Aberdeen
Aberdeen, the third largest city in Britain, is called The Granite City, but it has some of the best gardens - roses are a local specialty. But there's more than gardens for kids in Aberdeen - this is an ocean-going city and you're never far away from its rich martime heritage.
Parks - A popular destination for families, Hazelhead Park has stunning rose gardens in the summer, a maze, aviary, riding center, and tea room. Another large park is Duthie Park, along the River Dee, with rose covered hills and boating ponds. Westburn Park and Seaton Park also have play areas for kids.
Museums -
Aberdeen Maritime Museum - Aberdeen is one of Britain's busiest harbors, and has a long maritime history. In the Maritime Museum, you can't miss a three stories high re-creation of an oil rig in the North Sea. The museum has hundreds of ship models, and exhibits about shipbuilding, whaling, life and work at sea. After the museum, walk down the quay and kids can watch the boats go by in the harbor. Satrosphere Science Museum - If it's a gray and rainy day, head for this science and technology center. Find out what 's underneath your feet in Scotland, geologically-speaking. Markets -
Castlegate Market - The heart of Aberdeen was once Castlegate. Today it's a cobblestone square with the Mercat Cross, a monument adorned with plenty of animal gargoyles and stone portraits of the Stuarts, and the market, Thursday through Saturday. Aberdeen Beach - Aberdeen has two miles of sandy beach and a resort town atmosphere with Codona's Amusement Park, cafes and restaurants.
Around Aberdeen -
Toddlers will enjoy Storybook Glen, a fantasy land with characters from all your familiar fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Lovely setting in trees and waterfalls.Pitmedden Garden (Pitmedden) - In this 100 acre estate is the Great Garden, a formal garden that was the inspiration for the garden of the Palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh. Tour the Museum of Farming Life, which has all kinds of implements of farming from the horse and plow era. Wildlife garden, woodlands, picnic area too.Drum Castle and Garden - Another fine old Scottish Castle, but the thing to see is the walled Garden of Historic Roses. Follow the trails through the Old Woods of Drum, stopping back at the tea room for a rest. 
