Well, by now you might be planning your own trip to Ireland and Scotland, we've been talking about it so much over the last few months! Well, if you need *any* more inspiration, let me share a great book with you.

Frommer's Ireland day by day is a gem. It has 104 maps (!) and, as they say, 85 ways to see the sights. What does that mean for the reader? A great read, for starters!

Ireland day by day is broken up into 15 chapters. Let's peruse, shall we?

Starting with The Best of Ireland, you can read about favorite moments in Ireland, favorite small towns, Ireland outdoors, lodging, dining, shopping, festivals, ruins/ancient sites, museums, chirches, and castles. It's a great overview for seeing WHERE you might want to plan your trip.

Chapter 2 lists great strategies for seeing Ireland, including my personal favorite - remember you are on vacation, and don't pack too much in!

Chapter 3 lists the best all-Ireland itineraries, including 1 and 2 week itineraries, off the beaten track, free & dirt cheap, with kids, and ancient Ireland. This is the most well-thumbed chapter in the book for us, since we prefer off the beaten track - and are always looking for things that kids can do!

Chapters 4-13 are the meat of the book, listing geographical highlights. If you're one of those guidebook readers that take apart your book and just carry along the pertinent parts, you'll have some great recommendations here. Since my mom is a librarian, I can't quite do that and end up with several books in the carryon...

There are also chapters on Irish history and culture; special interest trips (food and wine, historical, learning, etc.), and a great chapter called the savvy traveler. We can all use these tips to make our travels better!

The book is packed with gorgeous photos that inspire, maps that get you planning, and restaurant descriptions that get you hungry. I love this book, have planned much of our time in Ireland from it, and will be carrying it with us when we go. What higher recommendation do you need?

Frommer's Ireland day by day, 1st Edition, by Christi Daugherty and Jack Jewers.
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
ISBN: 9780470445723