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The Beginner’s Guide to Belgian Beer & Where to Drink Beer in Belgium

The beginner's guide to drinking beer in Belgium! All you need to know about visiting Belgium for Belgian beer, breweries, and bars.
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The beginner's guide to drinking beer in Belgium! All you need to know about visiting Belgium for Belgian beer, breweries, and bars.The beginner's guide to drinking beer in Belgium! All you need to know about visiting Belgium for Belgian beer, breweries, and bars.

I’m a snob about a lot of things – bourbon, coffee, Mexican food (get out of here with that Tex-Mex garbage), etc. – but beer has never been one of them. I’m the kind of person who has a few beers they like, and those are my go-tos. So when we decided visit Belgium, I thought “Oh great! I’m going to eat so much chocolate, fries, and waffles! Oh, right, and beer too. We’ll have a bunch of Stella and Hoegaarden, I guess.” Feel free to judge me, hard. If my basic AF beer choices weren’t evidence enough, I was not knowledgeable of the Belgian beer scene. I’m happy to report that after 2 weeks in Belgium, including two Belgian food tours (one of which focused solely on beer & chocolate), I am officially knowledgeable enough about Belgian beer to be somewhat of a snob. So I wrote up a beginner’s guide to Belgian beers & where to drink beer in Belgium.

What You’ll Find in this Beginner’s Guide to Belgian Beer

Like any good beginner’s guide, this is a long and detailed post. (In fact, the estimated reading time is 18 minutes.) Here’s what you’ll find below.

Well, let’s get started!

Belgian beers lined up in a Belgian Beer Store. Belgian beer stores are a bit like like beer libraries.

Belgian beers lined up in a Belgian Beer Store. Belgian beer stores are a bit like like beer libraries.

Trappist Beer: the Classic Belgian Beer

Trappist beers are brewed in a traditional method developed by Monks. A brief history of Trappist beer in Belgium: many, many years ago, Monks fled to Belgium along with other refugees persecuted in their homelands, all searching for religious freedom. The difference was that the Monks were literate, and brought their beer recipes with them. Beer brewing flourished in Belgium because the water was unsafe to drink, and beer was both safe and cheaper than water. Low alcohol content beer was even drank by Belgian children (you can tell that to the next person you see drinking a Miller Lite). Unsurprisingly, many ancient Belgians made the link between Monks, the safety of drinking beer vs. water, and divinity. Beer really IS holy!

There are 11 Trappist breweries in operation in the entire world; Belgium has six of them. Trappist rule #1 is that a beer is not a Trappist beer unless it is brewed INSIDE a working monastery. Sorry hipsters. No pop up bars serving small batch Tripels fermented in re-purposed materials and served in Mason jars while some dude with an accordion talks about his preferred mustache wax.

Rules #2-4 about Trappist beers are very specific that Monks must be the ones actually brewing the beer, and furthermore, any profits must be used within the monastery or donated to charity. Beer and social responsibility, our favorite combination!

Trappist beer all started with the monks’ first beer type: the Trappist Blonde, which is a relatively weak beer (3-4% ABV usually, so like, for kids). Later on, they invented the Dubbel (which is double the ABV), the Tripel (you guessed it…triple the ABV), and the Quadrupel. There are some people who say those names are because there’s three times the hops, or three times the aging, or whatever. It’s not. It is simply a naming convention the monks came up with. It is, however, a good indicator of the color of the beer.

Oud Kriek Beersel is a traditional Belgian Lambic beer, made with sour cherries and wild yeast. It's classic, unique, and yummy - and one of the best beers to drink in Belgium!

Oud Kriek Beersel is a traditional Belgian Lambic beer, made with sour cherries and wild yeast. It’s classic, unique, and yummy – and one of the best beers to drink in Belgium!

Lambic Beer: Traditional Belgian Fruit Beer

Lambics by definition have to come from Belgium. Think champagne to France. Lambics use spontaneous fermentation. Essentially what that means is they’re fermented in open air vats. And I mean open air! The brewery throws open their windows and doors and lets nature do her thing. Even when they’re in the barrels, they cut a big hole at the top and leave the windows open. The result is a sour and earthy taste with a bit of skunky smell, but compex notes. Breweries will also make Kriek or Framboise Lambics by throwing cherries or raspberries (respectively) into the barrels. Depending on the quality of maker, this can be anything from a slight fruity sourness to basically cough syrup (if they add syrup to punch up the fruit flavor). If anyone has had Lindeman’s Kriek or Framboise, you know what I mean about the beers being pretty much juice.

Westvleteren is the most famous Trappist beer in the world. It's also been ranked as the best beer in the world for decades! It's unlabelled and super difficult to get unless you're in Belgium. Oh, and it's INSANELY delicious.

