My wife booked a semi-surprise trip to Ireland for us and two of our teenage children. She chose Vagabond because it was an active tour (touring + hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, etc), and because the itinerary was extensive and included destinations off the beaten track. In all honesty, I embarked on this adventure assuming that, while a trip to our ancestral homeland would be be powerful no matter what, (1) the kids might be bored (2) the food would be average at best (3) lodging would be passable if we were lucky, and (4) it would rain the entire time. I am happy to report, all of these assumptions proved to be very wrong. Our guide for the tour was Mr. Sean Nee, aided by new trainees Jamie and John. The three of them combined knowledge, clarity, humor, and a sense of fun, to make the ride extra special. The trip is designed so that the group is rarely riding for much more than an hour at a time between stops and excursions. The sites were uniformly breathtaking, from the bed and breakfast nestled in a valley at Gougane Barra, to the rocky arches along the shore at Alihies, to the streets of Dingle and the burren on the road to Galway, to name just a few. The hikes up and through these places were great fun for the kids and the guides showed a great nack for hanging out with and relating to teenagers, which was a huge plus. As for the food, Ireland has a reputation for bland, boiled food. That reputation is firmly a thing of the past. Ireland's combination of nearby farms and ocean makes for incredibly fresh and organic food at every restaurant and hotel. The butter alone is worth the journey, and the chefs have clearly trained up on preparation strategies. Every hotel and B&B was very nice and featured, most importantly, updated and functional showers with decent or better water pressure at every stop. There were no surprises at check in, and there was some version of wi-fi at every stop :). As for the weather, I am not sure how Sean and the team arranged it, but it is clear they have connections in high places, or at least an above average supply of luck o' the Irish - sun was much more plentiful than expected or predicted by weather.com. We cannot recommend this trip enough - from our fellow travelers in the tour group, to the itinerary, to the accommodations, and especially to the tour guides, this was a trip that will live in our memories, and our kids' memories, forever.
