Introduction to Z Michelson Travel Podcast

Speaker 1 0:01

Welcome to the Z Michelson Travel Podcast, where every journey is a story waiting to be told. I'm your host, z Michelson, and I'm so excited to take you on a ride through the world's most incredible destinations, hidden gems and unforgettable experiences. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or just starting to plan your next getaway, you're in the right place. And traveler or just starting to plan your next getaway, you're in the right place. Each episode, we'll be diving into everything from must-see landmarks to off-the-beaten-path treasures, speaking with locals and travel experts and sharing stories that will inspire your next adventure. So sit back, relax and let's wander the world together, one destination at a time. Are you ready? Let's get started. Hey, this is Zee Michelson, and I'm here again with the lovely Diana from Celtic Tour, and you know, last week we were chit-chatting and we talked a little bit about health and wellness, and you just brought out a comment to me that said we have so many different, unique experiences and we're going to have to talk about all of it.

Speaker 2 1:07

I know there are so many, as we were sitting here right before we started, I was like, oh my gosh, it's not just health and wellness. There's so much that's out there that are just unique that nobody even knows about, and that's what we're going to find out about today.

Speaker 1 1:21

Yeah yeah, people will know about it. Yeah, yeah, okay. Let's start with health and wellness, because everybody seems to be on top of their health care and they want to relax and they want to do yoga and nourish their body.

Speaker 2 1:34

you know, have organic foods, practice mindfulness and yoga, and we can do this, yeah.

Speaker 1 1:40

So how can we do this with Celtic Tours?

Speaker 2 1:43

Well, there's all different locations that you can actually go to all over Ireland. So let's say, for example, you're looking for a wellness retreat. Wexford has an amazing retreat where you can rejuvenate in tranquil lodges. It's near a little village of New Ross and you kind of lay back and relax. You actually have experienced therapist guides for reflection centers and sessions and you have chilled cafes where you enjoy nourishing meals and refreshing juices and everything there is organic. That's in Wexford. Now, is it homegrown? It is, it's all grown, yeah. Now is it homegrown? It is, it's all grown, yeah, homegrown right there in the town.

Speaker 1 2:27

So they use their own village to get these products and to feed and nourish these people's bodies. Yeah, Now, this is which I mean, how many are they?

Speaker 2 2:38

There are so many. There's one in Wicklow as well. It's called the Wicklow Escape. Glow as well, it's called the Wicklow Escape, and that is you know, every day, again, everyday lights, with a piece, a really, really peaceful space, relaxation rooms, and the meals can even be catered from their chefs, their private chefs, there, and they serve up authentic, homegrown, organic and, again, local food sources there. So I mean there are so many retreat places all over the island. Let's say, for example, somebody was looking for yoga retreat.

Speaker 1 3:11

A lot of people are into yoga.

Speaker 2 3:13

Yeah, there's several yoga retreats. There's one in Burren, it's called the Burren Yoga Retreat and you can kind of brush up your skills if you, you know, from a novice all the way to an expert. There's instructors and guides there to help you through it and it's actually on the seashores of Clare, so you get to experience, you know, yoga in a beautiful, beautiful spaces. They actually have private rooms. If you're looking for private rooms as well, this would be great for a group of people who want to go.

Speaker 1 3:42

Yoga enthusiasts.

Speaker 2 3:44

Exactly, exactly.

Speaker 1 3:45

Now I have to ask these types of places how many people do they have? Is it a tremendous amount of people or are they small?

Speaker 2 3:52

contained. Most of these retreats are very small, you know 17 to 20, 25 beds, you know. So I wouldn't say it's too large. They're pretty small, you know, because they're retreat.

Speaker 1 4:04

Okay. So if a travel advisor or a travel agent wants to put together a group of people that want to do yoga, they can put together up to almost 25 people for one of these places.

Speaker 2 4:15

Yeah, if you consider double occupancy, you know that's 10 rooms right there. Yeah, absolutely.

Speaker 1 4:20

And that would be nice.

Speaker 2 4:22

They're in all different parts of Ireland, all over the place. For example, in Waterford there's seaweed baths. In Waterford, waterford, in Waterford, the home of crystal, not just crystal you can discover the health and wellness benefits of the algae that they do, and you soak your entire body in the seaweed and it just it recovers you from the stress of the day, and you can combine it with a massage if you'd like. So I mean, there's so much out there that it's actually can pamper yourself.

Speaker 1 4:50

So I'm thinking, all right, I want to do some yoga, but then I also want to do some sightseeing. Can we combine this with Celtic tours? Can we say, okay, I want to spend a couple of days spa, yeah, and then I want to do a couple of days, you know, touring, yeah, and then maybe back to the spa for a nice relaxation?

