OK... I may be biased because I grew up in Norfolk and I live here now, but, Norfolk has loads to offer when looking for a short break away ( or a longer trip too!). So here we go.

1. THE BEACHES 

Norfolk hosts some amazing beaches and they are incredibly varied too. There is the vast sandy beaches of Holkham and Wells-Next-To-Sea https://www.holkham.co.uk/visit/things-to-do/plan-your-visit/holkham-beach/ and then there is the smaller fishing village like Blakeney https://www.visitnorthnorfolk.com/explore/visit/blakeney. What is particularly lovely about Blakeney is that you can get a boat which winds through the marshes and out onto open water. The boat will take you to see seals which are sunbathing on Blakeney point. As a child, I did these trips each year and they were always a really fun day out. Blakeney also has a few quirky and fun events that happen each year, such as Blakeney's Greasy Pole competition. https://lovenorfolk.co.uk/events/the-blakeney-greasy-pole/ I haven't actually ever watched this for myself but it is on my bucket list of things to do. Either end of the Norfolk coast there are more tourist centred towns - Hunstanton and Great Yarmouth. There are lots of things to do in both of these areas. Hunstanton is great for water sports and Great Yarmouth has lots of one penny arcades and amusements and fair ground rides which children absolutely love. The town has also redeveloped its Marina Swimming Pool https://www.freedom-leisure.co.uk/centres/marina-centre/swimming/ which my children love to go to. In between Hunstanton and Great Yarmouth there are lots of smaller towns and villages and beautiful stretches of beach. There is a coastal path that is well worth a walk. During the pandemic, my sister managed to walk the whole of the coastal path during a month. She had just moved back to Norfolk and so it was a fun thing to do. The lovely thing about Norfolk beaches is the space. A few beaches do get busy, but it is also fairly easy to find a secluded spot where no one else is. One of my favourite areas is the stretch between Cromer and Overstrand. I spent lots of time on this stretch of beach as a child and it is never busy and has more sand than further west. If you fancy surfing or paddle boarding then head to my friend's at Glide Surf https://glidesurfschool.co.uk/. 

2. THE NORFOLK BROADS

Norfolk has the most amazing set of waterways which you can visit and spend time exploring. My son, who is five, loves to go to the Norfolk Broads and go bird-watching. His favourite place is Ranworth Broad because there is an amazing visitor centre there and you can get really good pizza from the pub near the car park. A fun thing to do is to hire a boat for a few hours and explore the broads. You can also explore them on a canoe or paddle-board. Last year, I went sailing on the broads and was dropped off and walked about two miles back to the car. I was walking along a narrow path through reeds and it was absolutely stunning - so peaceful and quiet. Definitely worth a visit. 

3. THE SLOW PACE OF LIFE

So much of life is 'go, go, go' and yet Norfolk seems to be happy with a 'go slow' pace of life. If you are wanting a few days away then this is a really good thing. When I go to the coast, I physically feel my body slow down. No one seems to be in a rush and everyone seems to have time to stop and talk. It's really refreshing. I live in Norwich and it's a very friendly place but it is also a much slower pace than bigger cities. I think this, in return, creates a less stressful environment. People who live in Norfolk seem to generally love it because it is beautiful and the pressure of life is a lot less. As you visit Norfolk, particularly the coast, I'm sure you will feel yourself slow down.

4. THE LOVELY SMALL PUBS, CAFES AND RESTAURANTS

I love driving along the Norfolk coast and stopping at a little cafe or restaurant. There are some incredible places. I went to Whitewater https://whitewatercromer.co.uk/ yesterday and had a haddock chowder and it was incredible. I also love going to Cookies crab shop. I haven't been for a few years but really enjoyed going there with my parents. It was one of my late Father's favourites. You get a whole plate of seafood and it is reasonably priced too. Lots of the locations of these small cafes and restaurants are absolutely stunning. 

5. LOCAL ATTRACTIONS 

Norfolk has some great local attractions. If you have children then it's worth visiting ROAR or BeWilderwood. If you don't have children then I would avoid these places but you could head to one of the National Trust spots. Blickling Hall and Felbrigg Hall are beautiful places with incredible walks. Sheringham Park is also lovely. If you fancied visiting a fancy town and mooching around some rather expensive shops, then Holt is the place for you. It has the best shops in Norfolk, albeit a bit pricy, and has lovely eateries and pubs and cafes. I love going there at Christmas because the lights are beautiful. 

So there you have it. Five reasons to come and visit Norfolk. Now you just need to book a glamping stay and go and explore!