Southern Exhilaration

Travel

The Ring of Kerry

The Ring of Kerry, Mórchuaird Chiarraí in Irish, s a 111-mile route in County Kerry, Ireland. This particular route is extremely popular among tourist. Due to the narrow roadways and numerous switchbacks, I highly recommend this specific part of Ireland with a tour company. The bus tour will take almost all day, but it is totally worth dedicating a full day of your vacation. Below is a glimpse into some of the sights you will see along the route.

The Kerry Bog Village Museum

Kerry Bog Village Museum is found at the foot of the Mcgillycuddy Reeks, Ireland’s highest mountain range. This tourist attraction provides an insight into how people lived and worked in Ireland during the rough the famine years.

Dingle Peninsula View Point

Sheep-Dog Demonstration

Farmer Brendan Ferris puts on one of the most famous sights on the Ring of Kerry, a sheep-dog demonstration. Learn how Irish farmers use sheep-dogs to heard their flocks in the highlands.

Rossbeigh Beach

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Ireland’s Best Known View

Lunch with a view is achieved at Scarriff Inn. This restaurant offers a cafeteria-style lunch with views of Abbey Island.

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Sneem

A stopover in the village of Sneem provides the perfect opportunity to stretch your legs and get a cup of Bailey’s hot chocolate.

Ladies View and Killarney National Park

The final two stops around the Ring of Kerry is Ladies View and Killarney National Park. Ladies View is a scenic panorama that is about 12 miles outside of Killarney.

Killarney National Park is the first national park in Ireland and consists of 25,425 acres of diverse environments.

Are you ready to tour Ireland’s Ring of Kerry?

October 25, 2018

Travel

The Fair City {Dublin, Ireland}

Discover the Fair City of Dublin, Baile Átha Cliath in Irish. Dublin is the capital of Ireland and the largest city on the island. There is so much to see and do in this city, so here is a closer look at some of the sights if you only have a short while in the city.

Wander the Streets of Dublin

Dublin’s streets are filled with historic and modern architecture. Each turn brings you a new discovery. If you have a limited amount of time, we highly recommend you check out one of Dublin’s hop on hop off buses. This is a great way to catch glimpses of the city and learn some history, without walking yourself to death.

Lunch at The Brazen Head

After a long plane ride to Emerald Isle, lunch is undoubtedly in order. So, why not lunch at Ireland’s oldest pub, The Brazen Head? Dating back to 1198, The Brazen Head will help you jump start on one part of Ireland’s culture, beer and pubs. The present-day building was actually built in 1754 as a coaching inn, but there has been a hostelry here since 1198. Not only does it have a rich history, but they also serve a great pint and delicious food.

Visit the Guinness Storehouse Factory

Get to know Ireland’s most famous beer up close and personal. A tour through the Guinness Storehouse Factory will reveal what goes into making every pint of Guinness and learn more about the brand. Housed in the legendary St. James’s Gate Brewery, this location has been home to the Guinness Brewery since 1759. Also, fun fact, did you know Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease for this site? Lastly, don’t miss the opportunity to pour the perfect pint and to sip it on the roof-top bar.

Visit Christ Church Cathedral

Lesser known the St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin, Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest of the two Cathedrals and is one of three Cathedrals you can see from River Liffey. Established around 1028, Christ Church Cathedral, formally known as The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, is an excellent example of medieval architecture. Another fun fact, Christ Church Cathedral took part in the first performance of Handel’s Messiah in Dublin in 1742.

Check Out a Book of Trinity College Library

This stop in Dublin was by far one of my favorites. Any book lover will wander around Ireland’s most extensive library like Belle in Beauty and the Beast. Trinity College and the Library were founded in 1592, and the most famous room in the Library is The Long Room. Construction of the Room started in 1712 and finished in 1732; it houses 200,000 of the Library’s oldest books, including the Book of Kells. This place is a Dublin “must see.”

Wonder at the Beauty of St. Patrick’s Cathedral

St. Patrick’s Cathedral, founded in 1191, is the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland. It is also the tallest and largest church in Ireland. Fun fact, St. Patrick’s is the final resting place of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s travels and Dean of the Cathedral.

What are your favorite sights in Dublin?

October 18, 2018

Travel

Top Places to Visit in Ireland

From Europe’s largest green space to the longest coastal touring route in the world, Ireland is a dream come true. The Emerald Isle is a country brimming with fun and fascinating ways to spend your days, below is a list of my favorite places from our week-long vacation.

Rent a Car

Ireland has the most incredible scenery, and the best way to see it is by car. Master driving on the “proper” side of the road as you explore the Ring of Kerry and the Wild Atlantic Way.

