This article is from Sydney WeekendNotes for Wednesday the 23rd of December 2009

If you’re in need of a bit of sweetening up this weekend, why not take a trip to Leura in the Blue Mountains where The Candy Store is sure to satisfy those sugar cravings.

First opened in 1990, The Candy Store now offers a tempting array of over 2000 colourful sweet treats, including many of the hard to get favourites you enjoyed as a child.

When you step into the store, you are instantly hit by a magical rainbow of jars, packed to the ceiling, with bon bons, toffees, jellies, rocks, éclairs and absolutely every other sweet imaginable. You will be mesmerized by the selection of fudges, chocolates and novelties from all over the world, including places like England, USA, Belgium and Germany as well as Australian and New Zealand delights.

On my visit, the store was packed with wide eyed children and adults alike. It took quite some time to choose, with so many childhood memories flooding back. I settled on Lemon Bon Bons and Jelly Tots, which were demolished by my clan before I could say dentist! You will find The Candy Store in the Strande Arcade, on the corner of the Mall and Megalong Street.

While in Leura, not far from The Candy Store is The Wayzgoose Cafe, on the Mall in Leura. They are famous for their huge flowerpot scones, served with a generous helping of berry jam and a huge dollop of fresh cream. Melt in the mouth fantastic. They also do a mean French onion soup with gruyere cheese sourdough toast. Delicious. Leura really is gastronomic heaven for foodies.

To burn off a few of those calories, a bush walk might be on the cards. Check out Leura Blue Mountains Guide for information about the wonderful scenic walks in the area or for another step into your childhood; why not visit the Toy and Railway Museum of New South Wales on Olympian Parade, Leura.

To get to Leura, travel west on the Great Western Highway from Sydney and follow it all the way to the Blue Mountains. It should take about an hour, just enough time to build up an appetite.