A Guide To Bournemouth

As winter turns into something that looks and feels a bit more like spring, which in turn morphs into something summery, people naturally start thinking about the holidays. But while most people are going to be pondering over which European destination to hit, it could be good to consider some of our home-grown resorts as well.

You don''t have to visit Spain in order to find a decent beach holiday, however. Some of what southern England can offer will be just as good as the more popular destinations. The town of Bournemouth in Dorset, for instance, can offer a visitor not only fantastic beaches, but a fun place to spend time in as well.

Unlike some of the beaches in the Isle of Wight, Bournemouth''s coast is sandy rather than covered in pebbles, and the water is comparably warm by UK standards. So whether you''re interested in sunbathing, playing games, or good old-fashioned sandcastle building, it''s pretty much the perfect place.

The beach isn''t the town''s only attraction, however, and the Victorian-era Pleasure Gardens are definitely not to be missed. Situated on the bank of the town''s Bourne river, this is a beautiful network of winding paths and woody avenues, a lush and peaceful site for taking a stroll through.

While most of us are happy to view the world from ground level, some people prefer to get a bit of a higher perspective on everything, and if you''re one of them, then the Bournemouth Eye is perfect for you. You are lifted 500 feet into the air in a helium-filled balloon, giving you a completely new view of the surroundings.

Alternatively, if you''re interested in literature, you might like to know that Mary Shelley and her mother Mary Wollstonecraft, authors of ''Frankenstein'' and ''A Vindication of the Rights of Woman'' respectively, lived and wrote for the most part in Bournemouth. More recently, Tolkien himself used to holiday in the town regularly for thirty years.

The Miramar is still very much active, offering a phenomenal view of the Channel which even takes in huge chalk pillars on the westernmost side of the Isle of Wight, otherwise known as the Needles. If however you''d rather stay somewhere even more fancy and close to the sea, the Sandbanks could be the perfect place.

A recent survey carried out by the bank First Direct showed Bournemouth to have the happiest inhabitants in any town in the UK, with a staggering 82% of its population expressing contentment at their way of life. With this kind of statistic, it becomes easy to see why so many people want to go to Bournemouth ? try it out for yourself and see if they''re right.

By: Zenobia Vuturo

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Zenobia Vuturo is an traveling writer with years of experience who has been through out the UK and recommends Octopustravel.com for Bournemouth hotels.