Arklow

Arklow sits where the Avoca River meets the sea, 70 kilometers south of Dublin via the M11. The town blends its Viking roots with a working harbor and decent shops along the main street. South Beach offers grand walks along the sand, while the Wicklow Mountains provide brilliant hiking just inland. The Maritime Museum houses fascinating artifacts from local shipwrecks, including pieces from the Lusitania that went down off the coast in 1915. Regular trains connect to Dublin Connolly in 80 minutes, and there's plenty of fast charging stations for electric cars around town.