I often forget how lucky I am to live in Devon, so near to Cornwall and have some gorgeous places right on my doorstep. Many will know Devon is full of picturesque coast lines, sandy beaches, sea for surfing and cute little harbour villages. Today I went to Torquay - just an hour train journey from my home town of Plymouth.
So what is there to do in Torquay? Torquay's main attraction would most likely be Living Coasts, a wild life sanctuary situated right along to coast line. You can see penguins, seals, birds and all manner of coastal wildlife. It is a pretty interactive experience and great for all ages! If you're lucky enough to have some time off after September, I would recommend visiting the sanctuary once the kids go back to school as it isn't a huge place and can get rather busy.
In addition to Living Coasts, Torquay boasts a huge fairground festival with tons of traditional and new fairground attractions including some big rides and ones for the kiddies. The best time to visit Torquay's fairground would be later in the day as it is more busy and atmospheric.
Torquay has a small beach, sheltered from the elements by the harbour piers. As the tide comes in, the beach becomes very small so you would be fighting for space! It is a cute little beach though, and an artist was there creating some artwork in the sand which was nice.
A little way along Torquay's harbour, there are some lovely, pretty gardens and water fountains which make a lovely spot to have some lunch! Failing that, a short walk around the corner offers a number of lovely restaurants that look out over the harbour and often have live music playing which is a nice touch!
Shopping wise, I don't think Torquay is as good as Plymouth. The shops are much smaller and less of them, seemingly. However, the streets are very quaint and it certainly made a nice change to explore a different area!
Jumpsuit / Primark / £10
Cardigan / H&M / Bought last year