Aberdeen: The Granite City And Places To Visit
Aberdeen is the third largest city in Scotland, in relationship to population size. Aberdeen’s buildings, since the mid eighteenth century, have been made using local grey granite and the city is well known for its sandy coastline. This has led to the city being nicknamed the Granite City and also the Silver City with the Golden Sands. However more recently the city has also gained the nicknames of the Oil Capital of Europe or the Energy Capital of Europe due to the discovery of oil in the North Sea. The city of Aberdeen has benefitted greatly from the income generated by the oil industry and the support industries. Nowadays the city is thoroughly modern and immensely vibrant with a wild nighlife.
Aberdeen hotels are often booked by business visitors but also by many other types of tourists eager to take advantage of the many tourist attractions the city has to offer. Below you will read details about three; Duthie Park Winter Gardens, Aberdeen Maritime Museum and Satrosphere Science Centre:
Aberdeen Maritime Museum
Aberdeen’s Maritime Museum is situated near to the harbor, at the legendary Shiprow. There are glorious panoramas across the harbour from the museum. The Maritime Museum can be found in a small number of buildings, which include a former church and one of the oldest dwellings in Aberdeen. The museum has exhibits which include everything to do with the marine environment, from the oil industry to the fishing boats. Basically, the museum conveys the story of Aberdeen’s long relationship with the ocean. Some of the collections contain paintings, models, ship plans and photographs donated by the most major of Aberdeen’s shipbuilders.
Duthie Park Winter Gardens
In 1881, Lady Elizabeth Duthie of Ruthrieston, gifted 44 acres of land, to the council. The land for the park was purchased, as a lasting memorial to her uncle and brother. In 1899, the gardens were ready, and were opened to the public. However, in 1969 disaster struck and the greenhouses had to be knocked down and rebuilt. This was due to severe storm damgage. Today, the David Welch Winter Gardens at Duthie Park are one of Scotland’s favourite garden attractions, and also the largest indoor gardens in the whole of Europe. Each greenhouse has an important collection such as, the Victorian House, Japanese Garden, Fern House, Tropical House, Temperate House and Corridor of PerfumesVictorian House, Fern House, Tropical House, Temperate House, Japanese Garden and Corridor of Perfumes.
Satrosphere Science Centre
One of the first science and discovery centers in Scotland was the, Satrosphere Science Center, in Aberdeen. This interactive, hands-on science center, has over 50 exhibits and live science demonstrations, and opened its’ doors to the public in 1988. Even though the center is aimed at school age children, the attraction of the exhibits is universal. The center is located in the old tram sheds, nearby the sea front, on Constitution Street. The purpose is to inspire teenagers to become scientist’s, as interest in science courses in universities, is in decline. One of the favorite exhibits at the center is the famous giant soap bubble, where each child can be encircled within a magic bubble.
There are many other tourist attractions in and around Aberdeen which are well worth a visit and the three above were randomly chosen. If you are planning to visit Aberdeen, Scotland then you will discover numerous quality hotels in Aberdeen, or many other types of accommodation, available to book online.