Another episode of Red Travel has gone live. This week, we are exploring Dublin! Our first stop of the day was to explore it from high up… we went on the skyline tour of Croke park. We are then went stand up paddle boarding with the guys from Big Style and ended the day with a tasty visit to Butler’s chocolate factory. In the second half of the show, it’s all about Canada – including the adventure capital of the world – Whistler!
So we are started the day with something very different here in Dublin. We went on the skyline tour of Croke Park to see Dublin from 17 stories high on the roof of Ireland’s most famous sporting arenas. Located right in the heart of the city, it is actually Dublin’s highest open-viewing platform and offers breathtaking panoramic views of Ireland’s vibrant capital. Lee took us around on the tour and showed us all the main landmarks while giving you an insight into its history. And of course, there is the sporting highlight with the best views from the platform over the Croke Park pitch…if only we could be up there on a match day!!
It was onto Dun Laoghaire Harbour to try some stand up paddle boarding with the guys from Big Style. The guys thought us everything we needed to know before heading out on the water. The harbour is the perfect place to learn how to stand up paddle board as it is perfectly sheltered and gives you a chance to find your sea legs. With over over 200 acres of water along with its rich history, it’s also a fascinating place to explore.
Next up was possibly the most tasty part stop of the series. We became a chocolatier for the day at the Butler’s Chocolate experience. Lauren gave us a tour of the factory and we even got to decorate our own chocolates and of course had a few tastes of their famous chocolate. The tours run Monday to Saturday at 10, 12 and 3.30 and are subject to availability. Entry is €13.50 per person. Save 5% when you book online. Check their website for availability and special family rates. (Note: All tours must be booked in advance by email or online through our website www.butlerschocolates.com/book)
This week, it was all about Canada. We recently spent some time travelling and exploring the beautiful Vancouver. A place full of things to do and a city full of adventures to choose from. In the episode, we wanted to focus on a place which has been give the name as the adventure capital of the world… Whistler!! We got up early to make the most of the amazing drive from Vancouver to Whistler. It is just breathtaking. A drive of a lifetime along the Sea to Sky Highway. It’s a short 120 km drive (75 mile) from Vancouver, and one of the most scenic routes in the world.
En route we met a local who told us about the Sea to Sky gondola in Squamish – a local favourite with better views then the gondola in Whistler so we decided to check it out. We spent the morning going up the gondola in Squamish and exploring the beauty all around. You can go up on the Gondola and go for a walk or even go hiking, rock-climbing, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, mountaineering, and much more. At the top, we explored the trails and went on some treks while enjoying the beautiful scenery. We also took a leap of faith and crossed the suspension bridge. For discounted tickets book online. Adults $39.95, Youth $24.95 and children ¢13.95 For more information on ticket prices and information head over to their website.
We then headed onto Whistler. Whistler is north of Vancouver and home to the world of ski enthusiasts. With more than 8,000 acres over 2 mountains, Whistler and Blackcomb, it’s the largest ski area in North America. It co-hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics. We paid a visit during the summer months and trust me… we weren’t short on activites to do outside the sea season. We decided to go on some ATVs up the Blackcomb Mountain with Canadian Wilderness Adventures. We explored wide mountain trails ascending to the Backcomb’s beautiful alpine and we even saw a bear or two in the wild. Enchanting forested trails and flowering meadows were all around us as we climbed up into the Blackcomb Mountain. It was an experience of a lifetime. The adrenaline, the thrill and the views made me glad I stepped out of my comfort zone. The tour takes 2 hours and costs $129 driver | $89 passenger | Kids 12 & under FREE (one per paying adult)
So that’s it for this series of Red Travel. We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did making it. Stay tuned for series 2 launching soon.
