Northern Ireland’s capital of Belfast is home to the famous creator of Narnia, the holy St. Patrick, Giant’s Causeway and many more family attractions.
For most visitors, a trip to Ireland translates this way: visit Dublin, and perhaps a tour bus to the south’s green countryside. The North Ireland city of Belfast is usually an afterthought, but that’s a mistake. Years ago, during The Troubles, no one — and particularly families — would ever think of Belfast as a tourist destination.
“Why would they want to come here other than to say they survived a trip to Belfast?” sardonically asks Rosemary Connolly, a Blue Badge Irish tour guide. Actually, the three-decades-long strife between Protestants and Catholics ended in 1998 with the Good Friday Peace Accord, heavily influenced by former President Bill Clinton.
How safe is Belfast today? That is always a difficult question to answer because crime can be found anywhere, but tourism officials like to quote a United Nations study that found Northern Ireland’s present-day crime rate is lower than any country worldwide but Japan. Families can expect the Irish to be friendly and patient, unless you profess a British background (“The Troubles” — like the US’s own Civil War — did not come to a sudden screeching halt.)
Belfast is a Budding Tourism Center
Today, this city that never capitalized on its fame as the site where the Titanic was built is hungry for tourists to replace its once strong industrial economic base. They are starting to come to Belfast, where the number of hotel rooms has tripled in just five years. There are cranes everywhere, and the city’s finally getting around to building a museum to promote the Titanic.
Its shipbuilding and linen-making past behind it, Belfast today has two airports, two universities, two cathedrals, and a Grand Opera House with velvety red seats and gold elephants, to serve a population of 600,000. Families can find many other good reasons for coming here, including the centuries-old castles, ancient buildings and the country’s long history.
Parents old enough to remember The Troubles can appreciate revisiting the areas we used to view on the 5 o’clock news. For family members too young to remember, various tours are educational, easily available and inexpensive.
The usual children’s entertainments such as a 36-hole Pirates Adventure Golf can be found in Belfast, but in no other country can you visit the grave and Down Cathedral of St. Patrick, whose life is celebrated every year by millions of people. Another reason to visit Ireland is that it’s like going to see a first cousin. Many of our first presidents such as Andrew Jackson were born in Belfast.
A Weekend Exploring Belfast
This is not a big city such as London or New York offering endless things for tourists to do, but Belfast should not disappoint someone on a short trip.
Since Belfast is not huge, it makes a fine place to walk and families can spend hours doing so. You can get anywhere downtown with a 10 to 15-minute, often wet, stroll from City Hall. Do not miss City Hall or a visit to the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, which illustrates early Irish lifestyles. The Ulster Museum has perhaps the best collection anywhere of items from the Spanish Armada of 1588.
At least one local writer can appeal to the entire family. C.S. Lewis, the most famous writer in the world in the early to mid-20th century, lived and died here. Visitors can find his home and haunts, including statues that amusingly label him as a “Christian Apologist.” In addition to his religious themes that have long appealed to adults, Lewis was the author of the Narnia books, which were dramatized in the recent Disney movie, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.” Some tours trace the influence of the hauntingly beautiful Irish coast and countryside on Lewis’s childhood writings.
Another person influenced by the country was singer-songwriter Van Morrison, who was born in Belfast and is a frequent visitor. You can find his home at 125 Hyndford Street. The “brown-eyed girl” he sings about lived in this modest neighborhood. City officials wanted to mark the songwriter’s home with a billboard but the unassuming Morrison wanted only a small plaque.
Belfast is Home to St. Patrick
In addition to the cultural sights, Northern Ireland has some important spiritual stops. Millions of people celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, but how many know where he is buried? His church and grave, merely a large granite slab, are perhaps an hour’s drive from Belfast in the small town of Downpatrick, where there’s also an award-winning international cultural center named for him.
Not a lot is known about St. Patrick, but today he is the most celebrated saint of any age. He did not chase the snakes out of Ireland because there aren’t any but he performed a much more valuable service. At a time when pagans worshipped the sun, this former slave named Patrick came to Ireland around 430 AD and spent the reminder of his life spreading Christianity throughout the country. He single-handedly kept the religion alive.
If your family likes churches, you’ll find plenty of places to visit here. There’s a church on just about every corner.
