Five places to visit during Aberdeen's spring holidays
It's the Easter holiday in Aberdeen! ASPC takes a look at five things you can do to keep the family entertained this week!
Discover the Dunes
Fancy a stroll with a bit of substance? Balmedie Beach is famed for its tumbling golden sand dunes, with plenty of interesting nooks and crannies to satisfy even the most adventurous of families.
The beach itself is a beautiful expanse of clean flat sand along which you can walk for miles in either direction. Home to lots of interesting local wildlife and featuring a children’s play park – there’s lots of things to turn a leisurely walk into an exciting quest.
If you’re lucky enough to be blessed with a sunny day, the beach resembles a perfect little suntrap for picnics and a dip in the sea. However, in the likely scenario that sun is still a little shy before the summer season, the beach is still the ideal location for family fun. So wrap up warm, pack your camera and perhaps a kite - the picturesque dunes can always provide some snug coverage if the spring winds start to nip!
Unleash your inner Tarzan
When the kids hit senior school age – quite often a trip to the beach just isn’t enough to arouse enthusiasm about spending some quality family time together.
Snuggled away in the historic grounds of Crathes Castle is a treetop adventure just waiting to be discovered. Go Ape is perfect for families with kids aged ten and over (or even just for adults who’d like to spend a day swinging through the trees.)
The adventure hangout includes Zip wires, Tarzan swings, rope ladders and lots of other fun airborne obstacles.
Got little ones? Or maybe heights just aren’t your thing? No problem. While the older kids are swinging from the tree tops you can always take a walk around the beautiful grounds of the 16th Century Castle itself. It’s a day out that ticks all the boxes!
Get Onboard
Why not while away an afternoon discovering Aberdeen’s remarkable relationship with the Sea in the award-winning Aberdeen Maritime Museum.
The popular attraction, located on the historic Shiprow, is brimming with exhibitions, interactive displays and multi-media features - all coupled with a breath-taking view over the bustling harbour.
The museum’s fascinating collections range through shipbuilding, port history, and the North Sea industries, bringing Aberdeen’s colourful nautical history to life.
Provost Ross’s House, one of the oldest buildings in the city, was the original site for the museum, and is still incorporated today after the expansion in 1997.
So whether you’re a great appreciator of art, a hands-on learner or just a bit of history buff in general – there’s something for everyone at the Aberdeen Maritime Museum.
Thills and Chills
With an outdoor amusement park, an indoor entertainment complex and two themed adventure golf courses – Codona’s is the perfect place to keep kids (big and small) amused for hours.
The outdoor amusement park has reopened after the winter and has an exciting range of rides to suit all ages; including two rollercoasters, a log flume, and all the classic attractions you would expect from Scotland’s favourite theme park.
If you’re looking for a reprieve from all the adrenaline fuelled excitement, then take a stroll down Sunset Boulevard – the indoor family entertainment centre. Shoot some pool, bowl some pins or win big in the arcade – you’ll be spoiled for choice.
Top it all off with a tasty meal from a choice of eateries and you’ve got the perfect family day out.
Haddo House
Haddo House and Country Park was the family home of the ‘Aberdeen Gordons’ for over five-hundred years, and today has been transformed into one of the North East’s most pleasant attractions.
Take a walk around the stunning grounds and keep an eye out for the wild life residents of Haddo – including red squirrels, roe deer, ducks and even the occasional otter taking a swim across the lake. The animals are quite used to the sociable environment of their home, and if you wait patiently enough, they might just come to you!
In addition to the stunning country park, Haddo House itself has reopened at the weekends for the Spring – bringing with it a whole host of family activities. The strikingly elegant mansion has a luxurious Victorian interior and features an impressive art collection – including the masterpiece “Haddo Madonna” thought to be painted by Renaissance Master, Raphael.
Take a guided tour through the corridors and treasures of Haddo House and discover the fascinating stories of the family who lived there – as well as their distinguished guests.
If you’re looking to incorporate some traditional spring fun, Haddo is also running children’s Easter egg hunts over the Easter weekend, so grab a map and join in the fun!