Planckendael - the closest zoo

If you live in Brussels, having a year pass for Planckendael is highly recommended.

A quick 15 minute drive and you are in a zoo with lots of animals (and often a great offering of baby animals), a number of nice and fun playgrounds and play areas such as hanging bridges, climbing structures, petting zoo and much more.

It is open on every day of the year, and even if the weather is a bit wet - well you can play around in the birdhouse.

There are a number of restaurants and cafes with typical Belgian fare (such as meatballs, hamburgers) and many many picnic areas.

Moreover, you'll get also free entry to the Antwerp zoo...

Frankly, it has been one of our best investments with young kids who always find something new and interesting in this place.

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.