• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Wonder Quests
  • Travel Hacking: How I Travel For Free & Cheap
    • Travel Rewards Credit Cards
    • Point Rewards Credit Cards
    • Hotel Rewards Cards
    • Cash Back Credit Cards
    • 0% APR Credit Cards
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Snapchat
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

The Wonder Luster

For Those Of Us Whose Dreams Won't Die Between 17 and 65.

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

Things To Do & See With 48 Hours In Dublin

Travel | February 2, 2016

Two days might not seem like a lot of time to spend in Ireland, but you'll be amazed what I was able to see and do with just 48 hours in Dublin.

Dublin wasn’t originally part of my itinerary when I wanted to hop the pond and visit the UK, but when I realized that a direct flight was hundreds of dollars cheaper than going straight to London, I was excited to put that savings towards 2 fun days in Dublin.

There are a LOT of things you can do in Dublin that don’t involve whiskey or pubs, and there’s a lot more to see in Dublin than what I chose to do with my time, but here’s how I spent my 48 hours in Dublin when I visited in December 2015!

The Irish Whiskey Museum

Irish Whiskey Museum Dublin

Irish Whiskey Museum Ireland

To call this a museum, which typically evokes memories of static exhibits with a bunch of pictures/artifacts wouldn’t do this place justice.  The Irish Whiskey Museum is an experience- you walk through interactive exhibits that include video and a live and friendly tour guide which not only explains the whiskey making process, but the history of Irish sprits and Dublin history…and for those of you Scots out there, you’ll learn a bit about the ‘rivalry’ between the two countries in terms of distilleries and whiskey making techniques.

After the tour, you’ll be given a souvenir tasting glass and get to enjoy some complimentary tasters.  You can stick around the bar afterwards- and since there’s free wifi, I’d recommend it.  Enjoy an Irish Coffee for me, okay?

The Guinness Storehouse

Conosseiur Experience Guinness Storehouse Dublin

Yes, you knew I was going to mention this next!   The Guinness Storehouse is totally touristy but it’s really well done. If you don’t like Guinness like I do, (I love me some stouts!) skip this, but if you enjoy the beer, you could spend half a day here.

I didn’t do your typically tour, I did the Connoisseur Experience and really enjoyed it.  You’ll still get to enjoy the perks of the other tours- like a free Guinness tasting and access to the museum and gift shop- but you will get to sit with a select few Guinness lovers and a personal bartender for a private tasting experience.

You’ll get seated at a private bar with about 10-12 other patrons, and you will learn about the varieties of Guinness, some of which you might not have heard of in the states!  Best part? We got to taste each one- yup…everyone got a healthy sized taster for each of the beers we tried.  Trust me, you’ll be feeling good, so good in fact, you’ll ace the final exam- pouring your very own pint of Guinness!

Free Walking Tours

St Patricks Cathedral Dublin

I was staying at the Generator Hostel Dublin, and the tour picks up there to relocate to a central location.  I would highly recommend a free walking tour on your first day there, just to get the lay of the land and learn about the history…plus, you’ll meet other nice people who may want to grab a pint later.

I traveled to Dublin by myself and met some really nice people that were staying at my hostel, but also got some awesome travel tips during our mid-tour break at the coffee shop.  If you’re a bit introverted or are traveling solo, a free walking tour is a frugal and fun way to meet people and get some great photo opps!

Join Up With A Pub Crawl

If you don’t do a pub crawl in Dublin, you’re missing out.  I met some really nice people, and ended up with some..ahem, stories… of some others, which I will not share here on the blog, but it was a great night out!

The Backpacker Pub Crawl is good for even non-backpackers (like myself) and for your ticket price, you’ll get a half pint of Guinness and about 4 additional house shots at the various locations.  Also, if you have a blast, you can join pub crawls on any other nights you’re in Dublin as long as you keep your wristband on.  So basically, you’ll master the “Irish goodbye” at least once or twice during your visit.  If the backpacker crowd seems a bit too rowdy, there are other ones such as the Literary Pub Crawl you can try as well!

Go Shopping On Grafton Street

Avoca Woolens Dublin

One thing I will say about Grafton is that you’re going to find a lot of those “made in China” generic touristy type shops full of cheap sweatshirts and shot glasses. If you’ve been to Vegas, you know the type of shops I’m talking about.

I unfortunately didn’t find a lot of local Irish flair when I was there for 2 days, but I did get to pop into Avoca, which makes gorgeous woolens in Ireland, and has great gifts that don’t look like they’re leftover from St. Patrick’s Day  (there is SO much more to Ireland than green and shamrocks!).

Of Course, There’s The Old Jameson Distillery Tour

Old Jameson Distillery Dublin

As stated, I was staying at the Generator Hostel and it literally is on the other side of the Old Jameson Distillery.  Easy, peezy!  You can walk through replicas of the whiskey making process and learn a bit about Jameson history with a tour guide, a few videos and a couple real big mash tanks that will show you how Jameson was made here before operations were moved to a larger location for increased production.

The tastings are a bit different than you will experience at other distilleries, at the Old Jameson Distillery, you’re actually going to taste 3-4 whiskeys (including Jack Daniels & Johnny Walker) and see how they stack up to Jameson.  Afterwards, you can enjoy a complimentary whiskey & ginger, or a non-alcoholic beverage.

Live Music At Temple Bar

Temple Bar

If your liver hasn’t quit by this point, spend some time taking in the awesome live music at the Temple Bar area of Dublin.  One bar, whose name and specific location escapes me at this point (I wonder why!) had an excellent duo that played the fiddle and guitar- who yes, covered Johnny Cash on request.

