So you've decided to head out to Northern Ireland. And what a great choice of destination that is. This area is full of history, culture and great Irish hospitality. Here's how to spend five days in Northern Ireland and get the most out of them.
Day 1
One of the best cities to fly in to, in order to explore the area, is Belfast. A great hotel to check out is the Europa hotel (www.hastingshotels.com/euro-belfast) before you head off and enjoy some lunch at the Mourne Seafood Hotel, which boasts some of the best food in the city (www.mourenesafood.com).
And when it comes to the best, you can't go wrong with a tour of the city given by the Blue Badge Guides. Ken McElroy is one of the best in the business and he will meet you in your hotel (44 (0) 7801 541600). Ken will answer any questions you might have and give you an insightful tour of one of Europe's most fascinating cities.
Heading out from Belfast, it's a good idea to drive to the Saint Patrick Center. The much-loved patron saint of Ireland is commemorated here. The exhibition at Ego Patricius looks at the legacy of St. Patrick, both ancient and modern and it recalls the saint's story in his own words using state-of-the-art multi-media displays (www.saintpatrickcentre.com).
Be sure to check out St. Patrick's grave stone in the yard at nearby Down Cathedral (www.downcathedral.org). Every year for St. Patrick's day a procession marches to his gravesite, but unlike in America, any beer that is drunk in the area afterward is not colored green!
If all that sightseeing leaves you in need of a rest, then check out the Soak Seaweed Baths. Even if you have never had one before, now is the time to indulge. You will step inside a steam cabinet before luxuriating in the amber goodness of the mineral-rich seaweed and hot seawater that makes up a seaweed bath. Let the seaweed bath detoxify your body and leave you with a natural glow. Ahhh, so good.
For a place to stay, look into the Slieve Donard Resort & Spa.
San Francisco residents can fly to Belfast via SFO International airport and Newark. Deals can be found online at www.kayak.com
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See the slideshow of beautiful Irish photos on the left and see the video of the famous Riverdance. Feel free to leave any comments below.
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