Driving destinations in Belgium

The views from the highways in Belgium, for the most part, aren't particularly interesting. Drive along the secondary roads, though, and the scenery is quite pleasant, if not spectacular. The best hiking in the country is in the Ardennes. There's also a lot of kayaking available. For either of these activities, consider basing yourself in Durbuy or Dinant. Very few breweries offer access to the general public (strict hygiene laws). Brouwerij De Halve Maan in Brugge is an exception, but this facility isn't as much of working brewery as the tour guides may claim. Most, however, operate some sort of reception center or restaurant where you can sample the wares. I've only visited Brasserie d'Achouf, Maredsous and Hoegaarden. Maredsous is worth visiting for the abbey (the restaurant is more of a glorified snack bar, not worth your time), but I wouldn't recommend driving far out of your way for the other two. It's completely off the North American tourist radar, but consider a half day to visit the open air folk museum at Bokrijk, near Hasselt. If you have young kids, there's also a very impressive playground next door. (cont)

The North Sea coast of Belgium is very pleasant and very under rated. My favorite little town is De Haan. Also consider a visit to Ieper/Ypres for the WWI history. The battlefield at Waterloo isn't someting I usually recommend, but with a week and half and a car at your disposal? Why not, especially if Napoleonic history interests you? Just don't expect something like a preserved US Civil War battlefield. Finally, here's a recommendation for a way-off-the-beaten-path dinner. Just south of the city of Leuven, near the village of Vaalbeek. Follow the signs to "Zoete Water". There's a lovely lake surrounded by several good restaurants. Pick one, sit outside, watch the sunset while you sip a good Belgian beer, and enjoy life.

Just a few minutes north of Liege is the cute historical walled town of Tongeren. Sunday mornings the town is over taken for a very well known antique market. From furniture, glass ware, antique hardware, trinkets, etc. worth a stop.

Please note with regard to scenic driving: there is a reason Belgium is called a "Low Country." I just spent 3 lovely days in Ghent (with a day trip to Bruges). Ghent is quieter and has beautiful Gothic architecture.

There are some very nice areas around Bastogne, Bourlinon and Marchê-en-Famenne. I second the recommendation for Dinant. They also have a nice cave tour in Han-sur-Lesse Finally, if you have all this time available, you should consider a drive through Luxembourg as well

We enjoyed the open-air museum, but it's out of the route you describe. I liked the two museums in Lille, France. I went to the beach resort Osteende, and found it modern and unattractive, althought the beach is wide and airy. Some underrated but sweet towns closer to your route are Mechelen, Leuven, and Lier. One guidebook says you can tour the (massive) brewery in Leuven, but I can't confirm that. There is a chilling Nazi transport camp site in Breendonk, in the same area. I agree that Gent is even nicer than Bruges, and the Gent Altarpiece is one of the most important pieces of art in Europe. I rate Leuven's Beguinhof #2 after Brugge, and it has a nicer feel to me. That, active church in Leuven has the only (modern addition) fully abstract Stations of the Cross that I've ever seen. You didn't mention Antwerp, which I love and you might rate as too touristy. Two very untouristy spots there are the 100 magnificent Art Deco townhouses in the Zurenborg district, and the dusty, home-brew Volksmuseum in Deurne/Anwerp, which is open a few hours only on Sundays. Also, the riverfront park Rivierenhof in Antwerp is a very family-oriented weekend day out that feels like a Rick Steves "moment". Little-visited castle and silver museum there too. I can't recommend a special trip there, especially while the old square is torn up for renovation, but Turnhout is a very typical modern Belgian town of happy, relatively prosperous people. They have a great, if smaller, Beguinhof, with a good museum, and a few other historic sites. There's a corporate art collection just outside town that I've never had a car to visit.

Great info, thankd for the many ideas, will be taking in as much as we can Curious about ideas for off the track overnight spots, castles, houseboats, etc
Have found a few, but ideally something more obscure, less tytpical or touristy,

"Curious about ideas for off the track overnight spots, castles, houseboats, etc" Houseboats are far more common in the Netherlands. I know of exactly one in Belgium that offers overnight stays, in the city of Hasselt on the Albertkanaal. Hasselt is a pleasant, if unspectacular city, but it's canal harbor is one of the last places in the area where I would want to spend the night. Be aware that what Belgians call a "castle" in their own languages (kasteel and chateau), the English words "mansion" or "palace" would more accurately describe. One example I know of is La Butte aux Bois: http://www.labutteauxbois.be/site/en/ I haven't stayed here, but they serve an amazing Sunday brunch.

You can taste some great beer at this brewery. If you can't make it there you can probably find it in a bar or café in Flanders. http://www.brouwerijkerkom.be/nl http://www.flanderstoday.eu/content/café-spotlight-brouwerij-kerkom Cheers.

We have stayed at La Butte aux Bois, which is a perfectly respectable luxury resort hotel with a spa. I did not research how authentic the "chateau" part is, but our room was thoroughly renovated to television-in-the-bathroom facilities and price. It's very attractive, but it's not a massively estate-sized property that takes time on country roads to get there. It has subdivisions on all sides of their nice lawns and ponds. The only thing "typical Belgian life" there is the number of upscale weddings held there in wedding season, sometimes four a day.