Joey's birthday was in June. Being my handsome suitor,  I knew I wanted to treat him to something special. He loves camping and isn't afraid to rough it. I on the other hand am unfortunately a littttttle too high maintenance to truly thrive in outdoor living. I wanted to find an amicable alternative to camping that we could both enjoy, so when I found Finn Lough I knew we were DESTINED to visit!

If you're like "uhhh what is Finn Low" - let me explain. It's a resort in Northern Ireland. It's actually pronounced "Finn Lock". It's located on an island on a lake (lough means lake in Irish), and the resort owns the whole space. On the island are different types of vacation rentals, the most famous of them being the Bubble Domes. 

I'm sure many of you have seen things like this on Instagram. Most of them are in Finland, Iceland, Norway - places where you can see the Northern Lights. In Ireland the chance of seeing the Northern Lights is very slim, so to make up for it they plopped these bad boys smack dab in the middle of the forest. Therefore, I was able to give Joey the outdoor living he desired while staying indoors, in a big cushy bed, with a working bathroom, shower, bathtub and electricity. 

Bless. 







There's no WiFi and no TV, but there's a lot of sweet touches and amenities. They had a coffee machine, a record player, a heater (plus heated floors and an electric blanket) and my favorite touch, an instant camera filled with film & a photo album for you to fill with pics to take home.



Staying in the Bubble was lovely, but I wouldn't recommend it for more than two nights. First, the bubble intensifies whatever weather is outside. Though they're clearly prepared for cold weather, they're not prepared  for hot weather and the bubble can BOIL in the late afternoon during the summer. Also - once the sun is up, you're up. There is (obviously) no curtains. They do provide you with sleep masks but ultimately it is pretty blinding up in there. That being said, it was truly a wonderful experience. Just not somewhere I'd want to stay for say for an extended period of time, ya know?

In the end, the bubble wasn't even my favorite part of the resort. It has SO much to offer beyond the bubble!



First off, it has gorgeous trails and nature to explore. You can have a good walk, or use their complimentary bikes to explore the premises and search for fairies/leprechauns/etc.



They also have the cutest little lakeside bar where you can enjoy a drink and watch the sun go down.




Seriously, how cute is that?



If you pay a little extra, they will set up a campfire for you in front of the lake with some snacks and drinks. I splurged on this because I love all things campfire related and honestly it was incredible. We read books, drank hot chocolate and feasted on nuts and s'mores.



PROPER campfire s'mores.

And once the sun went down, well...



It was perfect. Having a campfire in front of a lake is such a simple thing to do but honestly it was one of my favorite things I've done this year. I wish I could do it every night!



We ended our campfire with a G&T nightcap from the lakeside bar, then head back to the bubble to sleep. 

We woke up naturally at like, 6am. If you know me, you know I NEVER wake up early, so this was a true anomaly. 



Breakfast is included, so we trekked over to the main house for a feast. 


Food was delish. They offer dinner as well, which we passed on for the campfire, but I'd imagine that their dinner is also delightful. 

Now, friends, post-breakfast we embarked on our greatest experience yet. We indulged ourselves at the crown jewel of Finn Lough - the Elements Trail.







Truth be told, they tell you not to bring your phone with you, but I wanted to share this with you guys SO bad that I broke the rules. Oops.

The Elements Trail is their spa experience, but it's not a traditional spa. You basically follow a trail in the forest that leads you to different experiences (saunas, hot tubs, outdoor showers, etc) and let me tell you, this ALONE is worth the trek to Finn Lough. You don't need to stay at the hotel to use the spa! You get two hours of spa time (roughly 20 minutes in each experience) and by the end of it you have reached a new plane of existence. Best part: you don't share the spa with anyone else except who you want to share it with. It's all private!


If spas and campfires aren't your thing, worry not. Finn Lough also offers kayaking, fishing, boat rental, and an 'adult playroom' which sounds dirty but is really a room where you can go when the traditional Irish weather comes rolling in. They have a theater, wine tasting, afternoon tea, etc. I would happily stay here even when it's frosty outside. Couldn't recommend this place more, I can confidently say it's tied with Skellig Michael as the best thing I've done in Ireland (and definitely the best thing I've done in Northern Ireland!)