Belfast- Northern Ireland

Many travellers don't think of Northern Ireland when they decide to travel to the British Isles. They know London, Edinburg, Dublin and even Cardiff. When my family travelled to Ireland the first time together, we landed in Dublin and when we told the car rental place we were headed to Belfast they said "aye, family there?". Well, yes, I did have family there but I'd still want to travel to Belfast to see a place rich in history, friendly people and beautiful landscapes.

Belfast has a troubled history, but it is a much different place to visit than it was 20 years ago. My first time travelling to Belfast as a teen was quite eye opening; soldiers at every shop door, and army presence in the city centre, bag searches to enter stores. I've been to Belfast 4 times now; as a teen, a young adult, a first time mother and as a solo traveller, for a family wedding. Each time I can't wait to come again!

Recently due to the popularity of Game of Thrones more travellers have been discovering Northern Ireland and the city of Belfast. There is so much to see and do there; you might not even have time for it all. The Titanic experience is not only a museum but there is also the Titanic Hotel. Make time to go inside and have a drink at the bar. All around the hotel are artifacts from Titanic including the device used to send the S.O.S that night. When you are inside the museum and you look out the windows you will see benches encircling the museum; these spell out the morse code that the ship sent.

As you travel around Northern Ireland you have the choice of trains, city buses or even renting a car (known as a car hire). Remember that the British drive on the opposite side and you'll pay extra to rent anautomatic transmission car. A number of cruise ships stop in Belfast and you can hop on a guided tour to get a taste of all the city has to offer. If you decide to drive; be aware that the country roads are not for the faint of heart! They are quite narrow and have high hedges which make it feel much narrower than they are. I actually learned to drive stick shift (manual transmission) in case I ever got on the Amazing Race!

On the northern border of the North and the South of Ireland is Londonderry (Derry) that has a modern claim to fame of being the setting of the show Derry Girls. It's the only surviving walled city in Ireland and is full of rich history and is a modern city with many choices for art, amazing food (yes, the Irish do know how to cook!). Make sure to visit a pub for a traditional Sunday Roast with Yorkshire pudding and all the trimmings.

Some items to be aware of; Northern Ireland uses pound sterling. If you fly into Dublin you'll need a few Euros for coffee and transportation or use your debit/credit cards. You can also fly into Dublin and take a coach bus up to Belfast for a very reasonable price. Ireland may not have the sunniest weather but if you wait a few minutes it will likely clear up. Dress in layers but be ready with an umbrella or rain jacket just in case. There is also a ferry to Scotland from Belfast, if you're wanting to travel around Britain.