Brussels, Belgium
About This Stop
Our European adventure continued with a visit to Brussels, Belgium's vibrant capital city. After a journey with interesting stops along the way, we immersed ourselves in Belgian culture—from sampling world-famous chocolate and waffles to exploring historic cathedrals and grand palaces. This cosmopolitan city offered a perfect blend of culinary delights, architectural marvels, and family-friendly activities.
Our journey and scenic stops featured a multi-country travel day from Hannover to Brussels, impressive cathedral visit in Cologne (Köln), Germany, charming exploration of Maastricht in the Netherlands, culinary sampling en route with chocolate and ice cream for the girls and 'Bomb Ass Burritos' for Bryan, and visiting three countries in one day (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium).
Historic explorations included multiple visits to Brussels' magnificent cathedral, touring the Church of Our Lady, the oldest church in Belgium, walking up to the impressive Hall of Justice, viewing the construction site of the LDS temple, and admiring the city's mix of medieval and modern architecture.
Urban adventures featured exploring the expansive palace park for morning runs, a thrilling (and somewhat terrifying) ride on a giant Ferris wheel perched on a cliff edge, discovering a playground with a teeter-totter and 'crazy rats scurrying all over,' seeing the U.S. Embassy during our walks, and navigating busy streets after rain, experiencing the city's vibrant atmosphere.
Culinary delights included sampling famous Belgian chocolate from renowned chocolate shops, the girls enjoying authentic Belgian waffles, the boys opting for healthy meals at Hawaii Poke, trying traditional 'fritte' potato fries (verdict: 'okay, but nothing special'), Kennedy's home-cooked spaghetti dinner, and Aubrey's comfort food grilled cheese sandwiches.
Family activities featured morning runs in the park (even accidentally running into each other!), split exploration with Aubrey taking the boys to Hall of Justice while Bryan took the girls on the Ferris wheel, family grocery shopping to stock up on essentials, evening walks to stretch legs and enjoy the city atmosphere, and balancing sightseeing with work and grading responsibilities. Brussels offered us a rich cultural experience as the de facto capital of the European Union. The city's grand architecture, from medieval churches to modern government buildings, provided a stunning backdrop for our exploration. Brussels' reputation for culinary excellence proved well-deserved, as we indulged in famous Belgian specialties while also maintaining our comfortable routine of morning runs and home-cooked meals. The balance of historical sites, urban parks, thrilling viewpoints, and delicious treats made Brussels a memorable stop on our European journey!
Our journey and scenic stops featured a multi-country travel day from Hannover to Brussels, impressive cathedral visit in Cologne (Köln), Germany, charming exploration of Maastricht in the Netherlands, culinary sampling en route with chocolate and ice cream for the girls and 'Bomb Ass Burritos' for Bryan, and visiting three countries in one day (Germany, Netherlands, Belgium).
Historic explorations included multiple visits to Brussels' magnificent cathedral, touring the Church of Our Lady, the oldest church in Belgium, walking up to the impressive Hall of Justice, viewing the construction site of the LDS temple, and admiring the city's mix of medieval and modern architecture.
Urban adventures featured exploring the expansive palace park for morning runs, a thrilling (and somewhat terrifying) ride on a giant Ferris wheel perched on a cliff edge, discovering a playground with a teeter-totter and 'crazy rats scurrying all over,' seeing the U.S. Embassy during our walks, and navigating busy streets after rain, experiencing the city's vibrant atmosphere.
Culinary delights included sampling famous Belgian chocolate from renowned chocolate shops, the girls enjoying authentic Belgian waffles, the boys opting for healthy meals at Hawaii Poke, trying traditional 'fritte' potato fries (verdict: 'okay, but nothing special'), Kennedy's home-cooked spaghetti dinner, and Aubrey's comfort food grilled cheese sandwiches.
Family activities featured morning runs in the park (even accidentally running into each other!), split exploration with Aubrey taking the boys to Hall of Justice while Bryan took the girls on the Ferris wheel, family grocery shopping to stock up on essentials, evening walks to stretch legs and enjoy the city atmosphere, and balancing sightseeing with work and grading responsibilities. Brussels offered us a rich cultural experience as the de facto capital of the European Union. The city's grand architecture, from medieval churches to modern government buildings, provided a stunning backdrop for our exploration. Brussels' reputation for culinary excellence proved well-deserved, as we indulged in famous Belgian specialties while also maintaining our comfortable routine of morning runs and home-cooked meals. The balance of historical sites, urban parks, thrilling viewpoints, and delicious treats made Brussels a memorable stop on our European journey!
Location
Photo Gallery
