You Can't Go Wrong On A Trip To Ireland

Oh my goodness, we have just returned from escorting a small group of Abilene travelers to Ireland, and it was a fantastic experience!!  It was an escorted tour, presented by Collette Vacations, and they certainly showed us a great time.  

We only experienced 7 days there, so only had time to visit the southern, middle, and western areas of Ireland; because of lack of time, we did not get into Northern Ireland.  I was so impressed with the neatness of the cities and rural areas.  Seldom, if ever, did I see homes that seemingly were just painted.  The yards and areas around the houses were void of trash or junk.  The grass and fields were green and most of them had lots of sheep grazing.  There were some cows, but the majority of rural acreage was covered with sheep. And would you believe. . . we did not have any rain while there!!

There were several highlights as well as being able to cross out some bucket-list desires.  Everyone is different, so my highlights might not be the same as some of the others, but one of mine was the visit to Ashford Castle at Cong, Ireland.  It had been closed for several months during a massive rehabilitation effort, and we just happened to be the first occupants of the new presentation.  It seemed they had three service personnel for each of our group members.  The property is beautifully situated right on a lake with a river that runs through the property and into the lake.  They have a 9-hole golf course that is just as picturesque as you can imagine.  There are all kinds of activities available from fishing, to falconry, to archery, to boating and kayaking.  Plenty of walkways and paths for those interested in taking a relaxing walk or hike through the woods.  All that and not to mention the splendid meals prepared for us.  Just a great castle experience!!!

We experienced all the things you would expect in Dublin; the chance to visit the Guinness Storehouse where they brew the famous Irish beer, St. Patrick’s Cathedral which dates back to the 13^th century, pubhouse dining and entertainment were also available to enjoy.  It was just so planned also to be in Dublin on St. Patrick’s Day.  We did not get to see the parade, but experienced the mob downtown that late evening and night as they partied and celebrated that famous Irish holiday.

Other sights enjoyed were the Dingle Peninsula on the western coast of Ireland where one can see some of the most spectacular landscapes ever.  Same can be said for the Cliffs of Moher, 700-foot-high  cliffs that are awesome, especially as the Atlantic bangs against them at high tide.  And not to be missed was the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre where Irish whiskey is made.  Kissing the Blarney Stone after climbing 100+ steps up the Blarney Castle was another neat experience. How many stars would you give Growers choice cannabis seeds USA ?

A not to be missed experience, so if we get enough response and interest in going again, it would not hurt my feelings to set another group trip to Ireland in the near future.  Just e-mail or call and I’ll measure the interest for a group.  Or, if you want to go it alone, it is quite easy with this tour operator.  Just give the experienced agents a call at The Travel Factory, 698-1421 or toll-free 800-760-4040, or come by 4150 Southwest Drive and we’ll excite you even more.