We have been looking forward to visiting Whitby since before departing the States. T1 and I were flipping through our UK Kids book, back in Virginia, and he was intrigued by the vampire images associated with this coastal town! Bram Stoker visited Whitby while drafting Dracula, and was inspired by its sights and sounds! We read a child-friendly version of Dracula, in preparation for the trip, but I don’t know what T1 expected of Whitby. Once we arrived, he said, “It’s not so spooky.” Well, there you have it.
We were honored to be able to travel with Grandma and Grandpa!
First thing we did was take a Pirate ship around the bay to see Whitby from a different vantage!
Then it was up 199 steps to St. Mary’s Church and the Abbey!
St. Mary’s has a very cool cemetery filled with old headstones. Might one be Dracula’s?! We had fun looking and pretending, but I think plenty a’ tourist have forgotten that Dracula is fictional. There was a sign inside the church that read, “Don’t ask staff where Dracula’s headstone is. It doesn’t exist.” Yipes.
I loved the Abbey. One of my favorites, by far. At the top of the hill, it just looms over everything. You can even see it by car, many miles off, as you approach Whitby. Like a huge beacon, summoning in all the would-be blood-drinkers!
We had a great time goofing off and enjoying the lack of crowds that comes with less than lovely weather!
Whitby is filled with about 80 “yards”, which are small alleyways between the houses. During Whitby’s whaling heyday, houses were built back-to-back and 30 or 40 families would share one yard. Children would often bathe outside and then dump their bathwater into the drains. Arguments Yard once belonged to the Argument family, but is now just a popular IG stop!
I said, “Okay, stand here and pretend you’re having an argument.” Nothing. Tried again, “Stand here and do what you do normally, everyday.” Nailed it.
Last, but not least, no trip to Whitby would be complete without some fish n’ chips. Personally, I am not a fan, but these were good! And like a true IG-ready restaurant, now you know exactly where to go get some of your own!
Thanks Whitby!
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