Here is a selection of some of the wonderful activities, attractions and excursions to be found in Aberdeenshire.
For watersports, Cullen Sea School on the northern coast offers a range of activities, including kayaking, paddle boarding and sailing.
For a bird's eye view of the area, head to Deeside Gliding Club at Aboyne, which is the UK's best wave soaring site - the altitude record of a staggering 38,600ft was set here. You can book a trial lesson and enjoy soaring over the Cairngorms with incredible views of the coast and into the mountains.
Outdoor enthusiasts should head to Lochter Activity Centre near Inverurie, where there's everything from archery and clay pigeon shooting to go-karting, zorbing and segway. Outdoor adventures are, of course, in abundance throughout the Cairngorms National Park, part of which is in Aberdeenshire.
For a maritime-themed day out, head to the Salmon Bothy Museum at Portsoy, which covers the history of fishing and the relationship with the sea in the area. Visit The Boatshed, also in Portsoy, to see traditional boat-building methods in action. You can even take part in workshops to learn the tools and techniques for yourself.
Family-friendly days out can be found at Wynford Farm Park at Kingswells, Macduff Aquarium and the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford. TheMill of Nethermill, near the village of Pennan, is home to Millshore pottery and a shop selling other local crafts and antiques. You can also visit and say hello to the herd of Highland cows at Aikenshill House, just outside the city of Aberdeen.
Art-lovers must ensure they pay a visit to Duff House near Banff. This Georgian mansion is part of the National Galleries of Scotland and houses a changing series of art exhibitions.
As well as being a huge part of the economy, fishing is also a great activity for visitors to Aberdeenshire. River fishing in the River Don is particularly good, well known for salmon and sea trout, but the River Dee and Deveron are also popular with visitors and locals alike. Sea fishing in the North Sea is also very popular.