Daily Daydream: The Gem of Ireland

Caroline Morse Teel is the Managing Editor for SmarterTravel Media. Follow her on Instagram @TravelWithCaroline.

Caroline joined Boston-based SmarterTravel in 2011 after living in Ireland, London, and Manhattan. She's traveled to all seven continents, jumped out of planes, and bungeed off bridges in the pursuit of a good story. She loves exploring off-the-beaten path destinations, anything outdoorsy, and all things adventure.

Her stories have also appeared online at USA Today, Business Insider, Huffington Post, Yahoo, Boston.com, TripAdvisor, Buzzfeed, Jetsetter, Oyster, Airfarewatchdog, and others.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Earplugs. A good pair has saved my sleep and sanity many times!"

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: Hiking Mount Kilimanjaro.

Travel Motto: "Don't be boring."

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Aisle (when the first class private suite isn't available)."

E-mail her at cteel@smartertravel.com.

See recent posts by Caroline Morse Teel

Away from the crowds of tour buses in Killarney town, Killarney National Park is a 25-square-mile quiet respite. The park is one of the most beautiful spots in a country renowned for natural splendor, so be sure to allocate some time here before tackling the Ring of Kerry.

The park has it all—from three lovely lakes to eucalyptus tress and two historic estates. The best way to explore is on foot along the many self-guided trails. Take the Torc Waterfall route for some of the best views. (Most of the trails loop around Muckross Lake.) If you’re lucky, you may see a Red Deer along the way!

Where is it? Southwest Ireland. The nearest international gateway is Shannon (check prices); there’s also a regional airport in Kerry (check prices).

Where to Stay? At the nearby Killarney Park Hotel, a five-star luxury property featuring rooms with mountain, town, or garden views.

What Else Should I Know? Admission is free!

Who’s it For? Forest fans, lake lovers.

You Might Also Like:

We hand-pick everything we recommend and select items through testing and reviews. Some products are sent to us free of charge with no incentive to offer a favorable review. We offer our unbiased opinions and do not accept compensation to review products. All items are in stock and prices are accurate at the time of publication. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.