Short Break ideas to the USA with Tour America

Short Break ideas to the USA with Tour America

It's that time of year when the January Blues set in and summer seems too far away. That's why a short break can sometimes lift the spirits in more ways than one. It can even be educational as I found when I took my son to Boston recently. I've been sent some really good deals and great ideas for packages to Washington, New York and Boston. I've been to all three of these cities with my son and they each have so much to do with teens and tweens - food for thought for a mid-term break too!

On Top of the Rock in New York with my tween boy in 2013
See www.nycgo.com

Washington when Mark was the same height as me
www.washington.org

My boy has grown so much but he still likes to get away with his mum!
www.massholidays.ie

Go to the Tour America website to see more package deals and ideas

www.touramerica.ie Dublin on 01 8173500 or Cork on 021 242 9222
Boston 3 nights March €795New York 3 nights February €679 Washington 3 nights February €609


Tour AmericaBoston & Salem from €795 per person
Includes
Direct return flights with Aer Lingus to Boston, All taxes and charges
2 Nights accommodation Hilton Boston Back Bay
1 Night accommodation Salem Waterfront Hotel
Date of departure: March 2016
Our reference: 501490

New York fr€679 per person
Price Includes
Return direct flight from Dublin - JFK with Aer Lingus
3 Nights accommodation The Hotel Metro including free continental breakfast
Based on 2 sharing
Date of departure: 26 Feb 2016
Our Ref: 504003

Washington fr€609 per personPrice Includes
Return direct flight from Dublin - Dulles  with United Airlines
3 Nights accommodation The Embassy Row Hotel
Based on 2 sharing
Date of departure: 26 Feb 2016
Our Ref: 504008

Boston Mum and Son trip!

Boston ticked all the boxes for our perfect mum and son bonding trip. 

Education is a hot topic in our house with the Junior Cert Exam looming for my son next June. I'm a believer that nothing broadens a young mind better than travel and use this mantra to justify taking him away from his books for a few days.

Boston is a city that has grown into itself culturally and aesthetically since the big dig twenty years ago. When the clever city planners decided to put the busy highways in tunnels under the city, they left a beautiful mile-long stretch of parkland running through its heart and dedicated it to Rose Kennedy, the ex-president's mother. Across from the financial district on what used to be a parking lot is the city's rejuvenated district and our hotel for the next two nights, the Envoy. A smooth glass exterior surrounds a very cool and hip place to stay, with one of only three roof top bars in the city. Our room is spacious and trendy just like the rest of the hotel and one of my favourite features is the usb charger in the wall! With a huge shower and Netflix on the smart TV my son, Mark, gives the room the thumbs up too. Breakfast in the Envoy is a real treat and we opt for the Lobster Benedict and Maple Pancakes both mornings. See www.theenvoyhotel.com

We spend our first night in Boston at The Charles Theatre to see The Blue Man Group. Each performance involves a variety of media entertainment including art, music and mime. It's perfect for kids of all ages. The show moves quickly and there isn't a dull moment, especially at the climactic ending when giant size balloons and confetti fall on to the audience. For more information see www.blueman.com/boston.

We wake early next morning and head for the Boston Tea Party Ship for our first lesson. Our guide, Mr Condy, wears full period costume from this key time in eighteenth century American History that eventually led to the declaration of American Independence. Mark nods nonchalantly as we are invited to partake in a meeting with Samuel Adams who protests about the taxes on tea. "We did this in history a couple of weeks ago," he says. We move from the museum on to the schooner 'The Beaver' where the kids get to throw the box of tea overboard in a re-enactment of the Tea Party which involves shouting 'huzzah' and banging our feet on the deck. I hope that this period of American history is now firmly etched in Mark's memory before his exams next summer. See www.bostonteapartyship.com for more details.

Travelling with a teen I sense it's time to do something more active. At Urbanadventours on Atlantic Avenue, we are provided with helmets, water and bicycles. Our guide, Greg, takes us in a small group of five around the rim of the North End. We cycle past the new flagship Converse world headquarters, and the TD Gardens where the city's Basketball and Hockey teams play. Boston is a maritime city and the Charles River meets the Atlantic at a damn which was built to maintain the water level of the river. 

It's lined with an incredible array of trees that turn every colour of yellow, gold, burnt orange and red in the autumn. The pathway is flat making it easy for me to keep up with Mark and bringing us past college boat houses and more reminders of the city's foundation on education.