Creating Custom Wellness Experiences

Speaker 2 5:07

before you head home. Yeah, and remember, ireland is not that large. So let's say, for example, you want to stay in Waterford, you know, for a couple of days and enjoy those amenities, and then go to the Waterford Crystal and go to some of the amazing restaurants that they have there in Waterford as well. You can actually stay right there at the Marina there's the Marina Hotel, which is absolutely a beautiful, beautiful hotel in Waterford, and then we can combine all that and then you can go to, maybe another location. We can go ahead and get you a transfer to the next location. You don't need a car, we don't need a guide. We can get you to the next location and then you can experience that town as well. So we can definitely put all of that together for you. That makes it nice, yeah.

Speaker 1 5:48

Now I don't know if you know this off the top of your head, but how many retreats or health or wellness locations are there?

Speaker 2 5:57

Off the top of my head, I would say anywhere between 13 to 16 that I have actually explored myself. Not been there and explored, but I looked at them for clients and, you know, just checked them out myself Wow.

Speaker 1 6:08

So, yeah, that's a lot, quite a few, and in different locations. So, depending upon what kind of ambiance they want, if they want organic, or if they want the seaweed wraps or whatever. Or yoga, yeah, you know. Yoga on the beach, yeah, sounds really nice on the beach.

Speaker 2 6:22

Yeah, it's really nice. Doesn't this sound nice? Yeah, it sounds beautiful. I mean, and you know a lot of people are thinking, oh, who's going to do yoga in 40 degree weather? But remember, ireland is an island. It can be, you know, 70, 80 degrees, right, so it depends on what time of year you go.

Speaker 1 6:37

Yeah, yeah, so that's really really nice, yeah, so we're talking health and wellness a little bit. We're talking about unique experiences in Ireland, and that's one thing Celtic Tours prides themselves on is that they can talk with your clients and you and say, okay, what are you looking to do, how much are you looking to spend? What is your budget? How many people are coming? Sometimes, these people that are in these yoga classes, they want to bring their buddies along. Of course, four, five, six people. Why?

Speaker 1 7:08

would you want to travel. They want to come with their friends, so this is something that they can put together for them, oh yeah, and make it nice, yeah. So, that being said, is there anything more that you need to tell me about health and wellness?

Unique Irish Experiences Beyond Wellness

Speaker 2 7:25

Well, I mean again, I could go on and on, but because there's so many different locations, right, but there are a lot of other unique experiences I'd really really like to talk about as well. Okay, so more about unique. Yeah, For example, saltwater Lake that you can actually swim in, you can plunge in Saltwater Lake. So where is the Saltwater Lake? Where, where you could go on a cable car across the Atlantic, across the Atlantic, yeah, across the Atlantic, I mean the Atlantic Way, the Atlantic.

Speaker 1 7:51

Way.

Speaker 2 7:51

Sorry, the Atlantic Way. Yes, I mean, there's just a lot of different experiences, but we were talking about the plunging of the lake, so the Saltwater.

Speaker 1 8:01

Lake, the Saltwater Lake, yeah.

Speaker 2 8:02

So the Saltwater Lake is actually in the west of Cork West of Cork, yes, it's in Lag Hynne, h-y-n-e, and they're really, really calm. It's kind of in the west of Cork. It's called West Cork Lake and you can actually swim in the saltwater. It's actually, you know, filtered in from the sea and it's the only saltwater lake in Europe. Wow.

Speaker 1 8:26

Yeah, wow, so it's the only saltwater lake in Europe. It's west of Cork in Ireland and, for people who don't know, if you're swimming in saltwater lake, you're buoyancy, you're up there.

Speaker 2 8:37

Yeah, you're floating, absolutely, absolutely.

Speaker 1 8:40

I mean it's.

Speaker 2 8:41

And again this kind of goes into the health and wellness because it's unique, it's tranquil, you know you have the environment, it goes with the ecosystem, you know where you can just kind of feel nice and good. You walk out of there feeling just almost safe, a zen, very zen, seal, very zen Now do you stay nearby that lake?

Speaker 1 9:01

Is there a place to stay near that?

Speaker 2 9:03

Oh of course, of course. All over County Cork there's places that we can definitely put you up in. I mean, there is no place right on the lake that we can put you in, but yeah, absolutely so nearby.

Speaker 1 9:15

Of course, oh wow.

Speaker 2 9:16

You know, ireland has their traditional hotels, right? You know, it's called the Original Irish Hotels and it's a group of hotels that have been there for a long period of time, right? So those are the ones we typically like to use.

