Llandudno

When one recalls Llandudno, it is no doubt the curving promenade and Victorian facades of its grand hotels that spring to mind. Llandudno was a planned resort begun in the 1850s and it took great advantage of the gently curving bay between the headlands of the Great Orme and Little Orme to create an air of elegance and space.

Kassie was a little restless after our tour of Conwy, so we indulged her by taking her on the 700-metre long Cresta toboggan ride located on the Great Orme, a limestome hill rising to 679 feet that is now a country park and nature reserve. After she and Daddy made two runs, we drove back down to Llandudno proper, parked and began our exploration with the traditional seaside pastime, the Punch and Judy show. We then joined the other visitors strolling along the promenade, pausing to snap pictures of each other along the way, before venturing down to the water's edge for a real taste of the sea.

Llandudno, like all good resorts, is a bustling centre for shopping, entertainment and dining. We spent some time checking out the shops and taking in the trendy restaurants before finding a comfortable pub in which to sit, drink and eat a plate of chips.

Llandudno is a real treat, combining Victorian gentility in a beautiful, sweeping setting with a wealth of shops, restaurants and activities. There is much we did not do, such as take the Great Orme Tramway up to the summit or visit the Great Orme Copper Mines.

Date of Our Last Visit: June 2004