Guest Post by Antonia Richmond
Meet Antonia Richmond
Antonia is a Seattle-based, California-born writer, editor, and creative who has spent her career writing and creating editorial content for brands like Gap, Amazon, Williams-Sonoma and Google. She now writes the Substack Honey and Weeds and is the owner of Fleuriste, a floral design and home goods company launching in 2025.
You can find her on Instagram at @antoniablue and @fleuristeseattle.
Q: Where is your favorite place(s) in the world to travel to?
A: Paris! I first went when I was 17 and it stole my heart forever. If I could, I’d go every year – I hope to have a home there someday. My other favorites are the North Shore of Oahu and Point Reyes, California.
Q: What are your top travel hacks or tips?
A: I suffer from extreme jet lag – where I actually get super sick – so I drink a ton of water or electrolyte drinks 2-3 days before going on an international flight and try very hard not to drink alcohol on the plane (though this is entirely dependent on the amount of turbulence). I bring my own food on planes whenever possible and live by the rule to not take a nap when you get to an overseas destination.
I make a Google map with all of my desired restaurants/shops/museums when I travel so I have a basic idea of the things I want to eat and do.
I am a big advocate of not scheduling every minute or trying to pack too much into a trip. Similarly, I like to keep my trips to one, max two, cities at a time – I find it takes me about 5 days to fully acclimate to an international city. I like the freedom to meander through a city on foot listening to music and making my own discoveries, or renting a car and making unexpected stops on my way somewhere. Too much planning / sightseeing stresses me out and takes away from being able to fully experience where I am.
Research your destination’s public transportation, taxi/Uber, and/or bicycle program before you get there and download any necessary apps.
Use your phone for taking pictures and listening to music when you are seeing a city/place. Instagram and email can wait.
Learn about the culture you are visiting, be kind, have patience, try to speak the language, and don’t expect everything to be the same as where you are coming from.
Always visit the grocery stores and markets on trips. This is one of my favorite things to do while traveling.
Lastly – you don’t need more than three pairs of shoes on any trip. 🙂
Q&A GUEST POST with Antonia Richmond: County Cork, Ireland 🇮🇪
Q: Can you briefly describe County Cork?
A: County Cork is in southern Ireland, bordering the coast. Like other parts of Ireland, it contains every single shade of green you can imagine, a dramatic coastline, and lots of small towns and villages to explore as well as the second largest city in Ireland, Cork.
Q: Why should people visit County Cork?
A: Because it is stunningly beautiful and full of charming villages, great pubs, gorgeous hotels and B&Bs, and wonderful people. Also because the food is incredible in Ireland. Irish food gets a bad rap (I can’t tell you how many people questioned my decision to go to culinary school there), but at my school and all around Cork you will find the freshest, most delicious dairy products, fish, oysters, prawns, lamb, beef, pork and vegetables you have ever had in your life!
Q: What’s the best time of year to visit?
A: I don’t think it ever really gets hot in Ireland, but I’m a big fan of traveling during the off season when things aren’t so crowded. I would go in the Spring, when all the baby lambs are in the pastures. It’s chilly and there will be rain, but it’s magical.
Q: How many days should you plan to spend in County Cork to truly experience it?
A: I would plan on five to seven days: two days in Cork city and 3-5 days road tripping through the lush farmlands and wild coastline.
Q: Tell me a bit about the people of County Cork.
A: In my experience they were, without exception, absolutely lovely. Very friendly, very chatty, very helpful. In fact, my very first taxi driver told me that in Ireland you have to talk to people – ask them how they’re doing, ask them about the weather…anything really, just make sure to talk to people. And he was right. Everyone says hello and everyone asks how you’re doing.
Q: What should you not forget to pack when visiting County Cork?
A: Wellies or other water-resistant boots, and a rain jacket/coat. Outside of the city, the roads, beaches and village streets are fairly rustic, so a rugged pair of shoes is a must.
Make sure you leave room in your suitcase for Irish wool: the sweaters, scarves, socks and blankets are incredible.
A swimsuit – ocean swimming is big here (and yes it’s cold)!
And if you’re a real nerd, bring a high-vis (high-visibility) vest – the roads are quite narrow so walking on them can be somewhat terrifying!
Q: What is the best airport to fly in/out? Any specific airport tips upon arrival?
A: Cork Airport is super easy and fast to get in and out of. The best part is that when you fly in, you fly over emerald green pastures dotted with black and white Jersey cows!
Q: When you arrive, do you need to rent a car? Can you get around via taxi or rideshare service? How’s public transportation?
A: You definitely need a car, which means driving on the left hand side of the road. That said – I didn’t have one and relied on taxis, which you can find at the airport or arrange through the hotel or lodging you’re staying in. There really isn’t a rideshare service there and public transportation throughout County Cork is very limited. You don’t need a car in the City of Cork – it’s highly walkable – but if you want to see other towns, a car is necessary.
There is a national train station in Cork that offers train service to other cities in Ireland including Dublin.
Q: What are the must-visit towns in County Cork?
A: There are many towns but because I was in school full-time, these are the ones I was able to visit:
Cork
Shanagarry
Kinsale
Cobh
Ballycotton
Midleton has a lovely farmer’s market on Saturday mornings and an incredible butcher shop called Murphys.
