Glasgow
Glasgow has a reputation for being a big industrial city, but there are huge pockets of greenery (over 70 parks) and unique architecture.
Glasgow Green - Glasgow Green is one of the oldest public parks in Britain. In the park are large children's play areas, and it's right along the Clyde River.
The People's Palace is a hulking Victorian building that houses a museum of the city. Newly refurbished, it has hands-on exhibits and reconstructed sights and smells of bygone days in Glasgow.Clydesdale horses - Clydesdale horses, "heavy horses" were essential to Glasgow transportation in the 19th century, carrying people and heavy goods (yesterday's tractor). Today Clydesdale horses are stabled in the Glasgow Green- each day you can watch them exercised.Glasgow has its own Gothic cathedral, but it's somewhat gloomy, so you're better off going to the Necropolis, just east of Glasgow Cathedral. The Necropolis, a huge graveyard on the hill, is where all the bigwigs of Glasgow were buried for hundreds of years, and you get good views of the city.
Visit the Museum of Transport to see all kinds of trams, locomotives, model ships and a street scene of Glasgow in the 1930's and the new Museum of Football (soccer fans check it out).
Across from the Transport Museum is Kelvingrove Park and Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, old fashioned 19th century style museum which has a good collection of old weapons and armor and prehistoric Scottish artifacts. Kids can take a run through Kelvingrove Park along the River Kelvin.
Walk along the River Clyde - In the 19th century, huge ships were built and launched on the River Clyde from the Port of Glasgow. The Clyde Walkway goes along the river from Saltmarket Street to the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Tall Ship at Glasgow Harbour - The Tall Ship, Glenlee, was built in Glasgow, and took to sea in 1896. Kids can run around the sailing ship, there are interactive exhibits, a little kid's area, discovery trail and hunt for the ship's cat. The Tall Ship is open daily.
Power boat rides on the river - Take a 30 min. (or longer) ride on the River Clyde - it's a great way to see the city landmarks from the water. Life jackets in kids' sizes are provided (from infants up), wear warm clothes.
Glasgow Science Centre - If the weather is dark and forbidding, brighten your day at the Science Centre with hands on exhibits, such as the Bubble Wall, giant Plasma Globe, Indoor Tornado, plus live science shows, planetarium, and an IMAX cinema.
Glasgow's most famous architect and designer is Charles Rennie Mackintosh. To see what classrooms were like in Scotland over the past 100 years, visit the Scotland Street School - get a lesson in classrooms in the Victorian era, second World War and 1960's!
If you're willing to wait for tea, visit the Willow Tea Room on Sauchiehall St., a reconstruction of the art nouveau tearoom that Mackintosh designed in 1904.On Buchanan St., check out The Lighthouse architecture design center in an old building designed by Mackintosh. Kids can climb to the top of the tower for a bird's eye view of Glasgow.Pollok Park - 3 miles from the city center is Pollok Park, the biggest park in Glasgow, and one of the best parks in Great Britain. Kids will enjoy the Clydesdales horses and droves of shaggy red Highland cows (you can see them quite close). There are miles of woodlands and riverside walks, and a large children's playground. Bring a picnic lunch, there are picnic tables
Mugdock Country Park (north of Glasgow) - Mugdock Country Park has a crumbly Mugdock Castle and another old mansion, Craigend Castle. You'll see swans gliding around Mugdock Loch. Well-marked paths take you to Mugdock Wood and Drumclog Moor. Look for bluebells in the woods.
