.

I have enjoyed many happy days out at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, both as a child and now with my own children. From climbing the spiral stairs to the top of castle or wandering around the homes of the past to the folk village with the old style school room, doctor’s surgery and sweet shop, the playground and fairy trail, you really will need the full day to enjoy your adventures here.

There’s no need to worry about feeding hungry adults and kids as there are lots of options, including Mr O’Regan’s Café, where you can eat in or take away or even order a picnic without the prep (a basket packed full of goodies; order 1 hour prior to your picnic) and Mac’s Bar in the village for drinks and traditional pub grub. And if you’re lucky, you may even get to sample some freshly baked soda bread, griddle cake or apple tart from a Bean an Tí in one of the traditional cottages. Be sure to check out Hazlebrook House, which was home to the Hughes Brothers who were the founders of HB Ice cream.

If you happen to be staying locally and can organise a babysitter, the renowned Medieval Banquets are also worth checking out.

Kells House is home to The SkyWalk, Ireland’s longest rope bridge, along with the Dinosaur trail, with real dinosaurs (!) to spot as you battle your way through the mighty tree ferns and other exotic plants in the 40 acres of gardens.

When you have finished your journey of discovery you can enjoy a snack or light lunch in The Garden Room Café where food can be eaten indoors or on the outdoor terrace.

Or for something completely different, you can have a taste of two kingdoms at Sala Thai who offer evening sittings from 6pm and takeaway from 1pm to 8pm with Thai food for all tastes. It is even possible to stay here too.

The Slieve Aughty Centre near Loughrea offers walking, cycling, horse-riding trails and much more besides. For those looking for an amazing dining experience on their day out, The Three Towers Eco House & Organic Kitchen offers certified organic options for both dine in and takeaway.

Seasonal specials include pizza nights where guests can make their own pizzas and have them cooked in the specially-built outdoor oven. You can also book a pancake party or order a picnic lunch, which you can eat in one of the many picnic spots next to the enchanted forest. High tea can also be booked for groups of more than 10.

Visitors can also check out the organic garden, pony and horse rides, fairy trails and enchanted forest walks. And for those who would like to prolong their stay, check out the Three Towers Eco guest accommodation including B&B, glamping, eco lodges and camping.

The stunning sea cliffs at Sliabh Liag (Slieve League) are the highest in Europe. For an amazing family day out, park at the bottom and walk up the winding sea cliff road to the viewing area over the giant’s chair and table. For those who want to climb higher, you can make your way up to the one man’s pass, but this is not the for the feint-hearted!

When it comes to food options, there are usually a couple of food trucks parked near the viewing station. Or you could book a table at The Rusty Mackerel in Teelin who offer indoor and outdoor dining options.

For those wanting to see the cliffs from a different angle, how about a boat trip on the Nuala Star with Sliabh League Boat Trips, where you could try and catch your own dinner! If you don’t succeed you can always opt for the Hooked and Cooked Experience at Atlantic Treasures Fish Shop in Killybegs.

Simply pick your fresh seafood of choice from their range landed at the pier in Killybegs, choose your seasonings and take it with you to Hughies Bar and they will cook it for you and serve it alongside a warm potato, chorizo and shallot side.

For those who can’t make it to Killybegs, you can order online and have all the ingredients delivered to your door to create your very own Hooked and Cooked dining experience.

Rock Farm in Slane offers land and water activities, including kayaking and rafting trips, electric bikes or explore the farm on foot.

They also offer farm tours (when it is safe to do so) where you can learn how to bake soda bread and cook your own loaf in the wood-fired clay oven to take away and enjoy.

In addition, there is a farmers’ market and shop on-site offering lots of organic goodies including meat, vegetables, eggs and hot and cold sweet and savoury take-away options. You can book a stay at Rock Farm to sleep in a yurt, shepherd’s hut, bell tent, swallow’s nest, or in one of two houses on-site.