A weekend away for Mother's Day

Last weekend we visited our daughter in Cardiff with Hubby's mum - a lovely weekend away for Mother's Day. Our daughter lives in Cardiff Bay so we chose the Holiday Inn Express on Atlantic Wharf as it was easy walking distance of both the Bay and Cardiff City.

The hotel was lovely, a good size room and bathroom, ours overlooked the wharf. Breakfast was included and was a self service buffet of hot and cold choices, they even had grab bags and take out coffee cups if you were in a hurry.

Cardiff Bay - St David's Hotel on the left with
the bars and restuarants on the right

Friday night we visited Cardiff Bay with it's many bars and restaurants. Cocktails at Las Iguanas was our first stop especially with their selection of 2 for 1 !! Plenty of choice including Long Island Iced Tea, Pink Passion Fruit and Citrus Samba - delicious.

Dinner at Strada followed, not far to walk, just next door. Cardiff Bay has so many bars and restaurants you are spoilt for choice. The food at Strada was gorgeous, I do enjoy their bread selection starter and loved their creamy Penne Carbonara. Everyone enjoyed their meal in a very relaxing but busy restaurant.

Saturday morning gave us beautiful weather so we took a short stroll round the edge of the bay towards The Barrage. You can walk all the way to Penarth, crossing the locks and watching the boats navigate in and out but although it was sunny it was far to windy to walk this time.

The view entering Cardiff Bay

Stunning Millennium Centre - it's copper glistens in the sun

The National Welsh Assembly

Pierhead Building

The Norwegian Church

Scott Mosaic

We walked as far as the Doctor Who Experience - it will be closing soon as the land is due for development. We didn't do the whole experience but did meet the Daleks.

The Daleks

Lego Dalek 

After our stroll we took the Cardiff Boat up the River Taff into Cardiff centre: a trip we have not done before but will be doing again as the views were amazing. It was so nice to see another side of this great city.

Our river transport

Enjoying our trip 

Beautiful river banks - so many swans 

Our trip ended in Bute Park which is an area of Cardiff we haven't visited. It's a beautiful place with some lovely wooden sculptures. Exiting the park we saw a different angle of Cardiff Castle - a beautiful place we have yet to visit.

Seal and it's fish 

Welsh daffodil

One of the castle's guardians

Another keeping the castle safe

Cardiff Castle - a view we haven't seen before 

After our busy day of touring and boat riding we needed a little light refreshment - Hubby's favourite bar is Zero Degrees, a micro brewery just opposite the Principality Stadium. They have a variety of beers brewed on the premises including a great dark beer.

A great beer at a great micro brewery

Our time in Cardiff finished with a fantastic meal at Miller and Carter The Hayes. This is our favourite restaurant in the city, our daughter's too. Although a chain The Hayes feels unique with superb service and food.

To start our evening off we enjoyed a pre-dinner drink; this time non-alcoholic. Elderflower Sherbet is such a refreshing softail, perfect start to our amazing meal.

Elderflower Sherbet

We love visiting Cardiff, not just to see our beautiful daughter but to enjoy the city. It was very special this time being Mother's Day - thank you Miller and Carter for making it extra special

Mercier champagne at Miller and Carter