`
Travelin' Cousins
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Story
    • Media Kit
    • Write for Us
    • Press >
      • October 2018 Press
    • Contact
  • The Daily Scoop
  • Travel Articles
    • Travel Adventures Articles
    • Throwback Thursdays >
      • Elisa's Throwback China Trip Adventure
    • Foodie Fridays
    • Travelin' The NYC Outer Boroughs with Elisa
    • Walt Disney World Wednesdays
  • Things To Do
    • Entertainment Reviews
    • New York Area
    • Southern California Area
  • Where to Stay and Things to Do
  • Where to Dine Vegan
  • Fun Fact & Travel Trivia Articles
    • Fun Facts List Directory
  • Tanya's Photo Gallery
    • Pictures from Auschwitz/Birkenau - WARNING: Mature Content/Depressing Images
  • Elisa's Photo Gallery
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before ya Go

THROWBACK
​THURSDAYS

Join Elisa and Tanya on their daily travel adventures, near and far, from years past!!

TRAVEL More!

Waking up like a Princess on my Birthday at the Ashford Castle!

3/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Being that my birthday is only a week away, I thought that this would be a perfect time for reminiscing with you about a past birthday trip and some of my wonderful memories. 

The one that I've been thinking about sharing with you has been my 2011 birthday trip to Ireland and my stay at the renowned Ashford Castle, near Cong (listed by Travel + Leisure Magazine as one of the most beautiful villages in Europe) on the Mayo-Galway border. 
Picture
For starters, I was completely enamored from the moment I found pictures of this castle online during my research for the trip. And what a better time to book accommodations than over my actual birthday! 
*SIDENOTE - Have you noticed how many of my trips are inspired by photographs???

I'll tell ya one thing, waking up in a castle sure did made me feel like a Princess and this is a memory that I'll never forget. 

Checking in the day before my birthday and after a very full day of amazing sights and fun activities (as usual on my trips). I must've really been quite knocked out on that eve of my birthday; As Dave B had apparently took full advantage of the time I was snoozing to elaborately decorate the stateroom from floor to ceiling.

Picture
Picture
Picture
In the morning when I opened my eyes, I saw flowers galore, banners, confetti, and balloons! 
I woke up in a shock at the transformation of the room and could hardly believe that I slept through all of Dave's efforts!

Then with options such as falconry, cycling, kayaking, horseback riding, golf, tennis, clay shooting, archery, and more, I had almost too many choices to decide from and it was a bit difficult to make my decision as to which activities to partake in. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
However, after a magical breakfast I decided that we go over to the equestrian center to be fitted for a trail ride. How fairytale like! We then took to our saddles and were off!
Picture
Riding through some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, splendid mountain vistas, captivating landscapes, and the colorful storybook countryside for which the Connemara region is famous. 
It was definitely quite a magical birthday.
This historic Ashford Castle was built on this Monastic site in 1228 by the Anglo-Norman House of Burke.
Now a member of the lovely Leading Hotels of the World organisation and previously owned by the Guinness family. 
It has been featured on one of my favorite TV shows from back in the day "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous". 
Picture
And although I do not recall seeing this episode and this was way back in the day before TIVO or DVRs, I just know that Robin Leach would've given us an amazing tour of the grand interiors, as well as leading us around the beautiful lawns and ancient forests of the 350 acre private estate, which overlooks the pristine waters of Lake Corrib, home to salmon and brown trout as well as being dotted with 365 picturesque little  islands.
Picture
Not at all to my surprise that one year after my visit (in September 2012), the resort earned the a well deserved "best resort in Ireland" and the "third best in Europe" by Condé Nast Traveler.
Picture
I highly recommend you visit this property and even wake up there on your birthday if you  have the chance!

-T
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Airship Ventures
    Amazon Jungle
    Arizona
    Bahamas
    Baltimore
    Barbados
    Barcelona
    Baseball
    Bear Encounter
    Being A Vegan
    Bucket List
    Caen-Normandy War Memorial
    Camping
    Canada
    Central America
    Chicago
    China
    Cliffs Of Mohr
    Costa Rica
    Disneyworld
    Dromoland Castle
    Epcot
    Family Friendly
    Fantasy Fest
    First Time Cruise
    France
    Giverny
    Glacier National Park
    Grand Canyon
    Havasupai
    Hawaii
    Honfleur
    Hong Kong
    Horseback
    Inca Trail
    Ireland
    Italy
    Jade Buddha Temple
    Jerome
    Kai Tak Airport HK
    Key West
    Lake Maggiore
    Lake Tahoe
    Las Vegas
    Letter Of Consent
    Lima
    Malta
    Maui
    Mexico
    MLB Road Trip
    Monte Verde Cloud Forest
    Muir Woods
    Oregon
    Paris
    Peru
    Portland
    Puerto Rico
    Road Trip
    Rome
    San Francisco
    Scare
    Sedona
    Shanghai
    Shannon
    Sharks
    Snorkeling
    Switzerland
    The Bund
    The Louvre
    Traveling With Fruit
    Traveling With Kids
    Travel Mis-Adventures
    Vancouver
    Venice
    Victoria BC
    Wengen
    Wildlife Encounters
    Worst Hotel Experience
    Yosemite NP
    Yu Yuan Garden
    Zeppelin Ride
    Zion National Park

    Archives

    February 2019
    September 2017
    March 2017
    November 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    January 2016
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014

The Scoop Blog
Travel Adventure Articles
Travelin' the NYC Outer Boroughs with Elisa
Walt Disney World Wednesdays
Travel Resource Guide
Vegan Dining Guide

​


   
                                                      
Fun Fact and Travel Trivia Articles
Elisa and Tanya's Favorites
Travel Tips - Know Before You Go
​
About
​Contact Us 
​Media Kit 
​
(c) Travelin' Cousins 2020 All Rights Reserved