For the price of a pint, it was one of my favorite experiences in Dublin- and I can still hear the music playing in my ears.  The live music is always pretty solid in Dublin, and it’s a great way to rest your feet after a long day of sightseeing!

 

 

I hope you’ll enjoy your time in Dublin, there is plenty more to do and see, but these were my picks during my stay! 

Life is wondrous! Feed your lust for life with the tools & inspiration to help make it a great one.

« My Night Aboard The Odyssey For The NYE Dinner Cruise Chicago
10 Things To Do In Edinburgh »

Welcome!

Because you were born for more than putting your dreams on hold between 17 & 65. Reclaim your sense of adventure, become financially free & live your dream life before you retire. Learn more >>

We're on this adventure together to reclaim your life despite a 9-5! Get inspirational guidance on your own amazing journey with my weekly email.

Being stuck in a loud and unfamiliar airport due to cancellation or delay blows. Here are some tips how you can utilize airport layovers to get through it!

How To Best Utilize Airport Layovers

Being stuck in a loud and unfamiliar airport due to cancellation or delay blows. Here are some tips how you can utilize airport layovers to get through it!

See how I did with my first Wonder Quest: Whole30. (Spoiler alert: it was super difficult and I also got a scary diagnosis.)

Whole30: My Surprising Results From Not Eating Junk For 30 Days

See how I did with my first Wonder Quest: Whole30. (Spoiler alert: it was super difficult and I also got a scary diagnosis.)

Women traveling solo: don't let the naysaysers and your own self-limiting beliefs stop you. This trip will teach you so much, including these 4 things.

Women Traveling Solo: Why I Recommend It

Women traveling solo: don’t let the naysaysers and your own self-limiting beliefs stop you. This trip will teach you so much, including these 4 things.

Follow the adventure on Instagram

Some people just make the world a more vibrant pla Some people just make the world a more vibrant place, simply by being in it.  I can say that about these people- who make life more colorful, brighter and true just by being themselves. 

Grateful we could slow down to capture a little snippet in time for our family before we grow again. ❤️
IYKYK, bath time edition. 🛁. #bathtime #travelb IYKYK, bath time edition. 🛁. #bathtime #travelblogger #travel #familytravel #travellust
3 years since this photo was taken and my former k 3 years since this photo was taken and my former kidney became this guy's kidney. ❤️

I can say, I've grown to appreciate this moment a lot more as time has gone on.  It hasn't been an easy road for my recipient, he and his family have had a few health scares and ups and down, but I'm so grateful we are in each other's lives.

Chances are, you may know of someone in need of a kidney. 1 in 3 adults in the U.S., over 80 million people, are at risk for kidney disease.  While not every diagnosis leads to kidney failure, there are millions of people in this scary limbo hoping for good news.

I didn't know my recipient before this process started, but when I found I could live healthfully with one, I knew I had to try.  Donation is low-risk, my costs were generously covered by my recipient (both through insurance and the kindness of others) and I was back at work in 4 weeks.  Needless to say, it was easier than birthing a baby.

Candidates for kidney donation are thoroughly vetted to ensure the surgery, and life with one kidney are a good fit.  Trust me, your team will not ask you to donate if you have any risk factor of being in need of a transplant yourself down the road.  Testing took months and was incredibly thorough.  Your remaining kidney can do the job of two, and my kidney levels are normal and healthy 3 years later.

Even if you don't personally know someone who needs a kidney, please consider living kidney donation.  You can anonymously donate, be paired through a registry or find someone on social media who is in need, like I did.  There are literally thousands of people using Instagram and Facebook to try and someone who is even willing to get the basic tests.  You could be their person.  Have questions? I’m here for you! 

Being a living kidney donor absolutely enriched my life beyond imagination and has blessed my little family with a beautiful extended family to celebrate with.  Grateful for this day.
Life’s moments are made better with our pets. ❤️

Joey had been with us for nearly 4 years, made possible by the kind folks of South Texas Boston Terrier Rescue. I picked him up, intending on fostering him for a few weeks and ended up falling in love with his sweet spirit, exuberance for anything food related and his lovable derpiness.

Previously, he was kept in a small cage with two other terriers, all day every day and used as a stud. When he was no longer profitable, he, like plenty of others, was surrendered to rescue.  He was blind in one eye, needed teeth extracted and had skin lesions from life in a cage. 

Life hadn’t been easy for him, but I’m glad a rescue was there to give him a second chance, and they trusted me to give in his second chapter.  He was a well travelled dog and he was the Best Pup on our wedding day in Marfa.  Last night we said goodbye. Hubs and I will miss him dearly, but savor the moments and adventures with our little tank. 

Adopt, don’t shop.  Support your local rescues and give your fur kids an extra squeeze for Joey tonight.
“Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked “Is this enough for you?” My husband has asked me this before. To which, I answer- life is full, wonderful, and I am grateful. 

I believe he asks because before kids, I had a very different lifestyle. I traveled to Europe by myself, started businesses, donated a kidney, ran half marathons, got my master’s degree.  I lived a full life, then too. I was fiercely independent because I had to be.

I’m still that person, but fortunately I have more people to share it with. I also have to be more vulnerable than ever.

I had years to find myself and don’t plan on losing that woman I forged. Being a mom has also helped me heal some of the hard parts of the experience I had with my own mom. (I didn’t see that last part coming.)

Being a mom can make you lose yourself.  For me, it’s helped me discover myself once more. Grateful for this day and so many days - I’m just happy to be here. 

Happy Mother’s Day everyone. I hope you discover yourself, heal what you need and feel the love today and everyday.

Copyright © 2023 · The Wonder Luster · designed by Archer Creative

Copyright © 2023 · The Wonder Luster Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact