As aired on May 18, 2008 in Baton Rouge, LA on The Around Town Show.

Summer in the US is the time where most families head to the beach. These are my picks for the 2008 beach season. This list is based on personal experience, family friendly offerings, sand quality, and overall good times. Feel free to comment on the destinations included or add your own picks for Gulf Coast beach destinations.

5. Galveston Island, TX

Galveston is on the list because it is home to Moody Gardens and a new Schlitterbahn Waterpark. The boardwalk along the beach is a great place for families who like walking along the beach without getting all the sand in your shoes. Also, there is a lot of pirate history, with Galveston Island being home to Campeche, a settlement once inhabited by Jean Laffite and his crew.

4. Gulf Shores, AL and Orange Beach

These two are really separate, but when many people around where I live say they are going to Gulf Shores, they could be going to Orange Beach instead. The two are side by side and offer shopping for Mamas at nearby Foley, an abundance of golf courses for the dads, and so many family friendly activities. The beaches are really nice and clean with many restaurants overlooking the Gulf. I spend time there one summer with my family when the kids were very small. We were able to find an affordable 2 bedroom condo on the beach through Brett Robinson Rentals. Be careful though, as the Gulf Shores area has become a bit pricey.

3. Panama City Beach, FL

I know what you are thinking, isn’t this a Spring Break destination? Yes, it used to be and I almost fondly remember a high school trip there where we stayed at The Chateau. You remember that old place don’t you? We used to call it the S—hole. Anyways, I returned one summer with family in tow. It has definitely changed to a family friendly destination. Beware of the evening traffic along The Strip. It is perfect if you are a family with teenagers, as many activities include parasailing and those bungie drop things. If you have younger children, there are plenty of go-cart tracks and waterslides.

2. Destin, FL

Destin and the northwest coast of Florida offer some of the most gorgeous beaches I’ve ever seen. This place has the shopping, the golf, the activities, and even the spas. One thing that sets it above other beaches is the relaxation factor. Be sure though that when you book your lodging, make sure it is ON the beach, not near the beach. Many condos here are located across the highway from the beach. This isn’t the best when you have little ones. Destin does offer some fantastic seafood. I remember many childhood summers at the buffet! The sand here is so fine, it actually barks when you walk.

1. The Florida Keys

The Florida Keys is one of those places in the US that makes you feel as if you are on a tropical island somewhere. The Keys offers a variety of atmospheres, from Key West, which is a beach version of The French Quarter, to Islamorada, which is laid back and slow. If you don’t have the money to actually stay at the legendary Little Palm Island, you can still visit this hideaway for lunch. The same goes for Sunset Key. There are so many Keys to choose from with a variety of activities for families of all backgrounds.

Families can swim with the dolphins, visit a butterfly museum, learn about pirates at an interactive attraction, and see how turtles are taken care of at The Turtle Hospital. Families can’t go wrong when visiting The Keys.

So these are my picks for this year. Remember that a vacation is a time for travel, relationship renewal, and most importantly, fun. Be spontaneous and make the most of your time together this summer.

Wow! What a response for the Tots on the Go Giveaway!

We had two hundred entries and almost a thousand lurkers. The TrendyKid Trunkie TwoGo and The Go-Go Babyz Infant Cruizer were two of the top picks, but the number one choice for the prize ended up being KidCo’s PeaPod Plus.

There were some great entries, such as Cindy Beckman who commented, “Sit n Stroll by TriplePlay is absolutely wonderful. I wish it were around when I had my first child. Thanks for a great giveaway!”

Erin Daly said, “The Ultimate Toy & Travel Bag looks great for those long car rides this summer.” The Traveling Mamas couldn’t agree more.

Our winner for the Tots on the Go Giveaway is Elizabeth M, who stated, “I think the KidCo’s Pea Pod would be fantastic for traveling!” Congratulations Elizabeth. Tots on the Go will be contacting you to find out where to send your KidCo PeaPod Plus.

Thanks to everyone who entered and a special thanks to Tots on the Go for helping us with this great giveaway.

