Belgium feels like the ideal next step after Paris. The kids are dreaming of indulging in as many waffles and chocolates as possible, as well as a visit to Bruges, a city that looks like it’s been plucked out of a fairy tale.  Jen and I have visions of beer flights in Brussels and lazy canal rides in our heads.

Why We Love It

• The Food: Belgian waffles, world-famous chocolate, crispy fries with mayo—enough said.

• Cultural Charm: Brussels is bursting with art and history, from the Grand Place to quirky spots like the Atomium. Bruges promises cobblestone streets, dreamy canals, and an atmosphere that screams European charm.

The Catch

Logistics, logistics, logistics. To continue our journey south after Belgium, we’d probably head back through Paris to catch trains to Switzerland or elsewhere. It’s doable, but it feels like we’re retracing our steps instead of moving forward. The thought of sitting on a train longer than necessary—especially with three kids—makes us hesitate.

The alternative is to skip Belgium (for now) and head east into the Alsace region of France, with Strasbourg as our first stop. From there, it’s a short hop to Freiburg, Germany, in the heart of the Black Forest. This route feels like the road less traveled and offers a different kind of magic.

Why We Love It

• Logistical Ease: The train routes are smooth and efficient, and we don’t have to backtrack through Paris. Paris → Strasbourg → Freiburg → Basel feels like a natural progression.

• Outdoor Adventures: Freiburg is a gateway to hiking trails, forest walks, and fresh mountain air. For our outdoors-loving family, it’s a great way to balance city exploration with nature.

• Alsace Charm: Strasbourg offers its own dose of fairy tale charm, with its timber-framed houses and riverside cafés. It’s a quieter but equally enchanting alternative to Bruges.

The Catch

While Freiburg and Strasbourg sound amazing, they don’t have quite the same “wow” factor for us as Belgium. We’d miss the chance to indulge in the food and culture we’ve been daydreaming about since the idea of this trip first came up.

Right now, we’re leaning toward Belgium because it’s the destination we’re genuinely most excited about. Yes, the logistics are more challenging, but we’ve decided that the experiences we’ll have in Brussels and Bruges outweigh the hassle of backtracking.

That said, Freiburg remains a very enticing Plan B. If train schedules or time constraints make Belgium feel like too much of a stretch, we’d happily embrace the ease and beauty of Strasbourg and Freiburg.