A Visit to the Dingle Peninsula Needs to Be On Your To Do List

If you love car rides with beautiful scenery, a road trip to Dingle should be on your itinerary! This was one of my favorite drives on our epic road trip around Ireland!

The scenery along this stretch of Ireland’s southwest coast is AMAZING! You get farmlands, the beach, and cute towns all along the route! Next time we come to Ireland, we will definitely plan a longer visit in this area!

If you don’t already know, I LOVE cows! I literally brake for cows…or at least George does! He is always the one driving, so he knows if I can get close enough to get a good look, he should probably stop the car! While driving in Ireland, the carefully placed hedges that surround people’s property really inhibited my chance to see cows close up…but the ride to Dingle change it all! See below!

We were also in awe as we were driving and saw Inch Beach! We had to pull over and take in the views! Inch Beach is about 3 miles long. I imagine that this is a very busy beach in the summer. The waves are pretty rough here, so as you can imagine it is a surfer’s delight! During the summer months, there are lifeguards here. However, during our visit we just saw some walkers and a few pups!

We did not have anything planned for our day in Dingle. It is a seaside town…and it was rainy (and during their off season), so we just wandered around, enjoyed the town, and visited some local businesses! As you can see in the pictures below, there is plenty to see here…even if you do not have a plan! Take a close look at the sign for Foxy Johns pictured below…now that is a PARTY!

While you are in Dingle, we would recommend that you visit the following local businesses!

1. Murphy’s Ice Cream - We will start with the one business that WAS part of our plan for the day. It is on our Ireland Bucket List.

This ice cream has been made in Dingle since 2000. There are quite a few locations throughout Ireland, but I wanted to get it from the original location!

The owners use fresh milk from Kerry cows, loads of cream, and free range eggs. These high quality ingredients produce a delicious treat! Pro-tip: Get the Honeycomb Caramel…and thank me later!

2. Sheehy’s Fish and Chips - Who can say no to some cheesy potatoes out of a food truck? Not this girl! But in Ireland, they take it one step further and add a Garlic Mayo sauce on top. I imagine this is their equivalent to our ranch dressing.

Don’t ask questions, just get them! You won’t be disappointed. Of course they also serve fish and burgers, but we had already had lunch a little bit earlier. So, this was the perfect late afternoon snack!

3. Bacus Bakery - This locally owned bakery serves up delicious bread and desserts. Originally started in 2009 at home, owner Orla Gowen believes that simple ingredients are the key to creating a delicious product. Their products are so popular that they are sold in shops and restaurants throughout Dingle , Tralee, and Killarney.

Because of the popularity, the bakery moved into this location in 2018. And for that I am thankful. It is here that I ate THE most delicious dessert in all of Ireland: Guinness Chocolate Cake. Trying this cake, was another item on my bucket list. I am so glad that THIS is the place we were able to try it. My only regret is that I did not buy the WHOLE cake! DO NOT MISS THIS!!!

4. The Little Cheese Shop - I love cheese…and especially sharp, flavorful cheeses. In a lot of places that we have travelled, the cheese are too mild for me. But, I was super excited to try cheese in Ireland because I knew this would not be the case!

Most of the cheeses in their shop, come from Irish pastures. If you are a fan of cheese, you must visit this shop!!!

5. Paul Geaney’s Bar & Restaurant - Because Dingle is a seaside town, there are tons of fresh seafood restaurants. We are not huge seafood fans, so we were looking for a place to have lunch. This place was recommended by one of the locals. Below is a picture of George’s lunch, which made him very happy!

They do not shy away from their portions of meat and potatoes in Ireland. If you are looking for a hearty meal while you are visiting, check this place out!

6. Kathleen McAuliffe’s - Because we own a gift shop, I am always on the hunt for cute, locally owned shops when we travel. This particular shop had clothes, candles, skin care products, art, and more.

The shop is filled with lots of cute gifts! We really enjoyed our visit to this shop…AND I bought a super cute sweater (see below)! The shop owner, Kathleen, is a Milliner. A milliner is a women’s hat maker. She studied the art of hat making at the London School of Fashion. She actually learned under the woman who makes hats for the Queen of England! Kathleen’s hats are sold in the shop!

Our trip to Dingle was definitely one of our favorite day trips. This is an area that should not be missed!

Listen to our podcast to hear more about our travel to Dingle: Off Your Beaten Path Podcast

Witness A Piece of History in Waterford, Ireland

Every visit to Ireland should include a trip to Waterford, so you can pay a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal.

We love factory tours, so this was right up our alley. Due to Covid restrictions, the tours were "self-guided". However, there was a person at each place along the tour that was there to explain the process...and it was a fascinating experience.

So many times, we have had Waterford Crystal in our possession, and I never really even paid much attention to it. After seeing the process of making it, I can assure you that I will never look at it the same way ever again!

These craftsman are highly skilled in each of their areas, with their apprenticeships lasting 5-8 years. Glass blowers use wooden and hand tools to shape the crystal. Each piece is inspected several times. If it is not perfect, it is scrapped and sent to be remelted and used again.

Once the Crystal passes inspection, it is sent to the cutters. These artists use removable marker to make the geometric patterns onto the Crystal. The cutters have to learn a series of 600 cuts before they can complete their apprenticeship. It was astonishing to watch them create these cuts!

There are also sculptors that sculpt pieces from a solid block of crystal and engravers who spend hours and days engraving the crystal.

