Activities for a 9 year old boy

Joanne in Florida · Member

Activities for a 9 year old boy

Michele Erdvig · Host

Joanne,

There is plenty to keep your son happy. Below is a list.

Killarney: Gap of Dunloe Tour & Jaunting-car ride through Killarney National Park, hike to top of Torc Waterfall, many different hiking paths through KNP

Tralee: Aqua Dome, Kerry County Museum, Steam Train & Blennerville Windmill

Kenmare: Seafari boat cruise

Ring of Kerry: Boat trip to Skellig Michael, Staigue Fort

Dingle: Boat ride to see Dingle dolphin, trip to Blasket Islands, horseback riding on beach, climb Mount Brandon, windsurfing

Bunratty: Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

Cliffs of Moher: boat ride along base of cliffs

Salthill: Leisureland (fun park & pools), lots of different arcades, etc. & Atlantaquaria

Connemara: catamaran ride on Killary Harbor

That should keep him occupied. But don't forget to plan things to do for the adults too.

Michele

Joanne in Florida · Member

Wow, what great suggestions. I think my husband and I will enjoy most of those too. I'll definitely be horseback riding during the trip. That's my hobby and I can't imagine going to Ireland and not horseback riding at least once. I've seen a lot of riding centers listed on various web sites. Can you recommend any in particular? Thank you!

Michele Erdvig · Host

Joanne,

Happy to help. I don't do horseback riding myself, but the following places have been highly recommended by others on the forum and my clients:

http://www.killarneyridingstables.com/

http://www.dinglehorseriding.com/

You will have to tell us all about your trip when you return.

Michele

mcval · Veteran Member

If you're in the Clare area, Kilkee has a great beach and an indoor water park with a "lazy river" and water slide. It's funny but both times we were at the Kilkee beach, we saw a toddler going around bottomless or completely naked. BURR! It was pretty chill each of those times too. In June! Or Kilrush has the Dolphin boat ride. My kids enjoyed that. Can't catch the silly dolphins on a camera!... but it's very fun to watch and ride out to it.

Aillwee Caves is also very nice (Northern part of County Clare). The kids enjoyed thinking that bears might still be alive in the caves...

Of course Bunratty Traditional dinner is a blast! Blarney - kissing the stone and walking around the grounds. The kids can explore the witches cave and druids cave, if they dare!

Killimer ferry is exciting for kids. Especially if you take them on the top deck when it's crossing the Shannon.

Really, every beach we came to, we let the kids out to play. I've got such great pics and short movies with my kids playing on the beach. Making sand castles, letting their feet sink in the sand, tempting the waves, or just digging a hole to China. We collected shells by the dozens in a Pringles can and got very wet. Just make sure you have extra clothes in the car.

Joanne in Florida · Member

More great ideas! Thanks so much for replying. Our list of things to do is getting pretty long now. We'll need to really work on our itinerary and see how much we'll be able to fit in on this trip.

Michele Erdvig · Host

Joanne,

Don't worry about fitting it all in (that will never happen)! Just plan another trip to Ireland in a couple of years.

Michele