Sun 13 Sep 2009
When I was a child I was lucky enough to have a short family vacation (I say lucky as it is surprising how few city kids get the opportunity these days) and a frequent destination was Devon. My father was a hard working guy and, sadly, our annual vacation was often more hard work. Firstly there was the drive down to Devon along congested roads in piping hot weather. The fact is that Devon and Cornwall are highly popular vacation destinations with both domestic and foreign visitors alike. Now most folk, including my family, head straight for the usual tourist traps and though these are highly enjoyable I now find other places far more interesting, I grew out of my bucket and spade a while back, and I am far more likely to look forward to short city breaks than a trip to a sandy beach. One city which I find fascinating is Exeter, a city full of highly interesting, and often unique, visitor attractions suitable for all tastes and needs.
Exeter is one of those places that is perfect for a two destination vacation. Personally I like the contrast between this city and nearby Plymouth but next time I go I think I will be spending a few days in Exeter and the rest of my break touring along the “English Riviera” and I really must get to see Clovelly, if only to ensure that it is still as quaint as I remember it to be.
One other place I really must make a point of visiting is “A La Ronde”. I first read of this place in the excellent Best Seller ”80!!0ck$ To Alton Towers” , Uncommonly British Days Out”. Being a lover of all things offbeat, strange or just plain mad, “A La Ronde” hits all those marks and some! The only way I can describe it briefly is that is a peculiar hexadecagonal building first occupied by a pair of spinsters who added their own very unique stamp on each room.
One place I always seem to fail to find the time to get to are the underground passages in Exeter. Every time I remeber to go there it is simply too late in the day. I hate visiting places when there are huge crowds, I hate being hustled from one place to another like a sheep and, worst of all, I absolutely detest those strange groups of, usually Japanese, photographers that seems to instinctively decend upon something interesting blast it with a pure white blinding light from a multitude of camera flashes and then move on quickly to the next point of interest to repeat the procedure! No I like to ponder and take in the atmosphere of a place and I really want to enjoy Exeter’s medieval underground passages without the gangs of school children that seem to appear regularly after about 11.00 am.
Other places to visit in Exeter are, St Peter’s Cathedral, the Guildhall, Quay House Visitor Centre, Powderham Castle, Exeter Phoenix and the Spacex Gallery.
Exeter Accommodation Links:
