Blackpool rocks!

THINK Blackpool, and think tower, donkeys on the beach, kiss-me-quick hats, stag and hen parties, saucy postcards and fun fairs - think again. There's much more to the UK's most popular resort than the classic cliches, yet it seems the message hasn't reached everyone. But it will.

Yes, it's still brash and bold (flash and cold, some may say) and loud and proud. That's what it's celebrated for. And in 2016, there's much to celebrate. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the seafront Sandcastle waterpark and the silver jubilee of the Endreesz family's circus show in the tower. The circus - all belly-laughs and jaw-dropping stunts - stars Mooky and Mr Boo, and has wowed audiences for 25 years with top-class acts from all over the world.

Sandcastle is the UK's largest indoor waterpark and among the highlights are the Master Blaster - the world's longest indoor rollercoaster water slide - and the first indoor near-vertical half-pipe slide, the Side Winder. There are 18 slides, a wave pool, cannons, fountains, jets, a spa (at extra cost) and catering outlets both inside and outside the wet areas.

Continual development of the town's leisure facilities and a desire to open itself up to new markets has seen Blackpool weather the rise and fall of the British seaside town like no other. To promote all it has to offer, there are campaigns like Blackpool Has it All and the website www.VisitBlackpool.com where you'll find information on all the places to see and stay as well as details about the Blackpool Resort Pass, which can save you up to £30 if you plan to take in a number of the attractions run by Merlin Entertainments.

You can visit any time of the year and be assured of a spectacle - the illuminations from September to November, the famous promenade at Christmas, the thrills and spills of the famous Pleasure Beach, or (fingers crossed) time on the seven miles of sands in the sun.

We visited in August and were greeted with what many believe to be the kind of weather just as traditional as the fish and chips - mostly rain and wind. It put off all but the hardiest of souls from venturing to the beach, but as most of the attractions are indoors, and the new-look trams stop frequently and often, it was never a problem.

We - boys aged 16, nine and seven - arrived after a drive of two-and-a-bit hours on the mid-afternoon of the Tuesday and checked into the Big Blue Hotel. There was immediate delight when the lads saw the room - it included children's bunk-beds tucked away by a semi-dividing wall, with a TV each at eye level, and a PlayStation 3 games machine.

The hotel has a private gateway into Nickelodeon Land - a dedicated children's theme park opened in 2011 and the Pleasure Beach, which was founded by Alderman William George Bean in 1897, with an aim to create a theme park similar to New York's Coney Island, that would "make adults feel like children again". The park now has 125 rides and attractions, including Europe's highest rollercoaster - the 235ft high Pepsi Max Big One - historic wooden high-rollers, and the indoor Viking-themed log flume with ice, fire, wind and snow.

We ate at Nando's on the first night - short taxi ride or a half-hour stroll along the seafront - which is a particular favourite of the 16-year-old, and now his dad and two brothers. Between us, we sampled churasco thigh burgers, chicken wraps, chicken fillet strips and, of course, chips.

After a wonderful sleep - the teenager in the king-size bed, and me on a fold-down effort by the window - it was down for an enjoyable self-service breakfast, and time to explore.

The first stop was Madame Tussauds where the boys posed for photographs alongside models of David Beckham, Ant and Dec, Keith Lemon, the Royal family, and Simon Cowell, while their Sunderland-supporting dad couldn't resist a cheeky snap strangling Alan Shearer. One of the highlights was getting wax casts made of our hands.

Onto the famous tower nearby - the town's central icon, opened in 1894 and based on the design of the Eiffel Tower - which is home to a host of attractions. It offers far more than just panoramic views as far as the Lake District and North Wales, with its sumptuous ballroom, 4D cinema experience, the omnipresent amusements, a "sky walk" on a glass floor 380ft up, Harry Ramsden's fish and chip restaurant and the unmissable circus.

We ate at the newly-opened Harry Ramsden's down below and next door - and while the two little uns plumped for battered sausage and chips, and the teenager went for New York burger and chips, it was left to me to sample the haddock and chips, and it was spot on. Belgian waffle for dessert for one, and a chocolate milkshake with cup cake topping (!) for another.

Still on a high after the tower climb, it was onto the Sea Life Centre,an aquarium which is home to more than 2,000 creatures from around Britain's coastline, as well as from more exotic shores. Its fantastic underwater tunnel, where sharks glide silently above and around you, and a sunken pirate galleon with crazy golf are particular highlights.

That night we ate at Las Iguanas, a South American restaurant close to the tower where the authentic chilli con carne, xinxim (a Brazilian blend of crayfish and chicken in a creamy lime and peanut sauce), fajitas, and cod-bites for the less-adventurous one went down a treat.

Suitably filled, we headed back to the hotel to get our heads down and prepare for what turned out to be an energetic day at Sandcastle and then the Ascent trampoline park - both given a resounding ten out of ten afterwards.

New this year, Ascent has more than 100 interconnected trampolines, a stunt-run, dodgeball cage, slam-dunk, giant foam put, air bag, ninja assault course and battle beam. Simply great fun.

That the boys were still talking about everything we packed into our two days a fortnight after our trip, shows how much of a superb time they had. The highlights for all three of them the water park and trampoline centre. Their old dad rolled back the years at both, too, and marked them equally impressively - but also thoroughly enjoyed a trip down memory lane with the circus.

Think Blackpool - think again.