Kilarney and Co.Kerry #zitosonparade

This week'a installment of #zitosonparade comes to you from the rocky shores of West Co. Kerry Ireland. 

A short trip from last week's Co. Tipperary visit lies on of Ireland's most visited attractions, and for good reason. 

The Ring of Kerry is a 180km tour of scenic coastal views, quaint seaside towns, epic valleys and peaks with vistas well out to the Atlantic. 

We started our route counter clockwise from Killarney and shortly after turning down route N72 you find yourself engulfed in an almost fairy tale-like wooded area only to emerge to views like this.

Every corner you turn seems to lead to more impressive and sweeping views of these coastal cliffs.  

Further along toward the center of the journey you encounter turnoffs for something called Skellig Ring. This loop follows the narrow roads along the Iveragh Peninsula past scenes of small port towns and then up past high windy points that look out well over the ocean.

The roads twist and turn so much and so many times that you end up seeing your where you came from and where you're headed all in the same view. 

Here you can see all the way out to the Skellig Islands for which this smaller loop is named. 

Once you pass the highest point on Skellig Ring and continue on toward Kenmare you come across Boolakeel Beach. It's a small secluded beach perfect for a picnic or a swim if you're fortunate enough to have suitable weather. 

We stopped and sat here a while just to have a break from the car and to get some fresh sea air. My mom couldn't help but marvel at the seafoam-y shade of the waves.

Back around the second half of the ring towards Killarney national park the sweeping views are framed by acres if famland with their fair share of cattle, sheep and, leftover famine cottages. 

One of the final views we visited on the way out toward Killarney was Mols Gap. One of the biggest attractions on the Ring is a sliver of Atlantic Ocean framed by two peaks rising up from the valley of Killarney National Park.

The only viewpoint we did not get a chance to stop and take pictures of was Ladies View which looks out over the park and it's two lakes (Upper and Muckross). 

It is a stunning trip and easy to see why it's a popular destination for local and foreign tourists alike.