Hallelujah! Americans can travel to Europe once again. I have been waiting for over a year for the doors to open. Here are five reasons I love vacationing in Belgium. It sounds like an obscure choice. Not only is Belgium a great place to visit. It is also a good choice to start your vacation if you have never been to Europe before.
The #1 reason I love to vacation in Belgium – Sites
Belgium is a small country, yet it is filled with many wonderful things to see. Let’s start with Brussels. It has one of the best city squares in all of Europe, the Grand Place. I love spending time there. Bruges is a well-preserved medieval city. There are famous world war I and II battlefields in Belgium. The Flanders fields in the north and Bastogne in the south.
Reason #2 – Beer
Belgians make some of the best beer in the world to include many funky styles. If you want to try some fruit beer, drink Belgium beer. If you want some really strong and smooth beer made by Monks, then Belgian beer is an excellent choice. Belgians like to say that Germans make boring beer, and they are correct. Although, it is really good. Germans like to say that Belgians make weird beer, and they are correct. Both say they make the best beer in the world. Both of them are correct. Beer glasses are an important part of the Belgian beer culture. Buy some while you are there. They make excellent souvenirs.
Reason #3 – Food
I eat like a pig when I am in Belgium. They offer mussels, fries, waffles, and chocolates. There are chocolate shops all over Brussels. You can smell the waffles a mile away in Bruges. Some say Belgium food is a mix of French quality with German quantity. That means you get the benefits of both in one country. I have to admit it is easy to pack on the pounds if you spend a week in Belgium. There is also a decent café culture. Drink your coffee and enjoy life.
Reason #4 to vacation in Belgium – Size
Belgium is a small country. Good news – you can see a lot in a short period of time. Big highways and short distances between cities. It also has an excellent public transportation system. Taking a day trip to Ghent, Bruges, or Antwerp from Brussels is super easy. Take advantage of the size and see tons of stuff in just a few days.
Reason #5 – Location
If you are an American and it is your first time visiting Europe, consider starting in Brussels. The reason is that you can take a bullet train to London, Amsterdam, and Paris from there and be in another European capital in just a few hours. Brussels is easy. The city is not that large, and most people speak English. Start there, and then you could see four European countries within a week or less. I recommend starting in Brussels, not in London.
Three quick questions about vacationing in Belgium
- What is the region of Belgium I want to visit the most – Flanders. Need to see the battlefields.
- What is the new region of Belgium I want to explore soon – Wallonia. Have not been around this area.
- What is the obscure region of Belgium I want to discover – Trappist Monk breweries.
I am Doug Keating and this is my letter to sons.