Spring Break in Ireland

Spring Break in Ireland
Travel crew: Trey, Destinee, Owen (6), Asa (11)

Day 1 – A Bumpy Start
We left Birmingham at 2:30 PM and made it to Philadelphia by 4:00 PM. With time to spare before our 10:15 PM flight to Heathrow, we grabbed dinner and watched some basketball. Just as we were getting settled on the plane, the captain announced a fire at Heathrow. The flight was canceled, and we were off the plane and scrambling for a hotel room by 2 AM. Our first booking didn’t go through, so it took a second try before we finally got some sleep around 3:30 AM.

Day 2 – Philly Detour & Dublin Bound
After breakfast at Cracker Barrel, we made the most of our day in Philadelphia—visiting the sports stadiums, the Rocky statue, and Independence Hall. Back at the airport, we faced another curveball: no seats on our flight! But Destinee worked her magic, and we were finally off to Dublin.

Day 3 – Mountains, Rain, and Ice Cream
We landed in Dublin at 5:30 AM, grabbed our rental car, and headed out for our first Irish adventure. A horseback ride through the mountains started the day, followed by a windy and wet 1.25-hour boat ride. Bike riding was a no-go (we were exhausted), so we checked into the stunning Lake Hotel. After a recharge, we ventured into town for dinner and—yes—ice cream. Finally, a real night of sleep!

Day 4 – Sheepdogs, Falcons & a Ferry Surprise
After a scenic drive (with a stop at Inch Beach), we visited a mountaintop sheep farm, watched herding dogs in action, and held baby lambs. Then came a falconry experience where we got up close with owls and falcons. Lunch by the harbor and some shopping wrapped up that stop.
Google Maps led us to Connor Pass and then—surprise!—a car ferry across a bay. An unexpected adventure added some laughs (and wind-blown hair), and we rolled into our next town late, grabbed dinner, and called it a night.

Day 5 – Island Bikes & Cliffs of Moher
We caught another ferry to a remote island, rented bikes, and explored a 500-year-old castle nestled among stone wall-lined fields. The boys loved the ride, and we ended the day with a breathtaking boat tour of the Cliffs of Moher.
Dinner was Guinness beef stew at a cozy Irish pub—perfect. Destinee and I capped off the day with a little date night while the boys chilled back at the hotel (with more ice cream, of course).

Day 6 – Castles, Horses, and 20,000 Steps
We started the morning visiting the Cliffs of Moher from above—a totally different (but just as stunning) view. Then it was off to a small horse farm where the boys got to ride again. We followed that with a top-rated restaurant, then headed into the biggest city yet for more exploring.
The boys, naturally, found more ice cream. It was becoming a theme.

Day 7 – Stud Farms & City Strolls
We visited the Irish National Stud Farm where the boys found a playground and Owen gave us a scare falling off a swing—but thankfully, he bounced right back. The tour itself was fascinating, seeing newborn foals and learning about horse breeding.
We made it to Dublin, checked into our 4th hotel in 5 days, and hit the ground running again with a bus tour through the city. Destinee and I soaked in the history; the boys, not so much, but they powered through.
Dinner at a great steakhouse (after a 1.5-mile city walk) ended with a 20,000-step day and tired feet all around.

Day 8 – Final Twist
Our last morning started with breakfast in Dublin and a visit to Trinity College, where the boys played on the fields. We squeezed in a visit to Christ Church just in time for a beautiful prayer service—an unexpectedly peaceful end to the trip.
Then, the final curveball: our flight home was canceled. After a series of rebookings, we routed through Boston and Atlanta, finally arriving back in Birmingham at 3 AM. Home by 4 AM—trip complete.

Final Thoughts
Despite some unexpected detours, delays, and dashes for ice cream, the trip was an unforgettable mix of adventure, laughter, history, and breathtaking views. We had great weather, made incredible memories, and most importantly—everyone had a great time. “If up was down and down was up there would still be ups and downs” T.Davis