Mr. CajunMama recently expressed a desire for a daddy weekend, since I like to take my own soul-oh trips and girlfriend getaways. I enlightened him that the proper word in today’s terminology is mancation. He laughed so hard and said he hoped it isn’t anything like metrosexual. So, in our household a mancation is still referred to as a daddy weekend.

Here are some of our top picks for a Southern mancation where daddies can travel with the guys for a long weekend:

10. Beale Street in Memphis, TN – The Amtrak station manager in Hammond, LA, mentioned to me that many guys get together and take the train up to Memphis on a Friday night and come back on the early Sunday train. The barbecue and blues clubs entice groups of guys to travel for a fun weekend.

9. Mississippi Gulf Coast – The beach and casinos are back in business after Hurricane Katrina. Guys can travel and lose money for a good cause.

8. Outer Banks, SC – Hang-gliding at Kitty Hawk and a kayak trip add some adventure to any mancation.

7. Grand Isle, LA – Locals call this the Cajun Bahamas. Many a mancation has been spent deep sea fishing from this destination.

6. Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail – Golf mancations are a hit. Guys travel from course to course and play the links.

5. Kentucky Bourbon Trail – DesertMama had a great time, but this stretch of two-lane highway is also a great place for guys to lay back and enjoy the bourbon.

4. New Orleans, LA – Bourbon Street. Need I say more?

3. Daytona Beach – Daytona Beach isn’t just for families, couples, or girlfriend getaways. This destination is the home to NASCAR, which makes it a must for our list.

2. Florida Keys – Ernest Hemingway and Jimmy Buffet knew a good place when they came across the Florida Keys. Pick a key, any key.

1. SEC Road Trip – This was the number one pick from an LSU freak (Mr. CajunMama).

I grew up in a typical southern home, where most meals were the stick-to-your ribs comfort food, but every once in a while my mother would break out a cook book and try to make some exotic dish.

I liken my mother to Martha Stewart without the scandal. Yes, she’s crafty and into made from scratch meals, but there are some things my mama just couldn’t teach me: travel cuisine terms.

No, I didn’t grow up in a plantation home. Before marriage, my fine dining experiences were limited to Prom and a first date here and there. I wasn’t ever given etiquette lessons, although my English heritage tries to show itself. My freelance writing has allowed me to experience things that are out of the norm for where I live. As CajunMama, I will pass along little nuggets of info I’ve learned along the way, so that you other Mamas out there can impress your friends with your knowledge. You’ll never feel like Julia Roberts from that dining scene in Pretty Woman, ever again.

See the title up there….Amuse-bouche? Maybe you’ve heard the term, maybe not. Let’s pick it apart. Bouche means mouth. I knew that already from Frere Jaques and high-school French. Amuse? Helloooooo. So you can put those together and figure out something is going to entertain your mouth.

An amuse-bouche is a sample of what a chef can prepare. It isn’t an appetizer, which is something you’d order off the menu. It comes in one or two bites and everyone at the table gets the same thing. It is a little taste to get your tongue ready for the delights the chef has to offer, and the chef is usually creative and goes all out for these. The best part: they’re free!

My first introduction to Stonehenge was in history books and television. Then came National Lampoon’s European Vacation. I had hopes and dreams of my dad driving my brother and I right up to monument, but not knocking it over like Clark Griswold. Alas, I had to wait until I was in my 30s to see this massive pile of rocks.

My freelance writing took me to London, on assignment, but I chose to hang around the UK a few days longer and take one of those soul-oh trips. I boarded a train to Salisbury (pronounced Sals-bury) to meet my friend and personal tour guide, Keith Kellett, a local travel writer. Keith resides in Amesbury, which is the nearest town to Stonehenge.

Our first stop was Old Sarum, the original settlement of the area. It was a perfect introduction to the history of town. The next stop was Woodhenge, which is believed to be the model for the actual layout of Stonehenge.

I spent time before leaving the US to research lodging choices in the area. Since the exchange rate from dollar to pound is HORRENDOUS, I was on a very tight budget. I found a quaint place to stay called The Antrobus Arms. Keith let me know that locals call the place “Old Auntie” right before he dropped me off for the night.

