The Romans & the Normans.   King Arthur & Oliver Cromwell.   Tom Jones & Shirley Bassey.   It's a motley cast of characters, but they're all part of the historical tapestry of southern Wales.   Invasions, uprisings & revolutions shaped the country - & its tumultuous past has helped foster its strong Celtic spirit & sense of hwyl.

There's always plenty of interesting & unusual festivals taking place in southern Wales - like the Cowbridge Food & Drink Festival from 28 to 29 October - & you can get all the crack by calling Southern Wales Tourism on 01656 672931.

With its incredible mountain scenery, Snowdonia's one of the most popular destinations for tourists to north Wales.   It's also home to Snowdon - the region's namesake & the tallest mountain in the country.

Greenacres & Hafan y Mor are two of Haven's coastal parks that give you the sea at your doorstep, as well as easy access to Snowdonia National Park.   You really need to spend a few days in north Wales to make the most of your trip, & Haven's parks offer groups good value for money.   Their accommodation is in well-equipped holiday homes, which include everything from microwave ovens to central heating - real homes away from home.

The same can be said of Quay West in Ceredigion: it's a spot you won't want to leave too soon.   The park overlooks Cardigan Bay, a region known for its bottle-nosed dolphins, & it's worth taking a boat trip across the bay to try & get a closer look.   You'll find nature's bounties are a real draw at Kiln Park, too.   It's located inside   Pembrokeshire National Park - the only coastal national park in the UK.    

Of course, Haven offers groups more than stunning scenery: all of their parks have a range of sports, leisure activities & entertainment to enjoy.   Go to www.havengroups.co.uk/pass to find out more; otherwise, call 0870 242 1111.

About an hour's drive from Kiln Park is the National Wetland Centre Wales at Llanelli.   The centre's home to some of the world's most spectacular ducks, geese, swans & flamingo - many of which are tame enough to feed from the hand.   But you don't need to be an ornithologist to get something out of a visit.   The centre hosts plenty of interesting activities throughout the year, including Sunday lunches in October & November, & Christmas lunches in December.   And if you're in the area on 10 November be sure stop in for a free piece of cake to help celebrate WWT's 60th anniversary.

For more information about group discounts & what's going on from week to week see www.wwt.org.uk.

If the National Wetland Centre's a celebration of nature & wildlife then the National Waterfront Museum's an ode to industry & innovation.   And as there's less than a 20-minute drive between them, you can strike a balance & visit them both in the same day.

In keeping with the twin themes of industry & innovation, the £33.5 million museum contains over 100 audio-visual exhibits, including 36 interactive displays.   The history of industrial Wales is relayed through a series of key themes & factors that influenced, or were influenced by, the rapid changes in production, lifestyle & employment in Wales.  

The displays & interpretation panels have been designed in such a way that you shouldn't need a guided tour; however, the museum's happy to give an introductory talk for your group for a small fee.   You can find out more at www.waterfrontmuseum.co.uk

The innovative spirit of the Welsh certainly predates the Industrial Revolution, & Powis Castle near Welshpool is a good example of architectural progress in Wales.   Built as a fortress by Welsh princes circa 1200, the castle underwent renovations & embellishments over a 400-year period to suit the changing needs of the Herbert family.

Inside you'll find some of the finest collection of paintings & furniture in Wales; outside, the world-famous garden is laid out in Italian & French styles with an orangery, aviary, & its original lead statues.  

Guided tours are available for groups; ring 01938 551929 for more.

Back in south Wales, Aberglasney's one of the country's most remarkable garden restoration projects.   A trust was formed in 1995 to save the inevitable collapse of the mansion & garden structures, & archaeological investigations revealed that the garden's cloister range & parapet walk - common features in early-17th century gardens - were the only remaining examples of their kind in the country.

Four years after the trust was formed, the visiting public was invited to watch the painstaking transformation of the house & garden.   It's now a gardener's paradise, & many of its plants are rarely seen elsewhere in the UK.  Its latest addition, the Ninfarium, is a sub-tropical garden built within the ruinous central rooms of the mansion.   Now that's innovative.   Check out www.aberglasney.org for more.

What do San Francisco, Lisbon & Llandudno have in common?   Mild climates, for one.  But more specifically, they're the only cities in the world that still use cable-operated street tramways.   Llandudno's charming Victorian tram takes you on a one-mile journey to the summit of the Great Orme Country Park & Nature Reserve.   Once you reach the top, you can relax & take in the lovely scenery or explore the surroundings on foot.  

See www.greatorme.org.uk/tramway for some great pics of the journey & for more information.

Fans of Doctor Who will be pleased to hear that John Barrowman will be joining Andy Jones & Tony Wright in the classic panto Jack & the Beanstalk at the New Theatre, Cardiff.   The show runs from 16 December to 27 January; ring the group sales organiser on 029 2087 8878 to book & to find out more about group savings.