The European theme park with amazing attractions – but no queues
SOARING across the Loire Valley at sunset, a procession of hot-air balloons created a kaleidoscope of colour.
I begged my kids to agree to us all booking a family trip — and they barely looked up from their hand-held Nintendos in the back of the car.
But three days later we were having our own sky-high adventure, chasing tornados — and didn’t even need to leave the comfort of our seats.
Futuroscope, south of the Loire near Poitiers, is a theme park like no other.
There’s no rollercoaster in sight, yet 4D technology enables you to go on a mission to “chase” tornados on seats that spin you around, while blasts of wind and water make you feel like you’re in the eye of the storm.
You can also “dance” with robots as mechanical arms throw you upside down in a daring waltz, or take a trip back in time with the cartoon Rabbids characters.
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I even got to board a hot-air balloon — well, almost — in a ride inspired by 19th-century French sci-fi novelist Jules Verne’s book Around The World In 80 Days.
The attraction sees you sweep down from Mount Everest to India’s Ganges River, as spice smells are piped into the theatre to really immerse riders in the experience.
The French certainly know how to do a family theme park without the sick-inducing rides.
A few years ago we visited Puy du Fou in the Vendee — the second most popular park in Europe after Disneyland Paris — and were blown away by historical re-enactments which included a full-blown gladiator battle with real lions.
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Our sons Theo, 13, and eleven-year-old Nathan were similarly impressed by Futuroscope, though.
It’s not cheap — a family ticket costs about £140 — but it’s nowhere near as expensive as the major theme parks and worth every penny.
We visited out of French school holiday time so hardly had to queue for the rides — an added delight.
We’d never considered visiting the Loire Valley with the boys before, thinking it was all vineyards, cheese and chateaux, but there’s loads for kids too.
We stayed in a static mobile home at a Siblu holiday camp which has sites around the country, as well as three in the Netherlands.
Although we’ve stayed at a couple before, we weren’t prepared for how beautiful the surrounding countryside would be at Domaine de Dugny, on the north bank of the Loire.
With two pools, slides, inflatables, crazy golf, a football pitch and tennis court, there was lots to do.
There’s also kids’ clubs and evening entertainment as well as fishing lakes, boating, a play park and cycle hire.
But the highlight was just to be able to sit on our terrace in the sun with a glass of wine — adults only, of course.
The park was spotless, with a relaxed and friendly vibe, and the staff were all smiley and helpful.
At its busiest times Siblu puts on evening entertainment, but during quieter periods you can chill out to music, take part in a quiz or enjoy a meal at the restaurant.
The on-site shop was closed at the time of our visit, but this forced us to explore the local village of Veuzain-sur-Loire, just a few minutes’ drive away, with its continental square, restaurants, supermarket and boutique shops.
Houdini shows
There’s also a couple of wineries here and we bought a few bottles of the local vino, produced from vineyards around the village.
We also visited the hillside city of Blois, about 20 minutes’ drive from our Siblu base, where you can enjoy trendy restaurants and shops and admire the late-gothic Cathedral towering over the cobbled streets.
It’s also worth visiting the city’s museum. It pays homage, with exciting shows, to 19th-century French magician, inventor and clockmaker Robert Houdini who was born in the city.
If it’s kings and castles you’re after, you can’t miss Chateau de Chenonceau.
The grand estate sits on the River Cher, and makes the perfect postcard picture.
For history fans, a 35-minute drive along the side of the Loire will take you to Amboise, home to the chateau where Italian genius Leonardo Da Vinci, famed for his fabulous art, engineering, architecture, science and inventions, died in 1519.
He had been invited to France by King Francis I and loved the Loire’s Chateau du Clos Lucé so much that he settled there — which is why his most famous painting, the Mona Lisa, ended up at Paris gallery the Louvre.
The magnificent property is surrounded by amazing gardens filled with displays of Leonardo writings and scribblings and interactive examples of his inventions.
The kids loved the visit, too, messing around in the great man’s “helicopter”, making his “tank” turn and lifting water with an Archimedes Screw — which apparently fascinated the artist.
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Then it was time to set off back home to the UK.
But on the ferry, we did have time for one more culinary delight — a delicious beef bourguignon.
GO: Loire Valley
GETTING THERE: Brittany Ferries operates from Portsmouth to Caen from £243 return for a car and family of four.
See or call 0330 159 7000.
STAYING THERE: Seven nights’ self-catering at Siblu in Loire Valley costs from £595 for a family our four and for arrival on August 19.
Price includes lifeguarded pools, kids clubs, daytime as well as evening entertainment.
For more details see or call 0208 610 0186.