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5 Tourist Things to do in Dublin

March 3, 2017 by Meg 5 Comments

5 things every tourist needs to do in Uublin. save this post for your next travel trip to Ireland.5 things every tourist needs to do in Uublin. save this post for your next travel trip to Ireland.

5 things every tourist should do in Dublin this weekend

Rob and I are not the conventional tourist types. In fact if it screams obvious, we generally avoid at all costs. But when your good friends decide to come through for a visit, you make a plan and you go full cheesy tourist with them. It was a great excuse to go and tick off the things you have to see when in Dublin, but it also made me realise that I can’t wait till they come and visit again – so that we can share the local flavour, the hidden insider tips and tricks, on places to go and see (that isn’t an overpriced, tourist fest!).

For the most part, I actually enjoyed our weekend trips, and in hindsight, although I sound super nonchalant about it – I would recommend going to these places if you are ever in Dublin. But I also do have some tips to share that will help you get the most for bang for your buck!

1. Guinness Storehouse:

This is an obvious Irish must see if you are ever in Dublin. The home of the black stuff, or if you go to the Storehouse you will learn, its actually ruby red.

Guinness storehouse story

Some tips to consider:

  • Entrance fee is €20.
  • Book your ticket online – saves you from having to wait in line to buy at the storehouse.
  • Weekday is different to weekends (for example; on the weekend we first went they had a promo where you could use your ticket to sample 3 beers; but during the week this was not available).
  • Know the facts about the voucher: you can use your voucher in a few places throughout the museum:
    1. As a tasting board of 3 beers (only available on weekends)
    2. Learn to pour your own pint
    3. At the 360 viewing bar on the top floor

*we used one voucher for the tasting board; and the other for a pint at the bar with a view; which meant we got the best of both worlds. The pouring your pint section is a fun idea, but we both knew how to do that already, and there is no view to drink your beloved pint afterwards.

Guinness storehouse tour

Having been to the Storehouse twice in two weeks, I would say its worth a trip – but once is enough. I am sure we will have to go again when more friends or family visit, which is cool – as long as it is not soon.

2. Temple Bar Food Market:

temple bar food market

This is such a gem of a find, it is a small version of Neighbourgoods Market back home but has a heap of potential. Plus, you can get a cheap (yet super tasty) breakfast at a fraction of the cost of some of the restaurants around. I know Temple Bar district is where you go for a pint or ten; and party the night away. For me, it screams overpriced and a total jock fest – which is so not our vibe at all. But the food market is not so commercialized and I really had a great brekkie roll and the best coffee, so I will definitely be keen to make this a regular place we visit.

Tip: Although most places accept cards, bring cash if you want a breakfast roll!

3. Dublinia & Christ Church Cathedral

Dublinia is such a cool interactive museum, which tells the story of Dublin through the ages. Really fascinating, its a great place for adults or kids, and I really enjoyed it. Make sure you walk up to the tower and take a look at the view too! I found this place when I was walking (trying to get my fitbit steps up) and I especially love the architecture.

dublinia

You can also pop into the garden and surrounds to view Christ Church Cathedral, which is just over the road from Dublinia.

Entrance fee: Dublinia costs €9.50 for adults; €6 for kids under 12years; and €8.50 for students and pensioners.

4. The Brazen Head

Brazen Head Dublin

I wasn’t going to mention this, because I think every person and their mother has been to Brazen Head (atleast the one in Johannesburg). But then I realised that I have insider info. You see, the Brazen Head in Dublin, claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland, so naturally the tourists flock to it. But I have been to Sean’s Bar in Athlone, which also claims to be the oldest pub in Ireland. So now, who is telling the truth? Both have a letter from Guinness world of records. the difference is done to the dates.

Sean pub Athlone

Brazen Head was established in 1198, whereas Sean’s Bar was built in 900A.D. Interestingly enough, Sean’s Bar has a piece of the original wall framed inside the pub, made with wattling sticks and mud. So you see, as a tourist coming to Ireland, you probably would be forgiven for thinking there was only one pub with this claim, but you are only truly a local if you can say you have been to both.

Either way, Brazen Head, is pretty rad. They have Irish music playing in the evenings, nice areas where you can drink and chat, and the food is not too bad.

