This feature of society is considered to be a modern day phenomena. When we look back over 100 years we can clearly identify a trend through time. Aberdeen was seen as the mecca for holiday makers from Glasgow. Our beach with its promenade entertainment strip the city with its many cinemas and roller skating halls, the Tivoli with its star attractions all tell a story of leisure and recreation as being a social need within any time window.
- The developments of leisure and recreation. Many aspect of a past leisure activity is presented here from sea side holidays to the use of the bicycle. From a trip to the beach to a run in a cherabang.
- The famous athletes of the highland games, ie Donald Dinnie and the Dinnie stones. This athlete is one of the worlds top athlete he competed in many events and he had a coat made which hung all his medals. No other contemporary athlete to date has won more medals than this man. Sadly he died destitute but his lifting prowess which say him carry two large stones across a bridge which he was building still remains unbeaten. Find out about the significance of these part time athletes and their place in the world record books.
- The skill competitions of the past rural society, featuring ruck building,hoeing matches, stock judging, ploughing matches. Event like the above were seen as spectator sports also. In the early 1900s there was 15,000 people at a ploughing match near Inverurie in Aberdeenshire. All these people cam by foot bicycle or on horse transport to admire these champions of their skill.
- The interest in the past. Through this research the author has established that each generation spends time reflecting on the past, usually with rose coloured spectacles Each generation thinking that they have seen the best of things. This strong affinity with the past is therefore a key factor in human interface with society. There is no doubt that lesson learning can be gained through this reflective approach.
- The health spas of yesteryear. Queen Victoria and her generation saw health spas as being essential elements of social indulgence. This trend helped to develop Hotels such as the Pannach Wells. The water from these spas was seen as being good for health. The bottling of spring water today is seen as being more pure than tap water. Can aspects of the past lead to economic opportunity today?
- Old public houses and their origins. Identify key developmental factors in rural and city public houses. These developed through minimal provision on "special days" eg fairs, rent payment days. They also developed to serve the new customer requirements. EG The stage coach traveller. The commercial trader. The local resident at market day.
- Cinematography. Capture one of the last rural picture house in operation. The Victoria in Inverurie. Marvel at the décor, find out about the silent movies, the talkies and the demise to multiplex screens. See the equipment used and understand the developments of that sector of the leisure trade.
- Tivolie entertainers. The Tivolie Theatre in Aberdeen. The variety shows of the past producers of famous local artists, and the attraction for famous world performers.
- Aberdeen's early tourism attractions.
- The modern budget hotels. The building of a new type of modern hotel geared toward the budget market. The effect of this on the hotel trade within the city of Aberdeen. This features the opening of one of the first such hotels in Aberdeen. The Speedbird at the airport.
- Modern tourist provision, bonny Scotland as a tourist destination with culture. The mood of the nation re tourism and cultural pride. This research hold a great deal of material which can help to educate present and future academics and professionals about a past cultural identity. The new Tourism Strategy 2000 is evidence that culture and heritage is one aspect of differentiation which the North East can present to contemporary tourists.