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Islands… why is it that islands seem to have more fun, more adventure, and more beauty? They seem to be brimming with amazing things to see and do. This seems to be the case with the British Isles as well. Everyone knows of the beauty that can be found in the British Isles, but there is one island in particular that holds so much for travelers and is definitely a must visit this summer. Welcome to The Isle of Man!
This Island is located in the Northern Irish Sea between Ireland and England and its citizens are referred to as Manx. The official languages are Manx and English, although you will find that Manx (a Celtic language) is sparsely used on the island. Douglas is the capital and a gorgeous city that sits on the water. Douglas is a wonderful mix of seaside town, a bigger city and Victorian village beautifully wrapped into one. It sounds like a weird mix, but somehow it works and it makes for a beautiful city you could get lost in for days. The Victorian buildings along the waterfront are entrancing and definitely a must see.
It is incredibly easy to get to Isle of Man from the UK and Ireland. You can choose to fly or take a ferry.
I really wanted to show you (my readers) an amazing island that would be great for families; little did I know how fantastic of a destination Isle of Man was going to be. Not only did we find an amazing family friendly destination, but really a destination that would fit any traveler’s needs! You might wonder, “How can such a tiny Island have enough to offer for a complete vacation”?
So let’s dive into what an amazing trip to Isle of Man looks like and how much fun you could be having this summer with our two-part series all about The Isle of Man:
First up: Where to stay?
The Isle of Man is bursting with amazing places to stay. With a wide variety of hotels, B&B’s, Inns and more; there is a great place for any need or budget. Although I am definitely biased and partial to the wonderful Close Mooar Farm B&B. This part B&B part catered cottages is a beautiful place to escape to! Set in rolling green hills and surrounded by all of the beauty of the island this crushingly adorable B&B will steal your heart.
It is incredibly easy to travel around the island so you can stay in the countryside and still easily navigate into Douglas or any of the other towns or cities. Every morning we awoke to adorable little lambs grazing across the hills. Close Mooar Farm provides an amazingly serene place to rest and recharge. Our family loved staying at one of the Close Mooar Farm cottages. These spacious cottages really make you feel at home and have all the necessities of home as well.
We were provided provisions for breakfast and our hosts Fenella & Steve welcomed us like friends; always making sure we had whatever we needed.
If you are looking for accommodation that will not only provide everything your family needs, but will also add to your Isle of Man experience than Close Mooar Farm is the place to stay!
Now normally I would dive into all the amazing activities The Isle of Man has to offer, but we're going to have to save those for part two! So let's talk about the food for a minute! With so many amazing restaurants you definitely won't be starving while on The Isle of Man!
The Isle of Man has so many amazing places to eat and I feel remorse that I couldn’t visit them all! Here are just a few of my recommendations to grab some great eats:
The Barbary Coast
50 Douglas Chambers, North Quay, Douglas, IM1 4LA
+44 (0) 1624 679297
With its great location on North Quay Douglas, The Barbary Coast offers spectacular waterside views of the yacht marina. You are promised a great atmosphere and a memorable food experience every time.
La Mona Lisa
10 Glen Road, Laxey, IM4 7AB
I absolutely love a family friendly restaurant with an intimate feel. It’s not an easy atmosphere to pull off, but La Mona Lisa does it with ease. Feels like an upscale restaurant with family friendly prices and a kids menu. With large portions and amazingly fresh ingredients the whole family will love La Mona Lisa!
Ballacregga Corn Mill Tea Rooms & Restaurant
Wheel Hill, Laxey IM4 7NL
Long name, but amazing food! We stumble upon this adorable restaurant while on the way to see the famous Laxey Wheel and it made the afternoon even more memorable. We decided to get afternoon tea for the four of us and it hit the spot! I highly recommend sitting outside on a nice day and really soaking in the beautiful area in Laxey.
The Fish House
1 Station Road, Port St Mary, IM9 5BF
The Fish House is the brainchild of Patrick Croft who is probably the Isle of Man’s most famous fishmonger! It is a relaxed sort of place where you can buy fresh local seafood including the famous Isle of Man Queenies. If you want to take more time out you sit in the diner area and enjoy something freshly prepared from Patricks very own menu which is served all day. If you want to grab something on the move you can as he also offers a convenient take away service selling freshly made sandwiches and wraps to go.
The Courthouse
Athol Street, Douglas, IM1 1LD
The Courthouse have won the Taste Isle of Man highest quality award for the last 5 years and have been highly commended by the Tourist board, Daily Mail, Olive Magazine and various other publications for their superb freshly produced food. Head chef James Stubbs is ridiculously ambitious and talented for his age and will ensure your food is superb.
Everyone talks about using the finest ingredients, but The Courthouse is serious on this, from the produce they source locally to the unusual ingredients they go the extra mile to find.
It is recommended that you book a table in advance.
That’s it for part one of our series! Be sure to stick around for part two as we explore all the amazing sites and activities on The Isle of Man! Also be sure to head here to start your own Isle of Man adventure!
A big thank you to The Isle of Man Tourism and partners for hosting our family in order to facilitate this review, all opinions are my own.
