Europe

Looking to plan a weekend getaway with friends? This week we’ll be sharing some destinations that are fun for getting some of your friends together for a vacation you won’t forget.

Hey fellas, need a break from the everyday grind? Then take a trip to Dublin with a few of your favorite lads to enjoy some pints of Guinness, swing some golf clubs, or wander around historic castles. Dublin is both the largest city and the capital of Ireland and offers a variety of activities that can keep you busy all day long.

Start the trip off by seeing one of the top international visitor attractions in Ireland, the Guinness Storehouse. This impressive building in the shape of a giant pint of Guinness has seven floors of beer, beer, and more beer. RealTravel blogger Angus had the chance to visit the store house last winter.

“Dave and I found ourselves getting rather giddy with excitement from the moment we were in range and the pace of the group quickened until we set foot in the vast modern building. We seemed to have timed our visit perfectly as there was not one person in line (a very different story to when we left around lunch time and the queue went around the block outside in the cold and wet!) The factory proved to be very educational and interesting and well worth the entrance fee. The highlight of the visit was sitting back in the Gravity bar seven stories high looking down over Dublin with a complimentary pint of Guinness in hand!” (more…)

If you still have not got your fill of beer, then mosey on into Temple Bar, an area on the south bank of the River Liffey known as Dublin’s cultural quarter. Its medieval street pattern with many narrow cobbled streets is often flowing with tourists during the day and brimming with lively party animals at night. Home to many different Irish cultural institutions, music venues, and pubs you will be sure to find something that catches your interest.

Take a break from the endless amounts of pubs to hit a few balls on the green. Dublin has over 60 of the country’s finest golf courses offering varying difficulty levels all with excellent standards. However, book your tee time in advance so you do not set yourself up for disappointment.

Alongside golf courses a variety of other attractions dot the Irish countryside, some of which include hundreds of different castles. However, one of the more notable ones is the Dublin Castle located in the historic part of the city. It was first founded as a major defense complex in 1204, and since then has played a number of roles including the former fortified seat of British rule in Ireland. You can admire its enormous towers, try to snag a seat in the Throne Room, or roam around the Dubhlinn Gardens. Daily tours are available.

So what are you waiting for? Pack a bag, grab your friends, and head to one of the liveliest places a lad could ever visit!

Dublin Hotels
Dublin Restaurants

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Looking for a unique travel destination with a musically historical significance? Head to Liverpool, England, otherwise known as the birthplace of The Beatles.

Legendary Beatles hotspots are located throughout the city. An informed traveler, perhaps with the aid of a decent Liverpool map, should have no problem locating the famous Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane for which the songs are named, as well as the homes, schools, and birthplaces of John, Paul, George, and Ringo. Tourists can also explore the Cavern Quarter, home to the Cavern Club at which the Beatles performed 292 times. For a more educational experience, travelers can pay a visit to “The Beatles Story,” (a museum chronicling The Beatles’ rise to fame) or they could seek out a Beatles tour, which takes visitors past various Liverpool landmarks, and often includes admission to the museum.

RealTraveler, Fretless visited last summer, and managed to get a picture taken with John and Paul:

“I have visited the Cavern district, and had my photo taken with Paul McCartney’s statue there. This visit, I got my photo taken with John Lennon’s statue which stands prominently in the airport named after him.” (more..)

Of course, if the opportunity to explore the roots of a legendary rock and roll group is not incentive enough to board that plane, keep in mind that Liverpool was founded in 1207, and therefore has plenty to offer in the way of history. Realtraveler Ever Onward for instance, references visits to the Albert Dock, The Maritime Museum, the Liverpool branch of the Tate Museum, and the Anglican Cathedral, which he describes as, “a splendid work of spiritual art.” See more Liverpool attractions to help plan your trip this summer!

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