One question I get asked again and again is: what should I bring with me on my holiday to Ireland? I always hesitate to give advice on packing because try as I might, I am far from an efficient packer! I inevitably come home from a holiday with a bag full of clothes I didn’t wear and things I regret bringing! The same happened to me again recently when visiting some of our favorite parts of Ireland with friends from abroad, but one pair of shoes I was quite glad I brought on all my adventures was the Vivaia Aria 5° flats. They were so perfect for gentler walks and still felt chic when I wore them with a dress in the evening to go to dinner. This pair is also made from hemp, making it breathable and perfect for the warmer weather we’ve been experiencing lately. I’m definitely including a pair of Vivaia flats on future trips as well (they’re also handy with how light they are so they barely take up any space in my suitcase) and thought I should share some other tips on what to bring with you on your trip to Ireland. wearing Emmy Design Sweden cardigan, AmyJoyLondon dress, Aria 5° Hemp Flat Shoes by Vivaia, old basket Always bring a rain jacket! No matter the season you visit Ireland in or type of activities you prefer, waterproofs are a must. Winter can be mild, summer can be cold, but you will almost always get rain. Sometimes it’s only a gentle mizzling rain, sometimes it’s lashing at you sideways on the top of the Cliffs of Moher! A good rain jacket will help keep you dry no matter the conditions while also being lightweight compared to an umbrella. I don’t often feature my rain jackets since I don’t like taking pictures in the rain to avoid damaging my camera, but they’re probably some of the most worn pieces in my closet and I never go on a trip around Ireland without one.

When I shared my cakes last spring with the edible flowers on them I got so many comments about “was I really going to eat those cakes with the flowers on them?!” And the answer is, “yes, of course!” I did my research to make sure every flower I used was edible and I put a lot of work into picking, cleaning, and using them to decorate my cakes so I definitely wasn’t going to throw that hard work away! From personal experience I’d add that flowers used as decoration don’t affect the flavor of cakes very much; they’re more there for decoration and texture. When you really want to get the flavor of a flower you usually want to distill it down to a syrup and then use that syrup when mixing drinks, flavoring cakes, icings, etc. Still it can be quite intimidating to start foraging and I often find that guides to certain plants don’t really tell us what they taste like—for example what is good in a salad and what’s better with sweets? So here’s a very small guide to a few easily identifiable spring flowers and what they taste like raw. Some flowers like lilac as well is something you almost smell more than you taste. I found all of these flowers on one walk and they should be in season for most of May.

I still hesitate to call myself a local in Ireland despite living here for seven years, however I do have the benefit of a true local (my husband) to offer travel advice. We’ve visited Wicklow a few times now and no matter the season it is one of my favorite counties in Ireland with truly breathtaking scenery and so much history. We visited recently in May which confirmed my personal theory that May is one of the best months to explore Ireland—in May every where is green again; the hedgerows are full of blooming hawthorn trees and cow parsley and the woods are dotted with bluebells. Wicklow is an especially lovely place to visit in this month because of all of the lovely gardens that populate this region. Here are some of my top tips for exploring this county with suggestions on what to see and where to eat.

The best time to visit Glendalough

Glendalough, an early medieval monastic settlement that dates back to the 6th century is well worth the visit, however if you go in the middle of the day brace yourself for some crowds. Thankfully from May through to September sunset is late in Ireland, so you don’t need to visit here in the prime hours to get a good view. Weave between the tumbling gravestones and scenic trails down to the water from 6PM onwards and you’ll barely see another soul. In the summer months sunset will be between 9-10PM so you’ll have several hours to explore by yourself.

Where to eat

Just down the road from Glendalough’s Monastic City you’ll find the charming, family-run Wicklow Heather restaurant. This spot is very popular and tables fill fast so try to book in advance. The restaurant is filled to the brim with antiques and charming decor—and one of the rooms is dedicated to Irish authors. The menu features a lot of local and fresh ingredients and the desserts are worth saving space for.

Best garden

Wicklow is known as the “Garden of Ireland” so visiting a garden on your visit to this county is a must and there are many to choose from. My top pick is Mount Usher; around 22 acres of a sprawling Robinsonian style garden designed along the banks of the River Varty. It has a beautiful, informal design that complements the natural landscape and boasts a wide variety of trees and flowering plants. You can also browse a small shopping center at the start of the garden with everything from plants to linen clothes and local produce.

Don’t miss Avoca

Avoca Handweavers is the oldest working woolen mills in Ireland and one of the world’s oldest manufacturing companies. While Avoca still makes woolen garments today, the shop has become so much more with a mix of retail and food and legendary cooking books. Avoca started in Wicklow and there are a few of their shops scattered around the county (including one in Mount Usher), but for the full experience head to their flagship store in Avoca Village. On the banks of Avoca river you’ll find their store, cafe, and mill. At this location you can see a demonstration of handwaving at the visitor centre and walk through some of the history of the region. One of the real draws of any Avoca store though is it’s cafe.

Find a folly

For a more formal garden with ornate fountains and Grecian sculptures stop by Powerscourt Estate and Gardens. One of my favorite features in this majestic garden was the Pepperpot—a miniature castle folly. Follies are buildings (and bridges and roads) built for decorative purposes and designed to look old; some resemble ruined walls and churches, while others like the Pepperpot take inspiration from fairytale castles. Around the corner you’ll also find the Powerscourt Waterfall, Ireland’s highest waterfall cascading at the foothills of the Wicklow Mountains.

For the art lover

Scene of one of the most infamous art heists in Irish history, Russborough House is stunning Georgian house in the heart of West Wicklow built in the mid-1700s. Today is holds one of the largest private collections of European fine and decorative arts in Ireland. The Beit family were among the most important collectors of the late 19th and 20th centuries and their collection can still be appreciated in the house and beyond today. Many works are on loan to various museums, but the house is still brimming with Dutch masters and even a Singer Sargent portrait.

A hidden gem

File these under: utterly impractical but equally delightful. A handpainted candle that is so pretty you'd probably never want to burn it has to be one of the least necessary home goods, but at the same time I find myself contemplating whether I should get one or half a dozen. They're so pretty and give the best cottagecore vibes. They could be arranged in elegant candleholders alongside fresh and dried flowers on your mantleplace in a pretty spring display. I think my favorite might be these green candles with the daisy pattern, or these colorful bouquet candles. This shop has an excellent selection and a wide variety of candle colors. But perhaps most intriguing is this candle painting tutorial by Orna; she goes into detail on what tools she uses, as well as the specific paint, and methods! Perhaps instead of buying myself half a dozen painted candles I should take her wee class and learn to make my own...

While January turns most of the countryside to a bleak landscape of grey and browns, there is one magical wood near me that always stays green. The trees are towering evergreens only allowing the briefest glints of sunlight through, nearby there is a herd of fallow deer, and the woodland floor is carpeted in moss, ferns, and clovers. In winter I tend to stay very close to home; I can rarely be tempted further afield than what I can reach on foot when the weather is so cold and the days are so short, but this woodland is always worth the short drive. Wandering here is always like stepping into a fairyland, a little oasis where spring seems to always remain even in the bitterest months. I recently put on one of my folk inspired outfits and went looking for one of the few mushrooms I feel safe identifying--scarlet elf cups.