If you're here in August, don't miss Killorglin, home of the famed annual Puck Fair, Ireland's biggest and oldest. Take your pick of scenic spots around the loop, putting Derrynane National Historical Park on the must list, finally ending in lovely and lively Kenmare. The scenery in Killarney National Park is centered on the fabled Lakes of Killarney. Heading north you'll have many panoramic views. The most visited spot is Muckross Estate, combining a museum, history, gardens, and lakefront.
Several nature trails wind along the three lakes.
Finally, not visited but rated high by almost everyone we talked to is Kinsale , near Cork. Based on this and previous trips, Irish good cheer and hospitality are hard to top. They even speak roughly the same English we do, though in the west, Gaelic will be heard and seen on signs. More confusion when the sports pages talked about avid punters. No, these were people placing bets at the race track.