Westvleteren is the most famous Trappist beer in the world. It’s also been ranked as the best beer in the world for decades! It’s unlabeled and super difficult to get unless you’re in Belgium. Oh, and it’s INSANELY delicious.

How to Drink Belgian Beer in Belgium

Belgium takes its beer very seriously. There is actually a 9-step pouring process, called The Belgian Pouring Ritual, that occurs from the moment you order your desired beer until the moment it is placed in front of you. The least you can do, after all that, is to drink your beer properly. And that’s not the easiest task: just about everything you’ve ever learned about drinking beer is wrong when it comes to Belgian beers. Here are some guidelines for how to drink Belgian beer in Belgium without making yourself look like an idiot.

First of all, a well-poured Belgian beer is all about the head: a good pour has a solid 2 fingers of foam on top. This protects the beer from the air and keeps it from going flat and stale. If you don’t want a beer with a foamy head, you’re probably in the wrong country. Have you tried wine? France is nearby…

At some point in my life, I was told beer is always better from the tap. That is not the case with Belgian beers. Belgian beers (Lambics and wheats especially) utilize on the beer in its entirety for the best and most complex flavor. As such, they are unfiltered when they’re in the bottle. Draft beers get slightly filtered, so you sacrifice taste. Many Belgian beers are actually still fermenting in the bottle, and are greatly improved from a bit of shelf life in a cool dark place (it also makes them EXTRA bubbly!)  And don’t forget that tap rooms don’t clean the pipes as often as they should, and stuff gets built up in them, ruining your appetite and the taste of your beer. Gross! What this means is that most Belgian beers are best served from the bottle. There are a few notable exceptions to this rule, and any good bar in Belgium will know what those exceptions are. 

The other startling difference between the beer you’re used to and the proper way to drink Belgian beer is the temperature. You’re probably used to beers served cold. “Beer” and “Ice Cold” seem to go together like “cooler full of Coronas” and “some chick in a bikini on an island somewhere.” Throw that entire image away. You’re not on an island, you’re in freezing cold, probably raining Belgium, and that kind of marketing is for American schlubs. Good beer flavor is complex, and it’s actually best to enjoy a Belgian beer only slightly below room temperature. When in doubt, check the bottle: Belgian beer bottles contain specific temperature instructions. 

Two Belgian beers at Halve Man Brewery, in Brugges, Belgium. The proper way to drink a Belgian beer is with from the bottle, with 2 fingers of foam, in the glass that matches with the beer. And of course, it's always better to drink beer in Belgium itself.Two Belgian beers at Halve Man Brewery, in Brugges, Belgium. The proper way to drink a Belgian beer is with from the bottle, with 2 fingers of foam, in the glass that matches with the beer. And of course, it's always better to drink beer in Belgium itself.

Two Belgian beers at Halve Man Brewery, in Bruges, Belgium. The proper way to drink a Belgian beer is with from the bottle, with 2 fingers of foam, in the glass that matches with the beer. And of course, it’s always better to drink beer in Belgium itself.

What’s With the Belgian Beer Glasses? 

One of the first things I noticed when I entered my first Belgian bar was the variety of glassware. Maybe you’ve noticed Hoegaarden has their hexagonal glass, or the Chimay chalice. Belgian breweries do this for a few reasons. The first is aeration; each Belgian beer has its own traditional glass shape that is supposed to best air out the beer as you sip it. Chalice shaped glasses are fairly popular for Trappist beers for this reason. There’s also a tradition associated with the correct Belgian beer glass. Lambics, for instance, traditionally use a range of champagne flute to wine glass shaped glasses.

Finally, and most interestingly, it is for advertisement. Outside of the usual signage at a bar, you won’t see Belgian beers advertised on billboards like you do in the USA. Belgian beers are seen on the glasses they’re being drunk from. Two of the best examples we saw were Corne and Kwak beer. Corne is served in a big glass horn (the rhyming is cute). Kwak beer, on the other hand, is served in a super weird almost chemistry lab looking glass. Turns out, the Kwak beer glass was invented so that the brewer could drive his carriage drunk without spilling his beer. Oh, Belgium.

With both Corne and Kwak beer, the glasses are served in a big wooden frame so they can be set down easily. So imagine you walk into a bar and you see someone drinking out of a horn attached to a giant wooden structure. Are you NOT going to want to have what they’re having? (I wanted to make a “When Harry Met Sally” joke here but gave up.)

Drinking a tasty Belgian beer with cheese and bread. Not in a Belgian bar, mind you, this is actually in a Belgian beer store. Awesome, right?

Drinking a tasty Belgian beer with cheese and bread. Not in a Belgian bar, mind you, this is actually in a Belgian beer store. Awesome, right?

