Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The towns south of Dublin are best explored by DART
light rail from the city center. You might stop in Monkstown
to see a puppet show at the famous
Lambert Puppet The-
atre and Museum
(see below), or, if the kids need a little
seaside adventure, go on a few more stops to the charming
heritage village of Dalkey.
The Ferryman
of Coliemore Har-
bor (see “Dublin's Southern Suburbs” in chapter 8), just a
10-minute walk from the train, can take the family out to
explore
Dalkey Island
and return you to shore. After your
adventure, you can reward your daring with a creamy soft-
serve ice-cream cone in the village. The park at the top of
Dalkey Hill
offers a memorable view of the town and bay
beyond.
One stop after Dalkey on the DART lies the long pebbled
beach of
Killiney.
This is just the place to find the perfect
stone for your family collection or to take a beachcombing
stroll along the strand. Farther on down the line is the sea-
side resort town of
Bray.
Irish water creatures, from starfish
to sharks, can be found in the
National Sea Life Centre
(p. 159 in chapter 8). Along with the aquarium, Bray also
sports arcades, games, and other family amusements along
its boardwalk. If you get to Bray with energy and daylight
to spare, the hike up
Bray Head
will give you a spectacular
view of the Dublin coastline. In season the purple heather
and yellow gorse are stunning, and you might see rabbits
inquiring around the bushes.
Even with so much out there for families to do together,
there may be some events—a romantic dinner, perhaps—to
which you'd rather not bring the kids. So where do you turn
for a babysitter? Dublin parents swear by
Minder Finders
(www.minderfinders.ie), a clued-in agency that uses only
certified child minders (many are former nannies or teach-
ers) who arrive armed with a bag full of kid-friendly activi-
ties. Each sitter is matched with your kids' ages and interests
in mind, to alleviate any “new babysitter” jitters.
