After exploring Luxembourg with Melissa, Mike, Barrett, and Violet, we made our way to Belgium for the next leg of our adventure. We used Brussels as our home base, which turned out to be the perfect location for exploring the country. One of the good things about Belgium is how compact it is. With an excellent train system and relatively short travel times, it’s incredibly easy to take day trips and experience so much of the country.
Our timing couldn’t have been better, because we arrived just in time for the Ghent Festivities (Gentse Feesten), one of Europe’s largest cultural festivals, held every year during the second half of July. The city was alive with music, street performers, food vendors, and entertainment around every corner. Lucas, Henry, Barrett, and I braved the G-Force ride, which did a good job of shaking us up.
Another favorite day trip was to the storybook city of Bruges. With its canals, cobblestone streets, and medieval buildings, it felt like stepping back in time. The architecture in Belgium is insane. The kids especially loved visiting the French Fry Museum (Frietmuseum), where we learned all about Belgium’s most famous snack, followed by a stop at the Chocolate Museum (Choco-Story) to discover the history of Belgian chocolate. I was excited to find a vegan waffle shop. We also spent time simply wandering the beautiful streets, crossing picturesque bridges, and soaking in the charm of one of Belgium’s most beautiful cities. Henry also introduced Barrett and Violet to Diablo, and before long they were completely hooked! It was so much fun watching them practice tricks together and cheer each other on.
We also returned to Antwerp for another day trip. Since we enjoyed the city so much during last year’s visit, we decided to take Melissa and fam back there for the Chocolate Nation Tour. Â Afterward, we explored more of Antwerp, strolling through the historic center, relaxing in the park, and walking along the famous Diamond District.
Of course, we spent time exploring Brussels as well. Between sightseeing, enjoying the city’s parks, and relaxing together, it was nice to slow down and enjoy our home base between adventures. One of the highlights of the trip had nothing to do with sightseeing at all. The cousins had so much fun together. They spent hours playing at the park, gaming, laughing, running around, and simply enjoying being together.
July was a busy, but fun month. First, we had the opportunity to spend time with my family in Italy, then Michael’s sister Melissa, her husband Mike, and their kids, Violet and Barrett, joined us for 10 action-packed days exploring Luxembourg and Belgium together. We’re so grateful they made the trip across the ocean to visit us. While we’ll always remember the castles, festivals, museums, and beautiful cities, the best part was spending time with family.
