The turn of the millennium didn’t only bring questionable fashion choices.
Those of us who were growing up in the early 2000s, there are many moments we will look back on fondly.
If you remember most of the things on this list, you probably grew up in Teesside in the 00s.
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1.Fishing for tadpoles in Billingham
Billingham Beck Valley Country park is a haven for wildlife just of the side of the A19.
Its marshlands were perfect for catching bucketloads of tadpoles in the spring.
2. Shopping at Big W, Portrack Lane
The store became Big W in 2000 - bringing 6,000sq ft of bargains to Portrack Lane.
It spent four glorious years as Big W, before downsizing and eventually closing in 2008. It later became The Range.
3. Going into Butterfly World and feeling like you’re on another planet
Any child who went to Butterfly World immediately forgot they were in chilly Stockton and was transported to a tropical paradise.
The place now boasts reptiles, spiders and even meerkats, but back in the early 00s the butterflies ruled the roost.
4. Preston Park’s aviary when it actually had birds in
Speaking of Preston Park, 00s kids will remember the aviary when it was still teeming with birds.
It has been unused for several years now but was once home to a variety of wild birds.
5.Got a lemon top from Pacitto in Stockton
Pacitto still reigns supreme in Redcar, but those in Stockton will remember the cafe on the corner of Dovecot Street and West Row.
With its blue and pink chairs and twee metal bowls, it was Teesside’s take on an American malt shop.
A favourite place to take your nana and its cakes were to die for.
6. The clown at Charlie Chalks
Everyone who was anyone had a birthday party at Charlie Chalks on Yarm Road, Stockton.
The icing on the cake was when the eponymous Charlie - the clown who was slightly cross eyed - came out at the end of the birthday meal.
7. The floor at Dunnes, Billingham
Endless fun was to be had stepping on the cream and pink lino floor at the huge shop.
Now Tesco, the floor no longer remains, but any 00s kid will remember playing on the Dunnes flooring.
8. The slope onto the beach at Redcar
Before Redcar and Cleveland Council’s rejuvenation of Redcar seafront, a steep, concrete slope led down to the beach from the esplanade.
The ramp was a death trap for kids who loved to run down to the sand, but you’d do it anyway just for the thrill.
9. Unleashing your inner hippy at Middlesbrough Music Live
Middlesbrough Music Live - or MML - was for many of us the first taste we had of a music festival.
Anyone who attended it must remember donning their wellies to hang out in Centre Square, whether it was raining or not.
The Zutons, Wheatus, The Darkness, Paolo Nutini and Tony Christie all graced the stage by mima.
10. Orienteering in Stewart Park
The map of Stewart Park’s orienteering posts provided hours of fun for those in need of some outdoor adventure.
The small, pink crosses on the map marked wooden posts that were so well hidden, some took hours to find.
Now most have been pinched or forgotten.
11. Hung out at McDonald’s Stockton High Street
McDonald's was the meeting point for friendships, the highlight of a child’s trip to town and the place to head after an exhausting trip to “Stockton Baths”.
Children everywhere were heartbroken when the fast food giant announced it was closing.
It is now home to Hewitt’s Solicitors, but the phantom scent of Big Macs linger in the air.
12. Went to school with a coca cola hangover after a night at Club M
The words Club M should make any current twenty-something shudder.
The sticky floor, the horrendous rave music and the skimpy outfits - it’s like something out of a bad teen horror film.
But back in the day, Club M - the monthly underage night at Tall Trees, Yarm - was the place to be.
It finished at 9.30pm, but that didn’t stop you going to school with a soft drink “hangover” the following day.
13. Playing with toys in Strickland and Holt
Ok, the toys are still there, but they don’t create the same giddy joy as they did when you were a kid.
The plastic pieces of fun line one side of the teeny Yarm shop.
And if you were told to choose a treat from Strickland and Holt, you could be there for hours sampling the plastic spiders, bouncy balls and stretchy dolls before you chose one.
14. Pretending you were a mermaid at Stockton baths
I hope I’m not the only one who used to do this.
Before Stockton’s swimming baths on Church Road became Splash, the blue-tiled pool was more like a mythical lagoon to a child’s eye.
15. Redcar and Seaton’s outdoor pools
When there was a rare hot day, every kid at the seaside would be straight in the tiny outdoor paddling pools - totally ignoring the fact the sea was just metres away.
16. “Plaggy Bagging” on Eston Hills
OK, so it was done for decades before - but was still enjoyed by plenty of 00s youths.
As soon as the snow hit, it was time to grab your plastic bags and head for the hills.
Kids today may opt for plastic sledges, but we all know a plastic bag works even better.
17. Buying expensive second hand clothing from Deep Clothing, Linthorpe Road
Any wannabe indie kids growing up in the early 00s wanted to get their hands on as much merch from the vintage clothes shop as possible.
Never mind if you were spending your full week’s pocket money on someone’s old jeans that had been made into shorts.
I’m sure I still have a pair at the back of my wardrobe somewhere...
18. Slid along the long shiny bench at Hollywood Bowl
It wasn’t a trip to Hollywood Bowl without sliding along that bench.
Since its refurb, the slippy, shiny plastic has been replaced with padded seats.
But those growing up in the 00s will have enjoyed playing that game almost as much as they enjoyed bowling.
19. Getting to the top of the volcano at Fun City
In reality, the volcano is probably no taller than the average person, but when you are a child it might as well be Mt Everest.
You’d spend most of your allocated time trying to climb the thing, only to realise once you’re up there, there’s not much to do than sit smugly watching your playmates below.
20. Riding round the streets on a micro scooter
These little silver scooters were all the rage circa 2000.
They were fast, loud, and the colour of the wheels certainly determined how cool you were.
21. Went through a goth phase thanks to Tammy
We all know that kid who pulled off the gothic look perfectly.
For girls whose mothers would wince at the thought of black baggy jeans with chains on, Tammy had its own version, but with butterflies instead of skulls.
22. Got your ears pierced at Claire’s Accessories
Who else remembers being frogmarched by their reluctant mother to their nearest Claire’s Accessories and picking out their first pair of studs?
The ear guns seemed scary, but not as scared as you’d be when your dad found out.
23. Gazing at the fish at Peter Barratt’s Garden Centre
A trip to Peter Barratt’s meant only one thing - fish.
The little tropical fish tanks stacked on top of each other provided hours of fun and was the only reason mum didn’t have to drag you kicking and screaming to the garden centre.
24. The excitement of going to Cineworld
The Odeon and Showcase were the place to see the latest movies for those growing up in the 80s and 90s.
But in 2001, the plush new Cineworld opens its doors - WITHOUT tip-up seats!
25. Nokia 3310
If you carried a Nokia 3310 phone, played on a Nintendo Game Boy and tried to breed little gooey aliens that came in plastic eggs, you were definitely a child of the 00s.
26. MSN
Hands up who else spent all day chatting to people at school, just to go home and spend hours talking to them on the chat forum via dial-up internet.
27. Going to the Herlingshaw Centre for roller skating parties
Now run by the MFC Foundation, the centre was a former hot spot for kids’ parties and roller skating dates.
28. Thinking way too long and hard about who your “top friends” were on Myspace
Things like that could make or break a friendship
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