Dreaming of Dublin
Now that the girls are getting older, we’re beginning to think about taking some city breaks. Spending a few days in UK cities, seeing the sights, the museums, the parks, and all they have to offer. It always seemed to much before, when we had a toddler in tow… negotiating naps, and pushchairs, and all that extra luggage. One place that has been on my ‘to-visit’ list for a while is Dublin. Ever since I visited Cork in my teens, I’ve wanted to see more of Ireland, and Dublin looks like a beautiful place to visit for a long weekend.
Dublin being a tourist hub, has some fantastic hotels within easy walking distance of the city centre, vital when you have little people with you whose legs get tired easily! At the end of a busy day, you don’t want a huge trip to get back to your comfy beds.
There is the Museum of Natural History there, which Lola especially would love! It is home to an 11,000 year old skeleton of a giant deer, birds, insects, lions and tigers. There are also the Museum of Archaeology and the Museum of Decorative Arts and History, as well as the Museum of Modern Art. We love visiting museums and galleries – the kiddos get so much out of them as do we.
Also on our to visit list when we go is Phoenix Park – the largest enclosed park in any city in Europe, home to Aras an Uachtarain (the Presidents House), Dublin Zoo, playgrounds, flower gardens and the Wellington Monument. This would be a great place to spend a whole day, take a picnic and enjoy all that it offers.
Apparently Dublin has some great markets, Newmarket Square for Arts & Crafts, the Temple Bar for food, Cows Lane for clothes & jewellery, while G might not be up for shopping, I’m sure the girlies will join me! I was thinking that we could drop him off for a tour of the Guinness factory while we hit the shops!
If we have the time, then a trip to Howth is on the cards too. A busy coastal town at the tip of Dublin Bay, a walking Howth Head is a must do, as is chips on the pier after!
Have you taken any city breaks with your kiddos?? What are your top tips for travelling with children?
10 Comments
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Laura
March 3, 2014 at 10:21Dublin is a lovely place and I highly recommend it – we did sail rail there and it was super easy. The open top bus around the city was also very reasonable and a great way to see everything. It really is just on our doorstep
Laura x
Bonnie Rose @ A Compass Rose
March 3, 2014 at 12:31I am looking to go to Dublin and Ireland too. It is nice that being in the UK we can take such short trips to travel. It can be challenging when the children are young enough that push chairs are needed, but so doable. I hope you get to go soon! x
laura redburn
March 3, 2014 at 14:31i’d love to go to dublin one day too! also, natural history museums are always a plus with me!
Kay
March 3, 2014 at 20:25The city looks lovely! I have yet to travel out of the country, and we are currently saving away money just for traveling in the next couple years. We definitely want to bring our daughter along for some trips, and take some just the two of us as well. The only thing we know we 100% want to visit at some point is old castles! We just haven’t quite picked where. . . :)
Circus Queen
March 3, 2014 at 21:48Dublin is well worth it! We went there for 24 hours before we had children because Laurence had booked me tickets to go see Don Maclean and accidentally selected Dublin instead of London! Think my favourite bit was finding a random, very Irish pub and eating a very Irish supper.
Lori
March 4, 2014 at 08:33We’ve just enjoyed a city break with F in Paris, which was easier than I expected tbh. Although I couldn’t imagine doing it with three ;) I think the biggest tip is researching, planning and taking lots of snacks, well it was with us. We last went to Dublin in 2006 and it was great, I think I’d like to try Edinburgh, Berlin and Amsterdam next. x
Fritha
March 4, 2014 at 10:18I’m really excited for starting to travel with Wilf, I wish we had done it when he was free to fly but we just didn’t have the money at the time, I’ve never been to Dublin, looks lovely! x
Vicky
March 4, 2014 at 21:05We’re attempting our first holiday this summer, but nowhere overseas – I’ve always wanted to visit Ireland though, one of my blogger friends lives there!
Zoe
March 7, 2014 at 12:34Dublin is so much fun! a few years back (before kids) we spent a few weeks in Ireland and drove from Belfast to cork plus everywhere in between, You would love it! The ferry is really reasonable plus part of the adventure, it would be a great city break with family :)
Zoe xx
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