Not to be a bother but more travel ????Blackpool?

LancYorkYankee · 30-06-2006, 17:26

Many, many years ago, as I understand it, many from Lancashire found Blackpool a "grand spot for holiday!" Is that still the case? Reading through the many threads I've come to an understanding that my idylic memories/views of my grandparent's Northern England won't be found when my daughter and I come for a visit. It saddens me but I should have expected it eh? (Around here in the Washington DC area growth and change has been astronomical in just the past 20 years!)

However (and finally to the point), our plan is to train up to York, spend time in Bradford, then all of Friday in Lancashire. Heading first to Blackpool (even if just to dip our toes and gather some sand), then over to Accrington. Besides the pubs and my Grandpa's grave site any suggestions on sites to see or where to get the best Lancashire foods/treats? I look forward to buying Eccles cakes and Pontefract cakes from their source!

My initial thought over the past 30 -40 years in wishing for this visit, I thought we would just drive around all the small, peaceful little villages but again probably all long gone. In fact, I remember my Grandpa going back to see his house in Ashton Under Line and even the street he was born on was gone and that was probably like 50 years ago.

PLEASE FORGIVE MY BABBLING!!! IT HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER MY AFTERNOON CUP OF COFFEE!!!

This is how I feel!

Brian

katex · 30-06-2006, 17:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by LancYorkYankee

Many, many years ago, as I understand it, many from Lancashire found Blackpool a "grand spot for holiday!" Is that still the case? Reading through the many threads I've come to an understanding that my idylic memories/views of my grandparent's Northern England won't be found when my daughter and I come for a visit. It saddens me but I should have expected it eh? (Around here in the Washington DC area growth and change has been astronomical in just the past 20 years!)

However (and finally to the point), our plan is to train up to York, spend time in Bradford, then all of Friday in Lancashire. Heading first to Blackpool (even if just to dip our toes and gather some sand), then over to Accrington. Besides the pubs and my Grandpa's grave site any suggestions on sites to see or where to get the best Lancashire foods/treats? I look forward to buying Eccles cakes and Pontefract cakes from their source!

My initial thought over the past 30 -40 years in wishing for this visit, I thought we would just drive around all the small, peaceful little villages but again probably all long gone. In fact, I remember my Grandpa going back to see his house in Ashton Under Line and even the street he was born on was gone and that was probably like 50 years ago.

PLEASE FORGIVE MY BABBLING!!! IT HAPPENS RIGHT AFTER MY AFTERNOON CUP OF COFFEE!!!

This is how I feel!

Brian

Hi Brian, so much to see for you. I worked in Virginia for 3 months and drove up a couple of times to Washington.. be prepared for culture shock with much smaller spaces .. hope you will like it. Lights much better on our roads by the way than in Virginia.

Later after my visit, we had colleagues from our American subsidiary come over for training... amazingly, the one thing they thought was absolutely fascinating were the sheep in the fields, so close to the roads. Funny how you see things differently .. your daughter will probably love this, so you will have to do a little of our countryside too.

I did leave quite a large proportion of my heart in Virgina though .. great State.

junetta · 30-06-2006, 22:35

Brian.......I doubt anything will be the same as it was all those years ago but I imagine it will be a lovely feeling just knowing that your ancestor stood in that spot.......if you get my drift.

I hope you both have a lovely time and say hello to Blackpool for me. I love it there xx

grannyclaret · 30-06-2006, 22:42

I think you will be pleasently surprised ....Blackpool is as good as anywhere else ...

cashman · 30-06-2006, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by grannyclaret

I think you will be pleasently surprised ....Blackpool is as good as anywhere else ...

thats not saying much granny( and i used to live their) lol

grannyclaret · 01-07-2006, 00:05

Well its not as good as Cleveleys ....

Doug · 01-07-2006, 00:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by cashman

thats not saying much granny( and i used to live their) lol

It’s even bloody worse, I still do…..

Brian, Blackpool is very much what you make it. It’s not the same place that I use to visit as a child although the town is very much the same. Maybe it’s us that change and don’t notice the effect we have our environments.

Personally I dislike Blackpool itself and have live most of the time in what was a semi rural area on its outskirts. Most of the late 70s and very early 80s I worked the pubs and clubs and spent almost all my off duty time bladdered in the more desperate of them. Most of the good shows that we use to get now pass us by although you can still pay a small fortune to get insulted by some guy who thinks he’s a comedian.

But like I said, Blackpool is really what you make of it. I’m sure you and your daughter will enjoy every minute of your visit. Where to go is hard to say, it really does depend on personal tastes. The Tower is a must for the view, providing it’s not ****ing down and don’t forget the Pleasure Beach if the rides. You can also take local pleasure flights around the place for about 40 quid. If you like a good laugh and are not easily offended you should pop in to Funny Girls for a lunch time show, but don’t get your hopes up if an half decent bird walks into the loo behind you, chances are it will be a bloke.

Enjoy it Brian, enjoy Accrington, I always feel that I’m home when I go back. It might appear to be the atypical Dirty Old Town when you get there, but she will embrace you and you will miss her when you leave.

God Speed.

lettie · 01-07-2006, 07:09

I hope that you enjoy your trip over Brian, Lancashire and Yorkshire have some of the best countryside in the country, please try to get out and see it. If you are visiting Bradford the museum of film and photography is a must see. York Minster is lovely, try to visit Ripon and the surrounding villages for traditional little sweet (candy) shops.

Blackpool is touristy and full of hen parties but the tower is worth a visit. For pretty little villages and traditional foods try to visit the Lake District, it's only an hours drive from Accrington to the South Lakes. It is a popular place to visit and normally busy at weekends but great countryside views. try the little gingerbread shop at Grasmere.

If you are staying in the Accrington area and cannot do the Lake district, a drive out to the Ribble Valley and Trough of Bowland will suffice, some pretty little villages there too..

Madhatter · 04-07-2006, 02:04

Blacpool is still used by many for a holiday, weekends away and especially day trips. It's the traditional british seaside resort, with piers, tower, fairground, and miles of golden sand. One of the few beaches were the sea stilll actually comes in.

If your planning on doing all that though you'd better plan your times and stick to it. pontefract is below york and bradford, and eccles is bellow accy. You've got to get to each, park up, look around find what your looking for. time goes so fast.

cherokee · 04-07-2006, 10:30

Hi brian,Im sure you will get a warm welcome when you come over and im sure you will have a good time, I live in blackpool and agree the tower is a must, but try and spend time in the tower ballroom it is really beautiful. also the pleasure beach if you like that sort of thing , funny girls well what can i say ..umm its a night thing but a great experience and they always put on a good performance. enjoy yourselves and i hope you take many happy memories home with you.