Scenic Giant’s Causeway in Ireland
Since Northern Ireland is itself small, other sights are easily managed if you don’t mind navigating the often narrow streets. If your family is driving, learn to like the left side of the winding roads. And if you need to ask for directions, don’t expect always to understand the Irish. They speak English, of course, but accents can be troublesome.
NORTHERN IRELAND ODDITIES
There are more sheep than people in Northern Ireland – 2.6 million to 1.6 million. Most of them are not sheared and sold as wool because of the poor market but instead end up on French menus.
If someone refers to craic, don’t worry about the drug police. Craic in this context means something good or that you’re having the type of good time you’re almost certain to find in the congenial North Ireland pubs.
There are many natural attractions and another stop I made about an hour’s drive outside of Belfast is certainly a family favorite. It’s the Giant’s Causeway, sometimes said to be Northern Ireland’s most famous sight. This natural pathway is a series of 40,000 stone columns that form steps leading from the cliff and disappearing into the sea.
Geologists say the startling sight of crashing sea waves over huge rocks is the result of intense volcanic activity about 60 million years ago, when molten rock poured over the landscape. But the inventive Irish have a better story.Legend has it the stones were created by two giants, the Irish Finn McCool and the Scottsman, Benandonner, who taunted each other from their shorelines. Benandonner decided to come to Ireland to fight his rival.
Finn McCool built a causeway of stones across the water. But when he saw up close how big the Scottish giant was, he had second thoughts. His inventive wife had a suggestion: put him in a baby crib. The upshot of the story was that Benandonner had tea with McCool’s wife. When he saw how big the family’s “baby” was, he feared facing a grown and presumably much bigger father Finn, and fled back to Scotland. He tore up the rocks to keep Mr. McCool from following him.
A fine Irish tale, no?
Belfast Family-Friendly Inns & Pubs
Belfast and the surrounding area features many hotels and large B&Bs, with a few that will accommodate the entire family in one room. Note that all rates noted below include breakfast, though not always the hearty “Irish Breakfast” of eggs cooked any style, soda bread, sausage, potatoes and tea that you may imagine. (By the way, Northern Ireland still uses the Pound Sterling for currency–written GBP or £–but many establishments accept Euros.)
The Causeway Hotel (028 20731226) established in 1836, is in Bushmills, convenient to the Giant’s Causeway. Room rates are as low as £35 (about US$64) per day per day, including dinner.
If you want to be reminded of what U.S. country clubs look like, the 83-room Dunadry Hotel and Country Club (028 9443 4343), only 10 minutes from the Belfast International Airport, is very comfortable. Rooms are spacious and service is outstanding in this long-favorite local hotel. Rates start at about £80 (US$147) for a family with two adults and two children under 12.
By contract, the 64-room Malmaison (028 9022 0200) is a strikingly modern retreat carved out of a landmark building in the heart of downtown Belfast. Slinky lights and plasma screen televisions are obviously of interest to the hipper set but for others the dim lighting in the rooms is a detriment. Weekend rates start at £99 (US$182) per room; two suites are available.
Jurys Inn Belfast (028 9053 3500), part of the Ireland’s moderately priced, very friendly Jury’s Doyle Hotel chain, is a dull but comfortable hotel in the city center. The 190 large bedrooms will accommodate up to three adults, or two adults and two children, at a fixed price, starting at about £50 (US$92) per night. They offer two restaurants in house, nearby parking, Internet access in the rooms and some handicap accessible quarters.
A new attraction is one of the city’s few five-star hotels. The 21-room Merchant Hotel (028 9023 4888) is a restored, former bank building circa-1860 that opened in April 2006 in the historical Cathedral Quarter of Belfast’s city center. If its Italianate style and antique-furnished, velvet and mahogany interiors don’t appeal to the family, be sure to stop by for the formal afternoon tea, sure to be an impressive example of the tradition.
When it comes to food within Ireland, it has come a long ways, even to the point where dishes are sometimes colorfully displayed. My general advice at lunch and dinner is to skip the beef stew, but the staple of vegetable soup is generally okay. If the menu advertises local salmon, it should be good. Bread is almost always homemade. And families can’t go too far wrong with fish and chips.
Nick’s Warehouse (named for the owner, Nick Price) is known as one of Belfast’s most relaxing watering holes. Warm salads with a choice of nut oils and tasty casseroles are big hits in this cool, cozy wine bar with an adjacent restaurant.
