16th August 2012
This week we’re off to the Kingdom of Kerry, destination Tralee.
Tralee town sits beside the River Lee and is one of the main tourist towns in Kerry. In recent years, new visitor attractions have been added to the town and it also plays host to one of Irelands most well known festivals every year, the Rose of Tralee.
To help you join in on the festivities, Iarnród Éireann has great family ticket offers to a range of destinations until the end of August. A family of 2 Adults and up to 4 children between 5 and 15yrs old can travel from Dublin to Tralee for just €99 open return and from Cork for just €49 open return. Under 5's travel free on Intercity services.
Days Out Ideas
A iInternationally known event, the Rose of Tralee is one of Ireland’s longest running festival. All eyes are the young women contestants, the Roses, who travel from the UK, America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Europe, the Middle East and of course Ireland, to compete for the coveted title of Rose of Tralee.
One of the festival highlights is the Street Carnival which runs in tandem with all Rose events and presents five days and nights of 99% FREE events with family activities, street markets, daytime street performers and workshops, evening time concerts presenting top Irish and International acts, and a host of other fringe events. The Roses also take time to visit various attractions in Tralee and meet Festival goers in the town centre.
Another events not to be missed, back for it's third year, is the SkyFest Air Display, Jedward, Alsan and the Saw Doctors!
It certainly is week of entertainment for all which should not be missed and Tralee will certainly be blooming!
More Days Out Ideas.
The Aqua Dome provides a great day out for all the family with its many fun activities. In the pool battle with the River Rapids or float on the Lazy River, Slide down the Sky High Flume or the Outdoor Falling Rapids. Other delights include Childrens pools, Whirlpool spas, Sprays, Geysers, Gushers, Cannons, Spa pools, and Bubble seats. Outside the dome play the 18 hole Aqua Golf Course, the putting course or the remotely controlled boats and trucks.
The new Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre is a nature and activity attraction. It adjoins the Tralee Bay Nature Reserve which encompasses over 8000 acres extending from Tralee town to the Maharee Islands and is a designated Natura 2000 site. The activity area is free to access. This includes the activity lake where pedal boats, canoes and rowing boats are available for hire. There are lakeside walks and a picnic area. A smaller lake has been stocked with freshwater fish with demonstrations for those who wish to learn how to fish.
Access to the nature zone is via the eco-friendly visitor centre. Here, the diversity of the Tralee Bay ecosystem is explained using static and interactive displays, audio visual and hands-on activities. There is an entrance fee, but this includes a guided tour, 10 minute safari boat trip through the freshwater wetlands and access to the 20 metre high viewing tower (stairs and lift) which affords panoramic views of Tralee Bay.
The Centre includes a lakeside café, small retail/shop area, visitor services and toilets. It is also an orientation centre for the wider north and west Kerry areas. The café which overlooks the watersports lake provides a welcome respite whether you are visiting the park or just taking a break en route to another destination.
The museum is housed in the Ashe Memorial Hall in Tralee town centre. The museum consists of a Special Exhibition Gallery – “William Melville: Spymaster”, is currently running there. The Audio Visual room screens a 10 minute film of our spectacular Kerry landscape, then it’s on to the Museum Gallery, which takes you from 8000 B.C. to 1949. Next up is the Tom Crean room. Here you can learn about Annascaul’s famous son and his involvement in The Antarctica Expeditions. The Knights Hall prepares you for the last part of the attraction, The Medieval Experience, giving visitors an insight into what life was like in the area in 1450
Ireland's largest working windmill built in 1800 Blennerville Windmill also has a working windmill as well as an exhibition gallery, craft shop and restaurant. The exhibition includes an audio visual presentation, an emigration display and a bird watching platform with telescope overlooking 'Slí na nÉan' ('the Way of the Birds').
Visitors can get up close and appreciate the scale and complexity of the Windmill machinery and can climb to the top of the windmill.
Let us know about what you think of Tralee if you do visit, or of any other Family day out ideas you would like to share?
0 Comments