{"id":3866,"date":"2018-08-16T12:07:48","date_gmt":"2018-08-16T16:07:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/?p=3866"},"modified":"2018-08-16T12:11:43","modified_gmt":"2018-08-16T16:11:43","slug":"cant-miss-adventures-ireland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/cant-miss-adventures-ireland","title":{"rendered":"Five can’t-miss adventures in Ireland"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"John Hasse is an international program specialist at Explorica\u2019s San Diego office. When not working, he can usually be found globetrotting, cycling, surfing and photographing the many beautiful natural areas within California and beyond. Here, he describes his five favourite experiences from his travels to Ireland.<\/em> <\/span><\/p>\n

Ireland is a land of old-time charm, bucolic vistas and sheep \u2013 lots of sheep<\/a>. It\u2019s a wonderful country full of beautiful natural areas, quaint towns and pubs filled with joyful, friendly locals and delicious food. In order to get the most out of your visit, though, it\u2019s best to know what you need to see, and what you can skip.<\/p>\n

Here are five adventures you shouldn\u2019t miss when you travel to Ireland<\/a>:<\/p>\n

1. Explore Temple Bar in Dublin<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Temple Bar is a hot spot for art, people watching and pub hopping. Located on the south bank of the River Liffey in Dublin\u2019s centre, Temple Bar is best known as Dublin\u2019s cultural quarter where locals and tourists go for nightlife and fun.<\/p>\n

Begin your adventure with a stop by the Temple Bar Pub, one of the most famous and oldest pubs in Ireland<\/a>, which dates back to 1599, when Sir William Temple, a renowned teacher and philosopher, built his house and gardens on the newly reclaimed land.<\/p>\n

After enjoying a proper Irish libation (Tip<\/em>: Try Murphy\u2019s if you want to taste the local draught), take a walk over to Temple Bar Square for some first-rate entertainment. It\u2019s here where many pub patrons\u2019 paths converge and local musicians vie for attention. Make sure you keep your eye out for artwork en route, as the neighborhood is full of some of the city\u2019s best murals. Once you\u2019ve had your fill of frivolity, make a quick left towards the Ha\u2019penny Bridge<\/a> to enjoy a quiet moment soaking in views of the river.<\/p>\n

2. Take a trip down south to Cork<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

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Cork, a growing metropolis located in southwestern Ireland, is a must-see for those traveling to Ireland. Take a walk down St. Patrick\u2019s Street, Cork\u2019s main drag. Here you\u2019ll find the city\u2019s largest shopping thoroughfare as well as some of Cork\u2019s most beautiful architecture.<\/p>\n

When it comes time to eat, head to the English Market<\/a>, a quaint indoor farmer\u2019s market-style dining hall that has housed vendors selling fresh fish, organic produce and artisan products (including handmade soap and tea), since the 18th<\/sup> century.<\/p>\n

Stretch your legs after your midday meal by heading to Bishop Lucey Park for a well-deserved nap. Or if you\u2019d rather, strike up a conversation and talk some politics with the locals (Tip<\/em>: Head for the red People\u2019s Republic of Cork sign located in front of the south eastern corner of the park).<\/p>\n

3. Make pub friends in Kenmare<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Pubs are at the heart of Irish culture. They serve as gathering places where entire towns catch up, relay important gossip and celebrate life. Among the best is Crowley\u2019s Bar<\/a>, a must when visiting Kenmare. The pub\u2019s rustic charm and welcoming locals are truly delightful no matter the time of year.\u00a0Not to mention, Crowley\u2019s serves one of the best pints of Guinness in town!<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re in a more musical mood, head around the corner to PF McCarthy’s<\/a>, one of Kenmare\u2019s oldest and most loved bars and restaurants. Over the years, PFs has earned a reputation as one of the town\u2019s best music venues. On any given night, you can find a mixture of musicians from around the area and beyond who offer a variety of styles ranging from traditional Irish sessions (aka \u201cTrad\u201d music) to contemporary rock to originals. Whatever you fancy, grab a pint, make yourself comfortable and enjoy!<\/p>\n

4. Eat tide-to-table in Kinsale<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"Most don\u2019t normally think of Ireland as a culinary hub. While this may have been true previously, the times of lackluster meat and potato dishes are far in the past, as modern-day Irish chefs are bringing new flair to their cuisine using the bountiful resources of the nearby sea.<\/p>\n

When visiting Kinsale<\/a>, a hub of aquaculture, you can clearly see the effects of this new \u201ctide-to-table\u201d movement, as numerous mussel farms float in bays throughout the region. Meanwhile, the cultivation of scallops and oysters, as well as fishing for cod, bass and flounder, have become main features of Ireland\u2019s economic vitality. Suffice it to say, get your bib on and bring your appetite if you\u2019re a fish\u2019n\u2019chips fan!<\/p>\n

5. Witness awe-inspiring nature<\/span><\/strong><\/h4>\n

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If the urban hustle and bustle isn\u2019t your cup of tea, head north and west to the Galway area for some dramatic natural vistas. Up there you\u2019ll find the famous Cliffs of Moher. Now officially recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site<\/a>, these impressive cliffs rise more than 700 feet above the Atlantic Ocean and are the signature point of the Wild Atlantic Way tourist trail<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re more of a sporting lad, take to one of the amazing golf links in the area. Connemara Golf Club and Galway Bay Golf Club are two classic courses, both of which are well worth the price of admission. Or if you prefer to walk the highlands without clubs in hand, head to Connemara National Park, one of only six national parks in the Republic of Ireland<\/a>. This beautiful park features a combination of craggy mountains, bogs, heaths, grasslands and forests. Just remember to pack a rain jacket!<\/p>\n

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Want to travel to Ireland<\/a> after reading this post? Say no more! Explorica has nine trips to Ireland, with plenty of room to customize. Check them out!<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

John Hasse is an international program specialist at Explorica\u2019s San Diego office. When not working, he can usually be found globetrotting, cycling, surfing and photographing the many beautiful natural areas within California and beyond. Here, he describes his five favourite experiences from his travels to Ireland. Ireland is a land of old-time charm, bucolic vistas Read More …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3867,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173,63,172],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3866","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-parents","category-students","category-teachers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3866","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3866"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3866\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3871,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3866\/revisions\/3871"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3866"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.explorica.ca\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}