Travel Diary: Scandal Actress Katie Lowes’ Family Road Trip Through Ireland

“We got a guide when we landed in Dublin, who drove us around the outskirts. The lighting in Ireland is so good, it’s always gray and moody. We spotted this horse outside Dublin—we were pulling over every second to stop for pictures.”

“This was a traditional Irish breakfast that we had on our first day in Dublin. We were completely jet-lagged, and it was exactly what we needed to get through the day. Irish brown bread is thick, delicious, and amazing—we had something similar every morning.”

“On the second day, we drove from Dublin to Galway. It’s one of the longer drives you do, from the easternmost point to westernmost point of the country, about two hours. This is the type of stone-walled bridge we would be terrified to go over in our nine-person van. If another car was coming at you, you’d either have to back up or negotiate with the other driver. Thankfully, Irish people are so accommodating and kind, so if they’re facing you, everyone gets out and figures out who will go through. You make a lot of friends this way.”

“On our drive down to the Cliffs of Moor, we saw this little cottage. Ireland is called the Emerald Island, and they’re not kidding around. They have some of the greenest grass I’ve ever seen.”

“This is Kylemore Abbey, in Connemara, just north of Galway. We did a huge driving day, and I was so sick because of course I had drank too much the night before and got stuck in the back row. When we got to Kylemore, I was kissing the ground. There are beautiful gardens there, and you can go inside the abbey. The lake it’s on is just pristine and magical.”

“At Kylemore Abbey, all the gates were closed because sheep were roaming everywhere. They must have been sneaking into the gardens and destroying everyone’s hard work. Luckily, we did find one door that was unlocked so we could go inside.”

“The Cliffs of Moor are just so awesome—it’s so huge, and you walk all the way to the edge, lay on your stomachs, and look over. The waves are crashing beneath you and the wind is smacking the rock, and your hair is all over your face like the greatest Beyonce video of all time.”

“On every great trip, you’ve got to do some of the off-the-beaten-track stuff, and you’ve got to do the classics. We waited in line with other tourists at the Blarney Castle, got hung upside down, and kissed the stone—then we went to this tea house in town afterward. When you’re traveling with family, it’s always about where you’re eating next.”

“After the Cliffs of Moor, we drove around the Ring of Dingle and it was a perfect day of sunshine. The next day, we drove the Ring of Kerry, and it was a total monsoon. We were completely soaking wet—my mom and I dried our pants and socks under handwarmers in the bathroom. It was so crazy that I had to make a video to send to Kerry Washington, because she was named after county Kerry. In the video, we’re screaming through the fog and the rain.”

“This is also on the Ring of Kerry. We spent the night afterward in Kilarney National Park, at the Fernroyd House, the only place you can stay in the park. It’s totally magical there, with beautiful trees, lakes, and mountains.”

“Here, I’m standing on ruins of a watchtower. There’s no one else around, but I wanted to climb around in this old, abandoned stone castle. We walked up and down the beach and climbed up these hundred-year-old stairs. My family is super adventurous, and my whole life they’ve pushed me to do fun and exciting things. This is why Ireland is so damn cool.”