Renowned as the Emerald Isle for its rolling green hills and abundance of vegetation that provides a wealth of gorgeous scenery, Ireland is an easy getaway from Charlotte, with regular flights flying out directly to Dublin, the lively capital and largest city of the Republic of Ireland. Start your visit here and enjoy the best of both worlds appreciating the natural beauty of the Chestnut trees that populate the city and local parks and taking in a glimpse of the city’s historic past with its Georgian squares and impressive churches and cathedrals dating back to Medieval and Gothic times.
In between your site-seeing adventures or for a fun night out, you can visit any one of the numerous local distilleries and breweries for craft beers, fine whiskies and an assortment of expertly curated, locally sourced foods that are incredibly fresh and so tasty they will leave you wanting more!
Northern Ireland: Revisiting the Titanic, Street Art and a Natural Phenomenon
Leave the cosmopolitan streets of Dublin and travel north to the bustling city of Belfast. Walking the streets, you will get an up close and personal view of Ireland’s rich history, including the Titanic Museum where you’ll get to hear survivors’ first-hand accounts of that tragic night in the middle of the icy Atlantic. As part of the “Belfast Titanic Experience”, you will have the opportunity to personally engage in an activity that demonstrates what it must have felt like to be a passenger on that magnificent, yet doomed voyage in 1912.
Drive further north to Londonderry to walk along Rossville Street to view the legendary Bogside murals. Popularly known as the ‘People’s Gallery”, these 12 street murals were painted on the sides of 17th-century homes in a neighborhood along the Foyle River. The images depict the political history, strife and struggle for civil rights in the region.
While in Northern Ireland, visit the awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway, with its 40,000-interlocking polygonal-shaped basalt columns, formed as a result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. There are approximately 40,000 of these stone pillars, each typically with five to seven irregular sides, jutting out of the cliff faces as if they were steps creeping into the sea, with some reaching heights of 330 feet.
Venture further north to take advantage of the sights along the Inishowen Peninsula, where you will journey to the northwesternmost tip of Ireland.
Other Can’t Miss Adventures!
As you make your return journey to the southern region of this lovely island nation, travel through the beauty of Connemara to tour the Kylemore Abbey. Be sure to stop in the small but intriguing city of Galway. As you journey through the lush countryside filled with thatch cottages, be sure to stop at Belleek to witness the demonstrations by talented local potters. These craftsmen have created exquisite collectibles that have graced homes since the mid-19th century. You will definitely want to pick out some of their distinctive wares to ship back home where you can continue to enjoy their fine artistry. While in this scenic city, visit Galway Castle for an evening of medieval entertainment, dinner and drinks that will cater to your elegant taste.
No trip to Ireland would be complete without exploring Killarney, with its fine selection of inviting pubs, restaurants and boutiques. You will also want to take time to explore the exquisite Cliffs of Moher, rising to a peak of 702 feet above the pounding Atlantic Ocean. While there, scan the horizon for a view of the Aran Islands.
Acquire the ‘gift of the gab’ as the myth would have you believe, by kissing the Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle. Nearby, you must drive to Waterford to take a tour of the House of Waterford Crystal, where you can dive into the culture and learn the history of this wonderful sparkling product while witnessing a demonstration by master craftsmen from start to finish. Their showroom affords another welcome shopping opportunity to ship gifts and souvenirs home without the hassle of packing them yourself. Waterford’s shipping services were so swift, my gifts almost made it back to Charlotte before I did!
Arrive back in Dublin for some last-minute sightseeing before heading back on a direct flight to Charlotte.