Mention Dublin and many will think either of the book "Dubliners", by James Joyce, or Guinness Stout. Indeed, Ireland's capital and largest city is known as the home of many great writers - Joyce, Yeats, Beckett, Shaw - plus the even more popular Guinness Brewery founded in 1759. Visitors can still tour the former houses of Dublin's literary giants as well as the fabled brewery. Nestled along the River Liffey, Dublin is a vibrant city that blends Irish history with modern excitement. Compact and confined, Dublin is best toured on foot. Be sure to check out St. Patrick's Cathedral, Christ Church, the National Gallery, Phoenix Park, and Trinity College, which contains the noted Book of Kells exhibition. When all else fails, there's the infamous Literary Pub Crawl on Grafton Street, which combines literary anecdotes with a hearty pint...or two.