Speaker 1 9:34

Right, because it gives you the full experience, exactly, you know, and they're not, you know, little hole-in-the-wall type of hotels. These are very comfortable, very nice unique experiences for you. Yeah, now you're talking about the Salt Lake, but you said there's like 25 different unique experiences that we can experience in Ireland.

Speaker 2 9:54

Yeah, before, when we were talking, I couldn't, like I said, I couldn't believe some of the some of the things that I was looking at and, again, I haven't experienced all of of these, but there are definitely a lot of them that are on my bucket list right. For example, the epic wooden roller coaster. In emerald park they have a 32 meter tall roller coaster. It is the ireland's greatest, largest roller coaster and it's old.

Speaker 2 10:18

It's a wooden roller coaster so if anybody really really enjoys those wooden roller coasters where you kind of get plummeted around and they're so fast, the wooden roller coasters are just so fast. Well, I'm from.

Speaker 1 10:31

Brooklyn. So Cyclone is a wooden roller coaster. So I understand. Yeah, that gives you a thrill. You said it's one of their oldest roller coasters?

Speaker 2 10:41

Yes, yeah, it's one of the oldest roller coasters. Yes, yeah, it's one of the oldest roller coasters in Ireland. Yeah, and where is that located? That is actually in Emerald Park. That's in Emerald Park. It's in Meath. Yeah, oh, okay, meath area. Now if it's largest theme park actually.

Speaker 1 11:03

Oh, okay, yeah.

Speaker 2 11:04

So they have other things that you can enjoy. Of course, they have a Viking voyage water ride. Oh, wow, yeah, so that looks kind of interesting. When you think Ireland, you don't think theme park yeah, especially when we live here Right In the theme part of the capital of the world, you know. So, Okay, so that's one unique experience. And we have food. You can get a tasty crisp sandwich which is a carnival food. Yeah, carnival food.

Speaker 1 11:30

Yeah, so that's unique. So what else would you be taking us to in a unique way? Well, what?

Speaker 2 11:37

about if I told you there were actually pyramids in Ireland.

Speaker 1 11:42

Now, you know I love Egypt. Now, where do the pyramids come in?

Speaker 2 11:46

They're in Wicklow. They're in Wicklow and they're called the Great Pyramids. Do they look like pyramids? You know they're not. They're not, but they do call them pyramids and they're extraordinary. They're actually a burial tomb. A burial tomb, yeah, exactly, and it's inspired, of course, by the Great Pyramids themselves. But, again, something unique it's the largest pyramid tomb beyond the banks of the Nile. Wow. So, again, very, very unique experience, something you wouldn't think about. Going and visiting a pyramid in Ireland.

Speaker 1 12:19

No, you know, but they are burial mounds and you know the Druids were over there and they did a lot of that. So a lot of historical information that is available in a unique way that people can see.

Speaker 2 12:33

What about if I told you the oldest operational lighthouse in the world was in Ireland?

Speaker 1 12:39

The oldest in the world.

Speaker 2 12:41

Oldest operational lighthouse in the world is also in.

Speaker 1 12:45

Ireland.

Speaker 2 12:45

That is called Hook Lighthouse in Wexford. Wow, wexford County. Yeah, and how old is it?

Speaker 1 12:51

again it's old, it just says old, it's really really old.

Speaker 2 12:56

I don't know exactly how old it is. You'd have to go there to get the history of the lighthouse, but it's called Hook Lighthouse and it's actually the oldest lighthouse in the world and it's still operational. And it's operational, yeah, and it must be by the water.

Speaker 1 13:08

It is of course.

Speaker 2 13:09

Of course.

Speaker 1 13:10

Yeah, so beautiful views that would be really cool.

Speaker 2 13:12

Wow, beautiful views.

Speaker 1 13:15

And I know a lot of people who just love lighthouses. They could you imagine they can go over to Ireland and see one of the oldest ones in the world. I know, I know.

Historical Sites and Adventure Activities

Speaker 2 13:22

That would be really cool, yeah. And, of course, what is Ireland without some kind of distillery? Oh yeah, they actually have a few. Yeah, but they also have the world's oldest licensed distillery in Kilbeggan, the world's oldest licensed distillery in Kilbeggan, world's oldest licensed distillery in Kilbeggan. So not only do they have Sean's Bar, which is the oldest bar in the world, the oldest lighthouse in the world and I know we talked about Sean's Bar, we did talk about Sean's Bar in Athalon, yeah but they also have the world's oldest licensed we have to say licensed, licensed, licensed distillery in Ireland.

