Weymouth and Portland will host all sailing events for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games between July and September 2012.

Weymouth developed from the 12th century as a sea port at the mouth of the river Wey. Its transformation into a seaside resort started way back in 1760. King George III visited Weymouth almost every year for long summer stays and made sea bathing highly fashionable.

Whether the King read the book "Cursory Observations on Sea Bathing and the Use of Sea Water Internally" is uncertain. This was published by Dr Crane, a local Weymouth doctor, in 1795 and advocated drinking a pint of seawater a day.

Fortunately the Brewery in Hope Square, now called Brewers Quay, had been established for several hundred years by then, and the sea water pint never caught on!

Weymouth's future as a seaside resort continued to flourish which is not surprising when you witness the beauty of its bay and the stunning views eastward along the Jurassic Coast towards Lulworth Cove and St Albans Head.

The Esplanade fronts a thriving town with an excellent shopping centre complete with a large Debenhams and numerous other shops, cafes, restaurants and a multi-screen cinema.

The beach at Weymouth is superb, with golden sand as far as the eye can see. Plenty of things to keep children occupied. Swimming, sand castles and entertainment courtesy of Mr Punch.

If truncheons, sausages and crocodiles don't keep them occupied there is always the Sea Life Park at Lodmoor, the RSPB Nature Reserve at Radipole Lake and the Pavilion Theatre.

Weymouth Harbour is always busy with a myriad of craft, everything from fishing boats to pleasure craft, tall ships and the ferries to the Channel Islands.

If lucky, you get to see the fishing boats unload their catch, usually crabs, some the size of dinner plates.

The walk along the far side of the river is excellent. You pass several restaurants and soon reach Hope Square and Brewers Quay.

Brewers Quay is well worth a look. It combines a shopping village and a Museum called the "Timewalk" which takes you through the History of Weymouth

Continuing along the Harbour side towards the mouth of the river you will see a path leading up to the Nothe Gardens.

Here you can enjoy an ice cream and a cup of tea in a very pleasant garden cafe.

The gardens lead down to the Nothe Fort, built from 1860 to 1872 to defend both Weymouth and Portland Harbours.