There’s no shortage of entertainment for children on a traditional family holiday on the Isle of Wight.

OF the many things you learn on a holiday to the Isle of Wight, not putting nappies in the picnic bag is quite an important one.

Other things learnt: going ten-pin bowling is not the most romantic way to spend your tenth wedding anniversary; and children’s discos are to be avoided at all costs by anyone except children.

Children, however, love children’s discos, one of the many activities lined up at Thorness Bay caravan site, on the Isle of Wight.

The park, one of 37 across the UK and four on the Isle of Wight run by Park Resorts, has hundreds of caravans, yet still manages to be a quiet site where it’s safe for children of all ages to play out.

And children are firmly at the heart of the park’s daily programme of activities, which include pantomimes, treasure hunts, football competitions, archery, magic and spy schools, talent shows, wildlife hunting sessions, raft building and, of course, those all-important discos.

Most of the activities take place in the park’s entertainment complex, which includes a restaurant, large and well-equipped play area, arcade games room and a function room and bar. By accident or design, the only way into the function room is past the flashing lights of the arcade games, testing the willpower and pocket of many a parent, and the behaviour of many a child.

The coast is a short walk from the main centre, although there’s more seaweed, mud and rocks than sand.

The park also has a laundrette and a good-sized shop selling food, magazines and papers and toys.

Accommodation comes in lodges, chalets and static caravans. Many of the caravans are privately owned, with standards and prices ranging from a bronze two-bedroomed caravan costing £709 for a week at peak season, through silver and gold to platinum caravans costing £1,049 for a week at peak season. Lodges, meanwhile, cost up to £1,409 for a week at peak season. Low season prices range from £213 for a week in a bronze two-bed caravan to £423 for a week in a three-bed lodge.

The gold caravans are 12ft wide and 38ft long and have a good amount of living space, sensibly at the expense of space in the bedrooms.

They’re well-furnished and clean, with bed linen provided. Outside each caravan is a reasonablysized grassed area, table and chairs and off-road parking.

Off-site, there’s plenty to keep the family occupied, with the strong selling point of an island that’s 27 miles at its longest being the fact that nowhere’s more than about a halfhour drive.

The beaches range from small pebble ones to long sandy stretches that are filled with families making the most of the weather.

When the weather clouds in, there are several museums to be visited, as well as theme and wildlife parks, including Flamingo Park, Butterfly World, Owl and Monkey Haven, Amazon World Zoo, Isle of Wight Zoo, Dinosaur Isle, The Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary, The Isle of Wight Owl and Falconry Centre and several pony trekking centres. In fact, for such a small place, there’s an astonishing number of animal-based sites to visit.

For those not so keen on animals, highlights include a military museum, shipwreck centre, Carisbrooke Castle, a garlic farm and a vineyard.

Naturally, sailing plays a big part in island life, with hundreds of yachts and boats filling dozens of harbours and marinas from east to west, north to south.

One of the biggest destinations is the Needles, on the western tip of the island. The Needles – three chalk stacks and a lighthouse – are as interesting as three chalk stacks and a lighthouse can get. Until 1764, there used to be four chalk stacks, so don’t worry if you feel short-changed by the experience.

Boat trips from Alum Bay take visitors for a closer look at the three stacks and the lighthouse – and the gap where the fourth used to be.

For those who haven’t got their sea legs, there’s a cluster of activities designed to part parents from their money. They include a carousel ride, crazy golf, a shop where you can watch sweets being made, and a glass-making centre where you can watch glass being blown and fill bottles with different coloured sands.

TRAVEL FACTS

For Park Resorts information, go to park resorts.com

The Isle of Wight tourist information website is at islandbreaks.co.uk

For ten-pin bowling at Ryde, go to thebigapple.co.uk

For better wedding anniversary ideas, go to anniversaryideas.co.uk