West Coast is the Best Coast (Galway + Aran Islands, Ireland)
Guinness, salty air, and exciting adventures; Ireland. After our quick trip in Scotland, we decided to visit Galway, Ireland for a few days. Jalen and I heard so much about Galway and how the city is full of Irish culture and lively people. All of the suggestions were absolutely correct, it was beautiful! The city was right next to an inlet of the ocean and had many delightful restaurants, coffee shops, and a ton of Irish pubs.
We were so extremely delighted to be in Galway and unfortunately did not take as many photos as we would have liked, but promise it is a place you will want to see if ever in Ireland. During our Galway trip we stayed at the G Hotel. This place was so beautiful and had a contemporary artsy environment. This hotel was a very nice stay for a romantic get away, but if you are a bit more budgeted there are a ton of adorable bed and breakfasts in the area!
Contemporary interior design of the G Hotel, Galway.
On our second day in Ireland, we decided to visit the renowned Cliffs of Moher, also a must see as it is absolutely stunning. The day we decided to go was a bit foggy but still breathtaking.
Beautiful Cliffs of Moher from below dense fog.
Jalen walking along a picturesque path at the Cliffs of Moher.
The Cliffs were a bit of a drive from Galway but the drive there is a tour in itself, with such beautiful scenery surrounding you with tons of small cafes along the way; if you want to take a little break from driving.
Sheep alongside the country roads while traveling from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher.
On our way there we stopped at a small town called, Kinvara - Carton, for a quick coffee break with a delightful view.
Coffee Break in Kinvara - Carton, Ireland.
That evening we decided to go for dinner in Galway and experience the nightlife. We ate at a delicious Italian restaurant called, Il Folletto. The restaurant was very homey and had beautiful stone walls throughout.
After dinner we decided to walk around and browse the downtown area of Galway. It was so lively, with live music everywhere and countless pints of Guinness.
During our night out, we talked to many locals about what we should do while in Galway. One woman told us that we HAD to see the Aran Islands, and to get there you can take a small airplane or a boat. I am so glad we talked to this woman because the Aran Island adventure was the best part of the trip, and quite possibly our favorite place we have ever visited anywhere in the world.
Remote coast of the Aran Islands.
Jalen and I decided to take the ferry over to the island instead of the plane since the tickets were cheaper and it was very windy that day which would make due for an extremely bumpy plane ride. The boat ride was about 35 minutes long and a bit rough due to the Irish Sea. This brought excitement to the both of us because it started to feel like a true journey. Once getting to the Aran Islands we felt as if we were in a different world.
GoPro capture from a remote cliff-side on the Aran Islands.
The day we decided to go to the island, it was a bit rainy and windy. So in many of the photos you will see Jalen and I in these goofy plastic bag rain protectors, we both completely forgot rain jackets... So definitely pack one if going on an Ireland trip. The population on all three of the Aran Islands is around 1,000 and many of the population is made of fisherman who are gone for long durations. This island that we were on was called, Inishmore, and it felt as if it was untouched by man and only shaped by the sea. There are no major vehicles to rent on this island besides bikes.
Aran Islands.
Jalen walking on the rocky coast of Inishmore.
I highly suggest renting one of the motorized bikes (as we did) because there is so much to see on this little island and very many hills. We biked on cow paths through rolling fields along side the sea, this ride seemed unreal.
One of the very few homes on the Aran Islands.
After our biking adventures through the island we decided to grab a bowl of soup to warm up before the charter back to the main part of Galway. We walked through the town and bought an Irish wool sweater for Jalen and found this delightful cafe called Teach and Tae.
Jalen in his new wool sweater taking a snooze at the cafe.
The Aran Islands, and particularly Inishmore is an absolute MUST-SEE while on the west coast of Ireland, and promise that it will create one of the most unique and exciting adventures you’ll ever embark on. We fell in love with the entire west coast and will reminisce on this experience for the rest of our lives.