Yup, sorry people of Ireland, you come in second to the island chain just outside Galway Bay. What the Aran Islands (or Oileain Arann for the Gaelic) have to offer is nothing less than time travel. The islands of Inishmore, Inishmaan, and Inisheer are an incredible spectacle– miles of gorgeous, sheer cliffs overlooking the Atlantic, beautiful hills and valleys with ruined castles and ancient forts, large expanses of ancient slate walls and hidden trails through the island. Hop on a ferry from Galway, rent a few bikes, and take it all in– it’s just awesome in the truest sense of the word. Hardly touched by modern civilization save for the basics, the islands are a life-altering experience. It’s hard not to be romantic about sitting on miles of cliffs in some remote, unadulterated island surrounded by the vast power of the Atlantic. The feeling is that of discovering some hidden corner of the world rife with history and heritage. And there’s no velvet ropes, no do not enters, no park rangers breathing down your neck. It’s yours to explore. If you want to hang off the edge of the cliffs, go for it. It’s so enthralling you’ll wonder if the world is joking with you somehow.