Where to Drink Beer in Belgium

We went to so many bars in Belgium, plus a few breweries and beer shops. We unfortunately didn’t get to travel to Ghent, but we did make it to Antwerp and Brugges. After 2 weeks of drinking a lot of beer in Belgium feverish researching, here are our top picks for where to drink beer in Belgium!

Where to Drink Beer in Bruges

  • Cambrinus: A cozy Belgian pub located slightly off of the Markt. They have an impressive beer list and serve classic Belgian food. Can’t decide? They have a few styles of beer flight.
    • Website: Link | Address:  Philipstockstraat 19, 8000 Bruges
  • De Haalve Mann Brewery: This is home to Straffe Hendik and Brugse Zot beers. Take the tour and find out all about one of the most popular beers in Belgium. Then finish it off with a beer and Flemish stew in the Brasserie. 
    • Website: Link | Address: Walplein 26, 8000 Bruges
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Where to Drink Beer in Antwerp

  • Billie’s Bier Kafétaria: My biggest regret in life Belgium is that we only went here once. First of all, the bar is apparently owned by a French Bulldog, which is a huge selling point for me. Secondly, we had three of our favorite beers here – and all we did was ask our waitress to randomly pick a flight for us. Thirdly, we enjoyed one of the best meals we have had in ALL of Europe at Billie’s Bier Kafétaria. Belgian Food Tip: Get the meatball and cherry casserole and the Flemish Stew. Just do it, you’ll thank us later.
    • RateBeer: Link Beer Guide Antwerp: Link | Address: Kammenstraat 12, 2000 Antwerpen
  • Cafe Kulminator: “I’d like a (insert obscure beer) from (whatever year you want).” They’ll have it. The owner has a stockpile of beers from all over time and space down in the basement. So if the Bible thick beer list isn’t enough for you, try getting weird with it.
    • Beer Advocate: Link | Address: Vleminckveld 32, 2000 Antwerpen

Where to Drink Beer in Brussels

  • Toone: Interesting historical fact about Brussels: long ago, some insecure king forbade theater during his reign because actors used it to criticize him. “But think of the children!” “Okay fine, the kids can have puppet theater!” So puppet theaters became the new political forum in Brussels. Toone is the last remaining active puppet theater, and they serve up some great beers. You don’t have to go here just for shows, either. This is where you can find a cheap(ish) glass of Westvleteren…more on that later.
    • Website: Link | Address: Rue du Marché aux Herbes 66, 1000 Brussels
  • Au Bon Vieux Temps: The oldest bar in Brussels, complete with chandeliers, stained glass windows, ancient wood benches, and a crowd of locals. But hey, if it’s packed with locals, you know it’s worth a visit. It looks like you have to risk your life to enter, because it’s down a sketchy alley, but fear not, a lot of Brussels bars are like this. In fact, the sketchier the alley, the better the bar: this was another way that Brussels historically hid their drinking from the lame, restrictive monarchies. 
    • Beer Advocate: Link | Address: Impasse Saint-Nicolas 4, 1000 Brussels
  • Delirium Cafe: This is another incredibly packed house, but it’s mostly due to tourists. This is where that group of pink elephants you’ve seen at bars come from. They boast a beer list of almost 3000 beers. Upstairs is the taproom. Outside is one of the 3 peeing statues in Brussels (er, the slightly less famous female one).
    • Website: Link | Address: Impasse de la Fidélité 4, 1000 Brussels
  • Moedic Lambic: A casual, modern bar that offers a ton of Lambic options at great prices. Unlike the cozy historic bars in Brussels, Moedic Lambic has plenty of space and seating. Come with your Brussels Card and get a free plate of charcuterie with the purchase of two beers!
    • Website: Link | Address: 68 rue de Savoie 1060 and also 8 place Fontainas 1000 Brussels
  • Der Biertemple: This isn’t a bar, it’s a beer market. And calling it a temple is right. Holy crap, this store is STOCKED. This is your one stop shop to grab all of those beers you loved and wanted to take home. And guess what? You get a 25% discount with a Brussels Card! Note: there is also a location in Bruges.
    • Website: Link | Address: Grasmarkt 56b, 1000 Brussels
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You can find some more helpful suggestions for where to drink beer in Brussels at The Ale in Kaleigh!

Drinking a delicious Kriek Lambic beer off of a Trappistes Rochefort tray. 2 famous Belgian Beers at once!

Drinking a delicious Kriek Lambic beer off of a Trappistes Rochefort tray. 2 famous Belgian Beers at once!

The Best Belgian Beers to Drink in Belgium

There are over 3000 kind of Belgian beers, spread out over 200 breweries. We drank only 17 of them. This was not for lack of trying. There are just so many. Here are our top 5 picks: the 5 best Belgian beers we strongly encourage you to drink in Belgium.