The place was actually a very cool place to stay. The gardens are right out of a Miss Marple episode, for all you BBC lovers out there. I was led upstairs to Room 20, which is where The Beatles stayed while filming HELP. I was tired from the journey, so I hopped into the shower. When I stepped out, I was startled to see Paul McCartney staring at me from the wall. No, I was not on any hallucinogenic. The walls were papered with The Beatles news clippings, handwritten lyrics, and pictures. My mother used to dream of marrying Macca. Of course, I had to call her and tell her where I was staying.

The next morning was Stonehenge. If anything, I was a bit disappointed. I think I had psyched myself up for a mother ship landing or some solar phenomenon to happen while I was standing there. What I wasn’t expecting was having to park across the street with all the tour busses, walk underground to get to Stonehenge Theme Park, and then stand in line with a bunch of Japanese picture-taking tourists waiting to walk through the turn stall. WHAT? A freaking turn stall?

Keith and I were given museum-style listening devices where visitors are able to pick their language to hear all about Stonehenge, if you pressed the proper numbers at the corresponding points. So, I walked slowly around the rocks, following all the other tourists in typical cattle style.

Even though I didn’t get to drive my car up to Stonehenge and back into the monument, I’m still glad that I was able to see the place in person. Well, that’s another thing to mark off my bucket list. I’m off to my next stop in life.

I was oblivious to the tourism importance of Man Malls until two appeared near my city. Hotels began to pop up, and even good ole Starbucks opened for business in these no-longer rural areas. My family decided to take a Sunday drive to Cabela’s, located in Gonzales, LA. I was completely shocked when traffic halted on the I-10. It seems as if everyone else in the state of Louisiana had decided to check out this new Man Mall for themselves.

Local police officers were directing traffic into the parking lot (which was full, of course). We hiked a mile to the actual store and I had the Mama Death Grip on my children’s hands so that they would not get lost from me in the mob.

Promotions of Chevy giveaways and pictures with Nascar drivers were strategically placed near the entrance. The whole experience was reminding me of the bargain basement bridal gown sale that always makes the national news. I was expecting to get trampled at any moment.

And then we made it through the doors.

The scene was a wonderland for outdoorsmen (and women). Kids were staring in awe at the wide array of aquatic specimen in nearby tanks. Others were admiring the taxidermy exhibit of animals placed on a mountain. But the truest scene was of women sitting on benches checking mobile phone messages while their men competed for the attention of the store associate. It seems there was a limited supply of discounted knives, and these men just had to have one.

This parallel universe offered a respite, in the form of a General Store, for the women to wait on their men. The homemade fudge slices were calling me, where the kids and I waited for my husband to return triumphantly with his $9.99 knife.

To find a Man Mall the next time you need some hiking socks or a pink fishing pole, visit: Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, or Gander Mountain.

Tots on the Go, a Virginia-based company, has teamed with Traveling Mamas to let you guys pick out your own prize, and we’re giving you a month do to it!

From their site:

“We started this business out of the desire to share our knowledge, as fairly new parents, of the many great products available. We spent countless hours researching the latest and great products to make a families life easier. With our personal experience as parents and constant research we will help make the right choice for you.”

Wow. This is the type of shop TravelingMamas.com likes. And they even have a showroom that is opening April 25!

So, what do you have to do to win something? Check out Tots on the Go’s Travel Gear section and choose the item you want to win. Just come back here and leave a comment stating your choice of prize. The product with the most comments is the item we’ll give away to a lucky winner.

We’re giving you guys a month to enter, so be sure to tell all your friends. Contest is open to US residents and immediate family members of Traveling Mamas are ineligible to win. Closing date is May 13, 2008. Winning entry and prize will be announced on Winning Wednesday, May 14, just in time for that fabulous family vacation this summer.

Family travel and Baton Rouge are words that one might not associate together, but don’t underestimate the capital city of Louisiana. The Red Stick (baton and rouge are French for stick and red) is full of budget-friendly activities for families visiting for the day or a weekend. Here’s a list of a few places that won’t break the bank.

