Blarney, Ireland. August 2014. 

In so many ways this was not the type of spot we are drawn to. The Blarney Castle couldn’t get more touristy. Between the tour buses and the swarms of tourists it’s easy to brush this one off.

But then you make your way to the top, climbing along a fun narrow, windy, stone staircase, with the wind howling through the various stone hallways and watch your kids faces light up they lean back to kiss the Blarney Stone at the top. At that moment you realize this 600 year old castle has more to offer than the tshirt in the gift shop.