A DAY IN DUBLIN

Exploring Dublin today, no blarney!  It's port #3 on the Emerald Isles cruise on Viking Sky.
A Day in Dublin

Welcome to Dublin, a lively capital city that’s as intimate as a village and as friendly as your local Irish pub! With its seamless blend of classic visitor sights, excellent social scene and the natural playgrounds of Dublin Bay and the Dublin Mountains framing it on all sides, this laid-back city is an adventure in itself. Dublin is all about the muse behind the music, the craic, and, of course, the people! Dublin has been named Europe's friendliest city twice by TripAdvisor for good reason.
There’s plenty to see and do in Dublin: Trinity College and the Book Of Kells, Dublin Castle, St. Patrick’s and Christ Church Cathedrals, The Guinness Storehouse, Kilmainham Gaol and The Irish Emigration Museum and Little Museum of Dublin along with several others. Of course, you will want to cross Ha’Penney Bridge, officially, Liffey Bridge, which has a long, controversial history. Dublin is also home to a fabulous zoo, which is located in Phoenix Park, one of the many spectacular city parks around town. These are all must-do’s in Dublin.

Dublin offers so many “main stream” attractions but if you’re looking for the adventure of being off the beaten path consider yourself blessed with the Luck of the Irish! Here’s your ticket to the road less traveled:
Silent Disco: Whether you enjoy dancing or can't stand the thought of it, a silent disco is a Dublin bucket list “must do.” During a silent disco, each person is given a set of headphones to dance to their own music. The result? A hilarious and semi-awkward milieu of people dancing to the beat of their own headphones. Your moves may not match your partner's rhythm, but the resulting laughter will make the adventure more than worth it.

The Long Room: Although a prominent attraction, The Long Room doesn't seem to get nearly enough attraction as it deserves. It's located in the main room of the Old Library in Trinity College just after you go through The Book of Kells tour. Filled with 200,000 books and 14 sculpted head busts, the Long Room transports you to a different place in time. It also contains one of the few remaining copies of the 1916 Proclamation of the Irish Republic.
Howth: The Irish Sea isn't exactly known for its temperate waters, but if you take the trip to Howth, you'll find it worth the chattering teeth. Howth is a fishing and yachting port located about 40 minutes away from the city centre. On any given day, it sports fantastic views and nature paths along its coastal cliffs. On the weekends it also hosts an Irish Farmers' Market with everything from fine chocolate and jewelry to music and fresh seafood. If you find the time and have the sun, take a trek down the cliff stairs and onto the shore. A plunge into the water is refreshing and taking a swim might just land you with a family of seals.

The Forty Foot: A 10-15 minute trip on the DART will bring you to Dalkey: a suburb and seaport located in County Dublin. It has wonderful restaurants and spectacular views of the coast, and a jump site called “Forty Foot.” No, it is not a 40-foot cliff and no, the water is not 40 feet deep! Instead it's a cluster of large rocks protruding from the ocean where families and friends gather to courageously jump into Dalkey's waters. The experience is rewarding, refreshing and most importantly fun!
Kayaking on the Liffey: While you may want to avoid taking a dip in the Liffey, kayaking along the river which flows through the center of town is a perfect way of seeing all that Dublin has to offer. It may seem like a touristy thing to do, however Dubliners frequent the water with their kayaks. Book a guided tour through one of Dublin's many companies or rent a kayak and make the journey your own (which is what Q would do).

Take in a GAA Game: You may not know what “GAA” stands for, or know that Gaelic Football is the Irish equivalent to America's football or soccer, but go to a GAA match if you can. GAA players are all volunteers who maintain jobs to support their families while training long, hard hours to play in the amateur sport. This much-loved sport will show you the full extent of Irish spirit. You can purchase game tickets for about €15-30 at the office on Dorset Street Lower.
Horseback Riding on the Coast: Even if you're not a particularly skilled rider, you can still enjoy all that the Dublin coast has to offer from the comfy (ok, sometimes not so comfy) back of a horse. Ireland is home to many horse and pony breeders. Search for a County Dublin barn that offers day rides. You'll find a wide range of times, locations and noble steeds to suit your interests and your pace. (Knights – and damsels in distress – not included.)

Recently, the College Green area of Dublin was converted to a “pedestrian-only” area. Close to Trinity College and other “Must-Sees” in Dublin, you will find wonderful shopping, street entertainers, pubs, restaurants, and more. Grafton Street is especially nice.
Enjoy A Day in Dublin. It’s time to say goodbye for now.
Hasta la bye bye!
Q
Dee Serkin is a travel writer who specializes in destinations, culture, travel tips and advice. She is dedicated to inspiring travel in all and loves to share her adventures with others. Contact her at Denyce.serkin@gmail.com or visit her site at https://travelovers.us