Some different and sometimes smaller activities to try?
Well perhaps you've been to some attractions or maybe you do not fancy seeing some on this particular day and wish for a change - here are some ideas and places: Beaches. If the weather is fine try one of The Islands great beaches! There are 16 personally recommended beaches in our beach guide. Gift Shop browsing, there are many places but some very popular ones spring to mind especially the smaller picturesque villages such as Shanklin Old Village, Godshill, and Bembridge. Walks, well there are lots of them, large ones, small ones, coastal paths, forest walks the list is endless, but there are just a few which we have done above, go on get some FRESH AIR!
Try The iwcamra site there are 10 walks with maps with plenty of information and many good pictures. See also my links pages for other recommended websites about walking. Here are my suggestions;
Boat trips. There are some pleasure trips available from various coastal locations on The Island and one we have been on and recommend is the small boat trip from Alum Bay to The Needles Lighthouse. This was not too long, and interesting because you can see a lot more from a boat than you would peering from Alum Bay and it was educational as well.
Esplanade walks/browsing. Our favourite is Shanklin Esplanade which is a good length with a quiet part toward the South end near to The Fisherman's Cottage pub and Shanklin Chine with some amusements and cafe's and the usual beach shops, two more pubs, pitch and putt with crazy golf. 3 Car parks and Esplanade parking, two lots of toilets.
Second has to be the Victorian look of Ventnor Esplanade which is less than half the size of Shanklin's. Some cafe's and The iconic Spyglass Inn and two other pubs with a few beach shops in between. One car park behind and above The Spyglass and Esplanade parking. Even larger and very commercialised is Sandown Esplanade and Pier. Even bigger still is Ryde with it's own funfair although everything is spread apart somewhat. Cowes and East Cowes are also an option.
Mottistone Monument aka The Longstone above.
Pubs, plenty of these on The Island! See the pubs lucky enough to be in my recommended Pub Guide - from personal experience.