  1. Westvleteren 12

     This unlabeled Trappist Quadrupel beer is a legend in the beer world. It has been rated as the best beer in the world since 1996! (RateBeer page here.) To get your hands on a Westvleteren, you need to pay big OR make a reservation at the monastery months in advance and get either two cases or none (read more at the Westvleteren website). We chose the easier option. And you know what? It absolutely deserves the hype! It’s a dark beer that smells like fig and raisins. It tastes like wine soaked figs, wood, and earthy yeast, with a marshmallow finish. And you don’t have to be well versed in tasting to enjoy its complex flavors: it’s bold! The very last sip I could have sworn tasted like bourbon. You’ll usually find Westvletern for around 20 Euro in Brussels, but it’s only 12 at Toone. We also found a bottle for 14 euro at Der Bier Temple, and minus the 25% discount you’ll get with your Brussels Card, it’s a bargain.  Make sure to buy the unlabeled bottle with the YELLOW cap.

  2. Rodenbach Vintage 2014

      An absolutely heavenly sour beer. This one was so good we went on a hunt to find it again! If you didn’t know any better, you’d think you were drinking Kombucha. Tastes like fruit, vinegar, and honey.

  3. Kasteel Rouge

      This is a fruit beer, but it’s not a Lambic. Its smell and taste are the same: sour cherries up front then a cinnamon and spice finish. Not too sweet but definitely a fruit beer.

  4. Straff Hendrik Tripel

      This is a Tripel that drinks like a Dubbel. It quickly became my standard for how Tripels were supposed to be. It has the hop and malt taste you’d expect with some nice notes of pear, honey, and spice.

  5. Oud Beersel Oude Kriek Lambic

      This is THE Lambic to have, if you were only to have one. It’s not too sour, but it isn’t sweet either. It has had no added sugar added so the sweetness is from the cherries, which are native to Belgium. Smells of cherry, vinegar, and oak. Taste is fairly similar, but less vinegar. If you want a true Kriek Lambic, this is it.

Here are even more Belgian beers we drank in Belgium. Some were hits, a few weren’t our personal favorite. But hey, if you’re in Belgium, why not drink everything you can? After all, everyone has different preferences!

  • Gouden Carolus Tripel – 9% ABV; Bitter side of Tripel; Really enjoyed this one.
  • Val-Dieu Tripel – 9% ABV; Tastes much lighter and spicier than most Tripels
  • Brugse Zot Blonde – 4% ABV; Our lightest option for a trappist; smooth and not too sweet
  • Brugse Zot Dubbel – 7.5% ABV; More body than it’s blonde counterpart, but still smooth
  • Delirium Noel (Christmas Ale) – 10% ABV; The most forgettable one we tried honestly; lacked any of that spiciness you expect from holiday beers. Plus you can probably find it outside of Belgium.
  • Tripel d’Anvers – 8% ABV; Very light for a Tripel; On the sweet side.
  • Avec Les Bon Veux – 9.5% ABV; Very light and sour.
  • Monk’s Stout DuPont – 5.2% ABV; Typical chocolate and coffee stout taste, but lacks the strength associated with Belgian beers; Good option for the less adventurous & those with lower tolerances.
  • Lindeman’s Kriek – 2.5% ABV; We stepped away from cherry and tried the raspberry Lambic. This one is mass produced and artificially sweetened and tasted more like cough syrup than beer.
  • Cantillon Kriek – 5% ABV; Another cherry Lambic done without sugar added; Very strong, funky vinegar and cherry taste, but as we drank on, the cherry overpowered the vinegar and it got easier to drink. It’s an acquired taste for sure, but Cantillon is one of the greats for Lambic.
  • Cantillon Lambic – 5% ABV; Similar to its Kriek counterpart, this is a really funky vinegary beer, but this time with notes of citrus peel. This one also calmed down after some time.
Picturesque Brugges, Belgium is a fantastic medieval town that isn't to be missed when visiting Belgium.

Picturesque Bruges, Belgium is a fantastic medieval town that isn’t to be missed when visiting Belgium.

Why Drink Belgian Beer in Belgium?

Belgian Beer just tastes better in Belgium. First of all, you’re going to get better beer in general – the selection of excellent beer in Belgium cannot be beat and is difficult to find elsewhere in the country. Secondly, you’ll be treated to the Belgian beer pouring method which we talked about earlier: the way of pouring the beer, the foam, the temperature, and even the glass it’s served in all make your beer drinking experiencing better when visiting Belgium. Even Lia (who straight up does not like beer) still daydreams about some of the great beers we drank there. But it isn’t just the beer we fell in love with in Belgium!

