I returned from eight days in Ireland last weekend and thankfully only had two days of jetlag to overcome. It was an unbelievable experience. We saw castles, coastlines, lakes, and cliffs, and ate and drank our way through the country's southern half. This was my second time across the pond and I fell more in love with the country.

It's an easy place to travel to and has fantastic amenities, food, and more.

7 Things To Mention About Ireland

1. The roads couldn't be narrower

This isn't an issue on the M roads (motorways), but once you get off, things become...uhh... tight. These were some of the tightest and most claustrophobic roads I've ever driven on, and had me white knuckling for hours. Add in that they are winding, so you don't have good visibility, and some drivers are zipping around corners - it's a slight miracle there aren't more car crashes!

Thankfully, the worst that happened was bumping into a curb.

2. 60's feel like mid 70's

We did not have the right clothes. When we left, the weather forecast said partly cloudy for almost every day. It ended up being bluebird days (not complaining), and the 60s we saw were accurate. It just happens that when you're that far north and the sun's glaring down on you, IT. IS. WARM

So, keep this in mind when planning summer travel to Ireland. The temperatures may not look warm, but if it's sunny, expect true summer conditions, and pack plenty of sunblock.

3. Cliffs of Moher live up to the hype

I know everyone goes here, but it was incredible. We took a private tour that allowed us to go off-trail and get close to the edge. It's not for the faint of heart or those with poor balance. But for me, I loved it and offered A) no crowds and B) epic photo opportunities. Our Tour was 25 euros each, and we hiked about 4 miles.

The normal Cliffs of Moher visitor area (which we also went to) is 15 euros each. It's far more crowded, but because you're higher up, the scale is grander.

4. Food is delicious, but not unique

We ate so well in Ireland. Everything was made to perfection and tasted so good. That said, there's not "Irish" food per se. Yes, we had traditional Irish stew, but it's more or less the same as any other stew, though they use lamb and not beef. The one interesting thing was the lack of veggies. Most meals might have had a smidge, but nothing like normal American meals. After a few days without greens, I finally asked for a specific sides of veggies.

Most of the meals are what you can get anywhere else: Burgers, Steak, Fish, or Fish and Chips.

5. Driving on the left side gets better

I'll be honest. I was anxious about driving on the left side of the road, but once I got in, it was a bit more comfortable. The hardest part was remembering which way to look before turning. Another area I struggled with was knowing where the front left of the car would be. It's never something you have to think about in the US, and with how narrow the roads are, I definitely scraped some bushes along the side. Better than a car coming head-on, though!

6. Temple Bar is touristy, but fun

In Dublin, Temple Bar is the lively, touristy, rambunctious area of town. A few people told me to stay away, but we ended up having a blast, and there were plenty of locals enjoying music and drinks here.

I will say that it's a bit overwhelming, but if you're up for some fun, you'll have a blast!

A few places we went:

The Dame Tavern
Fitzsimons Temple Bar
The Auld Dubliner
Hairy Lemon Bar

We stayed at the Hilton in Dublin and highly recommend it for location and quality.

7. The Irish Are Incredibly Nice

When you hear people say the Irish are the nicest people, it's not just a platitude. It's legit. Everyone was talkative, open to providing recommendations for food or a walk, and always had a smile. Well, not the Irish guy to the British guy in Dublin one night... but that's a separate story.

Gear Corner

Today is the start of the 2025 REI Anniversary Sale. If you plan on shopping, I'd appreciate it if you clicked this link first. It'll link everything back to my account and give me a small commission that costs nothing.

Key Things to Know About the Sale:

Dates: 5/16-5/26

Members get 20% off one full-priced item

Members get 20% off one item that is already discounted.

I have my annual article here that you can check out and share around if you'd like.

Here are a few new items on sale that caught my eye:

Save $200 on Garmin Fenix 8 Watches

25% off my favorite hiking pants

25% off Altra hiking shoes - my go-to

$100 (25%) off Garmin InReach Satellite Device

25% off Jet Boil Flash (I've had mine since 2018)

Here are the top brands that have discounts up to 30%: