Showing posts with label Viking Splash tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Viking Splash tour. Show all posts

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Family Friendly Dublin Attractions

When staying in Dublin there are so many visitor attractions that you can go see. We have put together our top 6 family friendly spots  that we think are ones for the list when visiting the capital city.

1. Dublinia
Right in the heart of Medieval Dublin, next to Christ Church Cathedral, there are 3 exhibitions to be experienced in Dublinia. Both “Viking Dublin” & “Medieval Dublin” will bring you back in time to how life was in Dublin in those historic days – walk down a Viking street and visit a Viking house  as well as seeing what life on board a Viking ship would have been like. “Historic Hunters” is the third exhibition which brings you into the world of Archaeology. See excavation sites and a lab which will give you an insight into Dublin City and allow you to see it in a whole new light.

(Inside Dublinia)


2. Viking Splash Tour
A favourite amongst many visitors, both young and old, the Viking Splash Tour allows you to see the city from land and water in the reconditioned World War II military vehicles known as “Ducks”. The tour will bring you around the city to the many attractions it has to offer while also teaching you about the history of the city; from the Vikings who settled here over a 1,000 years ago right through to the Dublin becoming a cosmopolitan European city.

(View Dublin by land and water with the Viking Splash Tour)


3. National Wax Museum
The Wax Museum – a firm favourite for the list of attractions to visit on any city break. Everyone enjoys a good Wax Museum! At the National Wax Museum not only can you view the wax version of many well-known faces and get your picture taken with them but you can also visit the fully functioning recording studio and green screen video room, take a journey through Ireland cultural heritage and check out the tribute to Ireland’s top scientific inventors.

(The National Wax Museum Entrance)


4. GAA Museum
Interested in the history of the country’s National games? Well then go behind the scene of Gaelic Football and Hurling with this interactive touch-screen technology and test your own skills in the interactive zone. Test your passing skills and how quick you can react along with the many other skills required for these two fantastic national games. You can also do the Croke Park Stadium Tour while you are there.  Take the opportunity to walk through the players tunnel and visit their lounge as well as the corporate boxes with the best seats in the house and then top it all off with a birds eye views of this 82,300 capacity iconic stadium.

(GAA Museum Croke Park)


5. Science Gallery
Located at Trinity College, this public gallery has various exhibitions, lectures and workshops. There are no permanent collections but instead a series of 4-6 temporary exhibitions each year so there is always something new to see for those who wish to visit on a number of occasions.

(The Science Gallery at Trinity College)


6. Dublin Zoo
Dublin Zoo, located in Pheonix Park (one of the largest city parks in Europe), is one of Dublin's biggest attractions. It is home to over 400 animals and has been open since 1830. There is so much to see at Dublin Zoo. There are lions, tigers, hippos, seals, elephants, gorillas, orangutans, chimpanzees, red pandas and penguins to name just a few of the many fascinating animals that can be seen at Dublin Zoo.  

(Gorillas at Dublin Zoo)



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Monday, August 16, 2010

DUBLIN VIKING FESTIVAL


The summer...in the holiday sense of the word...is coming to a close, but before we start preparing ourselves for Christmas (yeah i said it), there is still plenty of things to do in Dublin City.

This weekend for instance the Dublin Viking Festival kicks off. Now in its third year the festival is run over two days with numerous events taking place in the city centre.

The fun takes place on Dublin's Wood Quay and Temple Bar from Friday the 21st August until Sunday 22nd August 2010. The Vikings were the first settlers at Dublin and old reminants of their settlement have been found at Wood Quay in Dublin City Centre on the site of Dublin City Council's civic offices.

Dublin Viking Festival Information:

Viking Village
The village folk are dedicated to the accurate and entertaining portrayal of Viking and Medieval times and lifestyles. With a village of tents, locals at work and trained soldiers in combat, you will feel embraced by this time period’s culture. Lectures on weaponry will get you up to speed and you can even try out your hand at Archery. The village area will be equipped with picnic tables, food stands and Viking hat stalls.

Dublinia
A meeting point for the tours of Dublinia and the Viking House will be located in the Amphitheatre/Wood Quay throughout the weekend. Once you attend the festival throughout the weekend you can avail of 2 for the price of 1 tickets to Dublinia.

Wax Museum
Throughout the festival, the Dublin Wax Museum will be performing scenes from various plays that are relevant to Viking Dublin. There will be 3 shows a day. After the show, why not head to the Viking themed room in the wax museum. It features a wax figure of the Viking King of Dublin and a replica of the Viking Dublin city.
Once you attend the Viking Festival you can avail of Special Discounts for the wax museum if you attend the museum after 5pm. Discount rates are; Children go free with a paying adult (Adult price €10) or a family ticket discount of €25 (normally €30).

Viking Splash
The unique and highly appraised land & water tour of Dublin are offering special discounts throughout the festival weekend. They will also be offering free family passes as prizes throughout the weekend!

Walking Tours
Walking Tours of Viking Dublin will take place on the Saturday and Sunday of the festival. The tour will include historically significant places and areas where everyday life and major events occurred; narrow laneways and hidden streets, Dublin Castle, Christ Church, archaeological discovery sites and much more.

Viking music
To complete the Middle Ages atmosphere, traditional Scandinavian and medieval style music will be played at different intervals throughout the festival by local and professional musicians.

Children’s’ Entertainment
For the kids, there are art zones open from 1-4pm each day of the festival. They will participate in making masks and memorabilia and designing and making their own helmet plaques. There will also be the favourites; face painting and balloon modelling.

Outdoor Viking Movie
There will be outdoor screenings of the 1958 ‘The Vikings’ starring Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis. A picnic blanket and snacks are recommended to enjoy this screening.

Food and Drink
Available at the festival will be different types of local made and foreign food; including hog roast, breads and Danish pastries. Also, drink stalls with apple cider and mead.

Arts and crafts stalls
The arts and crafts stalls will have genuine Viking tools and memorabilia for sale. Take home with you medieval artefacts and souvenirs and keep the Viking spirit alive.

Shopping
Apart from souvenir stalls, there will also be a selection of stalls selling middle age and medieval inspired jewellery and clothing.

Enjoy yourself.