A Short Holiday To Poole – Dorset County, England
Last month I took a short vacation to Poole – Dorset County England, and I left wanting more. I had only 4 days to look around and crammed as many activities as I could into each one. I always knew England had beautiful gardens, but I never dreamed there would be such spectacular beaches!
On my first day after settling in at a great little hotel, I hit Sandbanks Beach. The weather was perfect with lots of sun and no hint of rain – a perfect beach day not to be wasted! Before snuggling down with a good book and a plush towel I hit the raked golden sand for a vigorous walk down the long three mile beach. I feasted on incredibly fresh fish at a nearby restaurant for lunch – yum!
Day two was for the garden tour (when in England . . . !) The Bennetts Water Gardens were a feast for the senses. Known for its amazing display of blooming water lilies, the picturesque beauty reminded me of a Monet painting. From there it was on to the Compton Acres Gardens overlooking the spectacular harbor below. I especially enjoyed the Japanese and Italian gardens and all the other variety of garden styles n display there. A delicious lunch at the Harbourview Cafe rounded out a perfect day.
A highlight of my trip was my Wareham River Cruise. We cruised around the harbor and along the River Frome up to the notable market town of Wareham. I was lucky with another warm summer day with no wind. The views of the woods along the shore and water life all around were very pleasant.
There was an hour of shore time in Wareham, so I took the chance to pick up some wooden souvenirs for my relatives back home. I also scored some adorable jewelry for myself! I only wish we could have spent another hour or two in town to shop and maybe stop for a pint and chips in one of the fun looking watering holes I passed.
My last day was spent back at the beach and in the water. I signed up for some windsurfing lessons and was surprised at how difficult it was at first. After an hour or so I managed to get the hang of it and spent another two hours trying to get better at my new sport. (My arms and shoulders will thank me in the morning, I am sure.)
Poole was a lot of fun. I never thought of Great Britain as a beach destination but I was wrong. Heck, maybe next time I want to see some great museums, I will consider Honolulu!
Check here for a wide selection of Poole hotels.
