We visited Southport's model village last year and the whole family (my parents, myself, my wife and two kids (12 and 3 at the time)) all had a fantastic hour or so there.
I love the simple pleasures you can garner from places, and this was one of them. No thrills, no spills, no electronic beeps and whistles. Just plain old fashioned gentle joy.
The kids were certainly fascinated, and the adults really enjoyed taking a step back to our childhood holidays too.
Then again, that holiday in Southport we enjoyed donkey rides, a trip on the miniature railway and ice-cream and chips along the pier (including a visit to fantastic penny arcade - complete with Sooty band
).
It seemed a shame that everyone else in town was trying to cram into JJB or McDonalds and was completely missing out on a tranquil, relaxing simple joys of being at the seaside. Very sad.
Those families partaking though we all smiling faces and giggles.
Here's hoping the economic crisis can help guide people back to the cheap and simple things the UK has to offer.