For all those non-Dutch speakers, “Friet” means “fry.” But don’t dare call it a French fry. Those golden taters came from Belgium, not France. The museum takes you through the history of the potato, and there is a surprising amount to learn. For instance, at one point in history, potatoes were considered to increase debauchery in people. Crazy. A trip here wouldn’t be complete without tasting some delicious fries. After all, book learnin’ can only teach you so much about food. At some point, it’s time to eat.

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This wonderfully preserved example of medieval architecture sits in the Market Square of Bruges, a prime viewing location for all the surrounding outdoor restaurants. Buy an overpriced plate of mussels and frites and stare at it all day. Or, pay some Euros and climb to the top. Unfortunately, this is one of those tourist attractions that doesn’t live up to the hype. The view isn’t good enough to justify the excruciating climb. A better option for a great view of Bruges is at the Half Moon Brewery tour. They have a much less strenuous climb and arguably comparable view of Bruges for about the same price. And they throw in a free pint of beer. Plus, their view is unobstructed by wire mesh, so photographs will look much better.

An hour outside of Brussels can do wonders. The city center of Bruges is something out of a fairy tale. Well, if a fairy tale had hordes of tourists jamming the quaint, cobbled streets. The entire city center is a World Heritage Site, and with good reason. The 12th Century architecture is some of the best preserved in the world. Walking around, it feels like Williamsburg, Virginia or a World Showcase pavilion in Epcot. The only difference is Bruges isn’t fake.

Museum curators rarely base exhibitions solely around dairy products, which makes the Cork Butter Museum unique, ’cause everything is about butter. The museum follows the history of butter in Cork, from the days of Irish kings to preindustrial manufacturing to the 20th Century when dairy farmers had to market their product to the world in the changing global economy. Learning about Cork’s butter history provides a wonderfully unusual approach into learning about the entire history of Cork. The only downside: no butter samples.

It may not be as large as Dublin, but despite its size, Cork has plenty to see. Blarney Castle, the English Market, St. Anne’s Church, the Butter Museum, and the nearby town of Kinsale will keep you busy sightseeing for days.