Considered the mascot of Brussels, this little statue is much smaller than some picture postcards would make it seem. Despite its reduced stature, you kind of still have to see it. It’s up there with La Grand-Place as on of the the top things to do in Brussels. And treat yourself to some chocolate at one of the many neighboring chocolatiers while you’re there. Unlike certain Belgian statues, Belgian chocolates are never disappointing.

Like any large metropolitan city, Brussels offers a variety of cuisines. It’s possible to get an affordable, traditionally Brussels meal at Tavern de Skieven Architek. The cheapest, fastest meal in Brussels is going to be found in Pita Alley, near La Grand Place (guess what kind of food is served there). And a trip to Brussels wouldn’t be complete without a Belgian waffle. So much sugar, and so much deliciousness.

This European city is the unofficial capital of the European Union. That being said, it has a similar feel to Washington D.C., only if D.C. were filtered through European sensibilities. Since Brussels is only EU’s unofficial capital, it lacks the sweeping memorials like D.C. It does, however, have decent public transportation and some fine examples of Art Nouveau architecture from the turn of the 20th Century. You just need to keep your eyes open. The gorgeous buildings are sometimes stuck between stuffy office buildings.

The Half Man brewery has a wonderful tour, which is spoken in English, French, and Dutch–one of the benefits to visiting a multilingual country. It probably doesn’t hurt this is a top tourist destination for the international traveler, either. The tour covers how beer is made, as well as the history of the brewery and Bruges’ history with beer. Like, apparently in the middle ages, a peasant’s meal was a glass of beer because it was cheaper than bread. Those must have been some fun afternoons in the fields. And just wait until you get to the end of the tour. You’re going to flip out.

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You don’t have to eat at the overpriced restaurants in the Market Square to have an authentic Belgian meal in Bruges. Pas Partout will serve up traditional food at half the cost. And making a “Golden Triangle” picnic and eating it in Astrid Park is a great way to spend a long summer night.

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.

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.  They do have a few artifacts you can look at in some rooms during your climb, but honestly, the pieces aren’t that interesting.  Only use these rooms as an excuse for stopping to rest.  As in, “Hey honey, let’s stop to look at that tiny statue for an extended period of time!  It looks so detailed!”  They also have a few benches along the way, but as resting strategies go, sitting on a bench is not nearly as manly as stopping to look at medieval works of art.  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 and the chance of tetanus is practically nill.

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.