May
26
Visit Aberdeen, the Granite City
May 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
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.
As you would expect in any modern city Aberdeen has an interesting array of art galleries and museums. In contrast the city has one of the most lively night scenes in Scotland with a huge selection of restaurants, cafes, bars, pubs and nightclubs. Around the area of the 2 mile long beach can be found fairground rides and other types of entertainment for the younger folk (or younger minded adults).
It is along the Beach Esplanade that you will find the excellent House of Fun. The House of Fun is simply huge, spread over 2 floors you will find all the latest video games, hi-tech simulators, driving games etc. together with laser tag, the foam factory, the family amusement arcade and much more fun stuff for the kids.
Inside the House of Fun you will find a selection of places to eat, some focused on families while others are altogether more adult. Of special note is the Motown Bar which often features live music, has a large screen television and a BBQ terrace. You will, of course, also find places to buy souvenirs, gifts and the likes.
For the avid shopper there are plenty of shopping opportunities to be found in Aberdeen with the main malls being The Bon Accord St Nicholas, The Mall and The Academy shopping centers. The main high street shopping area is based around Union Street.
Aberdeen’s history includes many stories of sporting excellence.
Typical of Scotland golf has been an important sport practiced in Aberdeen and the surrounding countryside. In 1780 the Society of Golfers at Aberdeen was founded making it the world’s 6th oldest golf club. In 1815 the club changed it’s name to Aberdeen Golf Club and in 1903, having been awarded Royal status, it became the Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. The club has two golf courses, the Balgownie Championship Links and the Silverburn Course. Aberdeen boasts a further six golf courses, all public, Auchmill Golf Course, Balnagask Golf Course, an 18-hole and a 6-hole golf course at King’s Links and three Golf Courses at Hazlehead two of which are 18-hole and the other is a a 9-hole Pitch and Putt.
Aberdeen has some excellent sports facilities for various sports but soccer has for more than the last 100 years been one of the most popular. In 1903 the city’s main soccer team, Aberdeen FC, was formed which has had some noteworthy successes, especially while Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson CBE was the manager.
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