Visiting History in Comfort and Style: Belgian Castles
Beersel Castle in Belgium
Belgium is no doubt one of the most beloved travel destinations around all of Europe. This country is exquisite from the point of its vivid history, essentially European culture and monumental architecture. This trend of high architectural intrigue can also seen among the hotels that have established themselves in Belgium, which features both local and international hotel networks like Hilton, Holiday Inn, Ibis or Marriott.
The creation of an old-fashioned atmosphere alerts travelers to many successful tourist attractions and numerous places of interest, dispersed all over the state territory. In this context, a visitor’s choice of accommodations is also worth much consideration. Because Belgium honors its goal of historic heritage preservation, it is appropriate to pay attention to castles, which in many cases also serve as hotels, when deciding on where to stay when visiting the country. [Read more →]
Tags:belgian chateau tours·belgian chateaus·Chateau De Lac belgium·Chateau D`Hassonville belgium·Le Castel du Val d'Or belgium·travel to belgium·visiting belgium
Travel Guide for Maryland Getaways
The state of Maryland, full of plenty of vacation getaway opportunities, features a temperate climate that is hospitable all year long. While winter vacations are worthwhile, the best time of year to visit Maryland seems to be in the summer, as the weather turns warmer and outdoor activities abound.
Ever heard of Ocean City? That’s a Maryland destination for sure. Fan of baseball? Maryland’s got Camden Yards’ Oriole Park, home to one of the game’s beloved franchises. And if you do end up in Maryland for winter, then you’ll have to consider the western side of the state, where ski resorts will give travelers plenty of sport and ski. With a vacation high season spanning from May to October, travelers have plenty of options for planning a trip. [Read more →]
Tags:choice hotels maryland·Clarion Inn Hotel in Waldorf Maryland·Comfort Inn Hotel in Annapolis Maryland·Econo Lodge Laurel Park Racetrack·maryland tourism·maryland vacations·ocean city maryland getaways
Beers of the World: Belgium’s Westmalle Dubbel
Countries with beer traditions are amazing to me — so much history, so much “pageantry,” and so many kinds of glasses. It’s like the enthusiasts are more particular than wine lovers, when it comes to the proper glass, the shape of the nose, how it meets not only your palate but also how the smell greets your nostrils. I’m thinking that the shape of the glass also has to do with how the foam settles, how much there should be, and how quickly or easily you can access the beer beneath the foam, as well. It’s true — in some countries, the foam is a no-no, but in Belgium and Holland, if you don’t get foam on your beer (the better to keep the liquid chilled as you drink it), then you send it back and get another one.
In Belgium, obviously, the tradition of beer is rich and varied. The Westmalle Dubbel features a slightly thick taste, complete with cherry, caramel, and malt. The finish is slightly bitter, and lasts a decent enough amount of time, but the whole taste is one of absolute freshness. Dark, reddish-brown in color, Trappist beers like this one feature a secondary fermentation in the bottle. The head is creamy and robust, leaving what the brewers call “an attractive lace pattern in the glass” as you drink the Westmalle.
Westmalle Dubbel contains 7% alcohol. [Read more →]
Tags:beers of the world·belgium beers·belgium westmalle beer·trappist beers·westmalle dubbel
Interesting Specimens of Architecture Abound in Every Direction
Rotterdam is an interesting city when it comes to architecture, as much of the city center in downtown seems to be the ultimate hodge-podge, featuring a near-futuristic city scape that appears to cover every style, decade, and shape imaginable. Though we’re not freakish in our knowledge, we do know some great buildings when we see them, and from just about any downtown street corner, a 360 degree turnaround in place will open up a half dozen buildings to the eyes, and each of those architectural wonders a completely different starting off point, historically and aesthetically speaking.
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Tags:city center rotterdam·outdoor market rotterdam·rotterdam travel information·the Netherlands architecture
Flora and Fauna Abound in North Rotterdam
We’ve been in the north of Rotterdam, the Netherlands, for just over two weeks now, and we’re staying at an artist residency program outside the city where the birds just keep comin’ at us, and in a good way. Beautiful varieties abound in the quiet (though often windy/cold) “village” just to the north of the central city, about 15 minutes by tram, and 2 stops north by the Metro. Life seems to be quiet here, marked by shops along the small “Kleiveg” street that runs through the center of the village. A small market, a few restaurants, bars and shops are there, just enough to make life easy to live. With a few small canals, the birds are a wonder, as is the plant life. And tons of bicycle paths that are well-paved and very safe for bike riders exist literally everywhere, sometimes more than sidewalks for pedestrian traffic.
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Tags:ducks in rotterdam·erasmussingel strasse north rotterdam·rotterdam the netherlands·travel stories of north rotterdam
If one thing is true in cities and states all across the country, from the Pac 12 to the Big East, college football inspires legions of die-hard fans. From alums to local citizens who don’t have the NFL present in their towns, there are few other organized amateur sporting events that can bring this many people together in one stadium for a few hours.
