We do any flavour as long as it vanilla. That's the message on the wall of legendary Blackpool ice cream shop Notarianni’s.

In a world where more and more choice is everywhere it is refreshing that this family run shop, now in fourth generation, is sticking to its guns.

And when you taste their vanilla ice cream, made fresh every morning with milk from a farm just a few miles away, you can see why.

It is a taste of old school, how ice cream used to be made.

Italian immigrants Luigi and Messalina arrived in Scotland in the 1920s. They first moved to Paisley where they worked to save enough money to open up their own ice cream parlour.

They then moved on to Blackpool and found a shop on Central Promenade. A second parlour on Waterloo Road opened around 1937 where the family still trade today.

During the Second World War Luigi was taken away along with a lot of UK Italians, and interned on the Isle of Man for the duration of the war.

Today the shop is in the safe hands with the fourth generation ice cream makers brother and sister Luca and Maddalena. They have such passion for what they do it beams from them.

They are now running the shop their great grandfather started with their dad Mike.

Only Mike and Luca know the secret family recipe which is made from scratch every morning.

"They won't tell me,"says Maddalena, "but it means I don't need to get up at 6am to make it."

In the summer there are people queuing round the block just for a taste.

"We're a family business keeping up a tradition. We make our ice cream fresh every day and have a taste ourselves. We use local produce an I think that it is really important to our customers," says Luca.

It's this kind of family tradition that keeps generations of visitors returning to Blackpool, year after year.

It started with grandparents, who brought their kids and now the grandkids are coming.

Still popular with Scots you can't walk very far without hearing a familiar accent.

So what is it that keeps people coming back.

I had a few days to discover that for myself.

In the late evening I enjoyed an ice cream while taking a trip along the Golden Mile in an old tram which dated back even before Glasgow's first trams.

The promenade is a lovely area to walk along and brings you to the Comedy Carpet which has quotes from some of the greats who have played at Blackpool theatres.

There's been a huge investment on the seafront and Blackpool is now a blue flag beach.

There are many chain restaurants and if you've got kids or teenagers with you, you can't go for wrong with a trip to Nandos just off the main drag.

People come from all over the world to see Blackpool 's famous Pleasure beach.

At our B and B, the Red Stone Hotel in Alexandra Road, there was a family from India whose kids wanted to come to England to visit the leisure park.

A hearty breakfast at the winner of the four and in a bed programme, I was soon on my way to a day of fun.

I was greeted by Stephen Burton who explained what was in store for the day. The Pleasure Beach resort pass would get me on all the rides and there was food passes which allow you and the family to eat at various restaurants in the park. There is everything to choose from pizza pasta, burgers, hot dogs and ice cream!

"I've got a great job. We are in the business of fun and people are happy when they come here," said Stephen.

It must be a good 20 years since I've been, and a huge amount of work has been done, the park is fully enclosed and security's priority so families can enjoy a safe day out.

The wristbands are a god send rather than paying for rides individually.

There is something for everyone from the Nickelodeon area for wee ones, to the famous big one, big dipper to new rides Valhalla and

Fusion.

The big thrill rides are what people come for - the mix of fear and fun.

Screams are heard as people whizz and thunder by on rollercoasters.

I was too timid to try the bug one, but my partner, who looked white as a sheet after it, said it was amazing.

A word of advice at Valhalla - wear a poncho.

It was time to chill out at the B and B for a while which was just a few minutes walk away.

It has been fully refurbished and is an absolute gem.

Run by mum and son, their attention to detail is faultless. Hairdressers and straighteners in the room and comfy beds, it is a great place to stay.

We were heading for one of Blackpool's most famous traditions Harry Ramsden's, when we spotted the Blackpool Tower Dungeon, part of the Merlin Entertainment group.

A quick tour around will leave you spooked!

You can't come to Blackpool without having fish and chips.

Harry Ramsden's have opened a new place on the Golden Mile and it is huge. Their chips were scrummy.

As an avid Strictly Come Dancing fan I was so looking forward to a trip to the Blackpool Tower Ballroom, again part of the world of Merlin Entertainments.

While I might not be twinkle toes myself I was looking forward to seeing how it was done.

So day two beckoned and it was time to head to the top of the tower.

The Blackpool Tower Eye and 4d cinema was a new attraction for me.

It's really well done and the highlight has to be standing out on the glass ledge looking down along the prom - no mean feet for when as I'm scared of heights. The view is spectacular and not to be missed.

We were booked in to the Tower Ballroom for afternoon tea.

I stepped in and looked around me in amazement. It was everything I had dreamt of and more - I even felt a bit emotional.

I spotted the famous Wurlitzer organ on stage. We were ready for afternoon tea with a front row seat and I was transported to a long gone ear, lost in the music and mesmerised by the couple quickstepping and foxtrotting around the floor. I'd heard about the sprung floor and you certainly feel it when they whizz past you.

It is a sheer delight to spend an afternoon there.

On to our last event - Blackpool Tower Circus.

I can't remember the last time I visited the circus and had no idea what to expect.

I was blown away. The ringmaster and classy clown were a top act and gelled off one another with a combination of slapstick banter and comedy.

It might have been traditional entertainment but it was brought right up to date.

A packed show with superb acts from a jaw dropping trapeze artists and jailhouse rock acrobats this is a circus show for today's generation.

Blackpool might be steeped in tradition and nostalgia, but it has taken that to keep an eye on the future to make it a destination families will return to for years to come

Deborah stayed at the Red Stone Hotel, 9 Alexandra Rd, Blackpool FY1 6BY. Telphone: 01253 283387

She dined at Nando's and Harry Ramsden's.

She was entertained by Merlin Entertainments and Blackpool Pleasure Beach

For more information go to www.VisitBlackpool.com