Tip: Get there early if you want a table. But know that it is just a tourist trap for tourists, and most certainly, not the best pub we have been to since we have been here. There are plenty of pubs to go around in Dublin, so I suggest you try a few out!

5. Irish Whiskey Museum

irish whiskey museum

The Irish whiskey museum is the perfect place to start, if you are interest in learning about the history of Irish Whiskey making. The great thing about the Irish Whiskey Museum, is that you learn all about Irish Whiskey, but you also get to sample different Irish Whiskey brands, along with different types of Whiskey.

Tip: You could pay €26 for the blending experience (gets you 4 whiskeys and you can blend them into one 30ml bottle you can take home) but the best value for money is the premium tour for €19, (4 whiskeys, no little bottle).

Other Whiskey spots to try out:

  • The Jameson Distillery. Currently the one is Dublin is closed for renovations. But if you head to Cork, you could visit the Old Midleton Jameson Distillery.
  • Teeling Distillery. An independent Irish Whiskey Company in the heart of Dublin.

I have other little gems of things to do and see in Dublin, and as we go – I am sure this list will grow. So stay tuned for more travel must-sees and things to do in Dublin!

What would recommend is a must-see in Dublin for tourists?

~ Meg ~

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Filed Under: Travels Tagged With: discover dublin, discover ireland, dublin, irish travel, irishlife, travel tips, travels

{Travel}: Weekend Exploring Bray, Co. Wicklow

February 15, 2017 by Meg 8 Comments

So many things to do in Bray, county Wicklow. Just a short train trip from Dublin. Bray to greystones cliff walk, the oldest pizzeria, and a walk up bray's head - plus more!So many things to do in Bray, county Wicklow. Just a short train trip from Dublin. Bray to greystones cliff walk, the oldest pizzeria, and a walk up bray's head - plus more!

bray wicklow

Bray is a quiet little seaside town, it is similar to Dun Laoghaire in it’s set up. I think it relies on passing tourist trade for the most part – although it definitely is a lot bigger than I thought it was! Most people who live in Dublin will tell you to go to Bray and do the Bray to Greystones Cliffwalk (followed by a stop at the Happy Pear in Greystones). But after some further digging about what else Bray has to offer, I realised there is so much more in this town to do! It helped that we stayed the night there, so we got to fit in a lot more than most.

How to get to Bray: We took the DART (train) down to Bray; 34 minutes and you are there! You can also travel on a bus, that would make the trip there a little over an hour (from Dublin City).

Warning: Once we arrived in Bray, we did a HUGE amount of walking! I am sure it would have been quicker in a car but we stuck to walking (plus walking is free).

5 things you HAVE to do in Bray:

  • Promenade and ice cream: I think Bray and Dun Laoghaire might have a secret battle on who has the best ice cream. Bray also has a Teddy’s (not the original I am told!) but a ton of other shops along the promenade offer ice cream – including a Gino’s (which we have yet to try!). Grab a cone and hit the prom for a bit of a walk, I loved that there were pebbles on the beach! I have been dying to see that sort of beach here. Coming from Sunny South Africa beaches and which are filled with hot sand dunes, it is a real treat to see pebbles!

bray promenade

  • Bray’s Head: Google maps will tell you is a 1,2km walk to the Bray’s Head. But dont’t let that fool you – the walk is tough! There are no paved pathways, you are literally hiking up the hill. On the day we did it, it was wet and raining. I don’t think I would recommend to people who are not steady on their feet. It was a challenging walk up the hill, but like everything in Ireland – the view was incredibly sweet. The walk down was a bit tricky to manoeuvre, with loose ground and rock to walk over. But I definitely think the view makes it so worth it.

bray head

  • Bray to Greystones Cliffwalk: The walk is really do-able. It is on an actual path, and not at all strenuous. It is about 6km, and most people walk one direction and then take the train back – which is what we did. I think next time, I would be keen to walk there and back. Rob, ofcourse, is keen to run both ways! A popular pit stop in Greystones is The Happy Pear. It is owned by twin brothers, and it is a vegan restaurant. They even have a recipe book – and are a bit famous here in Ireland. We tried to stop here but the lines out the shop were almost down the road! Like I said, it is very popular. I would be keen to go back and visit, they have a beautiful outside area around the back which I think would be even more congested in summer!

