These places are not only expensive and full of people not all of us would describe as soul-mates, but few parents adequately prepare for what will be one of the most testing days of their adult life. The result is likely to be hours of tantrums, foot-stamping, bottom-lip pouting, and even tears. £7.50; child over three, £5.35; senior, £6.40; family (two plus two), £22.65 (01492 532938).. Of all days out with children, a theme park is the most treacherous. This has nothing to do with the perils of roller-coasters, or the likelihood of little Jeremy and Jemima regurgitating their sandwiches while riding in the Jolly Giant Teacups, but everything to do with you. Stratford Butterfly Farm, Stratford-upon-Avon, WarksExotic and rare butterflies, and some of the world's strangest creepy-crawlies including scorpions and beetles.Open: daily, 10am. Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay, ClwydTigers, camels, bears, the elusive red panda and lovely gardens Open: daily, 9.30am.

£4.75; child aged three to 16, £3.75; family (two plus two), £13.95; additional child,£1.50 (01789 299288).30. Tufted ducks, shovelers and green sandpipers also drop in.Open: 10am Free (01992 708383).27. Sandwell Valley, Great Barr, West MidlandsDucks and songbirds breed here, nesting in the marshes, lakes and grasslands Excellent visitor centre.Open: Tue-Fri 9am, Sat-Sun 10am Free (0121-3577 395).28. South Stack Cliffs, Holyhead, Anglesey More than 4,000 seabirds breed on the cliffs at South Stack, including puffins, razorbills, ravens and guillemots.Open: daily, 10am Free (01407 764973).29.

Admission: £3.50; child, £1; student, £1.50; family (two plus two), £7 (01798 875851).26. Rye Meads, Stanstead Abbots, HertfordshireThis reserve is next to the river Lee and is home to kingfishers, which breed in artificial sandbanks and a colony of common terns, which nest on specially-made rafts. Paradise Wildlife Park, Broxbourne, HertfordshirePan for gold, play safari miniature golf, and brave the new reptile house. Book and pay extra to feed the lemurs, hold meerkats and spiders or to shadow one of the keepers.Open: daily, 9.30am £10; concessions, £7; family of four, £32 (01992 470490).25.