More trips below! Have at it.

About Outspoken Traveler

Travel should be about embracing every moment — from the magic of the mundane to the awe-inspiring of nature, cities, the beauty that lingers in small places, and even an amazing meal.
My passion is to seek the magic lurking in every moment you travel to a new place; then let good planning and a dose of serendipity shape as many of the travel moments as possible. And finally, share it with you with a tongue-in-cheek honesty, authentic to my faults, stumbles along the way, and joys.
Thank you for particpating!
Alfred O’Neill
(Author pen name: A.E.S. O’Neill)

—OutspokenTraveler

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  • Mulcahy’s: Best Diner in Munster, Ireland? No kidding.

    And the winners of: Irish Restaurant Awards Munster Regional Final 2025. Mulcahy’s of Kenmare, Ireland is a very good restaurant. The BEST pate I have ever had. And it was chicken, which I normally avoid. I favor duck. From plate one I was grabbed. The chicken chasseur was exquisite…delicate pieces in a creamy sauce baked inside a pastry cup. Perusing the menu, it was one of those moments when you look up from your menu at the other table: “What are…

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  • Visiting the Mighty Connemara, Ireland: video that speaks to the awe you will feel.

    There are a thousand reasons why the Connemara National Park and region are so legendary. The haunting views. The boggy-laden ground that goes on forever. The lonely hikes and walks in the shadow ominous, bulging mountains. The contrast of greens, browns and the blue of the sky as it battles for dominance wit the constant shifting clouds. Then the sun breaks through and you catch your breath. Connemara National Park: try and go off-season; the bumper months are best…

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  • Visiting N. Ireland and you missed the Shepherd’s Hut of the Sperrin Mtns?

    Justine says it best: “At the Shepherds Hut, you just feel like you’re part of nature. There’s almost a mystical feeling about it to me. And that’s what’s so hard to convey in social media, is that it’s not just the views. It’s not just the hot tub. There’s an actual mystical beauty to it that you have to experience.” Justine is from the U.S., but married a local Irishman, so she has a true perspective on the beauty.…

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  • The Tuareg: Regal Blue Man tribe of the Sahara

    The blue man, a Tuareg tribesman, was incredibly tall. Because of his draping blue robes, his long legs seemed like he was gliding across the sand. It was a slow walk past mud buildings to a mosque that was a thousand years old. As he spoke of the mosque’s royal history, gently animated, he held himself in a constant pose of majesty as if he were the entire tribe, and all their ancient collective pride resided in him.  The…

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  • Now why would Nat’l Geographic call the Sperrin’s one of the most beautiful mountain ranges on Earth?

    When you see a place so stunning, yet simple in its beauty, you never forget it. So, Instead of me writing about the Sperrin Mountains of Northern Ireland, U.K., let me show you what I saw. National Geographic, as always, was so damned right.

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  • Seeking Balance? Lagom (Balance) of Kenmare creates a new standard for Irish B&B’s.

    Aren’t we all seeking “balance” in a crazy world? Are our vacations a mix of dreams of both relaxation and fun discovery? Lagom in Kenmare, County Kerry, is a great place to find both. Lagom is a special, unique place of food and rest. Stay here. Eat here. Be sure to say hello to Liz and Brendan, the owners and a wonderful team. First, the restaurant then the rooms. When asked about the name, Lagom, Liz said when they…

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  • Donald’s buggy ride & stories make any day perfect at the Gap of Dunloe. (County Kerry)

    A magic buggy ride in the Gap of Dunloe, county Kerry, Ireland. Humor, wild tales, wild wind. Truly by the roadside.

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  • A great chowder and a smile to remember. The Bervie BnB, Achill Island, County Mayo

    The Bervy, BnB.

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  • Five Days on Henrietta Street, London.

    London had changed. As it always does. London has the best and widest variety of boutique hotels. The Henrietta, by the Experimental Group, was a delightful surprise. I took a chance, especially since my significant other had never been to London and a good hotel room is crucial. I had not been since 2019. The toilet was broken upon our arrival, but the staff stepped in, specifically Christina, and proved that good hotels, especially boutiques, are not just about…

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  • The world’s best fish ‘n chips? Anstruther, Scotland claims to be

    On our last day in Scotland, my wife insisted we visit St Andrew’s…not a golfer, I grudgingly agreed and figured at the very worst, the drive would be fun. Before we departed our wonderful cluster of cottages in Perth, run by the Brown family, the retired aunt who lived and served as ambassador and tour guide, said we had to take a side trip while there and visit the best the small and picturesque fishing villages and specifically, quite…

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  • Morris Arboretum: timeless, vital arboretum, for all people and all seasons

