Travel Ireland: Killarney for Families

In Ireland's southwest lakes region, adjacent to Killarney National Park, the town of Killarney sits in the middle of the most picturesque part of the Emerald Isle. Killarney, in the County of Kerry, is a town full of rich history and welcoming people.

It is also, according to some, a "tourist town."

While the tourist label may keep some travelers away, catering to tourists also means providing convenience and familiarity-two desirable aspects when you're traveling with children. Killarney is an ideal spot for a first-time European experience. The people of Ireland, their traditions, history, and culture, cannot be overshadowed by the presence of a few souvenir shops.

Furthermore, Killarney is an attraction to travelers from every country, not just Americans, giving children, especially those visiting a foreign country for the first time, just the right amount international flavor, without too much culture shock.

Planning

Obtain a passport:

At least six months before you go, confirm that every member of your family has a valid passport. Citizens of the U.S. can find information on obtaining a passport at the U.S. Department of State Website. Special regulations apply for minors obtaining a passport and leaving the country, so review the procedures carefully. The Transportation Security Administration website has some excellent practical advice on traveling with children.

Spark Excitement:

Go to the library and check out books on Ireland, especially ones with photos of the landscape. Show your kids Ireland on a globe and let them see how far you'll be traveling. On the Internet, browse DLTK's Growing Together or Kids Connect for information on Ireland. Encourage your children to begin documenting their experience before you leave home: give them a blank journal and their own camera.

Pack:

Bring clothes that you can layer. Temperatures vary and it will rain, so bring an umbrella or jacket with a hood. Also, consider packing medicine for motion-sickness. Even if your children don't get sick while flying, the roads around Killarney, whether you rent a car or ride a bus, are narrow and winding. Even the strongest stomachs might feel a little carsick.

Budget:

Check exchange rates a few days before you go. At the airport, convert just enough dollars to euros to get you to your hotel, and possibly through the first day. Then use an ATM once you're in Killarney. Check with your bank for ATM fees in foreign countries.

Getting There and Getting Around

Flights:

Fly Aer Lingus from the U.S. to Shannon. Then take a bus through Bus Eireann to Killarney.

The First Day:

Take it easy. Kids will need that first day to recover from jet lag, and you will too! Don't plan any excursions on the first day. Relax, go to a pub, take a leisurely walk through the town, acclimate to your surroundings.

Walk, or ride?

If it's your first time in Europe, don't rent a car. You can walk everywhere in Killarney, especially if your staying near the town center, and you can take a taxi or a tour bus to any of the nearby sites.

Hotels

From extravagant hotels to the affordable bed and breakfast, Killarney has a hotel in your price range. Trip Advisor.com is an excellent way to research hotels before your trip. Here are a few examples of the accommodations Killarney has to offer:

Scotts Hotel
Killarney Royal
Hotel Europe
Dunloe Castle
Randles Court Hotel

Dining

You'll have a hard time visiting Ireland without walking into a pub, and you wouldn't want to. The pubs (short for public houses) all serve food and welcome children. When the kids get tired of "exotic" foods like fish and chips or shepherd's pie, there's always the local Burger King or Subway. There are also two grocery stores for quick snacks or affordable lunches.

Fun

Older kids can shop, watch a game of football, sample a Guinness (legal age for drinking or purchasing alcohol is 18), or tour the sights. But don't plan day after day of sightseeing if you have young children. Killarney is a place to be out of doors and out with the people, and kids love interaction when traveling. Climb Ross Castle, rent a bike, light a candle in St. Mary's Cathedral, learn to play a tin whistle, ride in a jaunting car (or "jarvey"), walk through Killarney National Park and play with local kids in the playgrounds.

Foreign travel is entertaining without much effort. Children will find amusement in the little details: spending euros, calling fries "chips" and chips "crisps," drinking soda from little glass bottles in the pubs, or discovering all the different types of candy and "biscuits" in the shops.

And after you've explored Killarney to your liking, there are several nearby places to visit:

Muckross House
Gap of Dunloe
Ring of Kerry
Dingle Peninsula
Blarney Castle