Rick had a 4-day weekend at the end of May due to a bank holiday in Belgium. We decided to spend it in the Ardennes, a region in Belgium known for its natural beauty as well as its quaint towns. The Ardennes region is named for the mountain range (also called the Ardennes) that runs through the southern part of the country (the French-speaking part). In some ways, the region seems more French than Belgian. Many of the buildings and houses are made of stone and there are a lot of farms and cottages that have been converted to B&B's. This is where people go to camp, hike, boat, fish, etc. It had been a long time since we explored the "great outdoors" so instead of going somewhere exotic, we opted for a relaxing weekend in the mountains. We wanted to explore our "own backyard" so to speak. Our original plan was to camp, but the weather forecast called for rain. Instead, I booked us a room at a charming B&B (converted farmhouse). The weather ended up being fantastic, however. Oh well, C'est La Belgique!
The B&B was located in a small town just outside of La Roche en Ardenne, which is a popular tourist destination. We did 3 great hikes while we were there. The hiking in Belgium is somewhat different to what I'm used to in the U.S. The trails often go through a combination of forest, countryside and small towns/villages, rather than just being in deep forest the whole time. The time we spent walking in the forest, however, reminded me a lot of the Southern Appalachians. The whole weekend was a bit nostalgic for me. Prior to moving to Belgium, Rick and I did a lot of hiking and camping. I think we were both happy to spend a quiet weekend together in the great outdoors!
On the last day of our trip, we went to the town of Spa to soak in the famous thermal baths. The town itself is not much to look at, but the "spa" is definitely a great way to spend the day. It's located on a hill or ridge just outside of city. Therefore, the view is great (nothing but trees). In addition, the facility is very modern and clean. For 17 Euros, you can use all of the hot tubs, saunas, and steam rooms for 3 hours. I think a full-day pass is 24 Euros. You can also book other treatments, such as massages, facials, etc. It was hot and sunny so we spent most of our time sunbathing on the outside terrace and swimming in the outdoor pool. It was a fun and relaxing way to end our trip. We may go back in the winter to take advantage of the indoor facilities as the weather was just too beautiful to be indoors. I think it would be a great way to fight the winter blues in Belgium.
http://www.thermesdespa.com/2008/index.php
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