    Growing up, I always thought of arboretums to be where stuffy old people went for a walk — an enclosed giant garden. Ah, to be proven so wrong and smile about it! In the northwest border of Philadelphia, passed the magnificent stone mansions of Chestnut Hill lies the Morris Arboretum. This old estate property that has been converted to a living, thriving, creative arboretum; one that respects the classic past, but goes way beyond beautiful and varietal gardens, to…

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  • The Golden Buddha, awake, asleep, alive in Siem Reap, Cambodia

    Easily missed due to the overwhelming majesty of Angkor Wat, Wat Preah Prom Rath is a quiet retreat. At first glance, it is feels like a crowded display of spires, murals, statues and other arcane Buddhist religious symbols. But it is far more. You have to stand still and slowly turn in the entrance; first seen was this scroll with such meaningful and powerful words (worth living by!): “…purify the mind…” Go to the left and onwards and the…

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  • Girl-and-half-a-fig…what happened?

    We all have those restaurants where the first time you went, you were so amazed and pleased that you simply lodge the meal away in the “Never Forget” corner of your mind. It had been 10 years since last I ate at this restaurant. It really was an amazing meal with great atmosphere. This past New Year’s we went to Sonoma to celebrate. I wanted to check out the Girl & The Fig, so we did. What a disappointment!…

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  • Anasazi Indians and the remnants of thriving civilization at Tuzigoot, AZ.

    Arizona is a magic state of colors, terrains varied from barren to lush, stark to surprising. While the landscapes are moon like and mysterious, so is the history of the Anasazi Indians. If you visit the Sedona area, the ruins cannot be missed. While many would opt for Montezuma’s Castle (truly stunning but overly popular cliff dwelling nearby) this ruin of what is left of the region’s major trade center, Tuzigoot, is amazing. It is off the beaten track,…

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  • Marlowe’s in SOMA, S.F.: The bathroom wall paper says it all (Besides being great food)

    SOMA San Francisco: Marlowe’s 5th and Brannon. SOMA (South of Market Street) is a neighborhood of deep contrasts – still dominated by old warehouses, rundown buildings that slip between them and littered with the homeless. The current state is one on converted warehouses for companies like Zappos and Lyft, condos for millionaires, and many, many restaurants. Coming back from Sonoma, we met my uncle at Marlowe’s near his apartment. He wanted to have dinner at IHOP (He once took…

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  • Armstrong Forest, Russian River: why do redwoods form in sacred circles?

    Many of us, myself and wife included, dream of living in Sonoma or any of the blessedly beautiful places north of San Francisco. If you do go, do not, do not, miss the gem in the crown…Armstrong Woods. This magical place sits at the end of a long winding road that begins from the Guerneville main drag and leaves you agape. Yes, a great use of a rare word: why agape? Because after you walk ¼ mile into the…

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  • Jack London Park, Sonoma CA: revitalizing a gem

    Jack London State Park, outside the town of Sonoma. Forget the wineries and hike here. We have hiked many, many places. From Cambodia to Morocco, Provence to Ireland, and few parks are as magical as Jack London State Park, near the town of Glen Ellen, Sonoma county, California. As one can guess, it is named after the famous early 20th century author who celebrated the West and nature. But what few know is that he lived for his farm…

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  • Ephesus, Turkey…the great library at sunset – ghosts of knowledge and luxury.

    Of all the Roman ruins, Ephesus may be one of the greatest. What is unusual is that it is a coastal summer resort, somewhat intact, and bears all the marks of luxury and civilization the Romans had created; there are long rows of columns, passages through the town, that pass by smaller structures that were craftsman and traders. Unlike seeing a temple, or a coliseum, you actually get to walk through what was once a thriving capital and summer…

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  • Palace of Fine Arts San Francisco, stunning and hypnotic

      I took my love there, but we never went in — though I had visited several times with my son over the years when we went to SF. The interior is for kids but appeals to the kid in all adults. We did not go in because the light was so perfect and the red material it is made of simply glistened; we spent the time walking the gardens taking many photos. Not a bad angle was possible.…

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  • The Legion of Honor: A long drive past the Presidio, but San Francisco’s best museum

    My uncle lives in SF, and this time my mother, sister, wife and I went to visit him. First time we went as a group. Often, the group thing means not everyone gets to do what they want –but the Legion of Honor was a truly exceptional place. Way out past the Golden Gate and by the Presidio, it has spectacular views for the parking lot, and a moody, French feeling to the architecture. It is spare but beautiful,…

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  • The QM2 Crossing begins with Brooklyn attitude

    At the Brooklyn Navy Yard getting a taste of the borough as we board the world’s largest ocean liner.

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