I am going to Dublin in a few days and would appreciate any suggestions for sightseeing with my 11 yr. old son and my wife. We don't drink alcohol so the brew stations are not of much interest. Any good reviews of the tour buses around Dublin?

Since it is your first time posting here - - how did I know that? click on your own name (this us one of the numerous useful tips that Fodors fails to tell you when you first register) - - we'll assume that you have also not taken the time to read the "HELP" (little tiny red letters in the upper lefthand corner) - - another oversight that Fodors fails to recommend to you to do.

Anyhow, you owe it to yourself to take a look there: http://www.fodors.com/forums/faqs.cfm - - especially http://www.fodors.com/forums/faqs.cfm#Q6 - - which I have listed below, in excerpt form, for you (my own emphasis added):

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Finally, create a title - make sure it is concise and clearly describes your message (<b>and destination, if applicable</b -- and write your message in the space provided

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Thus, when you re-post, be sure and mention <b>Dublin</b> in your message header.

Welcome to the forum.

Best wishes,

Rex

&quot;We don't drink alcohol so the brew stations are not of much interest.&quot;

DO NOT LET YOUR LACK OF INTEREST IN DRINKING ALCHOL RUIN ONE OF THE BEST AND MOST ENJOYABLE PARTS OF VISITING IRELAND -- THE PUBS.

Pub grub, the craick (fun) and socilization is the keynote of the 'pub culture'. Pubs are social centers, not just places to drink (Templebar excluded).

This is perhaps more true in the smaller towns than City Center, Dublin, but they serve soft drinks, tea and coffee and most places would hardly think the less of you if you choose to drink one of them.

There are two 'Hop On -- Hop Off' tour bus lines, and both get good reviews. Only one stops at Kilmainham Jail, though, so if it is on your list of things to see, ask before you buy.

Bringing your message back up &quot;to the top&quot;

here are a few ideas:
Kilmainham Gaol is worth seeing,and the 11 year old will probably enjoy it. Also try Dublin castle - it's pleasant to walk around and there is an excellent small museum there, the Chester Beatty Library, with exotic items collected from far flung places by Chester Beatty on his travels.
For the 11 year old, I would suggest the &quot;Viking Splash&quot; tour, a fun tour of old Viking Dublin in a WWII amphibious truck that goes both on land and then &quot;splashes&quot; into the canal where it travels along for a short while. It leaves from beside St Patricks cathedral every 20 minutes or so but you often need to buy tickets a couple of hours in advance - it is very popular. The new National Art Gallery Millennium wing is a great building, kids will like the nooks and crannies - the Millenium wing is light and airy with a couple of cafes, not stuffy like some art galleries, and outside at the weekends local artists sell their paintings along the railings of Merrion Square.
Hope you enjoy!

Try &quot;Dublinia&quot;, near Christ Church Cathedral. We're taking adult kids and 15 grandkids in July, including 6 kids in the 7-12 age group, and think &quot;Dublinia&quot; sounds exactly like something that will appeal to those ages -- supposedly duplicating the sights, sounds, and smells of medieval Dublin!! The other suggestions already written sound good,

And if you do include Dublinia,I'd really appreciate it if you will please post back afterwards and give us your son's verdict on Dublinia, and any other things he enjoys on your trip. Thanks. Have a great time!

My 81 year old mother who lives in Co. Roscommon goes to one of the local pubs almost every day for: a cup of COFFEE!

Don't miss the pubs!! They are a great place to sit and have a chat with the locals.

Shadow

I second Itallian Chauffer on this one, visit a couple of Pubs for the music, pub grub the craic and people watching.

t