Month: July 2017

Illuminasia – Winter Gardens Blackpool

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Illuminasia

Tiger by Isabella (6yrs)

Sometimes you need to hide behind a child to see something child-orientated.  So I borrow one for the day.  It’s not the first time 6 year old neighbour, and jolly good friend, Isabella accompanies me on a magical mystery tour.  Illuminasia at Blackpool Winter Gardens our destination.

“This is a bit freaky,” shudders my little friend, eyes agog, as dragons sway to tinkly music; a ceiling full of dangling red lanterns; row after row of glowing Chinese solders; and the spectacular Emperor’s Palace.

We “ooh and aah” a lot!

“Who’s going through there first?”  She gives me a shove and we’re in Dinosaur Zone: T- Rex, Triceratops, Brachiosaurus, little ‘saurs, flying ‘saurs – Isabella knows the name of every one.

Illuminasia

T-Rex by Isabella (6yrs)

Next, the Lands of the Giants where we find ourselves dwarfed by massive ants, ladybirds and butterflies; enormous spiders dangle from sparkly webs; huge snails lurk amongst toadstools; a giant puppy dog hides in the bushes where a cola tin, as big as a bus, is discarded; and garden flowers out-size Jack’s beanstalk.

We enter into The Deep – a watery world of clown fish, sharks, octopus, a jellyfish the size of a dustbin lid, and other weird and wonderful sea creatures.  We end our journey admiring the Wonders of the World with the Sphinx, Leaning Tower of Pisa, London Bridge, Statue of Liberty, and our very own wonderful Blackpool Tower.

Illuminasia is fun and educational at the same time.  It’s interactive.  Visitors are given a Chinese Coin Trail to hunt for hidden coins; and a scratch card with clues to find answers.  If you get them all correct you win a prize.  We were rubbish at the Chinese Coin Trail and had to ask Zoey, one of the many friendly members of staff at Illuminasia, to reveal our missing answers.  We did much better on the scratch card – all ticks!

Isabella gave Illuminasia ten out of ten and ten gold stars. That’s how good it is.

Youngsters and oldsters will enjoy spending a lovely couple of hours here.  Make sure to catch Illuminasia before it disappears forever.  Sadly it’s closing at the end of this year.