With its oceanside promenade, arcs of sandy beaches and family-friendly atmosphere, Northern Ireland's Portrush is a fun seaside holiday spot for locals and Rick Steves' tourists alike.

Tour Day 11. To Northern Ireland

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A Limerick by Liz
In which she laments her husband, Dave's, unfortunate contraction of a stomach bug which caused him to miss our day in the Aran Islands.

The plan was for some Irish craic
But a bad meal set Dave a-back
With meds and wee magic
His result was not tragic
On to Bushmills, he is set on track!

MAY THE ROAD RISE UP TO MEET YOU

KNACKERED OUT | The Adelphi Portrush (2 nights)

TUCK IN​

• 55 North - ​Group dinner with a dynamite panorama of the blue North Atlantic.
• Ramore Wine Bar

CRACK ON 

• Drumcliffe Church and W.B Yeats Grave (don't miss the delightful Tea House adjacent).
• ​Martin McCrossan's Londonderry City Walking Tour, ​led by Martin's daughter Charlene. Drippy day, but fascinating. Incidentally, the Netflix Series "Derry Girls" takes place at Charlene's former school in Derry.

​Kristi's Favorite Day!!!

• Giant's Causeway - Our group is first-through-the-door for Northern Ireland's only UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Dunluce Castle
• Bushmills Distillery Tour and Tasting - Oldest licensed whiskey distillery in the world.
• Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge

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Tour Day 12. Antrim Coast and Old Bushmills

PHRASE OF THE DAY | Surveying a busful of early-morning-bleary-eyed tour members, Joe thought this phrase was apropos for tour day twelve.

​To be fair, Rick Steves designs tours to be active. The pre-tour welcome letter is candid: "We fill each day with an exciting plate of activities to give you maximum value for what you've paid. It’s my philosophy that a Rick Steves tour should leave its participants happily needing a few days to rest after the tour is over."

Tá mé tuirseach | I am tired

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MEET ELLYN
Rick Steves newbie, Ellyn is a retired school teacher. She and her friend Robin left the hubbies at home to enjoy a girlfriend adventure in Ireland. 

My #1 Best Travel Tip . . . My travel tip came from you and it was a “light bulb” moment. Travel light and take a zippered bag! Put all dirty clothes in the zippered bag and check that bag on your way home! Put all of your souvenirs in the suitcase and carry that on with you. All of your special items will not get lost!

I shared that tip with two of my friends who were traveling internationally. They used the tip and were soooo happy!

Pro-Tip: Rick Steves Hide-Away Tote Bag is a perfect solution to this packing dilemma.

Robin and the suitcase! Robin trying to cram all of her things in the suitcase BEFORE you shared your travel tip!!

Robin, Ellyn and Jane - a favorite moment on the Antrim Coast!

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CRACK ON TO BELFAST