If you would like to venture further than Dawlish Warren's Beautiful blue flag beach, you may wish to consider visiting some of the places outlined below.

A short drive north will take you to the magnificent medieval Powderham castle overlooking the Exe Estuary. It is set amidst fine natural parkland and has been the family seat of the Earl of Devon for 600 years.Extensively damaged during the Civil War, subsequent restoration work has restored it to its former glory. The grounds offer plenty to see and do including the 18th century Woodland Garden, the Smithy and the herd of Fallow deer. Inside the Castle the fabulous Halls and State Rooms are filled with lavish furnishings and tapestries. The reconstruction of Medieval Knights in armour jousting can be seen during the summer months.

Slightly further north outside Exeter you can find Crealy Adventure Park for a great fun day out for the family. The park has 6 realms - Adventure, Magic, Action, Farming, Natural and Animal. The Adventure realm includes the El Pastil Loco roller, Tidal wave log flume, Giant swing boat and a huge family adventure zone including ball pits too.Littleland Village and the Treetops village can be found in Magicland. The children can ride on the ponies and see the farm animals in Farmland, whilst possibly seeing newborn chicks and getting to feed the baby animals in the Animal showtime in the Animal realm. For those action seeking family members, they will find Go Karts, Whirling River boats and the Summer soak zone in the Action Realm and for those who like the quieter side of life,there are nature trails, picnic meadows and a Prairie train in the Nature realm

Going approximately 18 miles south you can get to Paignton Zoo, an environmental park. Paignton Zoo is committed to the conservation of plants and animals through the world. The are involved in field conservation projects in the Uk and overseas and are also involved in breeding programmes of native and exotic animals. At Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, the animals live in their own habitat zones. These include Primley, Savannah, Forest, Wetland, Tropical Forest and Desert. The Primley zone is the oldest part of the zoo. Some of the animals you will find here include red pandas, porcupines, ground hornbills, baboons, monkeys, parrots and kangaroos. When you venture to the Savannah region you will find elephants, ostriches, white rhino, giraffes and zebras. The Desert habitat has been set up in the Desert house which has been created in a giant glasshouse and the Bactrian camel can be found in the Desert zone in a large outdoor enclosure.

Cassowaries, orang utans, gorillas, asiatic lions and sumatran tigers will be found in the Forest habitat Zone. Whilst if you are looking for reptiles and amphibians, you will need to go the Tropical Rainforest Zone. Pelicans, storks and cranes can be found in the Wetlands. You can also find an adventure playground and a soft play area there. All in all its a great day out for all of the family. Currently Paington Zoo and Living Coasts (see below) are offering a joint ticket to visit both places, which will offer a substantial discount compared to buying the tickets separately. These are valid up to March 2005.

Living Coasts at Torquay, features a fascinating range of coatal creatures from loveable penguins to playful seals, colourfuls puffins to sea ducks - they are all found here. There are reconstructed beaches, cliff faces, and an estuary. A hugh meshed aviary allows the birds to fly over your head. As mentioned above, there is currently a joint discounted ticket available to visit Paignton zoo and Living coasts at a reduced price.

Approximately 20 miles north east of Dawlish Warren, you will find the Sidmouth Donkey Sanctuary, which has been caring and rescuing donkeys for many years. Just outside Sidmouth, the donkey sanctuary is home to around 500 donkeys. Set in unspoilt farmland and countryside, visitors come to meander amongst the donkeys and absorb the serene and relaxing surroundings. The aims of the Donkey sanctuary are to prevent the suffering of donkeys worldwide through the provision of high quality professional advise, training and support on donkey welfare. In the UK and Ireland permanent sanctuary is provide to any donkey in need of refuge. It is free to visit the donkey sanctuary, but if you want to, you can make donations to help support the charity. It is a thoroughly enjoyable place to visit.

Going 10 miles south west, Prickly Ball Farm near Newton Abbot is a busy 'hands on' hedgehog hospital and wildlife garden centre where you can meet, touch and learn about hedgehogs. Meet the hedgehogs talks are held throughout the day, where you can learn about the hedgehog's year, feeding habits and how we can encourage them into our gardens. Open from April through to October, this is a great day out for wildlife enthusiasts.

Finally, 10 miles south, Babbacombe Model Village is open virtually all year around and well worth a visit. The model village perfectly depicts the English countryside with Seaside resorts, towns and villages. The gardens surrounding the village are beautifully landscaped which makes it a relaxing place to visit. Quizes are set up for the children to find letters and objects around the village. This is great fun for both children and adults.

The Babbacombe Cliff Railway is one of Torquay's most popular attractions and carries more than 250,000 passengers a year. It has been operating since 1926 and can carry up to 40 passengers 240ft down from the cliff top to the sheltered Oddicombe beach.