Welcome to Northern Ireland. Where the land
is as rich in history as it is in natural beauty. A country where you'll encounter
a warm and friendly people that's marked by a troubled and violent past. A history
that shaped its identity and influences its present. You'll find a land
of breathtaking landscape where rugged coastlines meet lush countryside. Yet it's these very contrasts
that add to the region's allure, creating a truly unforgettable experience. We'd
planned to stay in Northern
Ireland for a week, but loved it so much we ended up extending our
stay to 3 weeks. If you're new to the channel, welcome. We create videos of our world travels
hoping to inspire others to dream up a journey of their own. This is the Dream to Journey
family exploring the incredible country of Northern Ireland. We begin in Portrush
where we day trip to Giants Causeway in the antrim coast. We then travel to Derry before
finishing in the country's capital, Belfast. As the plane dips lower over
Ireland
the view from above transforms into a patchwork of Emerald Fields. I don't think
any of us have been somewhere so green! Taking the train from Belfast we arrive
in Port rush to explore the Antrim Coast. We begin on a short 20-minute hike along
the coast to the Carrick-A-Rede Bridge. Originally constructed by fishermen in
the 18th century, the bridge served as means for locals to access the rocky island
of Carrick-A-Rede during the salmon fishing season. Over the years the bridge e
volved from a
practical necessity to a popular tourist attraction. Our hearts pounding, we begin our descent to cross the bridge
100 ft above the Atlantic. Kyle, who has a huge fear of heights,
was a bit nervous crossing the swaying bridge. But having made it across we took in the
breathtaking Coastal views from our own little island. We enjoyed a little rest on
a rare sunny day and let our wee one stretch her legs. What an
incredible way to start off our adventures! Nearby is the historic
Cross Keys Inn which was built in 1740 and
is Ireland's oldest thatched pub. The owner of the pub greeted us and
took us on a tour. The Cross Keys Inn has all the charming quirks one may expect,
including a low ceiling. I'm not going to lie, I felt like Gandalf when he first
entered Bilbo Baggin's home in Lord of the Rings. He was proud to point out the
original American Revolutionary War conscription notice that has been
on display for hundreds of years. Reese was more than welcome. Afte
r all pubs, short
for Public House, are often times a family affair. We kicked back and enjoyed getting to know
some of the locals who let us know about the traditional Irish music playing there
that evening. We knew we couldn't miss it. The seaside resort town of Portrush made a
great home base for our time on the Antrim Coast. We loved walking the pristine beaches
and swimming on the rare but warm sunny day. The northern tip of Ireland is about the
same latitude as parts of Alaska, so du
ring the summer the sun doesn't set until about 11:00
p.m. Some of us were a little too enthusiastic about the beach. After an afternoon nap in
the sun Kyle woke up with a surprise. Did you have fun out in the sun today? Yeah... How
much fun? Too much fun... too much I got fried oh my gosh! This might just be the first
sunburn ever recorded in Northern Ireland. Perched dramatically on a
sheer coastal precipice is Dunluce Castle. Built in the 13th century it became the home of the MacDonald C
lan and
was once surrounded by an entire community. We loved exploring the hauntingly beautiful ruins and loved imagining how it once
would have looked in its glory days. It would have been difficult
living in a stone castle on the edge of the cold Atlantic, especially
during the wet and windy winter months. In the year 1639, a part of
the castle once collapsed during a storm, taking the kitchen and several
unfortunate cooks straight into the ocean. Speaking of poor weather
Northern Irela
nd is known for its unpredictable weather so be prepared for
rain wind and enjoy the occasional burst of sunshine. Layer your clothing and
always carry a waterproof jacket or umbrella. We were fortunate enough to house sit
in the countryside for someone that provided us with free lodging and use of her car
in exchange for caring for her house and two dogs while she was away on vacation.
We cherished the time we had exploring the nearby gardens and villages, enjoying a
genuine local experie
nce. We house sat for 9 nights and saved over $1,000. Scan the QR code
or see a link in the description below for the house sitting service we have come to rely on, at no
extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our channel. This was my first time driving on
the left side of the roadway and there was definitely a learning curve at first. How does
it feel being on the right side of the car? It feels like I'm driving through a mirror, like
everything is just backwards and upside down, and
it's just different. Do you feel used to
it though or not yet? Still not yet it's only been a day since I've been driving and
uh I'm get I'm definitely getting more comfortable with the idea. My favorite part
is how you are so such a gentleman here and you're always opening my door for me. Yes I
I forget that the steering wheels on this side so I go to get in on that side and uh
yeah there's nothing in there so just leave it on open for you. But yes thank you I'm quite
the gentleman. North
ern Ireland is really best explored by car, just drive slowly and before you know it
driving on the left side will soon become second nature. Next we head over to the Dark
Hedges made famous by The Game of Thrones series. This beech tree road has quickly become one of Northern Ireland's most iconic
sites and it's not hard to imagine why. It makes for a great photo op but it's honestly skippable if you
aren't crazy about Game of Thrones. Next up is one of my favorite
places in the world, the
Giants Causeway. A bus line connects a lot of the major
sites on the Antrim coast but it runs every 30 minutes or so in the peak season
and even more infrequently in off months. Make sure to carry cash with you for
a bus ticket if this is your choice of transportation. Our Jaws dropped when we first
descended along the coastal cliffs to the Giants Causeway. I would argue that it's comparable
to standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon. Before we went too far Bailey had
already found a com
fortable spot to rest... What is that here huh taking a little break?