bray cliffwalk

  • Pizza’s n Cream: Following a tip about visiting a vegan, healthy spot, why not suggest to rather stuff a large pizza in your face? (Don’t mind me, I am a fitness blogger who advocates a balanced lifestyle!) But seriously, the pizzas here are well worth a cheat meal or five. They claim that they are the oldest pizzeria in Ireland. (sidenote: I absolutely love that every irish establishment is the oldest or best or highest or longest in Ireland – they are all very good at choosing a highlight and marketing it well!) The menu selection is broad, the wine is good, and I found the prices very affordable.

bray pizza

  • Harbour Bar: or what I like to call “the inside of Rob’s head”. This place is incredible. It is filled to the brim with knick knacks and loads of nooks and crannies; all while playing great music tracks. It has several seating areas: bar; lounge, outdoor area, upstairs area – and all of them offer something different dependent on what you are looking for. We popped in for a pre-drink and chill. We sat upstairs listening to pipe music. It felt like we were at home. Downstairs there was a band playing, and a party just getting started. We will definitely be back.

bray harbour bar

  • Random bonus: And if you are a silly tourist, just looking for quirky finds, this is possible the prettiest McDonald’s I have ever eaten at (yes, we had breakfast here!).

bray mcdonalds

Would you believe that we ran out of time, and so we have to head back (and soon) to visit Bray some more, here are things that I know we need to still see:

  • Kilruddery House: We walked out to the see the house (which is owned by the Earl and Countess of Meath) but it was closed for winter and will reopen in March. There is also farm market, 9am – 3pm every Saturday. It was also closed for winter – but I am very intrigued to visit the market soon!

killruddery house

  • Dockyard No. 8: is THE spot in Bray for the best brunch. This restaurant is right next to the Harbour Bar, and is on the other side of town, away from Bray’s head which is where we were going that day. We ran out of time with only one morning to visit, but I will be back!

Have you done the Bray to Greystones Cliff walk?

~ Meg ~

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Filed Under: Travels Tagged With: bray, cliffwalks, ireland, irishlife, travel tips, travelling, travels, vacation ideas, wanderlust, wicklow

{Travel}: Day Trip to Dalkey

February 4, 2017 by Meg 2 Comments

A day trip to Dalkey, county Dublin, Ireland.

A day trip to Dalkey, county Dublin, Ireland.

A day trip to Dalkey, county Dublin, Ireland.

Dalkey

Dalkey is a very small coastal town. It is quaint, and with narrow roads filled with restaurants and shops. Even better, it is home to a few celebs – Bono and Enya to name a few. Since moving to Ireland, I have gotten this obsession with trying to spot a celeb. No such luck yet, but I will happily explore more of Ireland until we do!

Dalkey

How to get there: Catch the DART to Dalkey is probably the easiest way (22minutes from Lansdowne).

We arrived in Dalkey mid morning on a Saturday, but found a lot of places were closed. Regardless, we decided to start our exploration off with a pit stop to fuel our bellies. we found a very trendy spot around a corner, called Wanderlust. I loved the casual dining, and the very hipster vibe of this restaurant. They offer a brunch, lunch and a dinner menu. Just a bit of a warning though, the restaurant seating is small and at times, gets a little cramped.

dalkey burger

I had the Wanderlust burger, which was super tasty!

After a satisfying lunch, we missioned up the street, and followed the signs going to Killiney Hill Park. It is a little over 1.5km walk, and the views are spectacular – and well worth the uphill walk.

killiney hill park

Rob actually suggested that it would be good hill training to run and up – it kind of reminded me of Westcliff stairs back home. So perhaps we will be back to tackle this hill in running gear!? For now, I am just happy we got to experience these great views!

killiney dalkey hill

After we did several pano’s (Rob is slightly obsessed) we walked down the other side of the hill and park and walked towards Killiney, to catch the Dart and head to Bray for the rest of my Birthday trip.

killiney

Along the way, we spotted what looked like a part of a wall/tower – and would you believe, someone actually lives here!? 

Although I know we definitely have not explored all that both Dalkey and Killiney have to offer, it was a great taste for these two little towns and we can’t wait to go back again to explore some more! Who knows, maybe we will even bump into Bono!

Have you bumped into a celeb? Tell me where!

