When my son, Drew, turned 27 this past summer, I decided it was the perfect excuse to visit him and his girlfriend in London. Because he already lives there (and I've been to London many times before), I also decided it would be fun to get out of the city for the weekend and explore someplace new and different--a place like Brugge, Belgium's picture-postcard city of canals, church spires, and colorful row houses. As we discovered, it was the perfect place to while away a couple of very pleasant days.

Hopping on board a Eurostar train at London's Waterloo Station got us to Brugge in just about three and a half hours--comparable to driving from Boston to New York City. Drew had done his homework and had found the Hotel de Tuilerieen, a classic and elegant hotel right across the street from one of the city's major canals. This was a lovely place to stay. Our rooms were large and furnished in antiques, with high ceilings, updated marble baths, all-white linens, and windows overlooking the canal; I even had a huge crystal chandelier in my bedroom. Some of the guest rooms had four-poster beds with gauzy white drapes and exposed brick walls. There was also a tiny pool and a spa, perfect for a quick bit of pampering and relaxation. The girls at the front desk were very knowledgeable and gave us excellent advice on what local sights to see.