1. Louisiana Arts and Science Center – LASM offers free admission to the Museum Galleries on the first Sunday of each month. Regular admission is $10 per adult for all attractions and $9 per child 12 and under.

2. USS Kidd Veterans’ Memorial and Museum– This former naval vessel sits on the Mississippi River near LASM. Adult admission is $7 and children 4-12 get in for $4. This is the price for the ship and museum. The ship Is handicap accessible on the first level only.

3. Baton Rouge Zoo – My family has a yearly membership of $35, which includes admission for two adults and up to five children. Regular admission is $6 for adults and $3 for children 2-12. The Cypress Bayou Railroad rides around the zoo and departs every half hour from the front entrance of the zoo. Train rides are $1.50 per person. Visit on Wednesday from 3 to 5pm and get in for $1 per person.

4. Bluebonnet Swamp – This 101-acre facility offers trails to help families learn about the ecosystems of Louisiana. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 per child under 18.

5. LSU Mounds – Families flock to these steep hills for an afternoon of rolling in the grass.

6. LSU Tiger Cage – See Mike the Tiger, LSU’s mascot.

7. Louisiana State Capitol – Kids have a blast learning the US states, which are engraved on the front steps of this historical building.

8. Frostop – This downtown burger dive offers frosty root beer and messy burgers for a fun family meal.

For more information, visit Baton Rouge’s official site.

For those of us who are addicted to coffee and its many variations, finding a decent cup of java while on the road can present a challenge. I’m a big Starbucks fan, but I occasionally frequent independent coffee shops, just for a little variety.

Yesterday, I thought I would try McDonald’s new iced coffee drink that is being advertised. I’ve tried Burger King’s iced mocha in the past, and it would do in a pinch. I’ve also sampled Sonic’s frozen coffee blend, which while the taste was decent, I could feel the fat contained in this concoction sliding down my throat and straight to my behind. Well, all I can say about McDonald’s new iced coffee is, “Run away!”

McDonald’s iced coffee was the most disgusting thing that has ever passed through my lips.

I usually try to find something redeemable to say in my experiences and to make my opinion a bit more palatable, but there is no other way to word this opinion.

So, how do you find good coffee while on the road?

Text: Send a text message to Google (466453) with the subject coffee

Web browser: Find the nearest Starbucks at mobile.starbucks.com

Phone: If all else fails, call 800-235-2883 and the Starbucks operator will assist you in locating the nearest Starbucks.

It’s Winning Wednesday at TravelingMamas.com and you guys know how we just love to give stuff away. This week we asked the question, “How do you finance your vacation?”

We had a great response, with most readers stating they save up their money in various ways.

A few of you charge your vacations and then worry about paying them off later. One or two readers mentioned that they would use the stimulus checks to finance a getaway. Mary says she robs Peter to pay Paul. I’m sure we’ve all had to do that at some point.

My favorite overall comment comes of Ed Nemmers, who wishes he had a sugar daddy. Me too, Ed. Me too.

Our winner for this contest is Lisa Fosses, who saves for her travel by working a side job. Lisa, you can now start an online savings account with a $50 gift card from SmartyPig.

Congratulations to Lisa and thanks to everyone who left a comment. Be sure to check out our many posts about places to travel this summer. TravelingMamas.com offers travel tips and stories about Budget Travel all the way to Luxury Getaways.

So, dream of where you’ve always wanted to go and save up to make it happen.

Financing a vacation can be difficult. You know where you want to go but you just don’t know how you’ll get there.

The average American family spends around $2500 per year on a vacation. Readers might guess that vacation spending would be down, with the economic “turndown” and an increase in cost of basic items like groceries and gas, but this isn’t the case. It seems as if consumers are putting more value on their vacation time, and according to the Travel Industry of America’s annual forecast, travel spending in the U.S. will increase 5 percent this year.

I don’t know about you guys, but my family saves up for our annual vacation in a variety of ways.