~ Meg ~

 

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Filed Under: Travels Tagged With: dublin, ireland, irishlife, travel, travelling, wanderlust

{Travel}: A trip to Dun Laoghaire

January 17, 2017 by Meg 7 Comments

Visit Dun Laoghaire, just a 15 minute train trip from Dublin!

dun laoghaire

Rob and I are really enjoying taking time each weekend to explore our new city. Everything is new. How we get around, what we do, even our daily routine has changed. But we are fully acclimatizing to our new way of life and really jumping feet first and seeing all we can. We are making the most of our time here, and not taking anything for granted. So I thought what a great series for the blog! A series all about our #Irishlife. As part of this new series I will share places we visit, and the things we get up to, stuff that shows you what our life here in Ireland is really like. I hope you like it, and if you do like it, I hope you will share this far and wide so that others can like it too (read: small punt to grow my blog).

Before I get stuck in on all the things you can do in this little seaside town south of Dublin, I have one question to ask you all: How would you pronounce Dun Laoghaire?

You actually pronounce it as “Dun Leary”. Ha! Trust me, it is not how I thought it was pronounced. The same goes for a lot of the towns and suburbs here in Ireland. The spelling and how they are pronounced are really quite foreign to us (hehe, my jokes can be so lame).

Anyway, we have been to Dun Laoghaire twice now and I know we have not explored it entirely – but I had to share what we have done so far – there is so much you can do in this small town!

dun laoghaire promenade

Random facts about Dun Laoghaire:

  • The town in about 9km away from our house. Rob is keen to run there and then take the train back – or run there and back for a really good training run!
  • You can catch the Dart (Irish train) and it takes 15 minutes to get there – much quicker than running it!
  • The South African Ambassador lives here – crazy but true!

Things to do in Dun Laoghaire:

  • Walk along the east or west pier. Dun Laoghaire has a harbour with two piers that enclose around it. They have a board at the start of these two piers that tells you how far each pier is and average time it will take to walk it. It is a great way to get those Fitbit steps up!

dun laoghaire pier

  • The infamous Teddy’s ice cream – apparently the home of the 99 cone – established in 1950! I am mean can you even imagine how many ice creams that is?! We have had two cones so far: one with crushed oreo’s and the second one was with colored sprinkles. For me, sprinkles was the best! I suggest trying one of each just to be sure.

dun laoghaire teddy ice cream

  • James Joyce Tower and museum. Just a little walk down the promenade, it is in a Martello tower that has been converted into a museum. (Full disclosure, I didn’t know who James Joyce was! But he is a pretty big deal around these parts. He was a writer who wrote the play called Ulysses.) The museum is free to visit, and as museum’s go – its small. I mostly enjoyed getting to see what the inside of a Martello tower looks like. The British built 50 Martello towers along the Irish coastline as part of their defense against Napoleon. It is about as tall as two floors and has a tiny staircase inside that winds it’s way to the top. The view at the top of the tower is a real treat. On a clear day you can see Howth.

dun laoghaire james joyce

 

  • People’s Park Food Market which takes place every Sunday. When we first visited Dun Laoghaire, Rob was convinced he smelt a boerie roll being cooked – alas, we could not find one! But it is still a great food market, and one we regularly go to. They have a nice mix of affordable eats, and it is a great place to meet up with friends, plus we bring Jack along (he loves the nibbles on the ground!).

Things we still need to do in Dun Laoghaire:

  • The Purty Kitchen is one of the oldest pubs in Ireland. They have a Sunday menu of 2 courses for €20!
  • Take the ferry from Dun Laoghaire to Howth. A friend told me about this, and it sounds like such a great way to explore both places in one day!
  • Lastly,  for the brave (or the reckless), you can go for a swim at Forty Foot. People swim here all year long, it is a popular thing to do on Christmas Day (mid winter!). The day we walked along the promenade we saw a few people going for a dip. I was wearing hat, scarf and coat – and I was freezing just watching them!

Have you been to Dun Laoghaire? Is there anything else you can recommend we see or do there?  And seriously, trust me on the sprinkles:

dun laoghaire teddys

~ Meg ~

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Filed Under: Travels Tagged With: dublin, happy, irishlife, life, travels, Truth, vacation ideas

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Hey! My name is Meg. I blog about the life I share with my hubby, Rob; our furbaby, Jack and the newest family member, our daughter Riley. In 2016, we moved to a new country, cut down on clutter, and started focusing on unlocking a simple life, filled with travel and adventure. Read my story here

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