DUBLIN

We couldn't imagine traveling all the way to Ireland and not visiting the capital city, so even though our travel package had accommodations set in the Limerick area, we double-booked a room in Dublin for a night to give us a chance to see the city.

We'll be the first to admit this wasn't the best plan, and Dublin deserves more than 24 hours. If we had the chance to do it again, we would have cancelled our road trip the following day to allow more time to visit the city's attractions. We still managed to get a good feel of the city, though, and now have a list of reasons to return for another adventure.

Accommodation: Cassidys Hotel

Adventures: Hop-on Hop off Bus Tour; St. Patrick's Cathedral; Guinness Storehouse; Temple Bar District; The Temple Bar; Kilmainham Goal Historical Museum

Takeaways: 1) Driving in Dublin is stressful. 2) You can't see everything in Dublin in one day. 3) Guinness somehow tastes better in Ireland. 4) Goal=jail/prison.

Memorable Moments: 1) Driving into the city. 2) Enjoying a complimentary pint overlooking the city at the Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse. 3) Listening to a cover of Journey at a random bar in the Temple Bar District.

Recommendations:

1) Make provisions for parking before your stay if you have a car.

2) The Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour is a good means of transportation around the city.
3) If you have control over your itinerary, fly into Dublin and spend 2-3 days here before you rent a car and explore the rest of the country.

Next Time: Dublin Castle, Christ Church Cathedral, National Museum of Ireland, Trinity College, Grafton Street, Template Bar District (again!)