The Crown Liquor Saloon on Great Victoria Street, a city landmark built in 1826, has an ornate Victorian exterior and serves good food in a pub setting.
Outside of Belfast in County Antrim, diners at the Tidy Doffer eat generous and tasty potions under one of the largest thatched roof pubs in Ireland.
Details, Details
Weekend visits are possible because non-stop flights from the U.S. and all European cities are available; I came via Newark, New Jersey. I must mention that the climate is dreary enough that visitors find they need umbrellas much more often than sun glasses. The joke is that if you run across a tan Irishman, it’s really rust you’re seeing.
You don’t have to go far to plan the details of your weekend getaway. In advance, you can do some research with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB at 028/9023-1221) .
The Belfast and Northern Ireland Tourist Information Centre (028-9448-4677) also has a booth in the Arrivals Hall of the Belfast International Airport. For excellent resources on local sights and events once you’re settled, stop by the Belfast Welcome Centre ( 028/9024-6609) at 47 Donegall Place.
And, if you care to hear, perhaps the second most-told joke here, at least when it comes to tourists, is the Irish shipyard worker who was asked what happened to the Titanic.
“Well, you got me,” he said. “It was just fine when it left here.”
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On January 15, 2015, Google announced that it would stop selling the Google Glass product to consumers — who became its “Explorers” — while it makes more improvements to the technology and hardware. Simultaneously, the product will move from its test phase at Google X and become its own department within the giant technology company.
For complete details, please see this story: Google Glass Sales Halted.
This is a great summary of emerging family travel trends in 2015. I am very excited to see ecotourism evolving to include the youngest travelers as well as multi-gen travelers. Very interesting to see uber attempt to dig into the family market. As for all-inclusive hotels, after years of resisiting, I am finally a convert. My kids have always loved them and now their parents finally see the ease and economy of the pay-one-price concept. Happy Travels in 2015!
great feedback on what we’re seeing for 2015; agree that ecotourism has become so mainstream that it’s time all ages and all abilities (including those with disabilities) are included in nature-focused travel.
And yes, disruptive technologies like uber and airbnb are usually started by young people and grow by appealing to young travelers, but as we all know, they too will settle down and have kids and then look at new ways to make their services more “family-friendly.” So that’s an area where we see tremendous growth potential and hope for fresh ideas.
excited about what’s coming in 2015! Thanks for your comments.
I’m in, would love to win a stay at the Camelback water park in Pennsylvania. Close to my NJ home and sounds like a fun snowy or rainy day break with my boys. Sign me up!
After returning from a vacation with her daughter, C.S. shared this review of the Dreams Punta Cana resort in the Dominican Republic.
“Hi, we did not get sick at Dreams Punta Cana, stuck to bottled water, they were nice there not really attentive at concierge or lobby not knowledgeable and internet not working well, entertainment was okay and food just okay beach nice, tours not organized very well for swim with dolphins and no shopping for malls provided.
Yes the food was not great at all, hoping for better at gourmet restaurants, they always burnt the steak and not great the food, the world café was fine, buffet.
Kids club for my 8 year old she was bored, most of the kids were younger and not a lot to do for the 8 to 9 year olds, riviera maya dreams does a better job with kids club and takes them out to the real pool for kid games that is always nice.
I like Riviera Maya Mexico still a lot better.”
“The Singing Tower.” Bok Towers Gardens. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 July 2014.
The Vera Bradley outlet sale sounds like a midwestern version on Filene’s Running of the Brides! It sounds like a paisley lovers dream and a fun Mother/Daughter bonding event. Thanks for sharing!
How’s the weather up there now? Would it be warm enough to swim outdoors in late April, or still chilly? Seems like a fun spring break getaway since we only have a few days. Thanks for sharing.
I love Rocky Mountain National park! It’s great for all Colorado seasons. In the winter, when other parts of the park are closed down, they open up sledding areas. When I went, we shared the hill with just one other small group. A great afternoon for all ages!
In spite of all the cold weather we have been experiencing, this story makes me want to head up to Montreal for a frosty weekend of fun. The Montreal en Lumiere festival sounds like a winner, as does the hotel. Thank you for the terrific seasonal suggestions!
Skiing is such a wonderful way to experience Colorado’s beauty! There is such pride in that state and I love that so many resorts really cater to children too.
