I've traveled to 86 countries and Ireland is the best place I've visited to bring a toddler on vacation

• My family recently visited Ireland to celebrate my son's third birthday.
• It's the perfect country to visit with a toddler.

Many families dream of traveling around Europe because it's a great continent for kids. I've been to every country in Europe (except Russia), and in my opinion, one of these countries provides the ideal destination for toddlers: Ireland. I recently went with my own 3-year-old, and we had an amazing time.

As soon as our ferry docked in Dublin, my son seemed amazed. My partner and I organized the trip to celebrate his third birthday, and I shouldn't have been surprised he was enjoying himself, as nowhere is quite as magical as Ireland.

The coast acts as a wonderful base for a family trip

An ideal way to see Ireland as a family is to stay in a cottage or caravan near the coast, which can act as your base for exploring the surrounding areas by car, bike, or public transport. This was what we decided to do and was a great choice; Ireland's roads are quieter than much of the rest of Europe, as it is sparsely populated, aside from its main cities. Even though you should take the usual precautions, it felt safe and people are very welcoming, especially to children.

If you want to learn about Ireland's tangible history without the kids getting bored, there are so many beautifully preserved castles and estates with sprawling gardens to get lost in. The famous Blarney Castle (home of the Blarney stone) is especially intriguing with a rock close, a poison garden, and a waterfall all hidden around its vast grounds.

My son enjoyed playing hide-and-seek among the vast avenues adorned with sculptures and giant plants. There is also the John F. Kennedy Arboretum, a huge parkland and tree collection dedicated to the former president.

Public transportation is great in Ireland, and wildlife is everywhere

There are many ways to explore Ireland with its excellent public transport system, which includes buses, trams, ferries, boats, and trains that little ones will love riding. If you want to extend your overland trip, you can take ferries from the east and southern coasts of Ireland to France, England, Wales, and the Isle of Man to avoid the hassle of flying. You might even see a dolphin or a whale in the Irish Sea if you're lucky.

Seals also haul out on the beaches and rocks along the coast, so it's fun to try to spot them. My son loved visiting the Seal Rescue Center in County Wexford, where we saw baby seals being nursed back to health. The abundance of countryside means that there is wildlife everywhere, including seabirds, deer, and otters.

It's not hard to get food for even the pickiest eaters

It also means that there are plenty of farms, so it's easy to find fresh local produce wherever you go. While my toddler is a picky eater, the basics in Ireland, like bread, butter, and meat, are all delicious, and he loved the sandwiches and stews.

As sustainability is also important there, many towns and cities have zero-waste stores and discounts for people who bring their own coffee cups. Much like any parent with a young child, I'm trying to leave a better world for him, which was much easier to do in Ireland than most places I've visited.

There's just something magical about the country

While these are all reasons enough to visit Ireland with a toddler, perhaps the best incentive is the mythology behind this emerald isle. From fairies to leprechauns, there is a tale to capture the imagination of every child. The books about mermaids were a particular hit with mine.

Museums, visitor centers, and gift shops often sell storybooks, postcards, toys, and trinkets that bring these legends to life in a way that children can bring home with them. There are so many waterfalls, toadstools, coves, and fairy pools to discover all around the country that even as an adult, I believe the stories to be true.

Correction: October 16, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misstated where the ferries depart from. They are available on the east and southern coasts, not the west coast.