Showing posts with label burren. Show all posts
Showing posts with label burren. Show all posts

Destination: Ireland



Language: Irish & English / Currency: Euro / Capital: Dublin 


                  Sample Itinerary                                                                     

Things to See/Do 


  • Cliffs of Moher     
  • The Burren
  • Guinness Storehouse
  • Old Jameson Distillery 
  • A pub. Any pub. 
  • Giants Causeway
  • Newgrange
  • Trinity College Library
  • Dunlace Castle
  • Cruise the River Shannon


Helpful Links

http://adornedtraveler.blogspot.com/2016/06/eurotrip-day-2.html
http://adornedtraveler.blogspot.com/2016/06/eurotrip-day-3.html
http://adornedtraveler.blogspot.com/2016/06/eurotrip-day-4.html

Don't Forget to Pack: Waterproof Shoes, Rain Jacket, Light, Warm Layers, Chapstick







Eurotrip Day 4

We weren't sure anything could top the experience we had at the Cliffs or Moher, but today's adventure came pretty close.

We had a long drive ahead of us to get to Northern Ireland, but who cares if you get to drive by this kind of scenery all day?!


Our first stop was the Carrick-A-Rede rope bridge challenge. We all passed with flying colors, but later found out that DANIEL was the one making it bounce!



The really awesome part? The bridge was actually built over an old (now inactive) volcano! Fisherman used to haul their catch over this bridge everyday. Back then it was no more than a single board and three ropes. I bet they're thankful Daniel wasn't there to bounce it for them.


Oh, and for all of you GOT fans, this was also used as a filming location!


So, after loading up in the car, we were off to the Giants Causeway. This had been at the top of my list since we started planning our trip to Ireland. The Giants Causeway is a natural phenomenon, no one really knows how or why the rocks have formed this way.


Scientists claim that earthquakes and volcanic activity may have played a roll... but they can't prove it.


Legend says it was the home of a giant, hence the name.


Regardless of how or why, this place was awesome to see in person. (However, I must concede that the cliffs were the BEST part of this trip.)


Before heading off to our next stop, we decided to have lunch in the café at the Causeway. I FINALLY had some Irish food! The traditional Irish stew and wheaten bread was delicious and so worth the wait. Who knew it would be so hard to find Irish food in Ireland?


Once we finished up our lunch, we went to explore a castle. Dunlace Castle in Northern Ireland is a castle in ruins. There are restorative efforts taking place, but mostly just to give you an idea of what it once looked like. Back in the day, this place was huge! Their view wasn't too shabby either.


Portrush beach was only a few more kilometers down the coast, so we headed there as one final destination for the day. Also known as whiterocks beach, the dunes were lined with massive rocks that were stark white. The beach was beautiful and the water was FREEZING. Only one of us actually went in the water.




The drive home was bound to be a long one, so we figured, whats another hour or so? Instead of cutting through to the highway in Belfast, we took the Wild Atlantic Causeway. #worthit



The Causeway wound along the coastline of Northern Ireland, through tiny fishing villages, along cliffsides overlooking the ocean, past green pastures of sheep and cattle. This was one of the best ways to see Ireland and a great way to end our day.


Don't miss these great articles by the Adorned Travelers:

Eurotrip Day 3

Eurotrip Day 6


Traveling Ireland

We are planning our first ever trip to Ireland this summer, so I wanted to share with you what that looks like for us.

First, we knew we only had 3 full days to spend in Ireland, so we needed to narrow down the things that we wanted to see or do while we were there. I don't count the day that we arrive or the day that we leave. This allows for some free time to do whatever you feel like and there's no added pressure of trying to fit something in before you need to be at the airport.


Our top 6 adventures included:
  • The Guinness Storehouse  
  • Kilmainham Gaol 
  • Cliffs of Moher 
  • Giants Causeway
  • Dunlace Castle 
  • Portrush Beach


Once we narrowed down what we wanted to do, I was able to determine a good central location for our overnight accommodations. Given that we're flying into Dublin and the first two items on our list are in the city, and the fact that Dublin is about the same distance between the cliffs and Northern Ireland, finding a place in the city was a win-win. 

I <3 AirBnB! So, naturally, we found the perfect little studio apartment, walking distance from the Guinness Storehouse, that fit within our budget. Check!

Now, time is money and timing is everything! So, this is the part where I make spreadsheets.

It starts off as more of a list...

Day 2: Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol
Day 3: Cliffs of Moher
Day 4: Giants Causeway, Dunlace Castle, Portrush Beach

You don't want to cram too much stuff into one day. Afterall, this is a vacation! I group things together based on the amount of time they will take and where they're located.

After a little research, you can begin filling in the details and your itinerary will turn out something like this:



As you research, you might add little things to your activity list. For instance, the Burren is on the way to the Cliffs of Moher, so it only made sense for us to take an extra 30 minutes that day to see it.

Just try to consider how long each activity, including your meals, will take. I also try to keep a running tab in the far column to make sure that we are within (or preferably below) our budget.

This can be as detailed or as simple as you want it to be. I do eventually add our flight itinerary and reservation codes in the details section, so I can have everything in one place. It is a little bit of work, but it's like cleaning your bedroom: once you're done and everything is organized, you feel SO much better.

So, where is your itinerary taking you? We can't wait to hear about your next trip! Leave us a comment below and if you 'follow' our blog (top right!) I'll even help you create your next itinerary!



Don't miss these great articles by the Adorned Travelers:


Budgeting: The Traveler's 'B-Word' - with Free Printable 

The Big Ten: Our Top Ten Dream Travel Destinations