As we pull up at Fenway Park, Greg tells us that Baseball is a religion with most Bostonians. The effigies of four famous Red Sox players stand at the stadium gates and I ask Mark if maybe he's going to be a sports star. He just grunts at me! We set off again along the city's Emerald Necklace − a green area in the centre of the city where locals tend to their vegetables and sit in private allotments rented from the city.

Before the tour is over we ride past the Museum of Fine Art which houses the largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. Reluctantly we pass by as Mark didn't take art as an option but even he's impressed by the graffiti and street art. In the distance, the John Hancock building is decorated with a gigantic art installation by French artist JR. A man stands on the edge of a pontoon and looks like he is about to jump into the blue skyscraper which amuses passersby.

I'm saddle sore by the time we reach Boston Common but Mark has enjoyed every bit of this excursion. We dine in the North End after returning our bikes and step into little Italy. Antico Forno is a well established restaurant and perfect for kids with everything from pasta, pizza and speciality dishes that include fresh seafood.

Next day we set off on The Freedom Trail, a self guided trek through the city's historic buildings and sites marked out by red bricks along the footpath, we deviate as we come to Quincy Market food hall. Mark salivates as we pass the food stalls and we settle for a bowl of Boston Chowda − spelt phonetically − this delicacy is a favourite for locals and visitors. Faneuil Hall has been a market and meeting place since the mid 1700's but these days top brands like Abercrombie and Fitch and Urban Outfitters can be found nearby. The Freedom Trail is a great way to walk through Boston and The Paul Revere house, the oldest in the city, is worth a stop off. Paul Revere was made famous by Longfellow's poem describing his historic ride from Concord to Boston to warn the revolutionaries that the British troops were coming.

Mark is showing signs of 'history overload' so I decide that it's time to catch up on Science. We take the T, Boston's over and underground train system to our next stop, The Museum of Science. Currently Disney Pixar are showing a new exhibit that will inspire any young animator or film maker, while a budding meteorologist or pilot will be enthralled in the west wing.

Harvard University is only a fifteen minute ride away and at the risk of being a pushy mum I insist that we take the 'Hahvad Tour' (again spelt phonetically), given by current Harvard Students. Our guide tells us secrets about the naughty rites-of-passage carried out by the college fraternities and advises us not to touch the toe of the John Harvard statue which is frequently rubbed for good luck by tourists as it's more frequently used as a toilet at night. At $9.99 this tour is good value and a great way to walk through the college grounds.

Quirky Russian chapel in Salem

I take Mark to Salem for our last night. This quirky bewitched town, where even the cop cars sport witches emblems, is only a thirty minute train ride from Boston. Made infamous by the witch trials of 1692 where twenty innocent people were put to death for witch craft, Salem has been a source of intrigue for writers for centuries. We stay at the Salem Waterfront Hotel which has a small and cosy swimming pool. It is also next to the delicious Fin's restaurant which offers incredible seafood.

Next day we take the Trolley Tour to get our bearings and pass the House of the Seven Gables, made famous by author Nathaniel Hawthorne. It is impossible to avoid references to the Witch Trials so we go to the Salem Witch Museum to get the full story. Re-enactments of the trials can be seen at the Witch Dungeon and even on the main street. Everything is close by in this pretty town with fine examples of federation houses and brownstones − each labelled with a date and name of the original owner. This is America where the smell of apples and cinnamon resonates through the wooden eaves of the buildings.

Don't leave Salem without eating in Turner's restaurant which also has an interesting story and great food.

There is only one more thing to do before we leave this centre of mystic and magic. My son has his palm read and is told to keep up the guitar lessons as they will make him famous some day. Delighted with the news of my son's impending fortune we return to Dublin with my mind at ease and consider that maybe he isn't going to need straight A's in the Junior Cert after all!

Fact box

For information on things to do in Boston and Massachusetts see www.massholiday.ie

Flights

Aer Lingus, the smart airline, operates two flights per day from Dublin to Boston with fares starting from €249 each-way including taxes and charges. Flights from Shannon operate daily with fares starting from €209 each-way including taxes and charges. For more information visit aerlingus.com

Packages

Tour America
4 nights in Boston from only €599pp. Price Includes: Return flights with all taxes & 4 nights 3* accommodation. Based on 4 sharing. Travel January 2017. Reference 511489. Visit www.touramerica.ie or call 01-8173562. or Cork on 021 242 9222

Amazing January deals from Expedia to get 2016 off to a great start!

