5 Reasons why you need to visit St Ives

If you follow me on social media you know will that we recently headed down to beautiful St Ives in Cornwall. Most people are aware of how special Cornwall is with its breathtaking coastlines, white sandy beaches, quaint harbors and captures that laid-back vibe you want when you go away. Having studied in Falmouth a decade ago I had visit St Ives a few times before but of course it had been many years since I've been back so I was really excited to return, this time with my kids in tow to create some new memories and show them one of my favourite parts of the UK. Being someone who is passionate about staycations and discovering what is on your doorstep, places like St Ives are perfect for a family break away as the weather does tend to be better the more south you go and with so much to see makes it a great option and I thought I would share 5 reasons why it should be on your bucket list.

1. Take in all the Art

For those who don't know, St Ives is a real haven for artists and creative makers and designers who have set up studios all across the town as well as plenty of exhibition spaces. The most famous of course is the Tate Gallery overlooking the beautiful Porthmeor beach. We popped into the Tate Gallery on our trip and found it extremely family friendly with well laid out exhibitions and creative spaces for kids to embrace their inner artist. It is a little bit on the pricey side to go in but well worth it and I recommend checking it out and afterwards the kids can go run free on the beach or try their hand at surfing.

2. Try your hand at Chocolate making

During our stay we had a chance to learn a new skill in the form of chocolate making at Coco Kitchen. I have to say I was a little bit worried my 3yr old wouldn't be engaged in this activity but he absolutely loved it as did my 7yr old (and me too of course) who really enjoyed getting creative in this fun and unique way. The workshop consisted of first learning where chocolate comes from and how it's processed followed by molding, designing and decorating bars and lollies in white, milk and dark chocolate. Also plenty of toppings and wow the boys really didn't hold back with the toppings, a really fantastic workshop for all ages.

3. Perfect for foodies

St Ives has so many fantastic places to eat from small harbourside fish and chip shops to deli's, pubs, tea rooms and cafes serving up some fresh local delicacies. We managed to pop into The Digey Food room which you can find down a quiet cobbled street and is a real gem. Serving up Cornish breakfast's and wholesome lunches paired with their own blend of organic and fairtrade coffee this place gets the thumbs up from us. The boys tucked into scones while we I filled up on the fresh Cumin and Corriander hummus board with olives and fresh salad. We also indulged in some delicious handmade wood-fired pizza at the super stylish Una St Ives restaurant which also focuses on showcasing seasonal Cornish produce.

4. Beach-combing and taking in the view from the Island

One of the best things about St Ives is the beautiful harbor and beaches which are a real hit with children, surfers and those looking for pretty shells, or live clams in my son's case (he put them back in the water fyi). We spent two full days exploring the coastline and it was a lovely to watch the local's go for a swim in the harbour at low tide. I would also recommend heading up St Ives Island (not really an island but a grassy peninsula) and walking to the top where you will find the cute St Nicholas Chapel, with breathtaking views over St Ives and out across the ocean are amazing and its easily doable for young children.

5. Stylish places to stay

From camping to glamping to luxury chalets and hotels, St Ives has it all. We stayed at Una St Ives, I will do a full review but what I can say is that it was perfect for both couples and families. Luxury self-catering accommodation within easy reach of St Ives but also with a rural aspect, indoor pool and stylish restaurant as well as relaxation garden, this is the type of place you want to go to get away from it all. If your looking to be right in the heart of it with sea views than St Ives Harbour Hotel and Spa is the place for you

There is, of course, plenty of other things to do in and around St Ives such as exploring all the quaint shops and cobbled streets or taking a boat out to Seal Island and if you still have the energy to burn than hike over to the small village of Zennor. Or perhaps you want to take it easy and hang your toes over the harbor edge with a freshly baked pastie in hand, either way this is a fantastic part of the world to explore and spend some time in.