Savvy Sightseer - tips and insights for seasoned travelers!

Palm trees are not exactly an expected sight in Ireland, which is on the same latitude as Alaska. But cabbage palms are able to thrive in Ireland because of warm ocean currents, which keep its winters relatively mild. Coupled with its damp, yet mild summers, Ireland is green year-round. Irish gardens are diverse combinations of flowers; seemingly random, but actually well designed. The result is a profuse mix of vivid greens and bright flowers. Whether in someone’s backyard or at one of the highly cultivated estates, an Irish garden is a visual and sensual delight.

Powerscourt Estate and Gardens near Dublin boasts quite a variety of garden styles and has been recognized by National Geographic as the third best garden in the world. Among options to visit are: a splendid English Cottage Garden, an artfully designed Japanese Garden and the longest herbaceous border walk in Ireland, with over 700 varieties of plants and shrubs.

Starkly different scenery along the Irish countryside are the acres of open, uncultivated land known as moors and peat bogs. Chunks of the fossilized earth are dug up and the peat stacked to dry, later to provide an important source of fuel. The piles of black blocks make for an eerie landscape, and stories abound of swords, ornaments and even ancient bodies emerging from the bogs over time. A welcome break in the bleakness are the wonderfully intense yellow gorse shrubs that brighten the scene.

As vivid as the greens and colors of the countryside, Ireland’s coastline offers brilliant shades of blue. On the eastern side of Ireland is the majestic Cliffs of Moher. Nothing is as alluring as 5 ½ miles of cliffs reaching into the Atlantic like the fingers of an outstretched hand. The jagged outcropping stands in dramatic contrast with the Atlantic Ocean. Bhreannán Mór (“The Stack”) and Goat Island, add to the view by providing a nesting place for thousands of birds, including the delightfully colorful Atlantic Puffin. The scenic beauty of the Cliffs has been featured in many films, including The Princess Bride and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

South of the Cliffs, The Ring of Kerry is a winding coastal road around the Iveragh Peninsula. Along the route are mesmerizing views of mountains, beaches, castles, lakes, waterfalls – in essence some of the best of what nature has to offer.