As all of our readers probably know, Lia and I often base our trips around the food and drink.  Before the trip, most of what I knew about Belgium was that they were famous for chocolate, beer, fries, and waffles, and one of my favorite movies, In Bruges, takes place there. Oh, and something about a statue of a peeing boy? But Belgium has quickly become one of my favorite countries in our entire time abroad. The food is truly fantastic, and not just the well-known food, either. We also added Flemish Stew and Speculoos to our favorite foods list thanks to Belgium.  Even if amazing food, chocolate,  and beer can’t convince you to visit Belgium (but like … why not?) the country has plenty of other allure. From charming medieval towns, fascinating history, a plethora of cultural influences (4 languages, y’all. 4!!), incredibly kind and well-humored people, and gorgeous architecture in every style imaginable, Belgium is chock full of fantastic experiences to offer travelers. Don’t skip out on visiting Belgium the next time you’re traveling in Europe!

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The beginner's guide to drinking beer in Belgium! All you need to know about visiting Belgium for Belgian beer, breweries, and bars.   The beginner's guide to drinking beer in Belgium! All you need to know about visiting Belgium for Belgian beer, breweries, and bars.

Disclaimer: We recieved complimentary Brussels Cards thanks to the Visit Brussels tourism office. All opinions and recommendations are entirely our own.

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24 Comments

Comments

  1. jezzikafos13 says: January 28, 2017 at 6:14 pm

    This guide is really a necessity when it comes to Belgium! I am not much of a beer drinker but when it comes to traveling to new countries, I make some exceptions. Your pictures even make it look delicious lol Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Lia says: January 29, 2017 at 9:39 pm

      Honestly I never choose to go out to a bar or drink much at all when I’m at home, but as soon as I’m abroad I’m all about trying whatever is the local specialty and visiting a brewery or distillery lol. I’m a total booze tourist!

      Reply
  2. Probe around the Globe says: January 28, 2017 at 7:01 pm

    I had my first beer tasting experience in Belgium. The variety is so amazing!

    Reply
  3. heleneinbetween says: January 28, 2017 at 7:19 pm

    I don’t like beer, except for Belgian Beer!! Gouden carolus is my FAVORITE! I am pinning this!

    Reply
    • Lia says: January 29, 2017 at 9:38 pm

      I’m really not much of a beer fan but Belgian beers are unlike any I’ve tried before! They’re SO good. Thanks for the share 🙂

      Reply
  4. What's Katie Doing? says: January 29, 2017 at 9:38 am

    A fabulous post! I can see that a lot of beer drinking, I mean research went into this
    I’m definitely going to drink a lot of Belgian beer the next time I visit!

    Reply
  5. Jollies and Jaunts says: January 29, 2017 at 1:06 pm

    Great post, Belgium has some very interesting beer – I’d definitely recommend a visit to the Cantillon Brewery in Brussels too, it’s a great way to learn about the history of it too.

    Reply
    • Lia says: January 29, 2017 at 9:37 pm

      Good call! We had planned to visit Cantillon but didn’t make it. We’ve heard it’s one of the best Lambics in Belgium. Perhaps we should add it to the post.

      Reply
  6. Jordan Beck Wagner says: January 29, 2017 at 9:20 pm

    I absolutely LOVED my beer experience in Bruges! Great suggestion on the brewery. I’d also recommend Staminee De Garre, an awesome bar hidden away from the main square…so good and so authentic!

    Reply
  7. jmkanter says: January 30, 2017 at 6:25 am

    So, so glad I found this post and your blog! Will definitely use it for my upcoming trip to Belgium in March. 🙂

    Reply
    • Lia says: January 30, 2017 at 4:59 pm

      Yesss have fun on your trip! If you drink nothing else, make sure to drink a Westvleteren while you’re there!!

      Reply
      • Julianne says: April 24, 2017 at 5:52 am

        Update: I DID drink a Westvleteren, and it tasted like wine to me! I just re-read your guide, and I understand it SO much better after visiting Belgium 😉 But you definitely prepared me well, my Beer Yoda! xx

        Reply
        • Lia says: April 24, 2017 at 7:53 pm

          Hahah yayyy! We mailed one to a friend of ours in the States and got to share it with him last week, which was rad. Except he kept trying to insist that it should be drunk cold … and none of the flavors came out until it was lukewarm! But yumm, all that marshmallow-fig-soaked-bourbon-raisin flavor. Mmmmm. I’m so glad you got to experience it!

          Reply
  8. Katrijn Snauwaert says: June 5, 2017 at 4:55 am

    Fun read but a few comments from a Belgian: It’s Brugge (in Dutch) or Bruges (in English), Brugges doesn’t exist. Also why would you call Ghent ‘the Vegas of Belgium’? Like really why? what’s the reasoning behind this? I find it very insulting to such a beautiful city, Vegas implies show, fakeness and everything over the top, why on earth would you make this comparison with a city like Ghent?

