RTW: My Wanderlove Getaway
OK, OK, so YA Highway finally posted a Road Trip Wednesday… and I can’t pass it up. In honor of the release of Kirsten Hubbard’s new novel WANDERLOVE, they want to know: If you could wander anywhere in the world, where would it be, and why?
Giant's Causeway in County Antrim
I really would like to travel more. There are countries I’ve never seen I would like to visit (e.g., Sweden, The Netherlands, Israel…). But if I was given the opportunity to go anywhere in the world right now, it would be Ireland. My reasons (well, the main ones anyway) are twofold. First, it’s a beautiful country. There’s a lot to see, the people are wonderful, and I’ve always enjoyed my time there when I’ve visited in the past. Second, I have lots of family there. My Mum’s from Ireland and is from a large family, so I have aunts, uncles, and cousins over there I rarely get to see–and some I’ve never met. It would be cool to take my family to a family reunion over there. But I can’t imagine that happening anytime soon. Oh well.
Where would you wander if you could? Blog your answer and post the link on YA Highway, or comment below. And if you want the chance to win some free stuff, check out the Wanderlove Giveaway… and there’s also my Birthday Giveaway!
I’d love to see Ireland, especially around St Patrick’s Day. I have Irish ancestry too so I’d love to go and find out more about my ancestors.
Interestingly, my Mum’s family never made much of a deal of St. Patrick’s Day–not nearly as much of a deal as they make of it over here in the US! Still, it’s worth the visit any time of the year. 🙂
I heard a story on the radio recently that Nike has come up with a shoe that has offended the Irish. They have called it the “Black and Tan” with a reference to a pint with 1/2 Guiness and 1/2 Harp. The Irish are offended b/c the Black and Tan to them is a reference to a British military group that were unkind to the Irish. You can read the whole story here: http://www.npr.org/2012/03/13/148536624/nike-kicks-up-controversy-with-black-and-tan-shoes.
One of the other things that apparently gets the Irish riled, is that the history of St. Patrick’s Day is turned into an opportunity for gluttonous drinking. The story also has one person saying it is absurd to think that the Black and Tan would be 1/2 Guiness anything–they would never dilute their Guiness 🙂
I would love to return to Ireland. Loved the Giant’s Causeway. Would love to go to the South, only ever been in the north of Ireland.
April
Good pick! Ireland was a top contender for a vacation this year, but it lost because we only have a week, and we’d like to spend two there. It does look like such a stunning country. I had already gone as far as plotting out a fun route, but I wanted to do the Antrim coast, my husband wanted to do the southwest, and we couldn’t do both without being totally stressed.
Good call. You really don’t want to stress yourself out going somewhere like Ireland. You want to be able to relax and soak it all in. I recommend at least six months. 😉
Ireland looks beautiful, whether you want to see cities, villages, or the countryside. I’d love to see it, too!
It’s been a long time since I was there last, so I would love to return in the not-too-distant future.
Oh, Ireland would be amazing to travel to. And how wonderful to be able to connect with family. It does look beautiful!
It is, Stephanie. And having so many relatives there not only makes the visit sweeter, but it helps with finding somewhere to stay. 🙂
I’d love to go to Ireland! A rather sizable chunk of my ancestry is Irish (mostly County Armagh and County Monaghan). If the hubby and I had more time and funds we’d expand our Scotland trip this May into a Scotland/Ireland/Wales trip (we’re visiting London for a couple of days). So much history and so much beauty 🙂
So, you have Scots-Irish heritage… and you have ancestry in County Armagh… Mmm… are you sure we’re not related somewhere in the distant past?
Pity you can’t do Ireland and Wales this time around, but you’ll love Scotland, and you’ll have a great time in London too. Maybe next time. 🙂
Did I tell you that I’ve actually been to Scotland and England before? Not sure if I mentioned that. I spent an entire summer in Scotland on a youth mission when I was seventeen, and the summer before around Europe. Both times started and ended in London. Favourite place ever, though, is Scotland 🙂 The hubby hasn’t been outside of North America so this will be super exciting for him. Hopefully, it’ll prompt a whole pile of other overseas trips in the years ahead!
I hadn’t left the British Isles until I went to visit my wife-to-be in the States. After that, I got the travel bug. Not that I actually did more traveling, but I was far more open to the idea of visiting other countries. Hopefully this Scotland trip will do that for your hubby. 🙂
I’ve always wanted to go to Ireland. I’ve made it across the pond to England and Scotland, which were lovely. But Ireland just seems so…magical. Great post, but it’s giving me the travel bug!
Thanks, Daisy! Ireland and Wales are two of the oft-neglected British travel destinations, and it’s a pity because they are both well worth the time.
I’m going to see my extended Irish family for the first time this spring! Can’t wait! Been dreaming of the Emerald Isle since I was a kid. Now at least I can dance in faerie circles and drink Guinness while I’m there 🙂
LOL! I’ll try not to envy you, Suzanne. 🙂 I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time.
The UK is at the very top of my list, followed by New Zealand and Japan. But I’d love to see the whole world, really. That’s so fun that you have family in Ireland. I hope you get to see them one day!
Thanks, Kris. My Mum has ten brothers and sisters, so I have plenty of aunts, uncles, and cousins to get around. 🙂
Oh I’ve never been out of the US really but I’ve so wanted to go to Ireland. I’m a total dork and just hearing about it/seeing it from movies and/or books just makes it seem so amazing and everyone I’ve ever talked to who has been has only great things to say about it.
I hope you get to go sometime, Eve. I bet there are places you’ve been in the US that I’d love to visit. 🙂
I, too, would love to visit Ireland. My neighbors have a lot of family over there as well. They visit yearly, and the pictures are just amazing. What a beautiful country. I hope you get there soon!
Thanks, Amy! 🙂
Ahhh, I’d love to go to Ireland! Good choice.
BTW, happy early birthday. March is a good month for birthdays – mine is the 22nd! 🙂
Thanks, Sara. Happy early birthday to you too! Make sure you sign up for my Giveaway–you never know, you might win a birthday shopping spree! 🙂
Nice choice! I’d love to see Ireland (and eat some Cadbury flake bars there and not via imports, but I digress.) I’m jealous that you’ve already been there!
Cadbury’s chocolate in the US is distributed by Hershey, and I’m convinced it doesn’t taste the same. My family periodically send me over the good stuff. 🙂 I hope you get to visit Ireland soon. You’d love it.
I would love to see Ireland…it looks so beautiful and enchanting! Crossing my fingers for you that you can at some point organize this family reunion, Colin 😀
Thanks, Elodie! It would be fun for my family to meet all my Irish relatives. That would have to be one very large room, though. 🙂
Wish I had family somewhere more interesting…we use up our vacations visiting family in Indiana.
Perhaps you ought to suggest a family reunion in Hawaii, or Paris? 🙂 Seriously, though, I’ve never been to Indiana, so that would probably be interesting to me.
This place sounds/looks lovely!
Confession: I’ve never actually been to Giant’s Causeway, but would love to. I know, it sounds strange–especially to Americans. Ireland’s not that big of a country, so you’d think I’d have seen all there is to see. Not so. And that’s part of the attraction–there are still so many places left to visit. 🙂