Best Family Tourist Attractions in Dorset

Nowadays more and more people are looking abroad for Summer holiday options as budget airlines offer discounted prices, online search engines find fantastic accommodation deals and hire cars are becoming less and less expensive. However, Summer 2009 promises to be a difficult time for foreign travel selections as airfare taxes increase and currencies waver. In order to save money and time, and enjoy the benefits of knowing the language, people seem to be looking to stay in the green and pleasant land during the warmer months.

As weather predictions for this year look good, with meteorologists promising it to be the Summer of the barbeque, Britain's coastal tourism areas look set to enjoy a booming peak season. For British holiday potentials, Dorset in particular is one of the Summer's hotspots, providing fantastic scenery, entertainment and accommodation opportunities.

Dorset is mostly famous for its exceptional beaches and the stunning landforms within the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, which includes Lulworth Cove, Durdle Door, the Isle of Portland and Old Harry's Rocks at Swanage. These are perfect for long walks or hikes or even to drive along to, to take a quick look at. The entire coastline is very calming with beautiful cliffs and coves to go and explore, and is teeming with wildlife to spot along the way.

As well as areas of outstanding natural beauty, the area is also famous for its variety of holiday resorts. The towns of Bournemouth, Poole, Swanage and Weymouth are all tourism areas, focusing on retaining their British sea-side appeal whilst offering the amenities and infrastructure expected of internationally renowned destinations. All of these towns offer seaside attractions such as fairground rides, pedalos, magic shows, piers, sweet shops and typically British food outlets and cafes selling fresh fish and chips and other traditional fayre.

Throughout the Summer months such towns often hold special events such as circuses, even larger fairgrounds and fetes with special rides, fun houses and eating outlets. Swanage in particular holds a carnival week which includes a mass of decorated floats and dancers and lots of elaborate firework displays. Bournemouth and Swanage both also host live music events including a jazz festival, a folk festival, and there are plans for a massive food festival in the future. The area is also home to many sailing events and regattas, which can be great fun for all of the family to watch.

For younger tourists, the Dorset railway also runs Thomas the Tank Engine themed events and other special services for the kids to enjoy.

Dorset is also home to a variety of different holiday parks. Such parks mean you can enjoy all of the main sightseeing attractions and landscape of the area, but there is also the benefit of staying in a top-of-the range resort with constant activities and entertainment to enjoy. Bearing in mind how wet English Summers can be, having the backup plan of indoor rock climbing, swimming, dance classes or a spa treatment can be just the ticket. Accommodation is obviously also close to these events meaning you can focus on relaxation, enjoyment and enjoying the natural surroundings instead of having to drive everywhere and spending time planning day trips.

Nevertheless, whether staying in a holiday park or enjoying a traditional self-catered B&B along the coast, Dorset's natural beauty and tourist attractions will ensure you do like to be beside the seaside.