By Isabel Prontes
Dublin is both the capital of and the largest city in the Western European nation of Ireland. It is a beautiful city that is full of fun tourist attractions, whether it's historical sites like the Liffey River or the city's bustling downtown area. If you are planning on visiting Dublin with children, there are also plenty of excellent family activities and attractions in the city as well.
Malahide Castle
Malahide Castle is in the Malahide area of Dublin. This is a wonderfully restored castle that has a charming elegance and beauty. This castle displays a wide array of architectural types, from medieval to modern and Georgian. The castle is also the home of the National Portrait Gallery, which is part of the National Gallery. The castle was once owned by the Talbot family (who had control of the castle for over 791 years) and is now the property of the city of Dublin. (Malahide Castle Malahide, County Dublin - Tel: 011 353 1 846 2184)
James Joyce Centre
The James Joyce Centre is a museum that is dedicated to one of Ireland's most legendary writers, James Joyce. The museum is inside of a restored Georgian residence, and includes an exhibition area that has a lot of interactive displays, videos, period room recreations, and artifacts pertaining to both Joyce's life and career. You can even see furniture from the apartment in Paris where Joyce penned "Finnegans Wake." (35 North Great George's Street, Dublin 1 - Tel: 011 353 1 878 8547)
Dublin Zoo
The Dublin Zoo is one of the most historic sites in the city. Located inside of the massive Phoenix Park, this zoo spans 60 acres and explores everything from the Indian rain forest to the African plains and more. If you want to see chimpanzees, giraffes, unusual monkeys, gorillas, tigers, elephants and a lot more, this zoo is a great place to visit. There is also a "pets corner" which children are sure to adore. (Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 - Tel: 011 353 1 474 8900)
National Botanic Gardens
Established by the Royal Dublin Society in 1795, the National Botanic Gardens is located on the Tolka's south bank. It is a lush, vast and serene botanical garden that contains a large pond, rock garden, student garden, decorative plant exhibit, arboretum, and sensory garden. There are also glasshouses like the Great Palm House, the Fern House and the Alpine House. Families will enjoy exploring this botanical garden, with everything from hybrid strawberry trees to majestic Atlantic cedars. (Glasnevin, Dublin 9 - Tel: 011 353 1 804 0300)
National Aquatic Centre
The National Aquatic Centre in Dublin is one of the largest water parks in Europe. It is an indoor water park that is sure to provide the family (especially the kids) with hours of fun. There are a lot of rides and attractions at this park, including many water slides, a river, Bubble Bay, and more. Some notable attractions are Pirate Ship, Wave Pool, Master Blaster, Flumes and Flow Rider. (National Aquatic Centre, Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 - Tel: 011 353 1 6464300)
About the Author:
Isabel Prontes is a freelance writer and traveler residing in Manhattan, NY. She has traveled to five continents and counting. Her work has appeared on a number of websites, such as Travels, eHow.com and "Happy Living Magazine." Prontes has a professional background in public relations; she received a bachelor's degree in communication studies from Pace University.
