Welcome to the Cœur de Nacre, the ideal destination for a family holiday with your top toddler activities.
Finding the perfect day out for your little one can be a real headache. You want an activity where they can play, learn, and thrive safely, without all the usual hassle. We created this guide to help you! Discover our pick of the top toddler activities, carefully chosen to guarantee a fun and memorable family day out, completely without any fuss.
Wondering what entertainment, activities, and outings are suitable for children under 5 ?
Looking for the best activities to do with your little ones around Caen ? Look no further, this article is for you !
Discover our suggestions for parents traveling with young children with our top activities to do with little ones between Courseulles-sur-Mer and Luc-sur-Mer.
Try out the baby swimmer activity
Share a moment of complicity with your child at the Aquanacre aquatic centre in Douvres-la-Délivrande.
With its paddling pool and indoor and outdoor fun pools, this swimming pool is suitable for all ages. That is the reason of why this place is on our Top activities to do with toddlers
Daredevils will love the light slide.
Baby swim sessions take place on Saturday mornings from 9.30am to 11am all year round in water at 32 degrees.
During the school holidays, Aquanacre organises Family Time from Monday to Friday from 10am to 12pm, with games, balls and water mats for the little ones.
The swimming pool in Courseulles-sur-Mer is open from July to September, opposite the beach.
Practical information :
Aquanacre
DOUVRES-LA-DELIVRANDE
Just 10 minutes from Caen, take advantage of this 4,000m2 aquatic complex devoted to sport and well-being. Navigate between our […]
Swimming pool of Courseulles
COURSEULLES-SUR-MER
Heated water pool, open air and facing the beach… with a paddling pool, a school pool and a 25m pool. […]
A Whale squeleton in Luc-sur-Mer
This is the park not to be missed if you’re coming to the Normandy to benefit from top toddler activities.
The whale has become the emblem of the seaside resort of Luc-sur-Mer, ever since a skeleton of this cetacean was exhibited in the much-loved park of the town hall.
In 1885, this 40-tonne, 19-metre-long whale washed up on the beach.
The small Whales Museum tells the story of the whale’s life. It’s a short, free visit, so it’s a natural choice for our top toddler activities.
Children will also love the play area at the end of the park.
There’s a little wooden train, a swing adapted for the little ones, not forgetting the turnstile.
Don’t forget to take a look at the animal enclosures where you’ll find ducks, doves, goats, etc.
Practical information :
Playground – Parc de la Baleine
LUC-SUR-MER
It is impossible to come to Luc without passing by the "famous" Whale Park. This charming place is one of […]
Musée de la Baleine – The Wales Museum
LUC-SUR-MER
On the night of 14 to 15 January 1885, a 40-tonne, 19-metre whale washed up on the shores of the […]
Whale Park
LUC-SUR-MER
It's impossible to go for a walk in Luc without passing through the famous Whale Park. This charming place is […]
Playgrounds
Credit : F. Dupont
The Coeur de Nacre has many parks and play areas suitable for children.
The main playgrounds :
- Bernières-sur-Mer : Berthelemy park, rue Berthélémy,
- Courseulles-sur-Mer : le chant des Oiseaux, next to the fishing and yachting harbour
- Douvres-la-Délivrande : la Baronnie, 1 rue de la Baronnie and Cour d’Yvrande, rue du général Leclerc,
- Langrune-sur-Mer : Bois Joli park, avenue de la Libération,
- Luc-sur-Mer : 45 rue de la Mer and Place du Petit Enfer,
- Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer : 12 rue Maréchal Joffre and Parc Pillier, Avenue Roger,
- Reviers : rue du bout de Banville.
Merry-go-round
This pretty wooden merry-go-round is located next to the Courseulles-sur-Mer fishing port and fish market.
Children can choose to ride on wooden horses, exotic animals or a small fire engine.
The merry-go-round is covered, which is great if it’s windy or raining.
- During the school year : Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. School holidays : every day
Practical information :
Merry Go-rounds
COURSEULLES-SUR-MER
Eric and Irène are happy to welcome you to their carousel show, the largest in Europe. Who has never stood […]
Bike ride
Credit : G. Wait
Put the kids in the cart, and off you go for a ride on the Calvados cycle paths !
Ask at the tourist office for a cycle map showing the routes of the greenways from the Côte de Nacre.
With the little ones, we particularly recommend :
- the Vallon de la Capricieuse between Luc-sur-Mer and Douvres-la-Délivrande, safe and planted with trees, 5km round trip,
- the cycle path from Luc-sur-Mer to Lion-sur-Mer, which runs along the beach, 4km round trip,
- the walk from Bernières-sur-Mer to Courseulles-sur-Mer, to discover the pretty Parc de l’Édit, 3km round trip.
Free map of cycle routes :
Discover horse riding
Credit : G. Wait
Horse-riding is an ideal sport for children under 5 : learn how to look after a pony, groom it, stroke it, respect its well-being…
The Courseulles-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer riding centres offer pony rides.
Practical information :
Courseulles Equestrian Centre
COURSEULLES-SUR-MER
Come and relax, learn or perfect your riding skills in a friendly atmosphere, for an hour, a weekend, a week […]
Écurie du Littoral
SAINT-AUBIN-SUR-MER
The Écurie du Littoral offer riding lessons and courses for horses and ponies. Babies" lessons and courses for 4-6 year […]
Miniature golf
Mini-golf is a fun experience for all ages.
Rules are simple and the courses are designed for everyone.
18-hole Courseulles-sur-Mer course is accessible from the age of 4.
15-hole course at Luc-sur-Mer can be played from the age of 3.
Practical information :
Mini Golf
LUC-SUR-MER
In the heart of the Côte de Nacre, the Luc sur Mer Mini-Golf is ideally located within a lively family […]
Courseulles Miniature Golf Course
COURSEULLES-SUR-MER
The 18-hole miniature golf course is the ideal opportunity to relax with family or friends, located 100 meters from the […]
Snack time for children…
Credit : Vincent Rustuel
After an afternoon in the fresh air, it’s time for a snack !
In Luc-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, you can indulge in a gui-gui, a sweet wrapped around a stick ; a real institution on the Normandy coast!
For fans of crepes and ice creams, there’s no shortage of good addresses along the seafront between Courseulles-sur-Mer and Luc-sur-Mer :
The essential brochures for your stay :
Destination tourism magazine
Practical guide
Discover a list of family activities and outings with young children near Caen, Bayeux and the D-Day landing beaches :
- Covered play areas, Girafou, Bénouville, Magic Parc, Hérouville Saint Clair, Palomano, Caen and Jokoani, Bretteville sur Odon : toddler areas with mini obstacle course, small slide and ball pool. Our advice : go in the morning, it’s less crowded,
- Festyland (Carpiquet, seasonal) : Normandy’s largest amusement park near Caen welcomes families with children aged 2 and up,
- Alpaga Normandy, Maisons : In this mini-farm atmosphere, you’ll enjoy the company of Alpacas, small horses, goats and sheep,
- Colline aux Oiseaux, Caen : huge floral park of over 17 ha, with rose garden, labyrinth, playground,
- Ornavik : discover the history of the Vikings – an immersive historical park particularly suited to families and young visitors,
- Zoos and animal parks around Caen and Bayeux : Cerza Zoo (near Lisieux), Jurques Zoo, and Champrépus Zoo are particularly well suited for family visits, even with small children in strollers.
Staff at the Courseulles-sur-Mer, Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer and Luc-sur-Mer tourist offices will be able to give you all the free documentation you need to organise your stay with young children.
