In the summer, there are fireworks displays alternately in Bournemouth and Poole.
Every Tuesday evening from April to September, motorbike enthusiasts converge on Poole. Apparently there are sometimes as many as 1000 cycles and, of course, the pubs on the Quay do good business from them. A good opportunity to swap tales or see what everyone else is riding. All parking on the quay is reserved for motorbikes but there is a charge of £1 and a prize for the best bike.
Brownsea Island (http://www.nationaltrust....) is a National Trust site, famous for its large population of red squirrels, and as the birthplace of the Scout Movement. The animals on the island are very tame and will happily wander up to you. It can be reached by boat from the quay but note that the price of the boat trip does not include admittance to the island.
Bournemouth is nearby and has other places to visit, such as the oceanarium.
MonkeyWorld, near Wareham, is about 30 minutes away by car.
Kingston Lacey is a large house and estate formerly owned by the Bankes family and donated to the National Trust in the 1980s. The house contains paintings, furniture and egyptian artefacts accumulated over 300 years. It also shows how wealthy families of that time lived. See the National Trust website (http://www.nationaltrust....) for details of how to get to its sites and prices.
The New Forest is about an hour away by car and very popular in the summer.
Poole's Centre for the Arts (http://www.lighthousepool...)
Upton Country Park (http://www.uptoncountrypa...) is open all year round. It has a surrounding woodland with many footpaths. It also has various birdwatching sites overlooking holes bay. By the main Upton House there are two tea rooms where one can enjoy tea and cake for around £3.
