There are tears and hugs as we say goodbye, and we’re already frantically texting each other with inside jokes and whines about missing Scotland and Ireland. The trip was wonderful. The scenery was mind-boggling. The friendships I made filled my heart.
Powerscourt & Glendalough County Wicklow is home to some of the wildest and most spectacular scenery in Ireland, as well as two of the country’s most important historic sites. Your first stop is Glendalough, which became famous throughout Europe as a center of Christian learning before it was sacked by Read more
Take a comprehensive tour of Ireland’s capital city with a local expert leading the way. Stop in Phoenix Park, site of the presidential residence, and pass by the Guinness Storehouse. Step inside the soaring St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Ireland’s largest church. Pass St. Stephen’s Green and admire the Georgian architecture of Read more
Pay a visit to Blarney Castle, the home of the legendary Blarney Stone, said to grant the “gift of gab” to those who kiss it. Then, continue to Waterford where you’ll tour the city’s famed crystal factory. I’m exhausted and all the days are running together. I’m tired of buses Read more
Make your way along the dramatically rugged terrain of the Dingle Peninsula. Take a scenic drive along the Slea Head Drive, enjoying impressive coastal views as you go. Enter the Gallarus Oratory, an early Christian church overlooking the harbor at Ard na Caithne. Enjoy photo stops at Coumeenole Beach, Slea Read more
Travel through the Irish countryside to County Kerry today, taking time to view spectacular scenery en route. Pass through the Burren, a unique limestone plateau where fields of rock are dotted with wildflowers. Pay a visit to a local crystal and marble factory. Walk along the mesmerizing coastline of the Read more
Kylemore Abbey & Connemara National Park Make your way to the island village of Cong, situated on the border of counties Galway and Mayo. Here, enjoy free time to stroll through the town’s charming streets, catching glimpses of the nearby Ashford Castle. Then, continue on to Kylemore Abbey, a Benedictine Read more
En route to Galway, stop in the town of Kilbeggan and take a tour of the historic whiskey distillery. After a tasting, continue on to Galway for a sightseeing tour of the city. Stroll past Lynch’s Castle, Galway Cathedral, the Druid Theater Company and the broad expanse of Eyre Square. Read more
Sightseeing tour of Belfast Get to know Belfast, the cultural heart of Northern Ireland, from a local’s perspective on a guided tour. Glimpse the copper-domed City Hall and the recently restored Grand Opera House. Learn all about Belfast’s long history, from its origins in the Bronze Age and rise as Read more
Make your way to the village of Cairnryan where you’ll board a ferry for your voyage across the Irish Sea to Belfast. Today was our crossing from Scotland to Ireland. To board the ferry, we drove through this little coastal Scottish town that was so charming it physically hurt me. Read more