One of the most important industries in Aberdeen becomes apparent as soon as you lay eyes on the distinctive gray façades of its buildings constructed from locally quarried granite. Discover other sources of the city’s wealth in the Aberdeen Maritime Museum, which reveals a rich seafaring history of shipbuilding, whaling and oil drilling in the North Sea. Old Aberdeen transports you even farther into the past with the medieval architecture of King’s College, the 12th-century Church of St. Nicholas, and the 7th-century St. Machar Cathedral. Golfers should not miss the opportunity to tee up in the country that invented the sport, and Cruden Bay Golf Club is just minutes from Aberdeen. One of the finest in Scotland, the traditional links course offers truly spectacular views. Scotch whisky aficionados will want to take a picturesque drive into the countryside for a tour and tasting at the esteemed Glenfiddich Distillery. For another quintessentially Scottish experience, follow the coast south to Dunnottar Castle, a photographer’s paradise of evocative ruins perched atop a dramatic cliff surrounded on three sides by the sea.