HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Great escapes: Lancashire 1 It's glitzy up north By day and by night, the jewel of the North West's shines brightly. Blackpool has so much to do you're feet won't touch the ground If you've ever thought that the moniker ‘Las Vegas of the North' might be ironic, then you've obviously never visited Blackpool. Or Las Vegas, for that matter. For while the Pleasure Beach and the Golden Mile will never match Caesar's Palace or Sunset Strip for out-and-out glamour, they each perform the same function in their own, inimitably English, way. Come to Blackpool and you leave the rest of the world behind. It's about pleasure, pure and simple, whether that's to be found in a mountain of pink candyfloss or a glitzy cabaret bar round about midnight. We've picked a few of the highlights, day and night, so you won't miss the best this famous town has to offer.  • Getting there Zero your trip meter at the end of the approach road to the Marton Mere site, turn right into Mythop Road and at the traffic lights at 0.1 miles turn right again into Preston New Road (A583), signposted Blackpool. Go straight on at the traffic lights at 0.9 and 1.5 miles, continuing on Park Road (B5390) towards the Town Centre. Go straight over the sets of traffic lights at 1.9 and 2.1 miles, then turn left at the traffic lights at 2.6 miles and into Reads Avenue. Just after 2.8 miles turn right into Cental Drive, signposted Town Centre and Car Parks. Turn left at 3 miles into Central Car Park. BLACKPOOL BY DAY Here's a fun-filled day out for families that can't be matched in the UK. So where do you begin? We've listed a few of the major sites along the promenade so you can have maximum pleasure with a minimum mileage. After all, having fun can be very tiring, so you don't want to wear yourself out with too much walking. 1. The Tower We compared this Tower to the Eiffel in Paris - but the French folly doesn't even come close. To start with, there's Britain's best circus, with acrobats, a high wire act and Mooky the Clown. Then, for those who remember the Golden Age of Swing (and those who wish they had been there), there's the Tower Ballroom which has an assortment of Big Bands. Our favourite feature, however, has to be the mighty Wurlitzer, whose sound completely fills the room. There's also a new organ - ‘The Wersi' - for 2002. And it doesn't stop there: head up to the Tower Top and you'll find a kids' assault course. And while they burn off all that candy floss, you can look around the UK's highest gift shop. On the way down, check out Undersea World on the ground floor - home to giant turtles and sea horses. 2. Into the deep Despite the fact that young and old will be busy having the time of their lives, there's still a chance to learn a bit about the world we live in, at the Sea Life Centre. Get right up close to the action on an underwater walkway, then feed some of the more friendly fish - but leave the big boys to the professionals: experienced divers think nothing of leaping into the tank with some seriously scary sea-dwellers; you can watch from the safety of terra firma. 3. Central Pier There are three piers in Blackpool, each a cracker in its own right with plenty going on, both day and night. We chose the Central Pier, partly because of its location, which makes it easy to reach for day visitors, and for one other reason: the 108ft high Big Wheel - you can't beat the views from here. 4. Pleasure zone They reckon it's the UK's biggest tourist attraction, and we struggled to do it all in a day. It's all about the rides - from the Pepsi Max Big One, which is Europe's tallest, fastest rollercoaster, to Ice Blast, which covers 20 storeys in two seconds. There's plenty for younger kids, too, with Beaver Creek and a host of covered attractions if the weather turns nasty. At night you can enjoy Mystique, a spectacular illusion show with the option of fine dining at the White Tower Restaurant beforehand. BLACKPOOL BY NIGHT Who can resist it: bright lights, sea air and a host of stars to sing and dance the night away. There's so much here that we've cherry-picked our favourites to make your choice that little bit easier. But if you're stopping for a few days, try and shop around as there's quite a variety to be enjoyed, from the big shows on the Golden Mile to the smaller cabaret clubs where you can see the stars of tomorrow. 5. The local speciality When in Rome ... This is Blackpool so while there are plenty of opportunities for so-called fine dining, you can't beat fish and chips for classic British seaside fare. For the biggest and best, head to Harry Ramsden's. 6. The real thing For a more typically Blackpool experience head to The Cottage, known as the ‘Chippy of the Stars' as visiting celebrities often pop in after a show. Even if you don't catch any showbiz faces you can still see who has dropped by in the many photos that adorn the walls. As it's on the way out of town, leave it for the end of the evening. 7-9. Showtime Up and down the Golden Mile and in the centre of town there are literally dozens of cabaret bars. The piers, the tower and the Pleasure Beach have the biggest shows but we preferred the ambience of three more intimate venues. The newest is the Joe Longthorne Music Hall (fig. 7 on our map), set up by the famous ‘Man with a Thousand Voices'. Further north, there's the renowned Alabama Showboat (fig. 8) and to the south the Talk of the Coast at the Viking Hotel (fig. 9). Each venue has its own style, blending singing and dancing with spectacle. And so to bed If you've had a drink, be sure to book a cab to take you back to your caravan. Otherwise, zero your trip as you leave the car park, turn left down Central Drive and right at the traffic lights at 0.3 miles into Coronation Street. Turn left at the traffic lights on Hornby Road and right at the lights at 0.6 miles, onto Park Road (B5390). Head straight on, passing five more sets of traffic lights, turning left at the lights at 3.2 miles, entering the feeder lane into Mythop Road. At 3.3 miles turn left into the Marton Mere approach road. HOME PAGE | TOP OF PAGE GREAT ESCAPES   Northern Las Vagas  Historic Lancaster  Ribble Valley  Redalling Pendle  Live Wyre  Golf Coast  Stepping out  BACK TO ARCHIVE PLANNING Distance Driving: 6.3 miles. Walking (around town): 2-3 miles Time All day and as much of the night as you can manage Start and finish Marton Mere caravan park Suitable for All the family Refreshments Harry Ramsden's Tel 01253 294386 The Cottage Tel 01253 694010 Attractions Blackpool Tower 01253 292029 Central Pier Tel 01253 292029 Sea Life Centre Tel 01253 622445 Pleasure Beach Tel 0870 444 5566 Joe Longthorne Music Hall Tel 01253 297744 Alabama Showboat Tel 01253 291155 Talk of the Coast Tel 0845 458 4222 Tourist information 1 Clifton Street and Central Promenade. Tel 01253 478222. Email t/c@blackpool.gov.uk Website CLICK HERE HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Contact Practical Caravan Best viewed in screen resolution 800 x 600 using I.E.4 or Netscape 4 or later.