Sure you can stay in the city center in and around the Grote Markt area, eat overpriced food, buy cheap trinkets from souvenir shops, and window shop for genitalia-shaped chocolates (yes, you can do that), but there’s so much more to Brugge. My first impressions of Brugge were less than stellar, and I almost ended up leaving the following morning, but after a good night's … [Read more...] about Brugge Beyond the Grote Markt
Destinations
Weekend Wanderlust for One: Road Trippin’ Harrisburg/Carlisle, Pennsylvania
I’m beyond excited for the first installment of Weekend Wanderlust for One, an exciting collaboration with some of my favorite bloggers who show you how they’d do a long weekend alone and on the cheap. Basically, I give them a budget of $500USD and ask them to plan a trip to a destination less than four hours from their hometowns lasting three days and two nights for one … [Read more...] about Weekend Wanderlust for One: Road Trippin’ Harrisburg/Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Lacemaking Lives On in Brugge
If you enjoy history and craftsmanship, then no visit to Brugge is complete without a stop at the Kantcentrum, or Lace Center. It is, in my opinion, one of the best things to do in Brugge and was the highlight of my time in the city. I know what you’re thinking. Oh gawd. Lace? Hear me out. A bit off the beaten path, the Kantcentrum is, at its essence, a museum dedicated to … [Read more...] about Lacemaking Lives On in Brugge
Burnout in Brugge’s Grote Markt
Brugge can be overwhelming. Many of the guidebooks, web guides, and travel forums I consulted prior to my trip say you can spend one day in the city and see everything there is to see. I'm here to tell you that couldn't be further from the truth. Although I didn't like Brugge at first, I learned (eventually) that like any other city, it needs to be savored--slowly--to be … [Read more...] about Burnout in Brugge’s Grote Markt
Dealing With Disappointment In Brugge
I knew I’d have a strong reaction to Brugge. As the single most visited city in Belgium, I had great expectations for Brugge as a destination and figured it would be a traveler’s wonderland. The scant research I’d done before my trip told me to expect one of Europe’s most well-preserved medieval cities. As a history and architecture buff, as well as a student of medieval … [Read more...] about Dealing With Disappointment In Brugge