Paesano Pizza

Paesano Pizza is the most raved about pizza in Glasgow, so on a wet Sunday we paid the Great Western Road restaurant a visit.

Is it the best pizza in town?  Probably, yes.  There's a lot of talk about using the best, freshest ingredients and you can taste that the base is amazing and the toppings are tasty.  The pizzas cost between £5-£8 and there is a choice of nine plus specials.  You can also specify any changes.  There are also some sides and a choice of soft-serve ice-cream or the tart of the day and that's the whole menu.  Spotted the omission?  There's no kids menu.  We were told they would do a kids size of anything on the menu.  Here is Angus's cheese and tomato.  It's slightly smaller than a regular and I'm not sure what they charged us for it (no more than £5 anyway, which is what the full size costs).

The staff were some of the most welcoming we've come across.  The stereotypical "Italians are nuts about children" thing really came across even though it was all Glasgow students working there.

At the end of the day, I felt the pizza and service was better than Pizza Express, which is our usual go to for pizza all round.  We haven't tried the restaurant in Miller Street yet but we definitely intend to.   Watch this space!  Very, very delicious.

There are steps up to the entrance, which we managed with the pram between the two of us.  However, there is a step-free side entrance, which we left by.

I think there was a baby change on the same level as the restaurant (we didn't need to use it) but all the toilets were down lots of stairs.  There is metered parking nearby and the restaurant is close to Kelvinbridge Subway station.   They don't take reservations but we arrived early and were easily accommodated.

Glasgow Doors Open Days 2017

I love Doors Open Days, last year we had a great time. I strongly advise prebooking anything you want to do and to book on the day booking opens (10am Wednesday 28th August).  The main weekend is 16th and 17th September, although there are events during the preceding week.

You can pick up a brochure in lots of places, including your local library.  There is a special page for children's highlights at the back but here is my selection.

Buildings

The Tenement House: always good to get in somewhere for free that you normally need to pay for.  Tours bookable on Saturday and Sunday.

Bridgeton Bus Garage: all toddlers love a bus.  Tours bookable on Sunday.

The Pipe Factory: looks to be lots going on in this new arts space.  Open Friday to Sunday.

West Boathouse: promises interpretation activities.  Open Saturday and Sunday (taster sessions bookable).

Mackintosh Queen's Cross: another freebie.  Open Saturday and Sunday.

School of Veterinary Medicine Small Animal Hospital: like a petting zoo but not??   Tours bookable on Saturday.

House for an Art Lover: again, get in for free.  Open Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Pollok House: normally you pay National Trust entry (restricted to the servants quarters weekdays).  Open Monday to Sunday.

STV: books out immediately.  Tours on Saturday.

TS Queen Mary: all aboard!  Tours bookable on Saturday.

Events

Synchronized Swimming, Drumchapel Pool: 11-1 on Sunday.

Chapati Making Workshop, Glasgow Gurdwara.  Sessions bookable Monday to Thursday.

The Hidden Gardens: Wild Fest activities 1-6pm on Saturday with a picnic concert 5-6pm.

Kelvingrove Bandstand: more Wild Fest activities 1-4pm and a concert 2-3pm on Saturday.

Late Morning Strings, Pearce Institute, Govan: a family-friendly pop-up performance.  10.30am for 11am on Saturday.

Storytelling, Arts and Crafts, Village Storytelling Centre.  Drop in Saturday and Sunday.

Unlocking the Story of Glasgow's Canal - Boat Tour: 150 minutes on board the Gypsy Princess.  Bookable on Saturday.

Glasgow Stories, ARTPARK Heritage Centre: stories and crafts at Bellahouston Park.  Bookable 10-11.30am on Wednesday.

Fossil Grove: lots of activities organised.  Drop-in on Saturday.

The Lighthouse: designer-led workshops.  Drop-in on Saturday and Sunday.

Obviously this is subject to change and I might have copied out details incorrectly, so best to get your own copy of the brochure or view online.  There also might be other events that suit your own child's interests!

Kilmardinny Loch, or the Gruffalo Trail

Kilmardinny Loch is one of those local hidden treasures.  It's in a very residential area and I would love to live next door.  It is a loch with a path right the way around and a play park to the side.

From the car park, facing the loch, we take the path to the right, going anti-clockwise around the path.  After a short while, you reach a bench with good duck and swan spotting opportunities.  Further along when the path veers to the left, if you keep going straight and round you come to the play park (this isn't obvious so keep your eyes peeled).