    Reply
    • Lia says: June 5, 2017 at 11:12 am

      Hi Katrijn! We haven’t visited Ghent, so we were going off a description by a few locals. I’m sorry if describing it as Vegas is offensive 🙁 lots of people like Vegas (although we’re kinda with you – it’s not our fave place). I’ll be sure to add a note clarifying that this isn’t our own opinion!

      Reply
  9. Katrijn Snauwaert says: June 5, 2017 at 4:57 am

    Also another question: how can you make a list of best Belgian Beers if you haven’t tried them all or at least some of more different cities?

    Reply
    • Lia says: June 5, 2017 at 11:14 am

      I definitely hope one day to try more Belgian beers! We tried a LOT of beers during our 2 weeks travelling through Brussels, Antwerp, and Bruges, and these were the ones that topped our list. We went on a couple different beer tours, drank flights created for us by bartenders, and generally relied on local tips and suggestions since we had no prior knowledge about Belgian beers before we visited Belgium! I’m not sure it’s possible to try ALL Belgian beers (although, what a fun goal to set, eh?) but we certainly did our best to experience as many as we could.

      Reply
  10. Alex says: October 2, 2017 at 4:01 am

    Loved your expertise on this subject! Belgian beer has always been a favorite of mine, but they have so many varieties! Thanks for breaking it all down for me!

    Reply
  11. Aditya says: December 28, 2017 at 10:42 pm

    Hi!

    I love this article! It changed my perspective about Belgian Beer.

    Could you please elaborate on the 9 Step Pouring Process? I could only find 4 things about it:
    – The 2 finger head
    – The pour from a bottle
    – Slightly below room temperature
    – A particular glass

    I couldn’t find the remaining steps (5 steps). Any chance you could tell us about those? 🙂

    Reply
  12. Anna says: March 8, 2018 at 10:21 am

    Thank you so much for this! I cannot wait for my trip to Belgium this June!

