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Visit Aberdeen, the Silver City with the Golden Sands

Story Published on May 26, 2008 ⋅  Email this Story ⋅  Print this Story ⋅ Post a comment ⋅

Although the city of Aberdeen is now closely associated with the oil industry the city has an interesting and rather long history. Evidence shows that people have inhabited the area for some 8,000 years or more. Known as the “Granite City”, and also as the “Silver City” or the “Silver City with the Golden Sands” Aberdeen is the third largest city in the nation of Scotland.

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).

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.

Aberdeen’s history includes many stories of sporting excellence.

Aberdeen, like many other places in Scotland, has a long association with the game of golf. Way back in 1780 the world’s sixth oldest golf club was founded, the “Society of Golfers at Aberdeen”. In 1903 the club was awarded Royal status and was renamed the “Royal Aberdeen Golf Club” (having changed it’s name to Aberdeen Golf Club in 1815) and the club has two golf courses, the Silverburn Course and the Championship Links at Balgownie. There are six public golf courses in Aberdeen; Hazlehead (3 courses, 2 x 18-hole, 1 x 9-hole Pitch and Putt), Balnagask Golf Course (2 courses 1 x 18-hole, 1 x 6-hole) and Auchmill Golf Course.

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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