Save your change. Each of us has our own container where we place our loose change at the end of the day. This is a great way for the kids to save spending money. All those quarters, dimes, nickels and pennies can really add up. Last year we were able to save around $350 in total.

Have a garage or rummage sale. Once a year, my neighbors and I get together for a multi-family garage sale. We are usually able to earn about $400 per family by the end of the day.

Cut back on unnecessary spending. Our family used to eat out at least once per week. We’ve cut the eating out by 25 percent and are able to put aside at least $75 per month towards our family trip. That’s a savings of $900 per year!

Open a vacation savings account. I’m able to have my bank deduct $50 per paycheck and place in a saving account just for vacations. With my contribution alone, that gives our family another $1200 towards our travels.

Use SmartyPig to save. This company allows consumers to open an interest-earning account with a minimal deposit of $25. Your friends and relatives can even deposit money towards the goals you list with the account. Sounds like a simple, smart, savings plan.

So how does the average family finance a vacation? This is where you, our readers come in. Leave us a comment on how you finance your vacation and you will be eligible to win a $50 Gift Card to open a savings account with SmartyPig.

Contest will close April 8, 2008 at midnight EST.

The winner will be announced on Winning Wednesday, April 9. Giveaway is open to US residents and immediate family members of Traveling Mamas are ineligible to win.

We had a wonderful response to the Houmas House gift pack giveaway and we learned where many of you are from and why you like living there.

A few of you live close enough to Houmas House for a day trip. Others live as far away as Oregon and Vermont. Most of you who reside in Florida love it for its beaches. The New Yorkers either live out in rural areas where you are enjoying nature, or NYC where you enjoy the fast paced city life.

Theresa N says “I love living in Aiken County South Carolina. We have beautiful weather all year round, the Palmetto tree a palm is our state tree. Aiken County is a wonderful place for people and horses. We’re a very large horse community with lots of golf courses and I live just a couple blocks from the Savannah River.” I’ve been to Aiken to visit my in-laws and I have to agree with Theresa on how lovely the area is.

Janice J from Sterling, AK loves living there because “…..it’s quiet, and the mountains and lakes and rivers are beautiful.” Marissa from Helena, MT enjoys being near Yellowstone National Park. Yellowstone is beautiful and I hope to get to Helena for a visit one day. Graham from rural Idaho admits that he doesn’t like where he lives. Its okay, Graham, I’m sure a few of us have felt that way at some point in our lives.

The winning entry comes from upstate NY. Danielle left a dangerous area to move into a 100-year-old home that is near Howe and Secret Caverns. She says the caverns run under her small town. It sounds like a charming place to live. Congratulations, Danielle!

If you would like FREE information about the state where I live and how to visit Houmas House, go to LouisianaTravel.com and download or order your FREE travel guide.

Keep checking back for our next contest and to read informative posts about travel. And remember to submit your entry for our Anthology or even send us your questions. Thanks for all the entries!

You know you’ve been there and done that. One moment, you’re minding your own business driving down the road, and before you realize it, you are sporting an unfashionable bruise on your upper arm. PUNCH BUG! You’ve been hit and you didn’t even catch a glimpse of the vehicle in question.

There are many variations of this road game. I know, as my children make up their own rules. So here is a list of rules you can refer to when playing Punch Bug.
1. You can make up your own rules.
2. The vehicle must be a VW Beetle, either vintage or new.
3. The vehicle must be driving on the road, parked bugs do not count.
4. A punch can be saved, but must be used by the end of the road trip and cannot carry over.
5. Punches are like boomerangs (and Karma). It will come back to you. Be careful how hard you punch.
6. There are various ways to be exempt from a punch, but it must be announced out loud, such as: If you are wearing flowered underwear, then you can’t get punched. So then, if you happen to be wearing flowered underwear, then the punch will be served to someone else in the vehicle.
7. Mamas can always trump the rules.
8. If you are paying a note on a bug, then you are exempt from getting punched. If in doubt, refer to Rule #1.

There are a few places on the internet that list their own rules of Punch Bug, and it is even referred to as Slug Bug or Punch Buggy. Many of these sites list point values for various VWs. I prefer the Traveling Mamas version.