    Reply

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  • Spanish moss, historic architecture, blooming flowers, an adorable trolley, and romance: welcome to Savannah in the springtime. 🌸⁣⁣ Did we mention we're obsessed with this place?⁣ .⁣ We have so much to tell you about Savannah, but we're going to start with the people. Savannah is like this: we're at a cafe, sipping some truly excellent coffee and flipping through our photos, like ya do. Seated next to us is an older gentleman. He leans over to us, a photo pulled up on his phone of a park in Savannah at night. "I took this 2 years ago," he says. He scrolls to the right. "Now look." There's a shroud of filmy white fog in the photo. "I took this just a second later, and there wasn't any fog that night." 😱 (Mind you, this interaction came out of NOWHERE.) The barista, pouring coffee, casually nods. "Yep, that square's haunted, just like the rest of the town." And just like that, we're all swapping ghost stories over coffee. We fell in love with Savannah right then and there.⁣ .⁣ It wasn't the only time we made friends with strangers, either. During our trip, a local in a bright red cocktail dress chatted with us at dinner - for THREE HOURS. Our walking tour guide felt like our new BFF. Two different girls complimented my hair AND my outfit (Savannah is really good for the ego). It's no wonder Savannah's nickname is The Hostess City - we felt SO welcomed! (Keep in mind: we're socially awkward AF.) . Oh, and as for those ghost stories? We've got LOTS more to tell you about that ...⁣ .⁣ Do you strike up conversations with locals when you visit? Tell us your favorite stories about meeting locals on your travels in the comments below! . Disclaimer: This trip was #sponsored by @VisitSavannah⁣
  • Beauty & pain often coexist. They're frequently roomies, sharing space together within people or in art. Sometimes we even find them living together in the places we visit. One of the best examples of beauty coexisting with pain is in the South.⁣ .⁣ The South is home to one of the USA's richest histories and several of its most stunning cities. It also has the best food - sorry but that's not up for debate, cuz we all know it's true. ⁣But the South is also home base for one of the darkest and most horrific chapters of US history.⁣ .⁣ Savannah, Georgia was Jeremy's first time visiting a Southern city, and it was one of the most beautiful places either of us have ever seen. The historic downtown is lined with ancient oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. Fragrant azalea blooms - a Savannah springtime signature - perfume the streets. And then there's the architecture: stunning, historic, and flawlessly restored. The whole city looks like a postcard, or a movie set (which is why so many movies are filmed here).⁣ .⁣ This is the kind of place that you fall in love with, the kind of place that makes you want to write books and movies set here, featuring the city in as a central character. We were hooked.⁣ .⁣ But Savannah's beauty, like much of the historic South, came at a steep cost. As we wandered through Savannah's shaded squares (all 22 of them) admiring its beauty, we were also grieving. Much of this gorgeous city was built by enslaved people. Its wealth was gleaned from plantations, from selling enslaved humans and enforcing human bondage. And so Savannah is home to both incredible beauty and unspeakable pain.⁣ .⁣ But in spite of this complexity - or maybe because of its balance - we fell in love with Savannah HARD. You guys, this place is incredible. Amazing. Fascinating. And insanely unique.⁣ .⁣ Over the next few weeks, we'll be sharing photos and stories about our trip to Savannah. We can't wait to tell you all about why we're so obsessed with it!⁣ .⁣ Have you visited a place that's home to both beauty and pain? Tell us about it in the comments! . Disclaimer: our trip was #sponsored by @visitsavannah
  • Instagram vs. Reality 🌴Swipe right to witness me falling on my a** despite literally holding onto a bannister🤣⁣ .⁣ I spent a few days last week hanging out in Florida with my mom. We relaxed by the pool. We went to the gym (my mom's cardio class kicked my butt, y'all). We went on long walks together through nature preserves. My mom identified 2876762 species of exotic Floridian birds through her binoculars while I made up ridiculous bird names in my head and giggled to myself (check out my faves in my new Instagram Story highlight). . And you know the best part? We didn't even fight or argue ONCE. I know I'm 29 years old and a fully grown woman, but that is unheard of. My teenaged self would be SHOOKETH. Teenaged Lia did not have calm, peaceful parental relationships. Teenaged Lia was no walk in the park. She was dealing with trauma via lashing out and rebelling, and she was not an easy kid to parent.⁣ .⁣ But for once, teenaged Lia didn't come up. Instead, we sipped wine and nibbled on cheese and crackers together like grown-up adults. We shared memories about my late grandmother. We went shopping at my mom's favorite thrift store. We got our nails done. And we spent several hours together taking photos of me getting in and out of the pool, arching my back ~just so~ to achieve maximum booty-pop, and falling on my a** like a gorgeous yet graceless sack of potatoes. . We didn't talk about how teenaged Lia used to wear shirts over her bathing suit out of shame, or the many ways in which she rebelled and lashed out, or the trauma she suffered. Teenaged Lia wasn't around this trip. Just grown-up Lia, who feels confident and beautiful in a bikini and has been working on embracing her natural hair texture (curly girl method, y'all). . We just hung out together. And it was really, really nice.⁣ .⁣ Any other grown-a** adults finally getting to the stage where they can spend time with their parents without argueing (or still struggling to get there)? I can relate HARD, so drop me a comment below!⁣
  • Happy Birthday to this handsome fella!🎉🎂 My life partner turns 31 today, and frankly I think he's getting better every day. Like cheese. Or wine. Except unlike cheese or wine, there isn't like ... an expiration date ... also, nobody will be consuming my husband. This metaphor is getting away from me, actually 😖 . The point is that my husband is getting more handsome, wise, and clever every day. He's also getting a little creakier and starting to make some old man noises that we've never heard before 🤣 but I love those old man noises, just like I love the friendly crinkles around his eyes when he smiles. ⁣Part of marriage is witnessing the person you love change as they get older, which I think is fun and exciting and beautiful.⁣ .⁣ Over the past 5 years, Jeremy and I have grown together from two reckless 20-somethings into 2 grown-up adults who do things like purchase furniture and contemplate raising humans together. I've watched Jeremy mature from an unsure 25-year-old to a confident 31 year old who is at least mature enough to be in charge of a large group of teenagers every day. I've watched him put in the difficult work of analyzing lessons learned from his own life and communicating those lessons with clarity and empathy to his 17 year old students - a feat of emotional maturity and patience that I appreciate every day in our partnership. And I've watched him learn that questioning himself is not a weakness, but a strength - a necessary skill for growth and improvement. Witnessing Jeremy's growth inspires my own, and our partnership enriches both of us to become stronger, healthier, happier individuals.⁣ .⁣ ⁣ So happy birthday to my life partner, my life-long crush, and my personal obsession in human form (yep, it's gross, I know). I feel so privileged to wake up next to you every day and so lucky to get to share your life and witness your growth. I know I tell you mushy stuff every day, so I know you already know this, but just in case: you are my entire universe, and I love you like, a stupid huge amount.⁣
