Visit Aberdeen in Scotland
July 17, 2008
Aberdeen is one of Scotland’s largest cities (with only Edinburgh and Glasgow being larger) and has a couple of nicknames including “the Granite City” and “the Silver City with the Golden Sands”. Since the discovery of oil in the North Sea the city has prospered and the local economy is now dominated by oil related industries. However modern the city may appear it has a long and prestigious history with some evidence proving that the area has been inhabited for over 8,000 years.
Aberdeen has a fascinating selection of museums and art galleries and other cultural tourist attractions but most people visit the city to indulge in the lively vibrant nightlife. For those looking for such entertainment Aberdeen has various classy restaurants and bistros, wild nightclubs, numerous cafes and bars and a varied selection of festivals. For the younger visitor there is the incredibly popular 2 mile beach with the usual selection of fairground rides and other seaside attractions.
A place definitely worth visiting is the House of Fun which can be found on the Beach Esplanade. Inside you will find loads of family entertainment including Just For Kids, the foam factory, the family amusement arcade. You will find lots, lots more throughout the two storeys which also include all of the most popular video games such as driving games.
Obviously the House of Fun is great for kids but there is also much to keep the adults entertained. For those who like to gamble there is a cash arcade and bingo. There are also places to buy gifts and souvenirs but if you want your entertainment a little more adult then there are also various places to eat with such features as large screen tv and even live music.
Of course many people visit Aberdeen to do some shopping and for many in the surrounding rural areas this is vitally important. The main shopping district is around Union Street which has some of the usual retail outlets and other shops however many folk head to the Bon Accord St Nicholas Shopping Centre which is a large indoor shopping mall on two levels. There are several other shopping centers/malls including The Academy and The Mall which are well worth visiting as they contain other types of shops including more upmarket stores and different high street brands.
The city of Aberdeen has a proud tradition in sporting excellence.
There are eight golf courses in Aberdeen six of which are public (three at Hazlehead , two at Balnagask Golf Course and Auchmill Golf Course) and two owned by the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club (Silverburn & Balgownie). The Royal Aberdeen Golf Club is the sixth oldest golf club in the world having been founded in 1780 as the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen which changed it’s name, in 1815, to Aberdeen Golf Club and awarded the “Royal” status in 1903.
Soccer is one of the most popular sports in Aberdeen with the city having a number of football clubs including Aberdeen FC which was formed in 1903 and has had some major successes including winning two European championships. At home Aberdeen FC has it most successful period during the 1980’s when they won the Scottish Premier League on three occassions. Of course there are plenty of facilities for soccer and other sports throughout the city.
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