Flanders Kayaking, Chocolate & Art - 5 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Brussels 

Welcome to Flanders, the northern region of Belgium! The local language is a type of Dutch called Flemish, but you'll find that almost everybody speaks perfect English. Upon arrival at Brussels airport, you'll be greeted by your private driver and whisked to your hotel, at which point you have the rest of the day to relax or explore at your own pace. 

Belgium's fascinating capital Brussels is an alluring mix of historic and hip. As the de facto capital of the EU and with a majestic 17th-century center, it would be easy to assume a straight-laced culture, too. On the contrary, this is a fun and vibrant metropolis with fabulous nightlife, a superb food scene, and a thriving creative scene—reflected in its many art galleries and jazz clubs. Make sure you carve out time to sample the city's decedent dual exports: chocolate and beer.

Day 2: Transfer to Ghent, City Canal Kayaking

Day 3: Day Trip to Bruges & Enter Choco-Story Bruges 

Everyone's charmed by Bruges, a Unesco World Heritage City, thanks to its preserved medieval heart straight out of a fairy tale. On this day trip from Ghent, you'll explore on foot—easy when the cobbled streets link up countless charming squares and key monuments around every corner. The best views to take it all in are from the 273-foot (83 m) medieval bell tower and city emblem, the Belfry of Bruges. As you stroll among Gothic and 19th-century buildings, stop at one of the chocolatiers that have become an icon of the city. See if you can snag a table at one of the squares to try one of many local beers, such as the coveted Belgian blonde "Brugse Zot." 

Chocolate lovers will rejoice in the immersive museum of Choco-Story. This interactive experience celebrates the 4,000-year-old history of chocolate—you'll learn about growing cacao beans, taste and smell ingredients, and watch a chocolatier make luxurious pralines (of course, you get to taste them too). Children get a special audio tour and activities in each room. As Bruges can get busy, you'll hop on a train back to Ghent to stay the night.

Day 4: Day Trip to Antwerp, Visit the Mayer van den Bergh Museum

Explore Belgium's largest city (and the capital of cool), with a day trip via train to Antwerp, at the mouth of the River Scheldt. Easily navigable on foot, you can wander among Renaissance buildings from one square to the next, ending at the Grote Markt, the extravagant square in the city. Close by is the enormous Roman Catholic Cathedral of Our Lady, which dates back to 1352. Inside, you'll be able to marvel at several paintings by the world-famous Baroque painter Peter Paul Rubens.

A highlight of the city is the Mayer van den Bergh museum. Fritz Mayer van den Bergh single-handedly accumulated an incredible array of art in the late 19th century, becoming Antwerp's leading art collector of the era. This intimate and informal museum shows off the best of it. The star is the painting Dulle Griet, also known as "Mad Meg," a character in Flemish folklore depicted by Brueghel the Elder in 1563. Mayer van den Bergh died before he realized his dream of a museum for his collection, so his mother opened this one in his honor.

To relax between all that culture, do as the Belgians do and make time for a cold beer at one of the many al fresco bars. If you've really lucked out with the weather, you might want to continue your lazy afternoon at one of the city's river beaches at Sint Anneke or Sint Annastrand on the other side of the River Scheldt. At the end of the day, you'll take the train back to Ghent

Day 5: Transfer to Brussels, Depart

Head back to Ghent-Sint-Pieters station to catch the train to Brussels Airport (Zaventem). Your baggage will undoubtedly be heavier than it was five days ago, thanks to all that beer and chocolate that's snuck into your case.