Prairie Daiza

Prairi Daiza is not your traditional zoo. It is built on the grounds of an old Cistercian abbey. The separate areas are built in the architectural styles of different cultures and the setting is beautiful.

There are plenty of animals, a huge central playground, skywalks, and all kinds of cool exibits (bats in the old underground chapel).

It's a bit pricy, but if you plan to go more than once (about 50 min drive fromm Brussels), the season ticket costs less than two entries. It's definitely a special place.

Blankenberge - Sea Life and Walk on the Beach

On sunny weekends it feels like the whole country buckles up and starts driving west, to one of the little towns of the admittedly not to long Belgian coast.

I have avoided the place for a while, as I had memories of it being ugly and dirty.

Well, it turns out that you can still find great places to visit. Such is Blankenberge.

You can visit the exciting Sea Life with a good selection of aquarium displays, a shark tunnel and a seal attraction. It's perfect with kids - not too big, not too small and afterwards, you can walk down the pier and have a dame blanche at a sunny café.

Tervuren - park of the Africa museum

A wonderful afternoon on a shoestring if weather permits it!

The park of the Africa museum is a surprisingly big, well landscaped area with  a chain of reflecting pools, biking trails, paths through the woods. You can bike / toddle around the ponds, see the duck and swans and enjoy a bit of sunshine - all free of charge.

For added fun take tram 44 instead of driving!

In case it's raining, hop in to the Africa Museum (adults 4 euros, kids under 12 free) and look around.

The Museum Website

Domaine - La Hulpe

Just south of Brussels, La Hulpe is always a great place to visit for a stroll.

The Domaine around the Chateau de La Hulpe is accessible freely to the public, a beautiful botanical forest (with rhododendrons), ponds, little parks, enchanted corners (strange sculptures, an obelisque), it is a really relaxing place to be.

We are guaranteed to see some animals (horses and cows).

When we want to splurge, we hunt down a weekend bargain at the Dolce La Hulpe hotel with its fairly good spa facilities, great breakfast buffet and child-friendly atmosphere.

It's a quick and no-fuss way of getting out of the city without the hassle of long drives/airplanes.

Malou park - playground de luxe

As soon as a tiny ray of sunshine appears on the sky, we hop in the car and head for the playground in Parc  Malou. It's one of the best-equipped playgrounds in Brussels (shipwreck theme), complete with infant swing, plenty of equipment for smaller and bigger children.

For the adults, the little brasserie is usually open on sunny days (drinks, small snacks, icescream).

If the kids still have some energy, we walk around ponds across from the Woluwe shopping center, the small "Chateau" or head the other direction and look at the little  watermill Lindekemale.

Closest Metro stops: Roodebeek or Vandervelde

A great description of the facilities here (in Hungarian) and plenty of pictures.