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Rachel White

The historic city center of Antwerp at dusk
5 Days in Belgium - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With five days in Belgium, you can delve into a region like that of Flanders. Explore Brussels with a day in the Ardennes, or discover Flanders, Antwerp, Bruges, and Ghent. For art lovers, there's an itinerary through the same areas, but visiting more galleries, castles, street art, and museums along the way. Then there's an active itinerary that includes a day in Brussels, a home base in Ghent, with day trips to Antwerp and Bruges, and a culinary tour through the north featuring Belgium's best: beer, chocolate, and waffles.

Geiranger fjord
15 Days in Norway - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

With more than two weeks in Norway, you can hit all the major stops and delve into what makes Norway so distinctive. Check out the major cities and fjords like Oslo, Bergen, and Trondheim or stay south and add Ardal and Stavanger to the mix. You can also venture to some lesser-visited Norwegian sites—chase the northern lights through Tromsø and Svolvær, explore the fjords from Bergen to Trondheim, or venture past the Arctic Circle to the Lofoten Islands.

Spot pink river dolphins in the Amazon
10 Days in Brazil - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Spending 10 days in Brazil will give you a good overview of up to three distinct areas. You can check out the country's highlights, like Rio de Janeiro, Iguaçu Falls, and the Amazon rainforest. More adventurous travelers may enjoy seeing Rio, taking dune buggy tours, and engaging in watersports in Jericoara or Afro-Brazilian culture in Manaus. For the more active traveler, there's an itinerary full of hiking National Parks, scaling mountains, and swimming in lagoons. Read on to see which one is right for you.

Autumnal foliage and pencil pines at Maroondah Reservoir in Australia's Yarra Valley wine country
3 Weeks in Australia - 3 Unique Itinerary Ideas

You can experience many of Australia's classic highlights and lesser-frequented gems in three weeks, covering multiple states and three coasts. You can even have time left to factor New Zealand into the itinerary. You'll cover major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Adelaide, see the marine life of the Great Barrier Reef and cuddlier animals on Kangaroo Island, and venture into the outback of South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Breathe in the fresh air of the mountains as you and the kids climb toward Hatton on a train with a view
2 Weeks in Sri Lanka - 3 Family-Friendly Itinerary Ideas

There's fun for all ages in Sri Lanka, and two weeks gives you ample time to cover the highlights with your family. If you prefer a mix of culture and wildlife, you'll enjoy the sacred city of Anuradhapura, safaris in Yala, and the beaches of Weligama. The family who is up for an adventure will appreciate a safari and exploring Sigiriya Rock Fortress, visiting orphaned elephants in Udawalawe and Tangalle for temples, boat rides, and turtle watches. Active families will love the junior ranger program, jungle night walks, and beach activities in Passikudah.

The Cinquantenaire Arch in Brussels, Belgium
Best Time of Year to Visit Belgium

While there's no wrong time for waffles, beer, chocolate, and castles, Belgium's four distinct seasons offer four very different experiences. Fall and spring are the best times to visit, with pleasant weather, fewer people, and more affordable rates. Summer is warm and welcoming, with festivals and crowds. And if it's cold enough, winter can bring ice skating over frozen lakes and canals and cross-country skiing.