Eldora Mountain Resort wasn’t mentioned on this list, but on Saturday, March 8, they are hosting a scavenger hunt to raise money for Leave No Trace, an organization dedicated to teaching people to take care of the world around them, while also having fun. How awesome is that?! Can’t wait to hear more about it.
This is an excellent article. Well researched, thoughtful and motivating. I know as a parent right now considering a family cruise this Spring Break in March, kids drowning will be on my mind even though my son is on a swim team and swims two miles five nights a week for practice. Drowning can happen to anyone, any time, at any age. As a former swim instructor and lifeguard myself for many years to earn summr spending money and put myself through college, I know how water is dangerous — whether in a pool, lake, baeach or bathtub. But we all need reminding and education about what drowning looks like. And that is what you’ve done for me today. Thank you.
As a teen life guard, I saved a kid at our local pool who was “just floating.” It was a crowded pool on a sticky, hot Midwest day. A swimmer in the middle of the packed giant kids’ pool started yelling at me and pointing to the child “floating.” I’ll never forget doing mouth-to-mouth, his wide vacant eyes, his limp body, and then him catapulting upwards, spitting, sputtering to life. I tear up as I write this. What if he hadn’t lived? The guilt, the fright, the parents, the park district, the system…who to blame if the child had died? Would I be blamed for not seeing him inactive sooner? Would the pool be blamed for allowing too many people in? Would the park district be blamed for booking the swimming event? Did anything change after this incident? Yes. I got fired. And went to work for another pool heading up their swimming lessons program.
Thank you for writing this and your call to action for everyone to take responsibility for children around water at all hours of the day and night. Your “unthinkable” article has given us all much to think about.
Would be a fun vacation if you could really save money by doing it too!
What an adventure, I would love to do embark on a journey like this with my teens. The flora and fauna seem incredible, the guides professional. Thank you for sharing!
We’ve heard the Boeing factory tour is really interesting – wondering now if there any exhibits or parts areas that relate to the new Dreamliner. Would love to see one up close, especially being assembled after all the battery snafus.
Wish we all could have been there, Morocco looks fabulous and during the winter it would be a very productive coder’s retreat.
Congratulations to ALL of the students who entered in the FTF Writing Scholarship contest :3 Of course a big "congrats" should be merited to our winners, but I think every student who entered deserves a pat on the back–hopefully they'll be inspired to continue writing, too!
This sounds like a great resort for my all-inlusive loving teen children, who have a " bigger is better" attitude. I love that it is so close to the Cancun Airport, so you can get right to the fun as soon as you land.
I love the idea that guests at the hotel can "assemble" their own favorite meals from a variety of healthy offerings. Sounds like a great idea. If only I had time to cook so many different options every night at home!
This looks like a fascinating experience to remember and to go too! I have always wanted to go to Dubai and going there is a vacation never to forget!
Enjoy
One of the best states to come visit!
You make me want to go there and spend weeks on end, reconnecting with nature and making friends. And blobbing too. Thanks for sharing this.
Cincinnati, Ohio. Just another city in the Mid-West, right? Wrong. Cincinnati is one of the greatest cities in Ohio. With our stunning river front view, our bustling downtown, and the newly gentrified Over-the-Rhine, what else could we have in store?
For starters, Cincinnati has the 7th best zoo in the nation.Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens is a great location for exploration and learning. People of all ages can appreciate the wide variety of animals found in the Zoo. Not only are the animals astounding, but guests get the chance for a hands on experience with many of the animals. For example, in Giraffe Ridge, guests can purchase a snack for the Giraffes and then feed them over the balcony. These moments will be remembered and cherished for the rest of a person's life.
Another great accessory Cincinnati has is the new, urban planned area called "The Banks. The Banks features apartments on the second floor of the buildings and restaurants and music venues on the first floor. This is a great area for younger couples to hang out at night.
Findlay Market is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon or weekend. Findlay Market is the oldest public market in the state of Ohio. The market is open every day but Monday and is one of the best places to find locally and organically grown foods. Another great feature about Findlay Market is that the area surrounding the market is newly gentrified, meaning that it has been refurbished. This makes the area even more desirable.
