As we approach Semana Santa, we here at Wonderland, know that families are always trying to find new and adventurous ways to keep the little ones happy. So, we have compiled a list of the best things to do in whilst on a family trip to Ireland! At Wonderland, we love Ireland! Two of us have lived there for extended periods of time, while one of us grew up there. We wanted to share some of the best things to do in the Emerald Isle to inspire your next family holiday.
Dublin is filled with exciting activities, why not dive into Dublin´s sights and history by taking a ride on the Viking Splash. From here, you will see Dublin´s main sights with a different and interesting twist. This is a perfect way to keep your little ones interested and wondering whilst having a ball!
(Tours are also available in Spanish: http://www.vikingsplash.com/).
When visiting Dublin, a trip to Phoenix Park is a must! It is ´one of the largest recreational spaces within any European city´ and is home to Dublin Zoo, The house of the President of Ireland and a huge number of wild animals, including wild deer. With masses of green areas it is the perfect place to have a picnic on a sunny day , even if you are staying in the city, as its only 1.4km from Dublin city centre. Don´t forget your camera!
If you are looking for a completely free experience then take your kids to the Natural History Museum, known locally as ´The Dead Zoo´. Entrance is completely free and here your children can wander around and see cabinet-style exhibitions of animals from around the world and Ireland (including the skeletons of giant deer’s and wolves). This is a local favourite and Irish children reflect fondly on their visits to the intriguing Dead zoo!
(Take a look a the link to the museums website, where you can also find out more information on upcoming events: https://www.museum.ie/Natural-History).
Also known as Ireland´s garden, Wicklow has an abundance of natural landscape to be explored. Day trips from Dublin city can easily be made to go and visit the Dublin Mountains and Glendalough. Apart from breath-taking scenery, Glendalough is also home to many ancient graves and ruins. Children can go back in history as they visit whilst also getting a fresh breath of air.
There are many hiking trails around these areas and a full day trip can be made visiting the area. Make sure to stop at Guinness Lake, where the popular television programme Vikings is filmed!
If you want to make a trip around Ireland, The Giant´s Causeway, is a World Heritage Site that should be on everyone´s list. It is an area of around 40,000 interlocking columns which resulted after an ancient volcanic eruption. The area is in Co. Antrim on the North Coast of Northern Ireland. The Giant´s Causeway also has a mystical tale as legend goes, the columns are the remains of a causeway built by a Giant who was challenged to fight a Scottish giant. This area is truly stunning and is in very close to the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge and the ´Dark Hedges` which pose as Kings road in Game of thrones!
