​I never understood the hype surrounding Guinness. It was too dark, appeared to have a curd-like texture, and seemed to be extremely filling. After going on the Guinness Factory Tour, I now understand the hype: it’s flavorful and not very heavy. It's also smooth and enjoyable to sip on {in other words, it’s not a shotgun-type-of-beer}.
 
The outside of the Guinness Factory takes you back to the horse-and-buggy days. And not because they actually have horse carriages outside to add to its charm, but because it's this very prominent, brick building that has so much character and takes up a large portion of Dublin. You could get lost {or at least I can!} walking just around the exterior. 

First floor: This is where you learn about the high-quality ingredients that go into making Guinness.

Second floor: This is where you learn how they actually make the beer and the machines {or pieces of art} that aid in the process.

Third floor: This is where you become a taste-tester. You get to smell the various ingredients {the hops smelled the best!}, and you get a mini-Guinness to learn how to properly taste.

Fourth floor: This is where they show you the various Guinness advertisements throughout the years. From print ads to commercials, you can see how Guinness has been marketed to the masses.

Fifth Floor:  This is the holy grail of the tour! You get to partake in Guinness Academy by learning how to pour a Guinness properly. Once you have “graduated” by correctly pouring yourself a glass, you get a cute, little certificate. I wonder how I become a teacher in this kind of academy…;).

Sixth Floor: They have various restaurants to enjoy food and some more Guinness. This is where we tried the traditional Irish stew and soda bread, which was out.of.this.world. 

Seventh Floor: This is not only the most crowded area of the entire factory, but also the one with the best views of Dublin. So grab a drink, snap a pic of the view, and head to the sixth floor for food and more seating  :).

This is one of the world’s leading tourist attractions and it’s easy to see why. It’s informative + interactive, which makes for an entertaining day out in Dublin with good friends.

Over spring break {which seems like forever ago now}, we visited Dublin, Ireland. Before traveling to The Emerald Isle, many people suggested we drive out to the countryside, as that is where the most stunning views of the country will be; however, because we only had two full days in the city, we opted just to stay in Dublin and explore.
 
To be honest, Dublin is like most large cities, particularly London, with similar architecture and activities. Two days was definitely plenty to see all of Dublin, so if we do happen to travel back to Ireland, I would like to skip the city and see the rolling hills + the cliffs. That being said, if you have two days in Dublin, there is plenty to do + see:

​Dublin Castle: While we didn’t go inside the castle to view the rooms, just seeing the castle and its architecture is pretty amazing. The fact that this giant structure still exists in the middle of their city is unbelievable. The castle has a beautiful garden to walk through {or to use as a backdrop during a proposal to the girl of your dreams ;)}. 

Trinity College: Much like our trip to Cambridge, you can’t go inside the actual buildings, but walking around the campus and its courtyards are fun.

St. Stephen’s Green Park: Besides markets, if there is another part of Europe I really enjoy, it’s the parks. The large, open spaces with blossoming flowers definitely make for a nice place to gather with family + friends on a sunny, spring day.

St. Patrick’s Cathedral: The burial site of Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels, is one that should not be missed. Further, the church, in comparison to other cathedrals we’ve visited, is interactive with a coloring + building area for children. 

Irish Pubs: This is one of the top reasons to visit! In all seriousness though, the Irish know how to drink and have a good time. With lively music {at times, live bands}, colorful inner + outer décor, and friendly people, the Irish pubs are fun. I think because I’ve been able to experience the quiet English pubs so frequently, this was a nice, more energetic change of pace. The pubs we visited and really enjoyed are the following two: The Brazen Head {Ireland’s oldest bar} and Temple Bar.

Jameson Distillery: We didn’t take the actual tour, but this is worth checking out for a quick drink. I loved the warehouse feel, with the exposed brick and piping. It reminded me a little of Chicago.