The Newport Aquarium</a>is not located in the city of Cincinnati itself but it is an awesome place for family fun. Newport, Kentucky is only a 10 minute drive from downtown Cincinnati and has other amenities. Other places to visit while in Newport would be Dewey's Pizza, Brothers, Brio, and the Haufbrau House. All these restaurants give a different essence to the name "Cincinnati". Dewey's is a local pizza joint that runs the gamut in available options. Clever names and quick service make for a great time. Brothers and Brio are Italian restaurants that serve authentic Italian cuisine (Brothers is the less expensive option). The Haufbrau House is a German Bier Garten style restaurant that offers a large selection of beers and sandwiches. Along with normal options, the HaufBrau House also provides authentic German food. After you eat, the chicken dance is played, giving patrons the opportunity to dance on the table tops.
Other Cincinnati food traditions are Goetta and Skyline. When German immigrants came over to America, they settled along the Ohio River, then called the "Rhine". The Germans created a meat similar to sausage called Goetta. Goetta consists of ground pork or beef, oats, and a variety of spices. This specific meat can only be found in Cincinnati and occasionally there are large festivals for Goetta and German heritage. On the other hand Skyline is chili, created by Greek immigrants. The name "Skyline" originates from the owner believing that the Cincinnati skyline was the most beautiful he had ever seen. Skyline chili has a unique flavor due to the large amount of chocolate used in the chili.
Come one come all! Memphis is the breeding grounds to fun and adventure!
I truly love my City of Houston. Though I don't know where my education will take me, Houston will always be my home.
Austin is a great place to live, love, and visit. It has wonderful sites, people, and things to do. Everybody should visit Austin.
Say what you will. An open mind is insightful.
Thank you for this spot-on mini-review of Greve and Panzano, two of the most scenic and charming towns in Chianti. Daniel Ferro's summer music program only adds to the area's beauty, with music in the piazza to entertain locals and visitors alike. The rental property sounds like an excellent choice for families who choose to vacation in and explore the area. Thanks for sharing!
Ames, Iowa provides many opportunities to experience American culture and become immersed in American history. Since the mid 1800s, Ames has become a booming college town. Culture has had lots of time to flourish in this time, and evidence of the age of this town can be found everywhere. Tourists coming to Ames can also feel safe and enjoy Ames' attractions without fear of crime. Gun fights in Ames are practically unheard of, and the friendly people never hesitate to wave, even at newcomers to the area. Any tourist can appreciate the age and personality of Ames, as well as its safety.
To experience the culture in Ames, tourists must visit Stephen's Auditorium on Iowa State University's campus. This theater hosts a variety of concerts, plays, musicals, and other theatrical performances. Comfortable seating and awesome acoustics make this location a worthy contender for a relaxing night out. Big acts such as Bill Nye the Science Guy and the band Needtobreathe have to known to reserve this venue so one feels included in a special and popular event, but the space does not have an overwhelming size, so overcrowding and overheating will not deduct from the experience. Stephen's Auditorium will help in discovering the culture of Ames.
Tourists wishing to discover some of Ames' culture would greatly benefit from attending Ames' Farmer's Market on Saturdays on Main Street. Vendors have local and homegrown produce, meat, eggs, pastries, jewelry, art and many other items for sale that offer a taste of Iowan culture. Musicians often perform for shoppers, so they can be entertained while shopping. Ames' Farmer's Market provides an excellent opportunity to experience the culture of Ames and Iowa.
Evidence of Ames' history can be found in a visit to Iowa State University's campus. Founded in 1858, Iowa State University was the sight where George Washington Carver decided to do much of his botany research. Visitors to the college will see evidence of the age of this college in the buildings from this era that still exist. Iowa State University also housed the master minds who created the first computer. Tourists to Ames can take a trip to Durham Center in Iowa State and view the replica of this first computer. Main Street offers a taste of history also. The buildings in this area of Ames give a taste of what architecture looked like back in the early 20th century. A mural on Main Street depicts some of the founders of Ames. History holds great importance in Ames, and tourists can experience this without too much trouble.
To curb tourist's hunger, Ames offers many excellent places for dining. No tourist should visit Ames without eating at Hickory Park. This restaurant is famous not only for its deliciously moist chicken but also its tangy barbecue sandwiches. After the main meal, enjoy sweet and creamy ice cream. Dublin Bay offers wonderful Irish cuisine for tourists to enjoy. Try the moist Shepherd's Pie with perfectly salted fries for contentment. For fans of Mexican food, El Azteca guarantees friendly service, free chips, and delectably flavorful food. Many restaurants with amiable service and food that delights the taste buds are available for hungry tourists.
