The first stop on Kristen and Dane’s honeymoon to Ireland was Dublin, it’s most famous city. The friendly city is rich with literary culture, political history, good pubs and great people. They especially loved the first person they met, the cab driver at the airport. Kristen says, “Our cabbie was funny, chatty, and gave us all the insider info on where to visit and what to do.”

Kristen says one of the most romantic moments of their trip was “walking through the St. Stephens Green. It’s a beautiful, green park in the middle of Dublin. How could it not be romantic?”

For the past 400 years, this park has stood in the heart of Dublin. Once a restricted area for only the residents living along the park’s edges, the grounds were opened up to the public in the late 1800’s with help from Sir Arthur Guinness (the man behind the beer.) Features include a manicured central garden and statues of famous Irish writers Yeats and Joyce.

The honeymooners also took a stroll down nearby Grafton Street, Dublin’s major shopping areas. The pedestrian mall is lined with shops and cafés. Every day there are mines, musicians and buskers of every variety. Anyone who loved the movie Once as much as me will recognize it as the spot where Glen Hansard’s never-named character meets his never-named girl.

Kristen and Dane spent a lot of time wandering Dublin on foot since it’s a very walkable city… just be sure to watch when crossing the street. Kristen says, “Even weirder than driving on the wrong side of the road, was having to look at the wrong side of the road when we crossed the street! Those nice Dubliners made it easier for us by putting instructions right on the street.”

You might also consider the three day pass for a Dublin Bus Tour. The hop-on, hop-off tickets let you spent as much time as you like at a location. The buses take you by all the must-see spots, including the Guinness Brewery and Jameson Distillery, which we’ll visit with Kristen and Dane tomorrow.