Travel
Detailed travel logs and trip journals live here. Expect day‑by‑day itineraries (e.g., our Switzerland & Italy trip) with weather notes, meals and family anecdotes, plus posts on museum visits, road‑trips and cruises.
- Left Doolin at 8 AM.
- Drove to Galway.
- Breakfast at Dela.
- Shopping and exploring in Galway: Port West (Tyler Jacket), Butler’s Chocolates (Truffles), Aran Sweater Shop, Weavers of Ireland, Intersport, Life Style Sports (Tyler Jersey), EuroGiant (Tyler Fan), Coffeewerk + Press (Jamie Mug), Wooden Heart (Mazie Maileg Mice), Le Petite Delice (Jamie Scone), Harper (Tammy clothes), The Sheep, and Murphy’s Ice Cream.
- Checked out the Galway Market.
- Drive to Ashford Castle.
- Go on a Hawk Walk!
- Drive to Bundoran.
- Dinner at Blue Leaf.
- Continue to Cria Lodge to check-in.
- Try out hot tub for our first night.
- Tammy and Mazie go on independent runs.
- Tyler and Jamie walk to Irish Craft for breakfast. Tyler got pancakes. I got a scone and ham & cheese croissant.
- Tyler, Jamie, Tammy meet at Doolin Inn about 10 minutes early for cliff walk. Mazie arrives 2 minutes late.
- Pat Sweeney collects the group for the amazing Doolin Cliff Hike.
- After completing hike visit the shop at Cliffs of Moher and Tammy gets a purse.
- Take shuttle back to Doolin Inn.
- Shopping at Village Crafts. Tammy and Mazie get hats to vibe with Jamie’s.
- Ice Cream stop at Doolin Ice Cream!
- Chocolate stop at Village Crafts.
- We try our hand at golf at the Doolin Pitch & Putt.
- Everyone is very hungry so walk and have dinner at Stonewall Wood-Fired Pizzeria in Hotel Doolin.
- Walk back to cottage to hang out for a bit.
- Walk back into Doolin for music and Guinness at Gus O’Connors Pub.
- As we lose light, walk back to cottage to wrap the day.
- Up early to leave cottage at 8 AM.
- Walk 2 miles from cottage to the Doolin pier.
- Stop at Rocket House for breakfast snacks and cappuccino.
- Bumpy ride on Doolin Ferry to Inis Mór.
- Explore Inis Mór.
- Additional shopping in the stores along the Doolin Pier.
- Final shopping stop at Irish Crafts. Tammy ends up getting four sweaters today.
- Dinner at The Ivy Cottage for what most think is the best fish & chips we’ve had on the trip.
- Walk back to cottage.
- Tammy was up at 8 AM, completely ready to go and prepared by 9 AM. Everyone else awoke shortly after.
- Tammy and Tyler go to Marine Bakery & Cafe for light breakfast.
- We all go for final walk along Ballybunion Beach at low tide.
- Depart Ballybunion for Adare Manor in Adare.
- The best Afternoon Tea ever at Adare Manor.
- Post tea shopping at Adare Store where unexpectedly Tammy buys a jacket and Tyler swim trunks. Jamie gets 1893 Tea to bring home.
- Drive to Doolin.
- Stop at Doolin Lodge, check-in to Cottage at Doonagore Castle.
- Walk to McGann’s Pub for dinner, Guinness, and traditional Irish music set.
- Walk back to cottage.
- Breakfast at Marine Bakery & Cafe.
- Wandered around Ballybunion.
- Walked and explored along the beach for extended time.
- Lunch snacks.
- Attempt to book Surf School but too late.
- Back to beach and Tyler and Mazie got on suits and braved the very cold water a bit.
- Dinner at Namir’s.
- Walk the Cliff Walk.
- Head to McMunn’s per my Barber’s suggestion
- Return to Airbnb
- Mazie and Tyler explore the beach even more
- Breakfast at The Shire. Waffles and French Toast.
- Finished packing and loaded car. Checked out of Airbnb.
- Drove to Ross Castle.
- Started raining as we boarded the Gap of Dunloe Traditional Boat Tour.
- Took boat 14 miles to Lord Brandon’s Cottage.
- Jamie gets Scone and Earl Grey Tea before we start hike.
- Depart on hike of the Gap of Dunloe.
- Ascend 3.5 miles up the road.
- 1:37 PM we reach the top point in the Gap of Dunloe and it is ridiculously windy.
- Descend 3.5 miles to Kate Kearney’s Cottage.