Speaker 1 13:59

Yeah, and that's in Kilbeggan, I'm assuming they're making malt liquors, what are they making there?

Speaker 2 14:06

That is actually. They started with mead, obviously because you know mead was back in the day you know, I'm still trying to perfect my mead recipe. Yeah, so that's actually what they started with was mead back in the day, but since then, of course, they've changed things. So they go to whiskey. They do whiskey. Yeah, they do whiskey Fabulous, yeah. And what's the name of this?

Speaker 1 14:28

It's called.

Speaker 2 14:28

Kilbeggin Distillery, kilbeggin, kilbeggin, yes.

Speaker 1 14:31

People are looking for the world's oldest licensed distillery. Distillery in the world, in the world, in the world. No begging, yeah, and they can tour the distillery Yep, and can they get?

Speaker 2 14:45

a taste. They can, of course. Yeah, they can even go ahead, I believe. Request to get it directly from the cast. It might be an additional fee, but they would take you into a room where you can get it directly from the cast.

Speaker 1 14:59

Yeah, with so many days, weeks, years, right, right. A lot of people. They pride themselves on whiskey. You know the whiskey connoisseurs. Celtic tourists can actually put together one of these types of tasting tours and they can do all of these to taste all of the distilleries around.

Speaker 2 15:21

Ireland. Not just Ireland, but Scotland. I actually, for a client, put together a scotch tasting tour for a client and they did scotch tasting all over Scotland, the thing that Celtic tours can do.

Speaker 1 15:36

Yeah, so that's something that people need to know. A lot of people say, well, I'm into my wines and they do the wineries and they do the vineyards, but with Ireland and Scotland the home of these types of distilleries, right, and this is something that these people can experience. Yeah, if they consider themselves a connoisseur.

Speaker 2 15:56

Yeah, so you wouldn't think gin from Ireland, would you no?

Speaker 1 16:00

not gin, not gin.

Speaker 2 16:02

They have a island distillery. It is actually on an island. It's called Tape Clear Island Distillery Wow, and it is right off the coast of County Cork. Okay, and it is. You can actually go there, visit it. Bring home a bottle of gin, because that's what they make there. So it's unbelievable because the island is so small. Right, all that's on. There is really the distillery. There's not much more People must live there, though. Unless there is really the distillery, there's not much more people must live there, though, unless how?

Speaker 1 16:32

far is it away from the homeland? It's not far.

Speaker 2 16:34

You just take a little ferry, a ferry baltimore ireland, not baltimore ireland. You take a little ferry and you soak up the views as you're, you know, traveling there. So it's really not that far, but the island is really really actually very small wow, yeah, wow so, wow, so, and they, that's their claim to fame is gin. Yeah, claimed it. Yeah, that's what they do. Very interesting.

Speaker 1 16:55

Yeah, and again, this is a unique experience that Celtic tours can put together for you. Yep, you know you don't have to think. When you think tours, everybody thinks you have to be pigeonholed into one thing. Celtic tours can actually create an exciting adventure for you.

Speaker 2 17:11

Yeah, we can do it individually. If you wanted to go with just two of you, we can do it for a family. You know, if you want to do a private tour of 12 or, let's say, a group of people, maybe a friends and family, grab a whole bunch of people, 16 people or more. You know, we can put an entire group together for you. We are all traveling together.

Speaker 1 17:31

So tell me, what other unique experiences can we expect?

Speaker 2 17:35

Well, what if I told you that you can actually see original dinosaur footprints? Oh, jurassic Park, yeah, exactly Exactly. And on Valentina Island, again, remember there are islands outside of Ireland itself, exactly, and on Valentina Island, again, remember, valentina Island is outside of Ireland itself, right, and so everybody knows about Jurassic Park, you know, and the footprints, but these are actually fossil tracks and they're thought to be about 350 million years old and they've been preserved. So you know a lot of little kids, a lot of little boys.

Speaker 2 18:14

I know I have a grandson who loves dinosaurs, you know, so they can actually go see dinosaur, real dinosaur tracks.

Speaker 1 18:23

Wow, that's something exciting. I mean my daughter. She's a Jurassic Park lover. She's seen every last movie of it and it's like I love those movies. She loves those movies and I bet you she doesn't even know about this and she travels quite frequently.

Speaker 2 18:37

Yeah, you'll have to tell her. Yes, you got to go see the footprint. You got to go see the footprints.

Speaker 1 18:43

Okay. So that's something to know, because sometimes when you go with your children and they're smaller, you want to be able to bring them into what you're doing. Yeah, they're not going to like to go to a distillery, but they're going to like to go see the footprint. So this is something that you can talk with your travel advisor. Your travel advisor can bring it to Celtic tourist attention and Celtic tourism this fabulous family adventure together.