Winter weather getting you down? Plan a cheeky January getaway and soak up some winter sun with these great deals from Expedia.ie

Book in a sun holiday in January and start 2016 off on the right foot with great options from Expedia.ie for sun holidays around the world depending on how far you want to get from home!

Andy Washington from Expedia.ie suggests taking advantage of low season deals; “January is a great time to go on holidays as most hotels and airlines have better deals in their least busy season. Couple this with the savings you make when you book your flight and hotel together as package through Expedia.ie, and you can save and spend your money in amazing activities while on holiday” 

Option 1: Miami, Florida south-beach-miami click here to see video

Return flights for two adults and a seven night stay in the 4-star Surfcomber Kimpton Hotel start from €1724 per person, including taxes and fees, a saving of €484 altogether when you book this flight and hotel together through Expedia.ie. For this deal fly from Dublin to Fort Lauderdale, via New York JFK on Friday 15^th January 2016, returning on Monday 23rd January 2016.

Option 2: Arrecife, Lanzarote

Return flights for two and a six night stay in a 5-star Hotel Volcan Lanzarote from €508 per person, including taxes and fees, a saving of €50 per person when you book this flight and hotel together through Expedia.ie. For this deal fly from Dublin direct to Arrecife on Saturday 23^rd January, returning on Friday 29^thJanuary.

Option 3: Pattaya, Thailand

Return flights for two and a six night stay in the 5-star Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya start from €705 per person, including taxes and fees, save €60 per person when you book this flight and hotel together through Expedia.ie. For this deal fly from Dublin Airport to Bangkok via London Heathrow with on Friday 15^th January 2016, returning on Friday 22nd January 2016.

The Charlemont - An Exciting New Place to Eat in Dublin

Charlemont Bar & Bistro is the latest addition to the Dublin food and drink scene, located overlooking the canal on Charlemont Place. Following an almost €1m investment that has created two settings brought together by the common themes of design, style and vibe.

OUTDOOR TERRACE

Charlemont also features a canal-facing outdoor terrace, which is walled and lined with mature shrubs and for which general manger, Paul Flavin, expects high demand due to the paucity of good outdoor dining spaces in the capital and in spite of Ireland’s inclement climate.

Whilst Charlemont is part of Hilton Dublin, Paul Flavin explains how it has been designed as a stand- alone bar and bistro to appeal to new audiences. “One of the features that we feel will attract visitors to Charlemont is that it can be accessed from street level.   Obviously we hope that hotel guests will enjoy Charlemont Bar & Bistro but we really want to offer an experience that is somewhat separate from the hotel, creating an ambience and environment that will tempt people  who might not traditionally consider a night out in a hotel bar.  Charlemont is different and we think that anyone dropping by will be pleasantly surprised,” said Paul.

Charlemont was designed by Dublin interior architecture and design company Millimetre Design, which was involved in all aspects of the fit-out from interior architecture, design, procurement and project management.

PHASE ONE TRANSFORMATION

Both the bar and bistro were designed using materials such as rich stained oaks, dura stone and antique mirrors and colours such as dark powder blues and warm beiges.  The new sophisticated look and feel gives a new edge to the front of the property and is the first phase of a major capital investment programme at Hilton Dublin.  Phase two will see a full bedroom refurbishment.

“This really is a new chapter for us and the timing feels absolutely right,” said Paul Flavin. “There is a buzz around the city centre that extends into great spots such as Ranelagh, Rathmines, Rathgar and Donnybrook and we are really well positioned between them all.  We have a great new offering and a brilliant and committed team and we hope that people like what we do, because we are loving doing it.”

THE MENUS

Executive chef, Alan Brady has placed an emphasis on great quality ingredients done simply and done well and the provenance of the ingredients is paramount to his menu design.

Charlemont’s menus include fresh Kilkeel mussels, Chulchoill goat’s cheese and Kilmore Quay scallops.  Its beef is from nearby Clonee and the sharing cheeseboard includes Wicklow blue, smoked Gubeen, Tipperary brie and Cooleeny.

