When I was a kid my grandparents or parents would pop us in the back of a Ford Pop, or worse, our old Ford van, and trundle off along the A roads in a seemingly never ending journey to Llandudno.
For my parents - with the farm - it was often out and back in a day. But grandad and grandma ran to few days away. I do still recall the trams, steam trains, open top buses, Prof Cadman's Punch and Judy, and bands on the stand, trips from the pier, and a whole more innocent way of life.
The intervening years have seen costs, and speed, of travel change out of all recognition, and the British tourism market more or less give up an unequal struggle. The people who stay at home are generally those who can't afford to fly, don't want to, or are in no position to, the insufferable or the incapable. No one should have to suffer the former - the latter - poor souls - should not form the staple fodder of any business witha forward looking outlook.
Time my journey right and I can do SK14 to Llandudno prom in in less then 90 mins. No need to stay in stuffy outdated hotels. I can eat when I get back, so no need to patronise third rate eateries with no intention of selling a quality product. No need to spend in the same chain stores I see at home, and with the calibre of vehicle passing for trains, and coaches, these days with your legs round your neck - I would rather have my choice of speed, temperature, music and company thank you!
Across the extremes of Liverpool Bay, Blackpool and Llandudno stare at each other, all but out of sight, and as different as chalk and cheese in the markets they serve and the way they have developed.
The iron hand of Mostyn Estates has stopped all but the most innocent of tourism developments in North Wales. No blaring night clubs or discos, no vast amusement arcades, but - equally, no night time atmosphere at all. Wouldn't the summit complex as a high class eatery with supporting twinkling trams be a winner? If some of the hotels on the front opened their doors and windows to the bay and to business, perhaps people would circulate more and test out the market, rather than vegetate in their booked hotel.
Get a restauranteur of name into the old Grand Pavilion site - CPO it if possible, and bring some life to the prom - yes - bands! but some rock, some country, and some celtic, and bring the town to life after seven o clock, perhaps even one day - toastracks to the Little Orme again - in your dreams!
Some night life is an absolute necessity to bring some evening atmosphere back - but NOT - oh no! most definitely not - the innumerable stag and hen parties of Blackpool. or the fate that has taken over everything behind the golden mile, square miles of boarding houses turned over to DSS - Llandudno has avoided that with its retirement market outbidding the buy to let crowd.
In summary - daytime - Llandudno needs little change in its offer - perhaps a better park and ride scenario - but after six - it needs a rocket, but a subtle, well tuned one to match the daytime tastes of its patrons.
What it must not do is stand still.