We touched down in Germany in January, and by February we already had tickets in hand for our first adventure: Ireland. Spring break for the girls happened to fall over my birthday, so we decided to return to a place we absolutely adored during our first overseas tour—a decade ago!
A Bit of Irish Family History
Fun fact: On our last trip to Ireland, we had the amazing opportunity to visit the tiny town of Callanafersy, where Brandon’s family is originally from. We even met a man named James Clifford who knew some Sullivans, such a surreal and special moment!
This time around, we knew exactly how we wanted to structure the trip. Here’s a quick rundown of our itinerary, plus a link to our YouTube video at the end!
Day 1: Killarney Arrival & National Park
We landed at Kerry Airport, picked up our rental car, and headed straight for Killarney, one of our favorite towns. Friendly, charming, and full of character, it doesn’t disappoint.
We stayed at The Lake Hotel, and I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s my favorite hotel we’ve ever stayed in. Think: movie set charm, a breakfast buffet dreams are made of, jaw dropping lake views, and relaxing amenities.
After lunch at the hotel and a quick settle in, we explored Killarney National Park. We toured Muckross House, wandered through the gardens, and hiked to Torc Waterfall where I had to recreate a few photos from when Audrey was little. So many memories!
Day 2: Dingle & Slea Head Drive
We loaded up the car for a full day of exploring the Dingle Peninsula via the breathtaking Slea Head Drive, a 30 km loop of stunning coastal scenery and historic landmarks.
We took our time, stopping at nearly every viewpoint and historical site along the way. The kids are the perfect age for this kind of trip and loved every minute. But the standout moment? Hands down, Hold a Baby Lamb. As animal lovers, we could’ve spent the entire day there!
We wrapped the loop with dinner at a cozy pub in Dingle before making our way back to Killarney to relax.
Day 3: Kerry Cliffs & More Killarney Magic
Originally, we considered doing the full Ring of Kerry drive, but after a long car day prior, we opted for a more relaxed route to the Kerry Cliffs instead—and wow, the views were unreal.
Next, we made a stop at the Skelligs Chocolate Factory. Sadly, the café was closed, but we sampled chocolates and each picked a favorite to take home.
Back in Killarney, we took a horse drawn carriage ride through the National Park and visited Ross Castle, a picturesque way to wrap up the afternoon. Dinner in town followed, and then Brandon and I enjoyed some grown up relaxation time in the hotel’s Thermal Suite. Sauna, steam room, infinity pool, hot tub, experiential showers… absolute bliss.
Day 4: Blarney Stop & On to Dublin
On day four, we hit the road toward Dublin with a stop at the Blarney Estate! Audrey kissed the famous Blarney Stone, and we enjoyed a few hours exploring the beautiful grounds.
Once in Dublin, we checked in, decompressed, and headed out for dinner. Our plan was Temple Bar, but it was (unsurprisingly) too crowded with the kids, so we found a quieter pub nearby. A post dinner stroll through the city capped off the night before an early bedtime.
Day 5: A Jam-Packed Dublin Day
We squeezed every drop out of our final day. First up: a ticketed tour of The Book of Kells at Trinity College. While we didn’t do the full college tour, just seeing the Long Room Library was completely worth it, absolutely breathtaking.
From there, we explored Dublin Castle and St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Told you it was a packed day!
Our final stop? Grabbing a Spice Bag at Xian Street Food after seeing it all over TikTok. It did not disappoint and was totally worth the trek.
We wrapped the trip by returning the rental car and catching a late flight back to Germany. Exhausted, but so happy.
Final Thoughts
This was our second time visiting Ireland during cold weather, and we’re already dreaming of going back in the summer to see it in a whole new light. Ireland truly has a piece of our hearts and this was the perfect trip to kick off our European travels!
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