Lunchtime salad choices, which are priced from €12 include quinoa & avocado with soya beans, broccoli florets, baby spinach, pumpkins and a citrus vinaigrette; poached pear & feta with caramelised walnuts, red onion, arugula and cherry vinaigrette or a smoked trout and beetroot salad with horseradish and dill dressing.  

Guests can also enjoy Gorgonzola & walnut ravioli; gourmet burgers or a selection of sandwiches including pan fried wild mushroom & thyme focaccia or poached salmon & dill.

The sharing platters are already proving popular and priced from €15 include an Antipasto of Milano salami, pastrami, Serrano ham, sundried tomatoes, marinated olives and rustic bread or a seafood platter of calamari tempura prawns, fish fritters and citrus aioli and a sweet sesame and soy dressing

The evening menu includes seared Procanar duck breast served with wilted greens, mange tout, sweet potato puree and a crème de cassis jus (€22) and pan fried sea bream with broad beans, asparagus and new potatoes (€23).

THE DRINKS

The good news for lovers of wine is that there are a dozen wines available by the glass, with prices starting at €6.50 for a crisp Australian Chardonnay (The Pick) or a fruity Spanish (Marques De Plata).  Charlemont’s Champagne is the delicious Pannier and the wine list extends to include a selection that will appeal to different palettes or occasions including:

• Domaine Del Sol, Picpoul, 2013 (France) €8.50 / €30
• Peter Schweiger, Gruner Veltliner, 2013 (Austria) €38
• Lupe Cholet, Chablis, 2012 (France) €42
• The Edge, Pinot Noir, 2010 (New Zealand) €38
• Don David, Malbec, 2011 (Argentina) €9 / €33
• Il Bucco, Montepulciano, 2013 (Italy) €8 / €26

Cocktails are a house speciality and reasonably priced from €8. The cocktail list includes classics such as Espresso Martini, Mojito and Cosmopolitan and each week the bartenders will devise a Charlemont Surprise, which, this week is an Autumn Whisper made with Chivas Regal, 12 year old Grand Marnier and ginger ale.

Charlemont is open seven days a week from 7.00am serving food until 10.00pm.  Reservations are not essential but for enquiries telephone 01 4029988, check out Charlemont on Facebook or on Twitter at @The_Charlemont  

Ho Ho Ho Santa is hitting the high seas with Stena Line for Christmas!

Ireland’s leading ferry company, Stena Line, is getting a Christmas makeover this year complete with a historic name change to Santa Line – what else! - across its European Network. 

They also celebrated by giving one of their ships in Gothenburg a festive new look for the day and are introducing a fun app which customers can use to win prizes as they journey across the Irish Sea.

What’s more, customers can enjoy great value fares from as little as €89* single for car and driver and the widest choice of routes and sailings on the Irish Sea.  And as there are no baggage restrictions they can bring all the gifts they want in their car.

Airports at Christmas are synonymous with fun-sapping queues, followed by a journey in a confining seat which can be stressful, especially when travelling with kids. Stena customers, however can enjoy a quick check in process, lots of space to relax or explore as well as great onboard entertainment that even Santa himself would love.

The fun continues onboard with delicious dining options, free festive movies and WiFi and other onboard activities. Kids will love our brand new Christmas Treasure Hunt, they simply need to download the ‘Stena Line Treasure Hunt’ app, then find the Christmas gifts onboard before collecting their prize in the onboard shop.

For more information or to book your very own Santa Line trip log onto www.stenaline.ie or https://www.facebook.com/StenaLineUKIE/ or call 01 204 77 77. Follow Stena Line on Twitter @StenaLineIE

There's no place like home...Kansas!

The Wizard of Oz usually springs to mind at the mention of Kansas but this summer I set off with my Dad who is passionate about the Wild West to discover what the Sunflower state has to offer the discerning traveller. We found an enchanting destination with a call of the wild!

Our Kansas adventure started the moment we landed at Wichita airport. Regarded as the airplane capital of the world and home to names like Cessna, Beech and Boeing makes it a must for aviation enthusiasts. We flew from Dublin with United Airlines via Newark and after a short transfer into Wichita city my arrival was cushioned by a warm welcome at the Ambassador Hotel. After a delicious dinner we were just in time to see the lighting of the lamps at the iconic 'Keeper of the Plains' statue. This 44 feet statue of an Indian Chief stands majestically at the meeting of the Arkansas Big and Little Rivers. Every night at sunset flames shoot from the urns at the foot of the keeper for fifteen minutes, dramatically lighting the night sky. As we arrived the confluence was buzzing with visitors and locals to see this almost spiritual experience.