The amazing part of the tour is that you get to see these craftsman performing this work up close and personal. The cost of the tour is only 15 Euro per person.

After the tour, you can shop in their retail store...and visit the Crystal Cafe.

We made this visit in a day trip while heading to our next destination. Don't miss your chance to witness this 238 year legacy in action. You won't regret it!

Check out this video from behind the scenes!

While you are here, check out the town. This seaport has a rich history dating back to when the Vikings found the area in 914 A.D. There is plenty to see and explore while you are here!

And make sure to check out this adorable shop with great items Made in Ireland - Bebhinn!

For more information about the town, click here: Waterford

Travel Hack: The Envelope Challenge

When we decided that we wanted to spend a couple of months in Europe for the winter, I knew that saving money would be a challenge. We were in the middle of a Pandemic AND we had just started a business that wasn’t making any money. In fact, we were doing just enough to get us by…in the hopes that our business would have a chance to see a real cruise season.

I had seen a post about an envelope challenge to save money. And it was then that I knew this would be a good way for us to save. You might be wondering, “How does the envelope challenge work?” In the initial post that I read, it suggested that you take 50 envelopes and write the denominations ($1 - $50) on the envelopes. Each week, you would then select an envelope. You would then put that amount of money in the envelope that corresponds with the number on that envelope. At the end of the 50 weeks, you would have saved $1275.

I knew that we were going to need more money than that for an extended trip to Europe, so I doubled the number of envelopes from 50 to 100. Each week, we pulled two envelopes from our bag…and then during that week we got the money and put it in the envelopes. Some weeks were tough. Sometimes, we used money that we would have used to go out to eat…and some weeks we used cash from tips. Some weeks, if we would pull two envelopes with high denominations, we would pick again. But EVERY week, we would pull those two envelopes. And luckily for us when tips were good, we were able to stuff three envelopes in a week.

During the course of the year, we saved $5050…just by putting that money in envelopes and NOT using it on dumb stuff throughout the year. It was so fun to go to the bank with my stacks of cash…and it was a HUGE sense of accomplishment that we were able to SAVE this money during a pretty difficult time.

Taking this trip was a priority for us…and it just goes to show that you don’t have to be rich to be able to live the kind of life you have always dreamt of!

In less than a year, you could complete the envelope challenge too! Where would you go on YOUR dream vacation? Comment below!

If you have not yet listened to the Podcast, check it out here!

5 Things to do when visiting Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

With over 3 million visitors a year, there is no doubt that Cabo San Lucas is one of Mexico’s top tourist destinations.  Many of these visitors arrive via cruise ship, which mean time is limited! To help you narrow down your choices, here is my list of top five things to do while in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

1.  Take a water taxi ride to see the Arch of Cabo San Lucas.  “El Arco” is a limestone arch that sits at the southern tip of Cabo San Lucas (the end of the Baja Peninsula).  The arch has been carved by the tide and wind over the years. 

Some people choose to book an excursion from the ship, we very rarely do that.  We enjoy exploring on our own.  We like to support the locals directly.  I guarantee that there is no shortage of water taxis in the Marina.  The cost is going to be significantly less and the you will have more flexibility on times and destinations compared to booking the excursion through the ship. 

 An added bonus to the boat ride is you have the chance to see some wildlife: birds, manta rays, whales, and sea lions!

This is definitely the iconic view of this region!

2.  Visit one of the many beaches in the area.  Some of the most popular beaches in the area are Medano Beach, Lover’s Beach, Divorce Beach, and the Cannery Beaches.  Not all of the beaches are great for swimming, so you will need to research this before heading to your destination.  However, there is no doubt that this beautiful coastline is home to some of Mexico’s most beautiful beaches.

3.  Experience the adventuresome side of Cabo San Lucas.  Due to the location of Cabo, there is a wide range of water and land activities available: atv tours, zip lining, parasailing, scuba, and snorkeling. 

4.  Explore the Marina.  If you don’t want to venture to far away from the ship and the beach is not really your scene, there is plenty to see and do near the marine.  Get your picture taken with an iguana, shop for local souvenirs, and of course tequila tasting at the Tequila Lighthouse!

5.  Eat, drink, and experience the culture!  You don’t have to venture far from the ship to find a variety of Mexican Restaurants.  The pictures below were from our meal at Captain Tony’s!

 If you do venture just outside of the Marina, you can have a drink at Slim’s Elbow Bar - the smallest bar.  Or if you are lucky, you will stumble upon one of the best bars (with great specials)…located in the back of a souvenir shop. 

There is a lot to discover and enjoy in this beautiful destination.  Whether you want to explore the desert on an ATV, relax on an amazing beach, or unwind at a bar, there is definitely something for everyone! Enjoy!

Big News: Our Newest Edition

Off Your Beaten Path has been in existence for 6 years now. We started as a blog, shifted focus to my photography, AND now we have a GREAT new addition!

Drum Roll Please…We have started our very own PODCAST!!!

Off Your Beaten Path is a weekly travel podcast about trading in your daily grind for a life worth living! Take a new path each week as your hosts Nicole and George inspire you to live bold and explore outside the lines. Take that trip, work with purpose, and live a life less ordinary by getting Off Your Beaten Path.

We feel that the Off Your Beaten Path Podcast is the perfect way to add to our brand!

Click below to listen to our trailer!

We hope you will take a listen, share with your friends, and subscribe!

We want to know what topics you want to hear about on the show! Let us know in the comments!