Family-Friendly Attractions and Final Thoughts

Speaker 2 19:06

Yeah, yeah I. There's just so many unique experiences. You can actually spend time in a butterfly house. You know where you're surrounded by a bunch of birds, and so they come up to you, they'll come up on your finger, they'll come up on your shoulder. So all different types of unique experiences, not just for adults, but for children as well. Right, so the kids like that as well.

Speaker 1 19:27

So a couple of kids. Things are here. Butterfly Right, so the kids like that as well. So a couple of kids. Things are here. Butterfly, the dinosaur footprint yeah, what else does Ireland have to share with us with their unique experience? Well, again, there's so many. I saw so many different things that Ireland has. I mean, we even talked not too long ago about Halloween and what Ireland can do for Halloween. We have a tendency as Americans, to think Halloween is our holiday, but you know, this is something that kids might like too, because they can go to the parades. Celtic tourists can actually do a VIP type of tour for them to watch Halloween parade. Ireland is a bountiful of different things. It has the history, it has the culture. The people there are so friendly and outgoing. There's no reason for them not to consider Celtic tours. You know, you say Celtic tours, you think only Ireland, but Celtic tours is more than that.

Speaker 1 20:29

And we're probably going to be talking more of what Celtic Coors does in the future, but with unique experiences and with health and wellness. A lot of people, like I said, they love their yoga classes. They want to do that. They want to eat organic and again, everybody thinks Ireland is only meat and potatoes. Ireland has so much fresh food available and they're right there with all the fish Great fish meal. So is there anything else that you would like to say about this? What?

Speaker 2 20:59

about. There's actually a black currant, and I think I mentioned how much I like my black currant. Oh, the black and black, my black and black. Yeah, and I love the black currant in my Guinness, you know, because it just gives it such a different taste. So they actually have a blackcurrant farm there in Wexford as well. So it's a commercial farm where you can actually go and if the berries are in season the blackcurrant berries are in season you can actually pull that. So it takes you all the way through how they actually take the berries and the growing, and so it's a very, very educational piece as well.

Speaker 1 21:34

So that would be really nice for children as well, and I'm assuming that they also have like jam and jelly.

Speaker 2 21:40

So of course you know they're going to sell you something. They're definitely going to sell you something.

Speaker 1 21:44

Oh, we're talking gin, we're talking whiskey, we're talking beer, and now we're talking gin, we're talking whiskey, we're talking beer and now we're talking fruit. There's so much there and I just can't wait to go again. I've been to Ireland a long time ago. I need to go again because things are constantly changing. It's a beautiful, beautiful country. People need to know, from north to south. They can see almost everything and Celtic tourists can get them there. Yeah, we would love to get them there. Well, diana, thank you very much for coming and joining me today. Is there anything else you want to say about a unique experience?

Speaker 2 22:18

How much more time do we have? We only have a couple more minutes. I don't think I have that much time.

Speaker 1 22:22

Well, thank you for joining me. Remember Ireland for health and wellness and your yoga retreat, yes, oh, and the Salt Lake, and the Salt Lake, that's really fun. And then, of course, all of these fabulous, unique experiences. And one thing we didn't talk about was horseback riding, and I know horseback riding is in Ireland.

Speaker 2 22:39

It is, and it is in certain locations, in certain areas, but you can actually ride a horse right there on the beach.

Speaker 1 22:45

That's something big Ride a horse right on the beach. So if you're thinking any of these things and you want to see Ireland, contact your travel advisor. Tell them you want to do Celtic tours. Have them put something together for you. Make it a unique experience for you and your family.

Speaker 2 23:01

Yeah, and if you're looking for a unique experience in another location in the UK or another location, you can do that too, you can always reach out to us. We'll never say never. That's what I like Never say never. Never say never.

Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Speaker 1 23:16

CelticTourscom. Celtictourscom Can't be any easier. You got it. Thank you, Diana. Thank you so much. Well, that's it for today's episode of the Zine Michelson Travel Podcast. I hope you enjoyed our journey and found some new inspiration for your next adventure. Remember, the world is full of stories and sometimes all it takes is a plane ticket to start your own adventure. If you loved today's episode, be sure to tune in every week and don't forget to share your favorite travel moments with me on social media. I'd really love to hear about where you're headed to next. So, until next time, keep exploring, keep discovering and, as always, keep traveling with your heart wide open. I'm Zee Michelson and I'll see you on the next adventure.