No matter what type of road trip game you play, the most important aspect is to have fun.

Cafe Brulot is a New Orleans favorite. It is an after dinner coffee drink with a little flair. Here is a video of this potent libation being prepared tableside at Galatoire’s Restaurant in New Orleans. It was taken with my Kodak Easyshare, so please excuse the quality.

Click Here to See Video

I’m so proud to be from, and live in Louisiana. One of the things I love about my state is the preservation of history and the gentility of the South. One place that is preserving the history of my state is Houmas House. It is a River Road Plantation that was purchased about five years ago by Kevin Kelly, a true southern gentleman. He took this old grande damme and gave her a facelift and love and turned her back into the great beauty she once was.

Houmas House is the site of numerous films including Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte, Fletch Lives, and television shows like All My Children and K’Ville. It is also reportedly haunted by a few ghosts of days gone by.

I like to start each visit to Houmas House with a stop at the Turtle Bar for either a mimosa or a mint julep. The Turtle Bar is located in a garconniere, which in Antebellum days housed the single males of the household. It was a place for cards and raucousness, so it is fitting that this historical building is now a cozy place to sip libations.

The resident chef, Jeremy Langlois, creates Nouveaux Creole dishes that are “to die for”. On my last visit, Chef Jeremy prepared a multi-course meal consisting of Bisque of Curried Pumpkin, Crawfish, and Corn, a Cosmopolitan Sorbet, a Community Coffee marinated rack of lamb served on top of potatoes, and dessert of Apple Gallette topped with Vanilla Ice Cream. Mmmm!

An after lunch stroll through the gardens and walkways is a nice prelude to the tour of the house itself. I could imagine myself living in grandeur once upon a time. It’s a good thing I keep my bookshelves stocked with romance novels. I can see Houmas House as the setting for a few of them.

This week’s giveaway is a gift pack from Houmas House. The pack consists of a nice crystal paperweight, coffee mug, and silver-plated sugar pack holder in the shape of a garconniere. These come in a handy reusable logo bag.

So how do you win this fantabulous gift pack? Post a comment telling us where you live and why you like to live there. Contest is open to US residents only and immediate family members of Traveling Mamas are ineligible. Contest will close at midnight EST April 1, 2008. Yes, this is April fool’s day, but we’ll announce the winning comment on April 2, so there’ll be no fooling around.

Good Luck!

There’s a saying among the women in my family, “Tan fat looks better than white fat.” Well, tanning season is upon us and there are a few things to remember when tanning your fat.

• The sun can dry you up and make you look like a prune.
• Old tan skin looks like leather. Didn’t you see There’s Something About Mary?
• Sun damage can cause skin cancer in your later years.
• The sun can dry out your hair, too.
• Exfoliate BEFORE tanning, not AFTER. Trust me, it really hurts after.
• A good self-tanner is worth its weight in gold.

Spray tanning can be a good thing. See your dermatologist for a recommendation.

Be sure to wear a good sunblock if you do go out in the sun. Don’t forget about the kids’ skin, too. Be sure to cover their lips, ears, and underarms with sunscreen, not just the obvious places. And, if you are really ticked off at your husband, make some nice artwork with sunscreen on his back. It sure will give you a chuckle later when the rest of his back gets pink.

Traveling Mamas is putting together a collection of stories written by parents, grandparents, godparents, aunts, uncles, and anyone who has a story related to motherhood (or even just being stuck sitting next to a mother and her crying child).

If you have a heartwarming, funny, or inspirational travel story you would like to share with the world, then check out our submission guidelines on the Anthology page.

We are so excited to bring our stories, and yours, to print. So, get out there and write your own travel story and submit it to us before the September 1, 2008 deadline.

We wish you all the best during this upcoming travel season.

The Dublin Pass with a transportation add-on is an affordable way to tour this Irish city at your leisure. I used this pass during my visit to Ireland and really enjoyed being able to hop-on and hop-off the bus at different stops. It was a safe and fun way to see the city. It includes entry into 30 different attractions, such as Dublin Castle, The Bram Stoker Dracula Experience, Dublin Writers Museum, and many more. If admission is normally free to the attraction, the Dublin Pass gets you things such as an extra souvenir or a discount in attraction gift shops.