Q: Where do you recommend staying in County Cork? Any specific hotels? Or best to rent a place through a local agency or site like Airbnb? Any really unique places to stay?
A: I would advise staying in hotels as most of the towns are quite small and somewhat rural. My favorite is Ballymaloe House near Shanagarry. It is exquisite – elegant, but not stuffy, and full of charm. When you walk up to it you can practically hear the theme song from “Downton Abbey” playing. It was owned by the Allen family – the same family that started Ballymaloe Cookery School – and the kitchen was run by the Allen family matriarch, Myrtle, until her death. The rooms are charming, beautiful, and comfortable. The restaurant is lovely and the food is impeccably fresh (they source all the ingredients from local farms, including their own vegetable garden) – not to mention after dinner you will be treated to the famous dessert trolley and perhaps some traditional Irish folk music in the sitting room, if you are lucky! Do not miss the breakfast service if you stay there, and try to get one of the rooms in the area where the Allen family lived – they have an incredible cookbook library there, as well as hundreds of issues of Gourmet magazine!
Ballymaloe House also has an incredible gift shop where you can buy homewares, kitchenwares, and lots of Irish wool sweaters, blankets, and socks.
Q: Tell me a bit about your experience at Ballymaloe Cookery School. What did you study? Who can attend the school? How long is the program?
A: Ballymaloe Cookery School offers culinary, homesteading, and organic gardening courses year-round on their 100-acre organic farm. I took a one-week culinary course and then came back a year later for the 12-week culinary certificate program. Anyone can attend the school and there are various courses in various lengths. I studied cooking and received hands-on culinary and wine instruction during the 12-week course, where I lived on the farm in one of the cottages on the property. It was hard, intense, challenging, beautiful, amazing, and truly awesome in the literal sense. As a student, you are required to not only cook and clean, but also to milk the cows, feed the chickens, and harvest the vegetables and herbs for each day’s class. It was a life-changing experience for me, and I highly recommend a stop at the school (there’s a gift store, and a small market) for anyone interested in food. I miss the yogurt, butter, and bread every day – even though I know how to make my own now, there’s something incredibly special about Ballymaloe.
Q: What are some not-to-miss sites in County Cork?
A: Because I was there as a student and not on vacation, my travel was limited to Cork, Midleton, Ballycotton, Kinsale, and Cobh – they are all worth visiting. I never did make it to the Blarney Stone!
Q: What are some must-do activities or tours to do in County Cork?
A: One tour I loved was the Hederman Smoke House tour. Frank Hederman has been masterfully smoking local fish for the past 40 years, and this delightful store and smoke house, run by Frank and his wife Caroline, is a must stop for anyone who loves smoked fish. Frank is also hilarious.
If you like whiskey, the Jameson Distillery tour in Midleton is a must do!
Finally, be brave and do an ocean dip at Garryvoe Beach – and rent out the Coastal Cabin Sauna on the beach to warm up after.
Q: What’s the arts scene like in County Cork? Any must-see performances and museums?
A: There are music shows all the time in Cork and in pubs around the area – there were always bands playing at the Blackbird Pub in Ballycotton, which was the closest pub to my school. There are also loads of festivals, including the Ballymaloe Festival of Food, at Ballymaloe House in their unique Grainstore venue.
I never visited, but there is a Butter Museum in Cork City – a tribute to Ireland’s (and my) favorite food.
Q: Where can you find the best shopping in County Cork? Best area with local boutiques and artisan goods? Any specific stores to visit?
A: My exploration (and funds) were limited, but I must give a shout out to Stephen Pearce Pottery in Shanagarry. You will find beautiful pieces here. Cork City has loads of shops as well.
Q: Let’s talk food! What are some must-eat dishes? Favorite restaurants? Hidden gems?
A:
In Cork:
Cafe Paradiso, an incredible vegetarian restaurant
The English Market, full of local foodstuffs to eat and purchase
Grumpy Bakers for pastries and bread
L’Atitude 51, an adorable natural wine bar
In Cobh:
Try a delicious breakfast at Seasalt, run by former Ballymaloe students
In/near Ballycotton:
Sea Church is a beautiful restaurant that’s a little bit upscale but has the best fish and chips
Ballymaloe House is a once-in-a-lifetime experience with an incredible history
Don’t leave Ireland without having local oysters, butter, soda bread, fish and chips, and lamb!
Q: Tell me what folks love to drink in County Cork. What are some must-visit pubs?
A: Guinness of course – it tastes way better in Ireland!
And whiskey. I discovered and fell in love with Jameson Green Dot.
All the culinary students would flock to The Blackbird in Ballycotton for music and drinks on weekends. I preferred the no-frills atmosphere of Sam’s, which was right next door. In Kinsale, try the Bulman pub for rugby games, a pint, and of course, fish and chips.
Q: Anything else you’d like to add about visiting County Cork?
A: It is truly one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. The people are so warm and friendly, the natural scenery is spectacular, and the area is tended by farmers, shepherds, fisherman, and artisans that care deeply about their work, products, animals, and craft. I can think of no better way to support them than by visiting the many different villages in County Cork and experiencing all they have to offer.
