Just six miles from the bright lights of Blackpool, Lytham and St Annes-on-Sea, Fylde, are worlds apart in both character and atmosphere. The dual seaside towns are nestled along a picturesque stretch of coastline lined with well tended lawns, a boating lake and pretty parks. The rolling sand dunes of St Annes-on-Sea and the Ribble Estuary adjacent to Lytham make a safe haven for more than 250,000 migrating birds that flock here in winter. As you stroll along the seafront, you can’t miss Lytham’s Grade II listed Windmill, which has sat on the emerald lawns of Lytham Green since 1805. Next door is the 19th century Lytham Lifeboat Museum which tells fascinating tales of the RNLI’s many daring and dangerous rescue missions. A short stroll from the seafront, brings you to central Lytham, where you’ll find charming boutiques, restaurants and independent shops lining leafy Clifton St. The nearby St Annes-on-Sea boasts a beautifully restored Victorian Pier, originally built in 1885 and now home to amusement rides, shops and a café. Golfers will also know Lytham as a famous golf destination. The region boasts four championship golf courses which host prestigious tournaments like The Open Golf Championships which is next here in 2012.