- Jamie gets Guinness, everyone else an ice cream.
- Dux from boat tours picks us and others up to return to our car at Ross Castle.
- Dinner at The Tan Yard.
- Drive to Ballybunion.
- Listen to Jamie’s interview on Omni Show on the way.
- Check into Breakers Beach Airbnb with amazing views.
- Unload luggage.
- Mazie and Tyler explore the very cold beach.
- Tyler returns and Tammy went out to collect Mazie.
- Watch sunset from living room.
- Jamie up at 8:00 AM feeling groggy. Stir everyone else awake to get going.
- Tasty breakfast at Curious Cat Cafe.
- Walked to Killarney Bike Rental.
- Rented four bikes for the day to explore Killarney National Park.
- Rode to Torc Waterfall and then hiked up to the top of the waterfall and back down along another path, then crossed back to Torc waterfall to get bikes.
- Rode bikes to Muckross House for lunch at the restaurant and then walk the grounds.
- Rode bikes to Muckross Abbey and Graveyard.
- Rode bikes back to Muckross Traditional Farm but decided to not go.
- Rode bikes back to Muckross House to spend gorgeous evening time on the giant lawn.
- Rode bikes back to Killarney Bike Rentals to return them.
- Walk back to town center to Kitty O’Se’s. Did not have reservation and only table was outside. It was cold but we decided to do it anyway! All four of us ordered the Fish & Chips. Struck up a conversation with a local tour guide at dinner who gave us some pointers on other places we are going.
- Walk back to Airbnb to rest and relax.
- Mazie and Jamie went out so Jamie could have a Guinness at O’Connors Pub and listen to live music.
- Mazie and Jamie explored Killarney a bit before returning to AIrbnb.
- Jamie gets some sleep on flight, everyone else not so much.
- DL114 arrives in Dublin slightly early at 10:39 AM local time. 🛬
- Clear passports and get luggage.
- Pick up SEAT Leon from NewWay rental. Make sure we have all insurance options. Figure out how to fit all of our luggage. Just barely fits.
- Drive to Killarney. Soundtrack was U2, Foo Fighters, The High Kings. Stop at Barrack Obama Plaza to get Jamie coffee and a Coke. Kids slept the whole time.
- First experience on narrow Irish roads — wow there is not much room for two way traffic.
- Stop at Killarney Brewing & Distilling for a beer and a snack.
- Check into AirBnb in Killarney and get settled.
- Walk around Killarney and explore shops.
- Dinner at Hilliard’s.
- Walk back to rental to rest and get some sleep.
- Packing, packing, repacking, confused, not sure bringing the right things, packing. 🧳
- Prepare camera, computer, and related equipment. 📷
- Visit Edina Art Fair.
- Lyft to airport.
- Suitcase statistics in pounds: Tammy 48, Jamie 42, Mazie 35, Tyler 31.
- Met couple from Seattle waiting for Dublin flight who were rerouted through Minneapolis after their Boston flight was late. They had eight kids from 18 to 4 years old who were at home on their own. Their final destination was Madrid, Spain.
- Take off DL114 MSP → DUB. 🛫
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 9
Weather: Cool with gentle but steady rain much of the day.
Today was a longer transit day starting in Doolin and making our way to Ballyshannon for the next stop.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 8
Weather: Best weather yet. Good amount of sun. Reasonably warm. Not too windy.
Another day spent entirely on foot. Activity for Tammy is 40,995 steps and 95 flights climbed and Jamie 32,498 steps and 81 flights climbed.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 7
Weather: Mixed bag. Periods of cool and cloudy, sunny and warm. It rained at times. Quickly changing and variable.
We did everything on foot or bike today — walking between all of our destination.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 6
Weather: Good weather today — partially cloudy and less wind.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 5
Weather: Windy, partly cloudy. Cool but pleasant. Very cold for water activities.
A rare unscheduled Thingelstad vacation day with open options.
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Ireland 2024 Log - Day 4
Weather: Windy and rainy today and very cool. Highs around 55 °F.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 3
Weather: Cool in the morning and evening. Very comfortable the rest of the day. High of 62 °F.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 2
Weather: Sunny. High of 67 °F. Pretty cool after sunset.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Ireland 2024 Log - Day 1
Weather: Warm and Sunny in Minneapolis.
Jump to day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 or see Ireland 2024 Collection.
Milwaukee Art Museum
The Milwaukee Art Museum was incredible. It was one of our favorite art museums that we have ever been to. Incredible art set in an incredible museum.
Part of the Milwaukee Spring Break collection.