It’s easy to stay safe and have fun in Dublin with these activities
By Corinne Minard
Those looking for a weekend getaway will find plenty to do northwest of Columbus, Ohio, in the city of Dublin. While the city may be most known for hosting the largest three-day Irish festival in the world—the Dublin Irish Festival—it’s also home to a plethora of activities that can be done while social distancing. We spoke with Sara Blatnik, marketing director of the Dublin Convention & Visitors Bureau, to identify some of the best.
1. Ride a Bike
The city of Dublin has more than 100 miles of bike trails that connect downtown to the region’s neighborhoods. The trails connect the city’s 61 parks, making it explore the city while taking in its many green spaces.
“You can hypothetically go from the busiest areas in the city to any neighborhood,” says Blatnik.
The city currently does not have a bike rental program, but Blatnik say visitors are invited to bring their own or to hike the trails instead.
2. Enjoy Celtic-Inspired Cocktails
The Celtic Cocktail Trail in Dublin features 17 stops where one can purchase a Celtic-inspired cocktail, such as the Irish mule and Dublin Rover. Participants can pick up a guidebook at the Dublin Visitor & Information Center or download one online to find the trail’s stops. Those who visit five stops during their trip receive a commemorative koozie, while those who visit 11 receive a T-shirt.
“Some of these restaurants really embrace the Irish attitude and create these cocktails even if they’re an Italian restaurant,” says Blatnik.
“Zero-proof” options are also available for those who would prefer to have a non-alcoholic beverage.
3. See Some Waterfalls
While Dublin has many urban amenities, the city also boasts three natural waterfalls and one man-made one. Visitors can walk the bridge over Indian Run Falls, take a photo of the stunning Hayden Falls, enjoy a picnic at the overlook of the O’Shaughnessy Reservoir at Glick Park or, in the winter and spring, view the hidden Wedgewood Hills Falls.
4. Find the Fairy Doors
For a more kid-friendly trail, visitors can take the Irish Fairy Door Trail.
“We actually started working with a company, the Irish Fairy Door Company, out of Ireland,” says Blatnik. She says they placed 10 of these doors in retail shops throughout Dublin. After visitors pick up a Trail Guide from the Dublin Visitor & Information Center, they can visit each business to find each fairy’s name. Those who complete their passport receive a free T-shirt. Participating businesses include Our CupCakery and the Dublin Toy Emporium.
“It’s kind of fun way to discover the unique retail in the area,” adds Blatnik.
5. Discover Public Art
Dublin’s Art in Public Spaces program has brought more than 70 pieces of public art to the city.
“You can do a self-guided cell phone tour, so each piece of art has a plaque with a QR code and it takes you to more information about the piece. There’s also a phone number you can call where you hear from the actual creator of the piece of artwork. They tell you what they were inspired by, why it’s there, what it is, and it takes you through 15 or so of the most popular pieces,” says Blatnik.
One of the featured pieces is Field of Corn (an installation of 100-plus giant ears of corn along Frantz Road).
“It’s kind of one of those roadside attractions that people really like to see,” says Blatnik.
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