BEAST FEAST; days out A great day at Chester Zoo for the Selby family.

What's the attraction?

This time we're looking for a whole day adventure, not too far away by car, not too expensive, something that will appeal to all three children without boring us oldies to tears. We want something exciting, a special treat for all of us but within our budget. Chester Zoo fits the bill. What's on offer? An amazing collection of more than 400 species of animal spread over a 110 acres. With over 7,000 animals it has something for everyone, from the elephants to the tiny Asiatic lion cub Asha, born last month, hiding behind his mum. The zoo has an array of gardens for the older visitor and the elegant Oakfield Manor. It's also 100% child-friendly and prides itself on being very user-friendly with maps, cafes, toilets, play areas and shops. How did you get there? From Trawsfynydd we headed for Bala, Corwen then over Llandegla and towards Chester. Once you get to Chester the zoo is clearly signposted, just follow the elephant signs. These are a great idea because by the time they appear you're just about ready to strangle the kids so 'spot the elephant' gives an extra 10 minutes stress-free! How long did you stay? We arrived at just gone 10am and got home after 6pm so we spent the entire day there. Our 18-month-old was so fascinated she didn't even have a nap all day, and there were no hysterics from any of the children. By the time we left we were on our knees and still hadn't seen everything. Did you take a brolly?

No, the weather was beautiful - we avoided the hottest part of the day by having a picnic in the pavilion at the main entrance and had several stops for drinks. But there are undercover exhibits if you get caught in a downpour, such as the bat house. What did you do there? We tried to see everything but failed, there's just so much. We started with the Asian elephants right next to the main entrance. Last time we visited in 2005 the enclosure was being built, so it was nice to see the elephant enjoying the waterfall and playing with the sand and tree trunks. Then we went to see the condors, coatis, forest buffaloes, giraffes, okapis, red river hogs (smelly) and on to the chimpanzees. We spent ages watching the chimps - the babies were especially cute. We wandered through the Reptile House then on towards the red apes. Then we herded the kids to the next rest area, with a brilliant play area called the Fun Ark. Muffins and Ribena later we visited the penguins, sealions, flamingos and lemurs. By then we were all flagging, so we made a special effort to see the otters and lions before heading back to retrieve our picnic from the car. After a late lunch the kids went to explore what they could of the Frost Fair being set up near the main entrance to the zoo, ready for its November 27 opening. The entertainment, open until January 11, includes an ice rink, Santa's Lapland Journey, a carousel and the Silver Man, with fire-juggling and stilt walking as well.

How much did it cost you?

Family tickets (under three's go free) are pounds 49.50 including a small donation to the zoo. Discounted rates for groups. Parking is free.

How about food and drink?

We took a picnic for convenience sake really, but the cafe prices were reasonable and there weren't any huge queues at the restaurant. There's also plenty of kiosks along the path.

Are there any shops?

Yes, there's a brilliant shop at the main entrance with all sorts of gifts and toys for all ages and several other shops dotted around the zoo. Is it ok for kids?

You couldn't ask for more where kids are concerned. Safety-wise you can get a free wristband for kids (you write on contact details in case they stray) and there are lots of pick-up points to retrieve your errant child. There are toilets everywhere with ample changing facilities. Play areas near the cafes suit all ages. Can people with disabilities get around?

You can hire wheelchairs (and buggies) on-site for a small fee, which I thought was great, especially when we met one family who had come out with four generations in tow. The track is tarmac and wooden slats with sloping gradients where needed. A full accessibility statement is published on the website www.chesterzoo.org. What were the best bits? The huge range of animals to keep the kids interested. I was particularly pleased our youngest enjoyed it, toddlers can be a nightmare if they feel left out. The kids could feel free to enjoy themselves. I didn't have to fret about them being noisy or getting lost. Daily throughout the year from 10am. Closed Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Chester Zoo, Caughall Rd, Upton, Chester, CH2 lLH. 01244 380280 or www.chesterzoo.org

WIN FAMILY ZOO PASSES

We've four Chester Zoo family passes up for grabs. For your chance to win, just answer: What Christmas attraction opens at the zoo next month?

Answers on a postcard please with your name, address and day-time phone number by October 22 to Sarah Batley, Chester Zoo competition. Daily Post, Vale Road, Llandudno Junction, Conwy, LL31 9ZD.

HOW DID IT RATE?

Rating *****

*don't bother

** poor value for money

*** okay, worth the trip

**** good, will go again

***** great, lets go now

CAPTION(S):

Chester Zoo (above) made a full and thrilling day out for the Selby family (from left. Jack, Amber, Jamie, Nicola and Tara)