Though a relatively small town, Ames offers visitors a chance to learn about the history and culture of not only Ames, but the state of Iowa without fear of crime. Numerous attractions exist for this purpose. Visitors can also talk to the mayor of Ames, Ann Campbell, about the culture of history of Ames. City council members happily will answer questions from tourists. Tourists will not be sorry for visiting this town.
Northern Nevada never stops to amaze.
Sunday River has been on my radar for a potential family ski trip for quite a while. This story is so loaded with good information, it seems like it is worth the extra time spent in the car to ski at such an excellent family resort. Thanks!
Wow, this sounds likea great merging of chocolate and history, two of my favorite subjects.
I am looking forward to experiencing this for myself, thank you for the informative post.
I love this post so much! I hope I will come here one day!
This is a terrific article that I am so glad to have read. I didn't know there was a car-free way to appreciate the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Sounds like a fun, scenic and eco-friendly option.
Your essay moved me to tears. I am also a finalist in the scholarship and I wrote about visiting Poland’s concentration camps. I would love your opinion on my essay.
I wrote this essay hoping to bring people closer to understanding, as close to understanding as we can get. I want to share an experience that had an impact on me. This trip truly changed me, and what I want do with my life. I suggest if you have the means or are able to visit Poland or go on March of the Living. I know there are teen and family trips with BBYO.
Thank you so much for what you said. I truly appreciate what you said. I also visited the picture of your family. Your family is beautiful and I am so glad that they were able to make it through such a devastating time.
I loved reading about your romantic return to what sounds like a beatiful and vibrant island. Thanks for sharing some of its treasures.
This is a great story, thank you for sharing the glories of Octoberfest in lesser known Nerumberg. My mouth was atering reading about all of the regional delicacies that accompany the beer!
Oh goodness, this is so sad! Thanks for sharing all of this information, a lot of these things I did not know until just now. We're taught about the Holocaust at school, but I'm sure that there is nothing like actually being at a concentration camp to understand how it actually was. Thanks for sharing.
wow! This sounds like such a wonderful experience. I'm sure it was very enlightening, and it really makes me happy to read that last paragraph. I think it's beautiful that you see things that way, and I hope to some day personally come to that realization through my own experiences. Thanks so much for sharing this.
Hi Debbie,
You will want he Medical Authorization Form from each child's parents with a photocopy of their insurance card.
Then you can use the last form which is for group tours, school outings etc. It is fine for domestic travel, Include travel info for each child so that parents assign you guardianship for certain period of time only.
Get these forms notarized. Make several photocopies in case an adventure tour operator wants to keep one. Or, if you all travel on same flights, get one long form, like a petition, and be sure both of each child's parents or guardians sign it.
You should be fine with it. Does the hotel know? Many states say it is illegal for a minor to occupy a room without an adult present. You may need connecting rooms guaranteed.
Enjoy the trip and write about what you did!
JaguarZ writes to the Admin with a very good question:
I will be traveling to Hawaii, originating on the eastcoast, with 4 minors (only 1 is my child) – they will all be 17 at the time of travel. I need to be able to "act as their guardian" — for example, sign waiver forms for activities, seek medical coverage if necessary.
I found a form or two on the site, but they seem geared toward international travel and do not seem to include the ability to "sign the waiver forms" I mention above. Any suggestions? I realize I may be able to get some of these forms signed before we leave, BUT for those activities they decide on when we are there — H E L P!
Thank you so much for your anticipated support
Debbie
This is really incredible. It is a dream of mine to visit Alaska, and I hope that if I ever do get to go, that I can experience what you did. My dad and I are avid kayakers, so it was somewhat relatable, although I doubt that Miami waters are NEARLY as cool (haha) as those in Alaska.This truly sounds like the trip of a lifetime.
I wanted to add that I loved the way you described everything, it was so beautiful and real.
Aw, I'm so sorry that happened to your dad but I'm glad something good came out of it. My family was actually planning on going to Gatlinburg next summer but we're all way too chicken to do this white water rafting haha. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you for sharing this! That sounds like a truly beautiful experience. I love the bit about never underestimating yourself the most, very true.
*2009 not 2008
This is about my trip to South Dakota.
This trip was indeed and enriching expreience.
If you copy and paste the URL at the bottom of the post into your browser, it will take you to a video clip of the event, and if you skip to the last 12 seconds of the video you will see myself and one of my good friends sprinting in to the finish. We ended up tieing for 9th place.