Next day we swung by Old Cow Town, a perfectly reconstructed Wild West village which whet my appetite for my stay at the Moore Ranch in Bucklin. This ranch is where the famous advert for Marlboro Cigarettes was shot in the 1980s. Long horn Texan cattle abound the mid-grass prairie and hosts Joe and Nancy Moore immediately make their guests feel like part of the family. That includes dining at the family ranch and helping with the chores like feeding the orphaned lambs and calves. It's a job that proved a joy for a city slicker like me and my Dad being a lover of the countryside felt right at home.  

Morning means time to check on the cattle and their calves. My choice of horse for the chore was a steady white who was kind and despite my nerves carried me out to the fields with confidence. This is not a dude ranch, this is the real deal. Joe set off next day to Colorado to sell a dozen head of cattle and while we rode the range there were fences to fix. Accommodation is chalet style and set about 100 yards from the main house. Each chalet is equipped with an en-suite and air conditioning. But to truly enjoy the experience forget the luxuries of a mint on your pillow, what the Moore's offer is something unique and missing from the generic experiences we have become accustomed to in mainstream hotels. www.moorelonghornranch.com

Nancy Moore and my Dad holding down a steer

Feeding the calves at Moore Ranch with Will the ranch hand

The guest cabin at Moore ranch

My dad was in his element at the Long Branch Saloon

With great reluctance we left the Moores after two days and promised to return for a week next time. It was a forty mile drive to my next destination, Dodge City. The town's motto is 'Get the heck into Dodge' and it was a great chance to explore real cowboy history. The main street has been reconstructed as it was in the 1840s. Once a major stop off for the cowboys who herded the cattle from one end of the country to the railroad in Abilene and the Sante Fe trail, it is now a city of 50,000 that holds firmly to its cowboy heritage. It is also great fun. The Long Branch Saloon, made famous in the popular TV series Gunsmoke, hosts a nightly show with a staged gunfight on the street outside followed by a performance from the legendary Miss Kitty and her Can Can dancers. See www.visitdodgecity.org for more details of this fun town.

Miss Kitty dancers at Long Branch Saloon

At Boot Hill Cemetary Dodge City

Dodge is also home to a spectacular casino for those who fancy a flutter. It is next door to a Hilton Hampton hotel where we conveniently stayed before setting off for Great Bend the next day. Great Bend is a large town next to one of the states greatest treasures − The Byways and Wetlands. Our wildlife adventure started at Cheyenne Bottoms, a massive marsh land hosting flocks of pelicans, terns and unusual seabirds that use the area as a stopover on their journey from coast to coast. The area is well signposted for tourists but it is a good idea to pay a visit to the Wetlands Educational Centre beforehand to know what to look out for.

At Cheyenne Bottoms

The great salt lakes of the prairie make up Quivira national park where we spotted deer frolicking and a mischievous coyote out for a gander. Binoculars are a must on this excursion and ornithologists will find a little bit of heaven as Cormorants, Herons and Hawks soar past. Close by we enjoyed a spectacular lunch at Heartland Farm which is run by a group of Dominican Sisters. The sisters keep Alpacas and serve delicious home grown organic food. They offer incredible budget accommodation in a wonderful setting and for a true retreat from a technology busy world this place is perfect www.heartlandfarm-ks.org.

Our visit to Kansas was perfectly timed to fit in the Symphony in the Flint Hills annual festival. In its tenth year the theme this time was 'Grasslands of the World' and the Flint Hills can proudly be named as one of these. Home to the greatest expanse of grassland in the United States, where the buffalo roamed freely until their demise in the 1870's, the Flint Hills can best be described as lush green countryside with gently undulating green hills that beckon to be discovered on horseback. It compares admirably to the Mongolian and Patagonians grasslands and dare I suggest even the Serengeti. The wildlife may be more subtle than the species found in Africa but the sense of freedom and air of majesty was comparable. 

The Symphony in the Flint Hills - the cows gathered from surrounding prairie to listen to the music

The headline act for the tenth festival was Lyle Lovett, better known perhaps as ex-husband to Hollywood actress Julia Roberts. The music flowed with orchestral arrangements of Out of Africa and Silverado, finished off with the Grammy award winner's country tunes. In the distance herds of cattle gathered around the stage to show their approval and had to be ushered away from the stage. Another truly unique experience in this land filled with surprises.

