Hello again! Lue + Vue is back after a brief hiatus! Balancing a travel business, finishing a French degree, running a wine label, and managing the joys of life and motherhood was more challenging than I’d anticipated. But I’m excited to share that we’re back in action! Amid the delightful chaos, we enjoyed a wonderful family trip to Ireland. That experience reignited my passion for Lue + Vue Travel and reminded me why I started this journey in the first place!
Ireland officially tops our list as one of our favorite family-friendly destinations. It is a unique sliver of the world – think quaint villages, green rolling hills, the hustle and bustle of Dublin, and the most charming people. Children are not only welcome here; they are celebrated.
As with every family vacation, we always get our kids on board with the “planning and researching” process. In preparation for this trip, the boys checked out all the books they could find from our local library. In learning about Irish history, they specifically had a lot of questions about the Great Famine. Which opened up a meaningful conversation about farming and food security, bringing the topic full circle to be more mindful travelers. Travel is a fantastic canvas for education, and we are thankful to have these opportunities to share with our boys. Here is a recap and takeaways from our last trip. We hope it inspires you to explore a new destination and make memories with your family!
1) Ashford Castle – This renovated, historic gem dates back to 1228. The stunning grounds were a perfect backdrop for running and jumping. The property offered something for everyone! A major highlight was the educational falconry tour. *If you are interested in booking this property reach out to us for some special amenities and perks!
2) Visiting the Blarney Castle and Grounds – Only half of our team opted to kiss the stone, but all enjoyed the ascent to the top of the castle. The grounds are magical, and the boys loved finding all the winding passageways.
3) Live music in Cork – Ireland’s second-largest city, has a lively music scene. Visiting a family-friendly pub early after dinner one night was a perfect end to a day exploring the city.
4) Sword Fighting at St. John’s Castle in Limerick – We stopped here for a quick tour on our way to Galway. The museum caters towards the child in all of us.
5) Lunch at Nimmo’s in Galway – an ideal place for a spot of tea or quick lunch. The food was A+!
6) The Hop On, Hop Off Bus – I’m an advocate for tourist attractions if they are done right, I mean, hey, they are touristy for a reason, right? This was a great way to see the city of Dublin and not tire out little legs. Hot Tip! Most museums are free in Dublin, so you can hop off at one that looks of interest to you and explore. The Museum of Archaeology was a really cool stop.
7) Johnny Foxes – A hidden gem that dates back to 1798. This pub is on the outskirts of the city and was a “safe haven” during the Irish Rebellion. Today it offers live music, great food, and a cozy atmosphere. Outside the restaurant, they have a famine pot on display, with a plaque detailing that they fed 800 people from this single cast iron at one point. This detail helped the boys understand more about Irish history and brought the stories they read to life.
8) The Guinness Factory – An interactive, immersive experience! As vintners, we were really impressed with the way they explained the fermentation process and said to ourselves many times that it would be amazing to have a museum like this in wine country!
Packed with history and the most welcoming people, we will always hold the Emerald Isle near our hearts as one of our favorite destinations.
Thanks for reading. We can’t wait to share more adventures and interviews with you soon!
xo – Kirsti
Lue + Vue is a play on the French verbs – Lire: to read + Voir: to see.
At Lue + Vue, we believe in the educational value of travel through reading about and seeing a new place. Follow along as we navigate this beautiful world together.
