So, armed with buckets and spades and two grandchildren (including their parents), we sat out for Weymouth on the south coast.
Weymouth is a very old seaside resort, which has not quite stood the test of time, but still very popular, mainly with families, due to the large and safe and clean beach, which slopes very gently to the sea and the water is shallow for long way out.
You can also take a day trip from Weymouth to the islands of Jersey or Guernsey.
After a lot of fun in the water and on the beach, and an ice cream of course, we walked to the harbour area, for the a meal of fish and chips, which were the best we had for some time.
Unfortunately we were too late to visit the Brewers Quay, with it's selection of very individual shops, and which is also a home to Pauline's Patchwork.
Next time...
Weymouth will be the host for sailing events during the 2012 London Olympic Games, so it will need a serious face lift, which is already being worked on, with a brand new approach road being built now, well overdue, as the existing road is struggling to take the summer traffic. There is also a great need for new facilities and hopefully this will all be sorted in the next two years.