The play park has lots of different activities. There is a sandy bit, so you can bring a bucket and spade.  There's swings, slides and lots of climbing as well as a fort.  For a local park, it's very good.

Returning to the path and going further around there are more ducks and the wooden carvings start.

Keep going and you come across a fox, 

an owl

and finally the Gruffalo.  This is right before you get back to the car park, so it you want to keep it a surprise or maintain the pretense of a trail, you must take the path to the right of the car park or you'll see it straight away.

It takes about half an hour to walk around, twice is very managable.  We tried taking the scooter once but the gravel is not scooter friendly.  It would be great on bikes though.  There is lots of wildlife to look out for too: butterflies, frogs, dragon flies.  It is very popular with dog walkers, so if your child is particularly frightened of dogs, this is not for you.

The loch is a lovely place for a picnic and there are some benches but I would advise taking a blanket (especially if there are lots of you).  There is no cafe or kiosk and no toilets.

The car park off Kilmardinny Avenue is small (may be 10 cars) but we've always got it in (we've only been early or when the weather has been driech though).

The Beech Tree Inn

This venue is a little way out of Glasgow, close to the Glengoyne Distillery near Dumgoyne.  It is right on the West Highland Way.

We chose to visit the Beech Tree Inn following some good reviews and the promise of a sunny day.  I had intended to stop at Mugdock Park on the way to build up an appetite but we missed the turning!

Arriving a little early, we had a coffee in the garden and met all the animals.  It's not a petting zoo but you can buy feed.  There are Shetland Ponies, sheep, rabbits, ducks, goats and an aviary.  They seem very well-kept and loved.  There is also a small play area with a couple of fixed tractors to sit on, climbing frame and slide.  Enough to keep a toddler entertained for half an hour or more and whilst you are waiting for food etc.

We were lucky to get a table and I advise booking (or at least, arriving early and reserving a table, which is what we had to do).  The menu is vast and is pub grub food.  Angus and I both had soup (a delicious tomato and red pepper), mine with a sandwich.  There is lots of choice for children too.  Mr GFN had a chicken wings special and a side of chips, which he really enjoyed. We also had delicious desserts; so save room!

In the end, we were there from about 11.45am to 2.30pm.  So a fair day out with a toddler and not too much walking when you are heavily pregnant.

The toilets are clean (we didn't use the baby change).  The car park has a fair capacity.  I don't think you could get there using public transport.

Calderglen Country Park and Zoo

Sometimes you need to try somewhere new and you don't mind travelling a little further.  And the weather was sunny.  So we tried Calderglen Country Park and Zoo.

We went into the zoo first, which has a very small admission fee.  There are about 25 enclosures, initially indoors in a conservatory.

There are fish, monkeys, some leaf-cutter ants that climb overhead (no, they haven't escaped Mr GFN!), foxes (hiding asleep below) and more.

Once you leave the glasshouse, you are in an ornate garden with more enclosures scattered about.  They are numbered and set out as a trail.

Our highlights were the prairie dogs, wallabies, kookaburras, meercats but there is much more.  Our initial visit lasted 30-45 minutes.  Then we went on to the cafe, where we were greeted with welcoming signs.

So we sat outside, which wasn't a problem.  The cafe was not a bargain and had pretty standard fare.  It is not a gourmet destination.  We both had breakfast rolls and Angus had a ham sandwich.  There was also an ice cream hut in the courtyard.

Then on to the play park.  There is lots for toddlers, although a queue for the swings with support.  There are some brilliant, long slides down a hill.  More benches would be good as the park was very busy on a Saturday lunchtime and I had to stake one out so that I could sit a feed Douglas.

It's a really good, all round park with lots for older children too.  As well as just being really big with lots and lots to do.

If you're older there are lots of trails to walk or cycle, which would extend your visit by quite a bit.  Before going back to the car we went around the zoo again; your ticket is valid all day.

Next to the car park, is a specially designated toddler's play park.  It feels very small (more like a little local playground) and cut off from the rest of the park but was entertaining for 10 minutes.

There was ample parking and the park is well signposted from the road.  Picnic facilities are good.  We only used the toilets in the zoo reception which were basic but adequate.  I can't remember what the baby change facilities are like!