Heading west to east we drove through the picturesque town of Lindsborg. Populated by Swedish immigrants in the 1800s it is as much a piece of Sweden today as the land that the immigrants left. Blue flags with yellow crosses wave from poles along the main street in unison with the Star Spangled Banner. This town is extremely desirable to live in with beautiful art galleries and studios. The award winning National Geographic photographer, Jim Richardson, shows his extraordinary work in the Small World Gallery and studio. It sits beside the lovely dala horse shop where the souvenir wooden horses are sculpted in all sizes and painted by hand in a traditional and unique fashion. Check out www.lindsborgcity.org for more details.

Giant Dala horse in the Swedish style town of Lindsborg

Dad and I were fascinated by this jewel of a town in the middle of the prairies

The Sandzen Gallery

I continued on my journey east and a short ten miles from the university city of Lawrence is the delightful Circle S Ranch. This haven is home to a herd of buffalo and long horn cattle, but it is also a very desirable County Inn which hosts wedding parties all year around. Each room is themed and I was led to the exquisite 'blue and white room' which boasted four windows and a Victorian free standing bath in the corner of the room. At night the fireflies put on a show, dancing like fairies from branch to branch in the surrounding fields. Dinner was good enough to be given a Michelin star with creamy mash, Mediterranean veg and marinated beef that didn't require chewing. I was overall impressed with the choice of eateries in Kansas and the option to find quality rather than the usual preference of quantity in the mid states. See www.circlesranch.com for more details.

My beautiful room at Circle S ranch with a victorian bath behind the screen!

All set for a wedding at Circle S ranch

Kansas is also home to the pioneering adventurer Amelia Earhart and after travelling the state for a week I realised that I needed more time to see everything. There aren't too many references to Dorothy or the Wizard of Oz but the Museum of Oz is in Wamego and situated between Lindsborg and Lawrence. However I can now understand Dorothy's attachment to her homeland and see why she was so keen to get back there.

I clicked my heels three times and found myself on a United Airlines Boeing 757 with the comfort of extra legroom for a mere €60. Dining was refreshingly good for economy with three course servings and constant refreshments available throughout the flight. I was home with a fresh view of the Wild West and a rejuvenated spirit.

Published in The Irish Country Magazine October 2015, credit to Irish Farmers Journal publications.

Factbox

For more information see www.travelksok.ie

For packages see www.AmericanHolidays.ie or call Dublin 016994232

Flights

United Airlines offers a service from Dublin to Kansas City International Airport via its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport and Washington, D.C. hub, Dulles International Airport operated by Boeing 757-200 aircraft featuring 169 seats - 16 flat-bed seats in United BusinessFirst® and 153 in United Economy®, including 45 Economy Plus® seats with added legroom and increased personal space. Visit www.united.com or call 1890 925 252

Fares

Fare start from €970  incl tax for travel outbound between 1NOV - 17DEC and 25DEC - 31MAR

Fare start from €1050  incl tax for travel outbound between 23 AUG - 31 OCT and 1APR 24JUN

Fare start from €1293  incl tax for travel outbound between 25JUN - 22AUG

Fares are non-refundable and changes are permitted with a fee of €130 per transaction.

Going Wild in Fota Resort and Wildlife Park

I stood at the school gate recently with my friend Cheryl, waiting for our daughters Nicole and Sarah to appear as we reminisced about the odd sunny day that we had shared this summer. As the school bell rang we had a Eureka moment and hatched a cunning plan to escape the humdrum routine with a mini-break in Cork. My daughter had been doting about the new baby cheetahs that she had seen on Facebook at Fota. As we had never been to this wildlife park I thought why not satisfy all our needs with a spa break for mums and baby animals for the kids.

Reception at Fota

The M8 motorway from Dublin took us to the country's 'other capital' in less than three hours. It had been a few years since my last visit to the city centre and I was curious to check out The English market which seems to be constantly in the news since Queen Elizabeth's visit in 2011. The smell of exotic cheeses and fresh fruits greeted us from an array of artisan stalls as we climbed the stairs to Farmgate restaurant. The view down over the market is quaint and as covered markets go this had all the elements needed for a hearty and refreshing lunch. Cheryl and I would have loved to stay longer but the kids were keen to make the most of the pool at our hotel. 