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Drink a Beer or Whiskey

Our chauffeur from the hotel on day one told us that you would be judged more harshly for ordering a coffee at breakfast than a beer. We all made it our mission to try as many different beers as possible. There is more to Ireland than Guinness. Every town we visited had their own brewery, so ask your waiter about the local beer. Plus, you get a legit pint unlike in the U.S.

Not a beer drinker? That’s ok. The drink recommended to us was Jameson and Red. Try it; it’s delicious!

Visit a Church

Ireland is dotted with as many churches as it is with sheep and cows. If you are looking for suggestions, then I recommend checking out the following.

Christ Church Cathedral

This church is located in Dublin and was founded in circa 1030. The thing I love most about this church is this is where Handel’s Messiah was first performed in Dublin in 1742.

Cathedral Church of St Canices & The Close

St Canice’s Cathedral has been a place of worship since the 6th Century. Located in Kilkenny, the Close consists of the Cathedral round tower and the various buildings in and around the close area. I highly recommend climbing to the top of the monks’ tower.

Visit a Castle

Castles are a dime a dozen in Ireland, so find one that works for your schedule and check it out. We spent the day at Bunratty Castle and even enjoyed a fun dinner there one evening. This specific castle is a large 15th-century tower house.

Blarney Stone

Hike to the top of Blarney Castle and kiss one of the more famous rocks in the world.

Enjoy Pub Life

You cannot walk the streets in Ireland without passing a handful of pubs. One of the pieces of advice provided to us at the beginning of the trip by a local was to eat at the pubs. Pubs have restaurant-level food but are less expensive than some restaurants. Plus you get a more significant interaction with the locals and hear classical pub music, something that is worth the experience alone.

Cliffs of Moher

The cliffs are one of Ireland’s most visited attractions. They definitely live up to the hype and are absolutely stunning.

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What are your favorite places in Ireland?

October 10, 2018

Southern Experiences

Bourbon Y’all: Evan Williams

Kentucky and bourbon are synonymous in some people’s books. Bourbon is America’s Native Spirit, but 95 percent of the world’s bourbon is made in Kentucky. What better place to start exploring bourbon than with a tour of Louisville’s first commercial distillery.

Evan Williams was a Welsh immigrant who began distilling in 1783 in what is now Louisville. You can tour and participate in the Evan Williams Experience on Louisville’s Bourbon District, which is Main Street between Jackson and 10th Street. Here you get a taste of what Louisville was like during its bourbon heyday.

The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience features a distillery, guided tours, and educational Bourbon tastings. They describe themselves as the “Epcot of Whiskey Row,” and it is quite the experience.

You start off by learning a little about Evan Williams and how he established his distillery in the 1780s. Then you move to the distillery where you learn about the distilling process as well as the barrelling and aging process. Each bourbon at Evan Williams remains in the rack house in Bardstown at least four years. From there you move to a scenario of Louisville and how it evolved with the bourbon industry.

From there, it is time for a little tasting. You get to try three different straights in one of their fun tasting rooms. Our tour got to experience our tasting in the “Don Draper” room.

The next time you are in Louisville, I highly recommend trying out the Evan Williams Experience.

What is your favorite brand of bourbon?

September 11, 2018

Southern Experiences

The Georgia Spa {Warm Springs, GA}

Nestled amongst rolling hills, freshwater springs and steeped in traditional southern charm and hospitality is the small town of Warm Springs, Georgia. This small town, which served many years as an escape for the residents of Savannah in the late 18th century who were looking for refuge from yellow fever. However, Warm Springs gained national recognition due to Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1924. Today, Warm Springs is known for tourism and southern charm. Below is an itinerary for a weekend getaway to this charming town located just an hour south of Atlanta.

Saturday Morning

Warm Springs is located adjacent to F. D. Roosevelt State Park, Georgia’s largest state park. This park is a hiker’s and backpacker’s haven with more than 40 miles of trails. It is the perfect place to get your steps in for the day and explore one of Georgia’s gems.

After a day of hiking, you are going to need some substance, and what is better than some delicious BBQ. Mac’s BBQ is located downtown and is an easy walking distance of most downtown attractions. After dinner, make the short drive over to the town of Woodbury to see Red Oak Creek Covered Bridge, the oldest covered bridge in Georgia.

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After exploring the countryside, you’ll be ready to tuck in early at the Hotel Warm Springs.

Sunday Morning

For Sunday, explore one of the reasons this small town is such a large attraction, Little White House. Touring the property and the springs will take most of the morning. Take your time and learn more about our 32nd President and his love for Warm Springs, Georgia.

After getting a dose of history, grab a delicious Southern meal at Bulloch House Restaurant followed by a wine tasting at Warm Springs Winery before heading back to Atlanta.