Trip to Scotland..

Ok, here's the deal, and any advice from all you guys living in Scotland would be helpful! As some of you know, my inlaws are visiting.....they will be here for my son's third birthday in May. My hubs wants to take them to Scotland for a couple days, to do some sightseeing and also celebrate my son's birthday. FIL would like to see Edinburgh, but we don't necessarily want to stay there, maybe see some of what the city has to offer for tourists, and then go on somewhere else. Hubs asked me to set something up, and do some research on where to go, what to see, and where to stay. Anybody have any suggestions? Keep in mind, we want to do something fun for my son on his birthday as well. Thanks in advance!!

I haven't yet gone, but would love to.  I'd like to hear of any cheap ways of getting up there.  Waiting until the last minute to buy train tickets leads me to only find outrageous prices.  The tickets skyrocketed to over 700% more then what they were 2 months prior when I looked for the particular weekend I was thinking of.  Any advice from anyone, good websites to check, etc. would be helpful.  We'd prefer to take the train.

I had a similar query awhile back, if you want to check out that thread:
http://talk.uk-yankee.com/index.php?topic=13879.0

(my folks are coming next month, and doing a 2 week jaunt around the East and West Coasts)

I really recommend Stirling as an alternative to Edinburgh.  There's loads to see and do there, the castle is fantastic, there's also the Wallace Monument, the Old Towne Gaol (great for kids) and various other places on interest  For a day trip from Edinburgh get the train to North Berwick, small seaside town, very pretty and there's a boat trip you can go on where they take you out to an island and show you all the birdlife.   Tantallon Castle is also there, which is a gorgeous ruined pink stone castle.   

And Scone Palace is about 45 minutes from Stirling. That's pretty cool, too!

Thanks for your input, keep it coming folks!! Btw, we will be driving, so lots of options are open to us.

There is so much to see and do in Edinburgh. If only a few days, then I would have to say Edinburgh.

Would something like Easyjet be of any use? I am guessing driving is not an option.

I recommend getting on to the A68 and drive up through the borders. It is GORGEOUS!

I am not sure what there is for 3 year old? I am too far away from Edinburgh to suggest things for toddlers.

Britwife suggested Stirling. That too is a good choice. Do you know what their expectations are?

Sorry I can't give more than my 2 cents. I'm sure you'll get another 98 cents worth in here. Then you will have to make those choices!

And don't forget Glasgow.  It tends to get overlooked but it has a lot of history and pretty spots as well.  The Rennie Mackintosh house is lovely and there are loads of museums galleries etc.   I have to say I think Glasgow is better for eating out than Edinburgh or Stirling as well.

I love Edinburgh!  The castle is fantastic, there are the Vaults which are supposed to be haunted (I think by the ghost of Darnley) and for a three year old how about Our Dynamic Earth http://www.dynamicearth.co.uk/ which is great fun (and educational).


Victoria

and for a three year old how about Our Dynamic Earth http://www.dynamicearth.co.uk/ which is great fun (and educational).
Victoria

I forgot about that, we liked it. It was reasonably priced and parking was easy! It was interesting and even my 14 yo (then) daughter enjoyed it.

If you're not driving, it is very central (Holyrood). Very good location. The view out the front was spoiled by some ghastly government blackhole   

The government blackhole is now the fairly funky but very overpriced new Scottish Parliament building...


Victoria