Cheryl and Michelle this summer

A twenty minute journey brought us to Fota Island and once we drove along the tree-lined avenue to our hotel we were submerged in an oasis of calm. The Fota Island Resort is set in lush surroundings which whisper five star ever so subtly. The architecture is modern and streamlined with Celtic motifs throughout, this isn't a fussy hotel and it has a chameleon ability to turn from a business centre, wedding venue or family friendly resort with ease.

nicole and sarah in Cork

Our accommodation was a family room with large king size and single bed but with plenty of room for another pull out bed where my daughter had a very cosy sleep. There was plenty of room in the en suite with a large walk in shower and generous sized bath − a priority for the kids. While our daughters swam in the hotel pool, under the supervision of a lifeguard, it was time for Cheryl and I to explore the spa. The spa is well presented with good variety in the thermal and hydrotherapy suites. I was whisked into a treatment room by Kasa my therapist for a soothing Indian Head Massage. The bed was heated by an electric blanket and as Kasa worked her magic, the back-to-school-blues became a distant memory. After the hour long treatment I was brought to the relaxation room and served a passion fruit yogurt with fresh melon. Looking out of the relaxation room at a colourful garden of trees and grasses I almost forget that the kids were with us.

hydrotherapy pool at Fota Resort

Our little mermaids were so enamoured with the selection of shampoos and conditioners at the pool that they were showered and ready for the night before leaving the spa. The hotel offers kids clubs and it wasn't so long ago that our daughters would have needed that kind of attention to give their mother's a break. But at 11 years of age they wanted to dress up and with appetites whetted they could not wait to see the menu in the dining room. The sun came out and we had the option of sitting outside too.

The dining room welcomed with a piano in the corner. The steak was too mouth-watering to ignore so we ordered two while the kids opted for delicious homemade burgers from the children's menu. It isn't often that I refuse dessert but the main course was so satisfying and delicious I hadn't the room or inclination for pudding. Babysitting facilities are also provided so parents can get a real break. Cheryl and I settle into the bar safe in the knowledge that our mermaids were happy upstairs in the room. A passing waiter asks if we would like cocktails and we didn't want to appear rude so we agreed. As we sat back in our leather armchairs we sipped away any thoughts of making school lunches the following week.

My daughter Nicole loved the baby cheetahs

Next morning, after a long and colourful breakfast that includes, waffles, pancakes and plenty of fruit, the girls insist on another swim before check out. The skies clouded over in typical Irish fashion and it starts to pour as we drive our short trip to the wildlife park. Fota Island Resort offers free entry into the park with special packages, so this is worth checking out on booking. Surprisingly the sky clears and we see the tigers and rhino in the Asian sanctuary at leisure. This is a lovely sized park where the animals are happy and have the choice to hide away or come see the spectators if they choose. A little train runs around the rim of the park taking passengers to the reasonably priced cafe. The highlight for our daughters is the two new baby cheetahs, they send the girls into a frenzy as they frantically post pictures on their Instagram accounts. We realise on our return that we have taken so many photos of the animals we have almost none of the girls.

Taking a right out of the park brings us to the historic town of Cobh, only five minutes away. This town is a huge treat for kids who are fascinated by the Titanic story and the museum is a must see. The great thing about Fota Island is the variety of family friendly activities so close together. There are three golf courses on the resort and a stately house with one of the finest art galleries outside the National Gallery in Dublin. As we set off home on the long road back to Dublin we all agree that one night on Fota Island just isn't enough!

Article First Published Sunday 31st October 2015 Irish Mail on Sunday

Fact file

Fota Wildlife Park Package - Enjoy an overnight bed and breakfast at Fota Island Resort in one of their luxury rooms and receive complimentary tickets to Cork’s wildest attraction, Fota Wildlife Park. Located on a beautiful private island Fota Wildlife Park has reported record visitor numbers in recent years, with numbers growing due to its continued efforts for conservation. Home to a variety of species including Cheetahs, Tigers and now even Rhinos! www.fotawildlifepark.ie

It has been listed as one of Ireland’s Top Ten visitor attractions and is the most popular family tourist destination in Cork. The perfect package to relax in luxury and explore the wild. From €154 midweek or from €192 per room per night or for detailed information on all packages see the website www.fotaisland.ie or call + 353 21 4883700.