Does the family need a change of scenery? Plan a getaway in Dublin! We’ve put together a list of our favorite activities and attractions for a weekend full of family adventures. There’s so much good food to be eaten, fun to be had and experiences to try that the weekend will fly by! Grab your family and escape to Dublin.
Whether you’re up at the crack of dawn and ready to start smart or like to sleep in and begin with a sweet treat – breakfast is still the most important meal of the day in Dublin. For you early risers, Sunny Street Café serves healthy and hearty breakfast fare from sunrise until 2:30 p.m. each day. For the well-rested, Fox in the Snow makes their pastries fresh daily and is known for one of the best egg sandwiches in the country. Choose from sticky buns, scones, galettes and more.
If your family enjoys adventuring, head to Indian Run Falls Park, an outdoor oasis just minutes from Downtown Dublin. Take advantage of a full afternoon of hiking, natural scenery, observation decks and of course the awe-inspiring waterfalls. Pro Tip: This park is also the perfect backdrop for a family picnic!
Prefer a walk around one of the nation’s best zoos? The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is a walk around the globe from A to Z. Begin in Africa and end up in Zoombezi Bay! In addition to seeing lions, giraffes, zebras and monkeys, you can also spend part of your day cooling off by zipping down giant waterslides, bobbing up and down in the wave pool or floating peacefully down the lazy river at Zoombezi Bay Water Park. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
The Dublin Market is the place to be on Saturday mornings. Each week, local vendors set up shop in Bridge Park from 9 am - 12 pm selling everything from produce to coffee to baked goods and more. The market is very kid (and dog) friendly!
Isn’t it always when you’re visiting Dublin? Pop by Cap City in Bridge Park for one of their famous milkshakes, a slice of their three-layer chocolate cake or a deep-dish apple pie. Or hold out until dinner time and enjoy their classic diner options with a unique upscale twist.
But we believe in freedom of choice. So if you’re not in the mood for a milkshake, we’ve also got Kilwins, Graeter’s and Johnson’s Real Ice Cream – the trifecta of gooey ice cream goodness!
So you may have overindulged a little. The good news is you can walk it off as you hit the Irish Fairy Door Trail. What? You’ve never heard of the magical Irish fairies of Dublin? Grab your passport at the Dublin Visitor & Information Center at 9 S. High Street and follow the trail guide through Downtown Dublin to different businesses seeking out tiny magical fairy doors. If you find the name of each resident fairy, return your completed passport to the visitor’s center and you’ll be the proud owner of a FREE Fairy Doors of Dublin t-shirt.
Find the most iconic piece of architecture in the city: The Dublin Link. This new pedestrian bridge connects Historic Dublin to Bridge Park and is the longest single-tower, s-shaped suspension bridge in the world. Take in the scenic views across the Scioto River - a landscape you won't soon forget. Pro-Tip: wait just before sundown for the most stunning sunset view in the city.
PINS Mechanical combines old-school entertainment with new cocktails, craft beers and punch. PINS is a great place to enjoy a drink while picking up a game of duckpin bowling, taking a spin on the countless pinball machines or challenging your kids & friends to a ping-pong match. This all-in-one destination for fun brings families and friends together the old-fashioned way.
Escape the heat at Scene75, the largest indoor entertainment facility in the country! Enjoy family-friendly activities like mini-golf, arcade games, air hockey and even an indoor roller coaster!
With more than 17 hotels, Dublin makes it easy to never want to leave. Many hotels are offering discounted rates to allow for an affordable change of scenery in Dublin.