Hello all,
My husband and I usually stick to the Rick Steves guidebook travel itinerary when we travel and have never been dissapointed. Now that we have our girls we find we can't pack as much in in a day and prefer to stay in one area for 3 nights. This is our first trip to Ireland and we have a total of 13 days arriving May 8th and are flying in and out of Dublin. Can any of you suggest 4 towns to sleep in (and hotels/b&B's) and what to visit in those areas. We will have a rental car. I haven't researched much yet but I do want to see the Titanic exhibit in Belfast if you think its worth it to go north, would love to stay in a castle if possible, see an Irish dance show and also be able to have the girls feed some sheep. We would be happy to go on some tours too.
Please let me know if you have any fun suggestions for our traveling family of 4. I really appreciate it!
Karrie
Posted by
Bellingham, WA
702 posts
I have seen several posts on the forum about sheepdog demonstrations and falconry, as well as the National Stud. The jaunting cars in Killarney Park might appeal to young kids. Those are probably all in the RS guidebook.
Something that is likely not in the guidebook is the Sperrins trolls. https://sperrinspartnershipproject.com/sperrins-trail/ These are large sculptures made by (or at least, at the direction of) Danish sculptor Thomas Dambo, who has projects all over the world. They are in the Sperrins mountains in Northern Ireland. One of them involves a significant hike (stroller or backpack required for this age), but the other two are accessible from parking lots. One is at the OM Dark Sky Park, which has other attractions and play areas. https://omdarksky.com
I had a place on my list, and now I can't find it. It was a treetop walk in a park with a lot deer. I googled and came up with one down south near Glendalough. It didn't sound like the one I had in mind.
Kids of all ages enjoy hopping between the basalt columns of the Giant's Causeway. And Ireland has loads of beaches, some sandy, some rocky.
I would not recommend an organized tour unless your girls are exceptionally mellow. There is no need to join an organized tour when you have a car. There is also no need to stay in a hotel when you have a car and can stay absolutely anywhere. Take a look at AirBnB, and you'll see there are lots of options all over Ireland. Another good option with kids is glamping, which is very popular.
As far as towns, in the North, I'd say Bushmills has good access to the places mentioned above, but you could do those as day trips from Belfast just as easily.
In the South, I've seen someone on the Forum mention Lawcusfarm Guesthouse near Kilkenny. https://www.lawcusfarmguesthouse.com
I just searched for Falconry and saw that there is a place in Wicklow near the treetop walk mentioned above, as well as a water park, botanical garden. So lots to do in the Wicklow area, and Wicklow town is on the water. This is not a part of Ireland I have been to, but it looks interesting for little kids. I mean, maybe a 2-year-old shouldn't be taken near birds of prey?
I just a place literally called Hold a Baby Lamb on the Slea Head Ring Road on the Dingle Penninsula. Now I want to go there and hold a baby lamb so much.
Posted by
London
255 posts
I definitely recommend going north and making Belfast one of the towns you sleep in. In addition to the Titanic exhibition they have the SS Nomadic, which is a surviving White Star Line vessel which acted as a tender for the Titanic. Right next door to both is W5 which is a very kid-friendly science museum. A little bit out of town there's the Ulster Folk Museum, which is one of those outdoor living museums with historic buildings all set up in one place that you can wander in and out of. Belfast is very accessible to the Causeway Coast which I agree is also fun for children. I also recommend driving up to Ballycastle and taking the ferry across to Rathlin Island where you can see the seabirds. Good luck!