This autumn my wife is going to a conference in Scotland, and that means one thing: WORKING VACATION.
Well, my wife will work, the Hordling and I will vacate.
But what the heck is there to do with a 2.5 year old in Scotland in the first half of September? Sure, she’ll be amused by any kilt-wearer she comes across in a stiff wind (penis will ensue, I’m sure), but what else should we do? The trip to Edinburgh is a wee bit long for a day trip (although it will make sense to go there before the conference), and we’re likely to head south to visit friends and family in the Homeland. (Bus, car or train? We’ll figure that out later.)
Well, the weather will probably be fairly mild, but possibly damp at times!
2.5 is a little young for most of the things I could suggest, I’m afraid…
There’s a hands-on science centre (kids under 3 are free, I think) right across the Clyde from the main conference centre; there’s a restored tall ship (now a museum) moored fairly near there which might be of interest; Kelvinhall Museum has got some neat exhibits and is near some nice riverside parks and walks (the River Kelvin, not the Clyde); you can probably still take an amphibious ride around some of the city including going on the Clyde…
but hopefully a Glaswegian will be along soon with better knowledge…
Edinburgh isn’t too far away - less than an hour by train - and if you wanted to go to the zoo, for instance, that’s even closer (get off at Haymarket, not Waverley and it’s only a 10 minute bus ride)
The weather may be poor as Meurglys says, but with global warming and whatnot we had a pretty decent September last year (I was doing recruitment outside during freshers’ week, and it wasn’t bad every day). If you do end up lucking out with the weather, it’s worth spending an afternoon in the Botanic gardens.
The science centre does look good, I’ve not actually been there myself but my friends and family who have reccomend it, and I’m sure a toddler would find the hand-on bits awesome.
I’m struggling to think of kid-centric things to do in the city, all the things I want to reccomend are probably more for grown ups. If you can make it to Edinburgh, the Zoo is good, and the Deep Sea world is an excellent day out.
I’m not sure if I’m around in the first half of September yet, but check back in closer to the time and you can probably get a drink (or ice cream + tour if with child in tow) off of me.
Sounds like daytrips to Edinburgh will be in order. Now should I chance renting a car and driving the wrong way round, or just stick to taking a wee bairn on the bus.
Actually, I thought I was implying it wouidn’t be too bad! But I don’t know what weather Barbarian is used to - maybe it’ll seem like the depths of winter however mild we think it is…
Both cities have pretty good city bus services (day tickets easily available on the buses), and Glasgow has a compact Underground train loop, but for going between them don’t take the bus - take a train. It wouldn’t occur to me to go by bus to Glasgow unless I really had to…
As for driving, I’m not so sure about Glasgow, but I wouldn’t really recommend it in Edinburgh - heaps of roadworks, round-a-bouts, one way systems, narrower streets than you may be used to, lack of parking, etc…
I’m in Montreal now, but I have lived in New York and Vancouver in the past, and I’ve been driving in many countries.
The weather doesn’t worry me. Roundabouts? Pshaw! At least you don’t have people deliberately going the wrong-way-round because they want to make a quick turn. One way streets? Have you heard of Manhattan
Forget about using a car in Edinburgh in particular. Not because you might find it difficult to drive, but you’ll achieve little or no extra speed, and parking is an expensive nightmare.
Edinburgh: the castle and The Royal Mile, Dynamic Earth, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Palace, Camera Obscura, the Zoo, National Museum of Scotland, Portrait Gallery, Arthur’s Seat and The Crags (these are where geology as a subject began, with Hutton - you can get good views of the city, Fife and the Firth of Forth).
Glasgow’s a lot better for shopping/gigs than Edinburgh - that’s all I really know about the city, to be honest. Oh, and don’t wear football colours
