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What can you say about Blackpool - love it or hate it the people still flock there in great numbers and with good reason. Janice and I last stayed there recently (May 2003) when we visited our daughter Katie and her partner Jez for their engagement party.  We stayed at Hacketts Hotel just past Gynn Roundabout on the North Shore. This is a traditional Blackpool Hotel offering cheerful accommodation, late bars and entertainment every night.

So where do you start in Blackpool? Well depending on the time of year a walk down the brash and bustling Golden Mile offers seaside favourites like hamburgers, chips, ice-cream and candy floss. A place where silly hats and saucy T-shirts are the order of the day. The Golden Mile is also the slot machine capital of Britain where giant leisure center's are interspersed with the latest video technology. Discos, cabaret spots and exhibitions are all to be found on Blackpool's famous Golden Mile. Along the latest additions to the Mile is the 6 million pound Sea Life Centre with its thrilling 'shark tunnel'. Do the Golden Mile on foot to savor all the sights, sounds and smells. Then see it again from a tram or one of the fleet of horse-drawn landaus!. . Half way between the Tower and the Pleasure Beach is the Manchester Arms where I spent many a Saturday morning with my mates, sinking a few beers before making our way to Bloomfield Road - the home of Blackpool FC.  Blackpool were one of Lancashire's top clubs not so many years ago and of coarse Stanley Mathews team during the 40's and 50's. They are still the only team in the football league to play in Tangerine.  

The Pleasure beach is undoubtedly the best of it's kind in Britain with some of the most up to date rides drawing huge crowds day in and day out. The PEPSI MAX BIG ONE is certainly the fastest and tallest roller coaster in the Europe with an unbelievable view as you reach it's highest point at the beginning of the ride. Then you hurtle down at 85 miles an hour down a 65-degree drop so steep it takes your breath away, and possibly your breakfast. Lots of traditional rides for the kiddies here as well as arcades and all the traditional shooting and hoopla stalls. My favourite as a youngster was the Fun House, but sadly this burnt down a number of years ago. The Laughing Clown that was outside is still here at the entrance laughing and rolling about in his seat scaring the hell out of the kids.

There is a Theatre and an Ice Palace on site that have International shows,  Eclipse, Hot Ice and Mystique during the season. You could spend the best part of a day here but be prepared to part with a few bob although there are special deals which make it a little easier on the pocket.

Opposite the Pleasure Beach is the Sun Centre which is an excellent swimming facility with slides, wave machines and much more.

No visit to Blackpool would be complete without a trip to the Tower. Blackpool Tower built in the mid 1890's, was recently restored to it's former glory. The entertainment is first class and all manner of holidaymakers visiting, enjoy it's attractions.
Tower World is situated on the ground floor area well below the 518 feet tower itself. Even the weather can't spoil the fabulous entertainment that abounds within the Tower building. You're sure to enjoy yourself. The basement auditorium holds the magical Tower Circus, which is part of the inclusive entertainment . There are several shows daily. Young and old alike will thrill to the marvel of the Circus. You can visit the spectacular state-of-the-art Laser Fantasy, which is screened on four giant screens.

Another must experience is the fabulous and well known grade II listed ballroom, with its ornate ceiling. Deep down below the stage, the mighty Wurlitzer organ rises and plays almost 19,000 numbers in a season. If you would like to dance, that's great, or you can quietly sit and listen to the music and relax.
There's only one admission charge for the whole building which is very reasonable. You'll find plenty to keep you and the family happy all day. There's the Tower Aquarium, and Dawn of Ages ride. A visit to Jungle Jim's adventure playground is an absolute must for the kids, or spend some time in the superb Aquarium.  Click here for the tower cam  http://www.bbc.co.uk/lancashire/webcam/index.shtml

If you want to catch a show during the season you would be advised to book early. There are some wonderful shows on the Piers including the fantastic IMPRESSIONS - fantastic tribute acts from Elvis to Shirley Bassey, it won't cost you an arm and a leg either. There's also the old favourites -Chubby Brown, the Buddy Holly Story, Boogie Nights and Ken Dodd to name just a few.
The Clubs and disco's are all over the place and get very busy, lots of stag and hens so as you can imagine it gets a bit boisterous but that's Blackpool - Loud and boisterous.

There aren't many seaside towns left where you can get a ride on a donkey, but you can here. Not only donkey's but lots of Hackney Carriage's to take you on a trip down the promenade. If you don't fancy the Hackney's or find them on the smelly side, then there are the Trams.  The trams have been trundling up and down the prom since 1892. They are noisy, dirty, smelly but, good fun. Not the cheapest form of transport I've ever been on but without doubt the safest.

Often described as 'The Greatest Free Show on Earth' Blackpool Illuminations extend along over six miles of the promenade. They're a huge show of moving, glowing tableaux, large illuminated models, laser lights and much, much more, plus multitudes of colourful, twinkling lights festooned overhead and along each side of the long, sea-front road from Starr Gate close to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, past Blackpool's town centre to Redbank Road near the cliffs at Bispham.
Blackpool's Illuminations are switched on annually at the start of September and continue, nightly, until the beginning of November. Even the three piers and the Tower are brilliantly illuminated - a sight to behold! When other British holiday resorts have closed for the winter we're still having fun!!
Blackpool was actually the first town in the whole of Britain to have electric street lighting.

There's no end to Blackpool's attractions, the Zoo is a brilliant day out and trips over Blackpool in a small aircraft from the Airport are two more major musts and with thousands of cheap Bed and Breakfasts you have no excuse for not trying out a weekend in the North's top seaside resort. The Jocko's love it and how many of our parents spent their honeymoon's there - go on give it it a go, park up and buy a daft hat and join in the fun.......

Must Do's : Visit a traditional Blackpool or Fleetwood, English Fish and Chip shop for the best Fish and Chips you will ever taste on these shores.

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