Ashington is grim.
However most of Northumberland isn't. OH is from Northumberland so we visit a lot. Here is a list of things you can do:
Towns
Morpeth, Alnwick, Hexham, Corbridge, Berwick upon Tweed
Castles
Alnwick castle and gardens, Chillingham, Warkworth, Belsay, Bamburgh, Dunstanburgh, Lindisfarne
Stately homes
Cragside, Wallington, Seaton Delaval
Other sites
Holy Island, Hadrian's wall - Housesteads, Vindolanda and Chesters, Howick gardens, Woodhorn museum, Farne Islands, Grace Darling museum, Brinkburn Priory, Warkworth hermitage, Hauxley nature reserve
Beaches
Druridge bay, Alnmouth, Embleton
Children
Whitehouse farm centre, Kirkley hall zoological gardens, Heatherslaw light railway, Eshott Heugh animal park