Yeah it just looked so nice and soft and it proved how it was proved to be very. It
feels like a normal grass lawn. Comprising over 40,000 interlocking
hexagonal Basalt columns this UNESCO world heritage site is a result of ancient
volcanic activity dating back millions of years. Reese was having a tough time walking across
the columns at first but soon got a hang of things. The surreal landscape has inspired
myths and l
egends for centuries. The legend goes that the causeway was built by an
Irish giant as a pathway to Scotland to confront his rival. You can even still
see the giant shoe as proof of this legend. From the Giants causeway we headed out on
a section of the Causeway Coast Way. About 5 miles in length, this moderately challenging hike
takes about 2 and 1/2 to 3 hours to complete. Looking back now I wouldn't recommend the hike
with kids, we were lucky enough to do the hike on a sunny day with no
winds while Reese was
napping. Take care in the rougher sections of the hike, especially in poor weather conditions,
but I must say the views are absolutely stunning. The hike ends at the historic fifth century Dunc
castle where St Patrick is said to have once visited. From here public transportation
is available to take you to your next destination. Packed up and once again boarding a
train, we travel to Londonderry/Derry. Though the name of this city carries a lot of history
we'll refer
to the riverside community as Derry. It is easy to say we felt right at
home in Derry, genuine folks going about their days, comfortable homes, and
no flashy tourism. We settled into our new neighborhood just outside
the old medieval walls of the city center. Go cheese! cheese! Looking to
get our Derry legs moving, we joined a walking tour group led by a true Derry
local. No reservations required, but we do recommend arriving early to chat with other
travelers and to get a good spot to hear
the guide. The 400-year-old walls surrounding the city
center are some of Europe's best preserved city walls. Open for all to stroll you'll hear local
musicians, get close to some of the city's most iconic architecture, and have beautiful views of
both city, countryside and river. The trying times seen by these walls show the fighting power of
the Irish with battles and conflicts both old and new. We walked atop these walls filled
with awe at the standing power of surviving such a history.
Next up - The St Columb's Cathedral.
The oldest building standing in Derry, St Columb's Cathedral is an amazing work of
Gothic, Renaissance and Scottish baronial architecture. We were touched by the passionate
and kind guides that we came across all over the city we felt very catered to as they took
time to show some American travelers remnants of US military bases that were nearby
in the 1950. 1950s uh I was introduced to Wrigley... Coming down from the city walls we
found ourselves imme
rsed in music and local pubs with delicious lunch menus
that we visited twice during our stay. The iconic Dairy Guild Hall was free and
a great way to immerse yourself in the history of Londonderry/Derry. Maybe even to
do a bit of medieval shopping for the whole family? Reese's gown and throne were
a bit big, but I'm sure she'll grow into it someday. Though already she seems to
like the ruling role she takes in our lives. One of our most memorable meals was at the
Castle Street social wher
e we ordered a traditional Sunday roast. And we loved it
so much we forgot to film any footage of it! The troubles in Northern Ireland refers to
a period of conflict and violence that spanned roughly three decades from the late 1960s to
the late 1990s. On Sunday January 30th, 1972 here in Derry, British soldiers open fired on
unarmed civil rights protesters during a march in the bogside area of the city. 13 people were
killed outright and another victim tragically died later from injuries s
ustained during the
shooting. Many others were injured, some severely. The Museum of Free Derry's collection of artifacts
and personal testimonies offer a poignant insight into the experiences of those who lived through
this tumultuous period. On display are the clothes of the victims of Bloody Sunday. The troubles were
primarily a conflict between unionists who were predominantly Protestant and wanted Northern
Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom and nationalists who were mainly Ca
tholic
and sought reunification with the Republic of Ireland. The conflict was characterized
by bombings, shootings, riots and other acts of violence resulting in thousands of deaths and
injuries. Leaving the museum we walked along the bogside murals - powerful works of art that tell
the story of Derry's struggle for civil rights and justice. The conflict had a devastating
effect on both sides of the conflict. Our friend and house sitter host was kind
enough to share with us her experience
of growing up in a Protestant family during
the troubles. One memory she shared was going to the mall with her mother as a teenager
and being searched for bombs before being allowed to enter. The Good Friday agreement of
1998 brought a semblance of peace and power sharing governance to Northern Ireland but the
legacy of the troubles continued to shape its society and politics. Something changed deep
within us while in Derry. Inspired by the resilience and spirit of the people here in
Nort
hern Ireland, we carry with us a renewed commitment to stand in solidarity with those
who seek truth justice and peace in the face of adversity. And saving the biggest for
last the capital Northern Ireland Belfast! Hopping on our first double-decker bus we
got an eagle eye view of the bustling streets of Belfast. Hearing great things
about the food, collectibles and ambiance of the St George Market,
it was the first thing on our to-do list. The rest of the day was for
the newer Titanic mus
eum - opened just shy of 100 years since the
completion of the infamous Cruise liner. Built on the dockyards
where the Titanic itself was hand assembled, you go deeper into
the devastation that was the Titanic disaster. Down in the dark you are surrounded
by the names of those who died when the Titanic struck an iceberg. They begin to feel even
more real and moving as you see recovered personal items from ship passengers on
display such as this violin and pocket watch. This is a must visit
in Belfast they have really done a great job at bringing the history to life. Back in the heart of Belfast we explored the
Crown Liquor Saloon a near perfectly preserved pub from the early 1800s, complete
with carved mahogany booths and gas lamps. As our adventure through Northern
Ireland draws to a close, we reflect on the profound contrasts and beauty of this
land enriched by its kind and resilient people. From the rugged coastlines to the
historic streets of Derry and Belfast, each mom
ent has left a mark on our hearts. If
you enjoyed this video consider journeying along with us by subscribing! Next time
we find ourselves exploring Ireland! Thanks for watching and as
always dream big and enjoy the journey!
Comments
Thank you for watching! We loved our time in Northern Ireland. Journey along with us by subscribing!