10 Best Family Things to Do in La Baule

Parc des Dryades is a beautiful green space with a large play area in La Baule. In this hilly park, make your way along the shaded paths that weave in and out of the pine trees before settling down at one of the picnic tables. Groves, ornamental plants and decorative elements dotted around the park all give it a truly Japanese feel.

In the lower area, the secure play area houses activities for different age groups: spring riders and slides for the younger children, as well as swings and a large climbing frame for the over 10s. There is also an open-air amphitheatre that hosts performances in the summer.

Equestrian Center De La Baule is a municipal riding club offering pony rides along the beach. The stables and riding school are located right next to the François-André riding arena and a few streets before Plage Benoît beach. During the summer holidays, the riding stables meet at the little roundabout on this beach to offer pony rides for kids aged 3–9 years, which last between 30 minutes and an hour.

Times are subject to a municipal by-law, which only allows horses on the beach in the morning and evening. The CEB also offers year-round rides for children over 10 upon request. Tours depart from the centre once the ponies have been prepared and everyone's riding level has been determined.

ParcOfolies is an amusement park in La Baule that’s great for kids over 2 years old. The park offers a natural setting within the gardens of the Château de Lesnerac in Baule, not far from the Saint-André-des-Eaux junction of the D213. Come with your family and make the most of this vast wooded area designed to maximise your children's enjoyment from spring onwards.

There are swings, inflatables, adventure trails and zip lines for the kids to blow off steam. In the height of summer, the kids can cool off with water games in the Aquagliss area – remember to bring swimwear and a towel. You can also find picnic tables, a snack bar, hammocks and seats to rest on between activities.

Greenparc is an open-air leisure park in La Baule that offers inflatable adventure courses and pedal go-karting sessions. You can find it at Avenue du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, in the same area as the mini-golf, the Tennis Country Club and the Equestrian Centre of La Baule.

The activities on offer here are suitable for kids over 6. Close-toed shoes must be worn for go-karting. Budding racing drivers can sit behind the wheel of a pedal kart and challenge their friends or parents on a safe circuit. The ‘ninjas’ in the family can test their endurance skills and balance on an inflatable obstacle course that you'll need to cross by jumping, scaling and climbing.

Explore La Baule and the beautiful bay from the sea. Head over to the Port de La Baule-Le Pouliguen on the west side of the Plage Benoît beach and hop aboard a 14-metre catamaran for a few hours or a full day trip to discover the Côte Sauvage and the islands of southern Brittany. Leaving the harbour, take in the spectacular views across the coast and the bay.

After several nautical miles, you'll soon be on your way to discovering the more distant islands. This is a fun and unique way to visit La Baule and its surrounding areas. It's a great opportunity for the whole family to experience life aboard a boat. The skipper will share their knowledge and experience, and you'll come away with a few sailing basics.

AquaBaule is a water sport and relaxation centre in La Baule. The centre has a 25-metre indoor pool, an outdoor pool filled with heated seawater, as well as some splash areas. It’s great for families who enjoy splashing fun but don't fancy the bracing sea temperatures. As well as paddling, swimming, aqua aerobics or aqua cycling, you can also make the most of the hydro-massage beds or relax under the water jets.

Take your towel to one of the sun loungers in the solarium, grab a bite to eat from the snack bar and spend an enjoyable day. To get there from the waterfront, head inland along Avenue Victor Hugo and the centre is located on the corner of Avenue George Sand.

The Aerospace Museum on the Côte d'Amour is home to approximately 20 vintage aeroplanes that are exhibited in a hangar, next door to the Aero Club in La Baule. Created by a group of enthusiasts to protect the local aviation heritage, this museum houses a collection of beautifully restored aeroplanes, as well some that are still undergoing restoration works in the museum's workshop.

The museum's volunteers provide a great insight into the world of aviation and are on hand to give you the history of every monoplane or biplane that has passed through their expert hands. Kids will love the opportunity to see the planes up close. Older children can even sit at the controls of a realistic simulator. The museum is free of charge.

Tropicarium Bonsaï La Baule is a collection of greenhouses featuring bonsai trees as well as an exotic garden. This arboretum is located on Route de Brédérac, near the Aérodrome de La Baule. You can explore the Tropicarium by first going through a questionnaire which will offer you the chance to leave with a beautiful plant as a gift. Luckily, there are several information boards available providing a range of information to help you to finish the quiz and discover more at the same time.

Besides the different species of plants and shrubs, you'll also see several tortoises and exotic birds that will be sure to delight the kids. This is an ideal family day out and an opportunity to get a few tips on how to care for your house plants from some real enthusiasts. Please be aware that you’ll only be able to visit the greenhouses during the winter months. The outdoor garden area and botanical trail are only open from April.

At the Bibliothèque Henri Queffélec library, you and your kids can enjoy reading and discover several cultural activities. Books and magazines are available for you to read for free and there's a season pass price for visiting holidaymakers. The library is named in honour of the late French maritime novelist and screenwriter.   

The library has a dedicated room, La Rotonde, that's used for exhibitions and temporary theme-related activities, such as for Halloween or Christmas. Children over 4 are regularly invited to come and listen to a story on Saturday afternoons during ‘story hour’. The library building is located just outside the town centre on Avenue du Maréchal-de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, between Avenue Duruy and Avenue Monchicourt.

Confiserie Manuel is a traditional candy store where you can find La Baule's famous hand-crafted lollipops, known as niniches. You can find the shop at the intersection of Avenue du Général-de-Gaulle and Boulevard Hennecart. The soft niniche lollipops, made from sugar beaten together with butter, milk and natural colours and flavours, are crafted using traditional methods to this day.

This delicious sweet treat, with its beechwood stick, is available in 20 or so different flavours: vanilla, strawberry, chocolate, violet, pineapple, aniseed, banana, tangerine, nougat and more, and in a variety of different colours and with something for every taste. You can also buy a variety of different sweets and chocolates here, as well as waffles and ice creams.