leelacyd

Belgium with Kids

Looking for a not-too-crowded and new-to-me destination, I got into research mode on Belgium b/c chocolate and kids. Decided on a few days in Brussels then onto Brugge and Ghent. We arrived to our Bnb (bring back Bnbs people!!) very haggard and promptly napped for a couple hours then gelato, a walk and pizza/beer dinner.

The next days involved Chocolate making class, a visit to the space-aged Automium, chocolate galleria where we tasted one little piece from each shop, waffles (so many waffles!!), Eglise Notre-Dame du Sablon church to light candles and have a guard yell at us (lit too many), more coffees/hot chocolates and waffles, Natural history museum visit (charming), Comic book museum (Tin Tin and the Smurfs hail from Belgium) and just good hangs in our neighborhood of Place Sainte Catherine — which felt like the Canal St. Martin Paris vibe but make it Belgian. Most activities were walkable or a short uber/ metro away. We had cheesecake everyday across the square — sublime — and got into a family rhythm.

Brugge and Ghent were next — we took short train to Brugge where we based ourselves for a few days of castling, canal walks and endless rounds of Crazy 8s.

I splurged on Hotel Ter Brughe based on the location and that it was built in 1470 — on a canal, the vaulted castley ceilings and the hygge style breakfast situation downstairs. Easily one of the most beautiful hotels I’ve ever stayed in, with cozy prints everywhere, comfy beds and just the outrageous freshness of throwing the windows open and being on water- so lovely and transportive to a 15th century when this area was known as ‘The Venice of the North’. Also bathtubs in each room were ginormous! No showers. I love this, F showers, long live excessively long and huge bathing while traveling.

Boat tours and chocolate shops to finish the day in the main square — something ripped straight form a Disneyland set but it was REAL LIFE. The bell tower, the incredible skies, and the great mood of everyone because of the beauty at every corner was just heaven. More details in the comments 🇧🇪