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In this current economic climate it is often too difficult to even contemplate planning a family holiday which involves the expense of plane travel, accommodation, food and then entertainment on top of that. However, if you are fortunate enough to be able to plan such an expedition then I will attempt to provide you with some good reasons for visiting Co Down in Northern Ireland. What I would state first and foremost is, don't come here if you are imagining a vacation of unbroken sunshine. But then that's our charm or the source of it anyway, the rugged terrain lashed by torrential wind and rain, the depth of green of the rural landscape and the ethereal mists that hang over the land of a morning only to dissolve and ebb away by noon. If that doesn't sound like your cup of holiday tea then stop reading now! I assure you we can receive four seasons in one day. But enough about the weather though I must admit its discussion is a national obsession due to the swiftness of its changes.

The crux of this article is to provide the interested party and potential traveller with some useful information that may make the holiday that little less stressful. I hope to include lots of ideas that may keep children amused whilst throwing a few things in the mix for the oldies! Financial constraints will always be uppermost but hopefully that will only add to the creativity of the ideas! I will include any websites that I feel will enhance the information in the article to save the endless trawling of rubbishy ones that are inaccurate and gimmicky.

I've decided to start off in the county town of Downpatrick, Down or Dun meaning hill or fort and Patrick named after Ireland's patron saint who it is said is buried in the town in the grounds of Down Cathedral. Downpatrick is one of Ireland's most ancient towns and as such this is reflected in its interesting things to see and do. If you begin your exploration of the town at the St Patrick's Centre (www.saintpatrickcentre.com) then you are in an ideal location to visit Down Cathedral and Down County Museum. The Centre houses an exhibition of St Patrick's life, an arts and crafts gallery, a large cafe and garden, a tourist information centre and a gift shop. Unfortunately there is a charge (4.95 pounds adult/2.55 pounds child) for the St Patrick's exhibition which is a crying shame. The Centre works tirelessly for survival as its funding is limited.

The modern exhibition style portrays the ancient story of St Patrick and the introduction

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