Try Seahouses

I`ll echo that!

Have you ever been to South Shields they have a fantastic coast that stretches for miles and a fairground right beside it. There are lots of B&B's are in Ocean Road which is the Curry House empire - the street has over 20 Curry Houses to chose from. You are also in walking distance of the town centre with lots and lots of shops which I'm sure you will enjoy.

Their isn't a lot in Seahouses so it depends what you want really.

Tynemouth has a good Blue Flag beach and part of it is dog free. There is also a small boating lake and a Blue Reef aquarium, you get your hand stamped on exiting so you can go back in again later (handy if your on the beach and you need the loo!)
Diggerland is brill.

Whitley Bays lovely been a couple of times now.

booked a short break with family to weardale in Co. durham in sept. going with granparents and my 2 kids ( age 2 and a baby).

i already know about Diggerland which my son will love. looking for any good places to vist / things to do / pubs or restuarants that you can recommend in and around Durham. word of mouth is always better than spending ages trawling through internet page after page of toursit attractions.

Beamish museum
http://www.beamish.org.uk/

Killhope Lead Mine
http://www.durham.gov.uk/killhope/usp.nsf/pws/killhope+-+Killhope+Homepage

Raby Castle
http://www.rabycastle.com/

Durham Cathedral

Barnard Castle including The Bowes Museum
http://www.barnardcastlelife.co.uk/

Hope this helps

Oklahoma,
I live in Durham and those places would of been what I would of posted.

Also, High Force waterfalls, Alston Railway and if the weather holds up, Weardale Open Air Swimming baths.

For a restaurant I was going to suggest 'The Pump House' in Durham, but with small children I'm not so sure.
Can you think of anywhere CazMicknTom?

I can recomend an Italian Restaurant at Shotley Bridge, near Consett. It's called Sale Pepe and is fantastico!! . Also there is The Old Mill at Knitsley, near Consett. Both are family friendly and we eat at both places regularly. As you are staying in Weardale, it is only a fifteen minute drive to both these venues across some beautiful moorlands with fantastic views.

http://www.knitsleymill.co.uk/

I can't really recomend anything in Durham City though.

Also forgot to mention Harperly POW camp to visit, very interesting history there.

http://www.powcamp.com/index.html

Ther's also Tanfield railway at Causey Arch near Stanley which is close to Beamish Museum.

http://www.tanfield-railway.co.uk/cms/

In Durham City, The Bridge pub is o.k. for lunchtime food but there are loads of options.

If the weather is good, you could visit the Botanic Gardens in Durham. My daughter went when she was about 2 or 3 and loved it.

Whatever you do I hope you enjoy your visit.

Do you know, I still haven't been to Harperly and it's very near to us. I think you tend to go to lots of places when you're on holiday but forget about doing these things when at home.
I love the drive over the moors

I took would second the Botanic Gardens I really like it there and Harperley (as you say Oklahoma, it's somewhere we alway forget about!!)

Restaurants - The Pump House is nice (and expensive) but is more of a 'grown-up' night, I'm not too sure about taking kids there. You could try Oldfields instead, I know they are OK with kids and has moderate prices (plus they often have lunch and dinner 2 course specials).
Pub food - there's a new Wetherspoons pub down by the Gala theatre (not the one on North Rd if you're asking for directions) which would be nice for lunch. The Brown Jug on Claypath often have lunchtime specials too.