The Pass offers discounts at certain restaurants, on tours, and other attractions. Pass holders can get 25% off the Dublin Literary Pub Crawl or a free bottle of house wine at Abbey Tavern, with meal purchase. The pass can even be used for Airport transfer into Dublin City Centre, but beware that once you activate your card, the clock starts ticking.

Audio and Video Tours

VisitDublin.com offers free downloads of iWalks, which are audio tours for your iPod or mp3 player. There are twelve themed tours to choose from, or download all of them. The Guinness tours are available in a variety of languages. The official tourism site for Dublin also has a video to get you in the travel mood. The video is set to U2’s Beautiful Day.

If you are thinking of visiting Dublin and searching for some great deals, or if you just want to take a virtual vacation away from work today, go to VisitDublin.com.

Friday’s post reminded me of when I had the pleasure of traveling to Dunfanaghey, located on the northwest coast of Ireland. I stayed at Arnold’s Hotel, a family run business that offers the amenities of a larger hotel, yet the charm of a bed and breakfast. I knew I would like this place, if not for the view of Sheephead Bay, then for the warm and inviting peat fire glowing in the lobby. The price was very reasonable, starting at 65Euros per night with breakfast. Arnold’s Hotel also offers special events throughout the year, including writing classes, photography weekends, and even home-cooked Irish cooking lessons.

My room was clean and cozy, with a surprisingly spacious bath. I dropped my bags and went in search of comraderie down in The Whiskey Fly Bar, where our group met up. I did my best to make friends with the bartender, Sterling, but imagine my surprise when Mr. Arnold himself poured me a drink. He charmed me with his Irish accent and somehow talked me into another drink. And another. And then the sweet couple who was sitting next to me bought me a drink to celebrate their anniversary. Boy, I was loving Ireland.

I stumbled up to my room, and my travel friends stumbled to theirs. I closed my eyes, but the room started to spin. Let’s just say it was a long Irish night. I wasn’t looking forward to an early game of golf, but when in Ireland, one must golf.
The next morning, Mr. Arnold was awaiting me in the lobby, all ready to drive just a few of us to Dunfanaghey Golf Club. Mr. Arnold was even kind enough to let me borrow his very nice clubs.

The course was fantastic and I couldn’t believe I was standing in Ireland, on a golf course, overlooking the bay. The breeze was crisp and cool, so I bought a goofy knit hat with a pom-pom on top and borrowed a warm vest from a friend. Non members can play here for 22Euros, but I think there is a discount for international visitors. What a steal!

The course wasn’t very busy, so our crew really took in the scenery of the ocean on one side, and fields of horses on the other. This links-style course was simply breathtaking. Our afternoon closed with another visit to The Whiskey Fly Bar and a round of Guinness.

The Irish really know how to entertain.

I learned a few things while I was in Ireland:

A hot soak in seaweed relieves jet-lag.

When someone says “Now that’s good craic (pronounced crack)” they are not referring to a drug. They are referring to a fun time and good conversation.

Do not ask for cream with your tea or coffee. You will get whipped cream. Instead, ask for milk.

A proper pint of Guinness is served to those who wait. It takes time for this brew to settle properly before drinking.

People in Ireland don’t name their children Shannon (uh-hm, Mom). It is the US equivalent of naming your child Mississippi or Rio Grande.

You can pay to spend the night in a former insane asylum in Sligo.

Sitting in a pub, Guinness in hand, with a peat fire burning, is a really good memory to have.

Jack in the Box is not a restaurant, it is a dead man from Dublin.

U2 got their start playing on Grafton Street.

Temple Bar is not an actual bar. Well, it is a bar, but the name refers to an area that is the cultural quarter of Dublin.

After a few pints of Guinness, you might see faeries.

To make your own memories and learn your own tips, visit DiscoverIreland.com.

Slainte!