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Broadstairs was voted one of the best coastal towns in England, second only to St Ives, by readers of the Guardian newspaper in 2007.   Not just because of its water sports and beautiful, award winning sandy beaches, including Botany Bay, Joss Bay for surfing and Viking Bay with plenty of children's amusements, but also because it really is very charming with little streets, shops and fishermen's houses all jostling happily together.  In fact in June 2008 Thanet was named as the jewel in England's coastal crown, with a record number of Blue Flag awards.   It has a mild maritime climate, with higher than average temperatures. You will be spoilt for choice with the number of pubs, cafes and restaurants on offer, some with a distinctly continental feel, including an award winning pub/restaurant just along the cliff top only a 2 minute drive away - or you may prefer a stroll there on a balmy evening, with the sea on your right to guide you.

Charles Dickens loved and lived in Broadstairs in Bleak House, and wrote a number of his novels whilst here. You can visit the Dickens House Museum, which contains many of his letters, see the Old Curiosity Shop, and experience the town's pride in him during the Dickens Festival in June.  August sees Folk Week, the busiest week of the year, and there are free fireworks displays with live music, including jazz bands, during the summer.  Nearby Ramsgate has the Water Ski Racing Championship and Powerboat Grand Prix in July and Regatta Week in August.

Discover the Viking Coastal Trail, and the intriguing history of Broadstairs' smugglers, one of whom was presented to a young Queen Victoria - follow the guided Smugglers Trail.  Why not take a boat trip to discover their caves, and to the infamous Goodwin Sands which have wrecked many a fine ship - also see seals basking on the Sands.  In St Cuby there is a map of the treacherous Goodwins showing the location of each wreck.  You could even take a trip to France from Dover, or Ostende from Ramsgate. Children will enjoy the Rock Doc Walk, part of the Thanet Coast Project, and if you like bird watching and wildlife, you'll love nearby Pegwell Bay National Nature Reserve.  There is so much to explore and discover, for all ages.

For history buffs, there is the RAF Manston History Museum which has aircraft and exhibits illustrating the history of the airfield at Manston, also the RAF Spitfire and Hurricane Memorial Trust and Battle of Britain Memorial Museum.  This is a World War Two Museum displaying two complete Battle of Britain fighter planes and Spitfire and Hurricane artefacts.  Also there is much maritime history to discover, and St Cuby is very close to the last manned lighthouse in the UK dating back to the 15th century.  Of course, there is much history in St Cuby itself - in 1914 a German spy was captured on the clifftop nearby, and perhaps it was this that inspired John Buchan to write his famous spy novel, The 39 Steps.  For more information on the area, visit www.visitthanet.co.uk.

Other places to visit (if you have time!) are the historic city of Canterbury, the Chatham Dockyard and Maritime Museum, and the towns of Deal, Dover and Whitstable, the latter famous for oysters.  But don't forget to relax as well - perhaps a round or two of golf on North Foreland's all year round golf course with sea views from every tee and green, only a 4 minute drive away?  After a leisurely breakfast on the balcony, of course.