Most children and teenagers appreciate healthy pursuits such as fresh air, lovely countryside, and pretty towns. But even so, it won't be long before the cry goes up: "I'm bored!" Luckily, Mid Wales is packed with a host of fun attractions that will appeal to all ages and tastes. Dedicated visitor attractions such as the Spaceguard Centre and the interactive Celtica museum sit alongside traditional seaside activities, mushroom picking and Britain's greatest book festival. Mid Wales has everything needed to keep the whole family happy.

1 The Spaceguard Centre
Discover the mysteries of space in a 25-seater planetarium. Examine telescopes and deep-space probes or find out more about weather conditions. These are some of the activities on offer at the Spaceguard Centre.
Opened in 2001 by Sir Patrick Moore, the centre is dedicated to astronomical research and science education. It places an emphasis on the international Spaceguard Project, which aims to identify and evaluate threats to the Earth from asteroids and comets.
The centre is open Wednesday to Sunday every week (plus bank holidays) and there are three guided tours per day (£5 adults; £2.50 for children aged 5-15), each one lasting approximately an hour and a half.

2 Hay-on-Wye
The pretty little border town of Hay-on-Wye is famous for one thing: books. Its first secondhand bookshop was established in 1961, and today there are more than 30. If your children are bookworms, or you'd just like to encourage them to read more, Hay-on-Wye might just spark their enthusiasm.
It's worth a visit at any time of the year, but from 27 May to 5 June, the Hay Festival of Literature (and the associated Children's Festival) takes place. Authors give talks, read from their latest works, and sign copies of their books. Kids will enjoy meeting their favourite authors: recent guests have included Nick Arnold of the Horrible Science series, and the Children's Laureate Michael Morpurgo.

3 Mushroom Picking
If you're looking for an outdoor activity with a difference, how about mushroom picking? Not only do you get to enjoy a day out in the country, but at the end of the day you can take your spoils home with you and use them to whip up a tasty feast.
Fungi expert Daniel Butler lives just outside Rhayader. He charges a flat rate of £20 for a one-hour introduction, or £50 for a two-to-three-hour 'fungiforay', so the more of you there are, the cheaper the cost per person. Daniel knows exactly which fungi you can eat, and which you can't. He also knows just where to find them and will take you to the best spots. At the end of your session you're likely to have collected up to 26 different varieties of edible fungi. This might be the beginning of a life-long interest - at the very least you'll go away able to identify several varieties that you can then collect back home.

4 New Quay
Wales has many pleasant seaside towns, but the best place for an old-fashioned day out by the sea is New Quay. It might not seem like there's much to do, but that's the point: its delights are low-key. Simply sit on the beach, stroll around the harbour or swim in the sea.
If literature interests you, pick up the Dylan Thomas' New Quay leaflet from the local tourist office. Thomas lived here during the Second World War, and the town has a strong claim to being the model for Under Milk Wood's Llareggub. The guide shows you Thomas's former homes – and a few of his favourite pubs.
There's also plenty of wildlife to see in New Quay. At the Marine Wildlife Centre you can find out more about the local dolphins, seals and seabirds. And while the Bird and Wildlife Hospital isn't officially open to the public, you're always welcome to come and see the excellent work they carry out. Just call to arrange your visit. Donations are always appreciated.

5 The Vale of Rheidol Railway
Wherever you are in Wales, you won't be far from one of its 'Great Little Trains' (as these narrow-gauge steam railways are known). In Mid Wales, there are several. One of the best is the Vale of Rheidol Railway, which was opened in 1902 to carry lead, timber and people along the Vale of Rheidol. It runs for 11.75 miles through beautiful countryside, from Aberystwyth to its terminus near the Devil's Bridge falls. The trip takes an hour each way.

6 Celtica
Based in a Georgian mansion in Machynlleth, Celtica is an interactive museum that succeeds in recreating the atmosphere of the past in a modern setting. Start your visit in the interpretation centre, where you will see a variety of informative displays on the Celts. From here, you can join one of the hour-long 'Celtica Experience' tours, which gives a multi-media presentation on the culture, beliefs, poetry, family and tribal life of the Celts, as well as their continued existence into the present day. Information comes through lightweight headsets, on which you can choose the language and age-level of the presentation. Children up to the age of eight will enjoy Tir Na Nog, a soft play area with a ball pool and slides.

7 The Centre for Alternative Technology
Just north of Machynlleth, on the A487, is one of the world's leading environmental centres. Established in 1974 in a disused slate quarry, it features hundreds of 'green' solutions to environmental problems. The centre promotes renewable energy, environmental building, energy efficiency, organic growing and alternative sewage systems. On arrival, take a ride on the water-balanced railway. Then look around the impressive collection of alternative power sources, which include wind, wave and water turbines and photoelectric cells. Explore self-build and low-energy houses, and find out how you can make your own home more environmentally friendly. There's an information centre, a shop, a whole-food restaurant and an adventure playground. This isn't just a great day out: it could change your life.