  • I'm gonna be real with y'all: this photo looked a lot better in my head than it does in real life - because the version in my head looks like what I found on Instagram. You see, on Instagram, most versions of this shot show the mountain centered in between the temple gates, via what I can only assume is mountain-moving magic. Many photos also show this beautiful reflected water instead of a patch of sand and spotty grass (how?!). And a few of them seem not to be featuring the traditional Balinese temple garb, those colorful scarves tied around our waists (gonna chalk that one up to disrespect, tbh).⁣ .⁣ Honestly, I'm not quite sure how everyone else achieved their photos, but I've long ago made my peace with the fact that our travels are rarely picture-perfect. They're much more likely to be off-centered and a little less than idyllic, and they've never been what I'd describe as "aspirational." . I mean, y'all... literally anyone can take this photo. You just take a taxi to Lempuyang Temple, rent a scarf, walk up a couple flights of stairs, and stand in a line. This isn't a photo of a a deep, soulful moment during our travels. It's just a cool photo. ⁣ .⁣ And while cool photos are great and all, and also like ... half of my job, they don't depict the best moments during our travels. Because the best moments are never picture-perfect. The best moments are sharing a conversation at a restaurant with a total stranger. They're taking the wrong bus and ending up somewhere unexpectedly rad. They're exploring dark alleys just to see where they might lead, trying weird food that we can't pronounce, and practicing the local language with our taxi driver. They're the time Jeremy crashed our motorbike in the middle of the night in the Ubud monkey forest, cutting his leg up and scaring us both half to death (OK, that one actually sucked at the time, but now it's one of our favorite stories about visiting Ubud). . The point is: travel is rarely picture perfect. And that's totally, completely, and utterly OK.⁣ .⁣ Do you ever try to get that "Instagram perfect" photo and end up with something else entirely? Drop us a comment!
  • Ubud, Bali is one of the most lush, green places we've ever been. I think we could have happily lived there for a while, befriending monkeys (JK they're adorable but they're f**king evil) and working at boujie coffee shops and visiting temples (everything in Bali looked like a temple) and eating plates of Nasi Goreng and going to traditional dance performances at the Royal Palace each night. 2 weeks in Bali was definitely not enough, even though we visited 3 different spots - Ubud, Amed, and the Nusa islands! (Psst: our full itinerary is on the blog if you're planning a trip of your own - link in bio).⁣ .⁣ This particular view is on the outskirts of town by the entrance to a beautiful temple (Pura Gunung Lebah Temple) and the start of Ubud's best short hike, the Campuhan Ridge Walk. The 2 hour hike takes you along the top of a stunning ridge through the jungle and looking out over rice fields, and halfway through you'll reach a cafe. Let me just say that I love hikes that have a cafe in the middle of them. That's the best thing ever!.Sadly we didn't complete the hike ourselves because we are lazy humans who are incapable of walking up early in the morning to do anything, especially on vacation, so by the time we made it to this stunning viewpoint and the start of the hike the sun was blazingly hot. So don't be us: wake up early, y'all!⁣ .⁣ We love visiting places that are lush & green - do you have suggestions for us? Where have you been that's gorgeously green?
  • #ad Where would you go if nothing was holding you back? What adventures would you seek? What dreams would you chase?⁣ .⁣ If the world is calling but you're not answering, I have a challenge for you: how can you redefine your idea of travel? Travel doesn't have to be a big, crazy international trip. It can be a weekend getaway to somewhere inexpensive you found on @Bookingcom just a few hours away. And to help get you there, you can snag $30 off your stay by using the link in my bio. (Last chance, y'all - grab it if you haven't⁣ yet!). . Travel can feel scary. It can be challenging. It can force you to re-examine things you took for granted. And that's why I LOVE it - and I want you to experience it, too! But anything that pulls you out of your comfort zone and pushes you to explore somewhere unfamiliar is travel. So #BeABooker and travel in any way that you can, whether it's close to home or far away. Your soul will thank you.⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ .⁣ . . #nusalembongan #bali #balilife #balitravel #balivacation #beautifuldestinations #baliexplore #bestvacations #travelbali #lovebali #traveltagged #travelbali #thebalibible #passionpassport⁣ #thetravelwomen #femmetravel #globelletravels #gltlove #girlslovetravel #wearetravelgirls #sheisnotlost #dametraveler #girlswhotravel #TheGlobeWanderer #TravelDiary #sheexplores #WomenWhoExplore #radgirlslife
  • Hey, y'all! It's been a LONG time since I did an intro post (possibly ever?) so today, I'm doing one! Hi, I'm Lia 👋 I'm half of the disaster-prone couple behind Practical Wanderlust (and the one who runs the Instagram account). As you can see in this photo, I once drank watermelon juice while wearing a tie-dye romper in a cool swing in Bali. Here are some other useless facts about me in emoji bullet point form! . 🐎I grew up on a farm in Kentucky (hence all the y'alls). I have a lot of complicated feelings about my home state and its backwards a$$ politics, but I LOVE my hometown, Louisville. Louisville is the most underrated city in the country and y'all can quote me on that. Go visit!⁣ .⁣ 🚶‍♀️I'm incredibly clumsy and generally accident-prone. I often fall over when standing still (or walking). I've been known to get completely lost inside of a blanket (blankets, how do they work??). And if you put stuff in my hands, I shut down completely and lose all ability to function, like a malfunctioning robot. . 🏋️‍♀️ I powerlift! Powerlifting is my favorite workout because it makes me feel like a bada$$ BEAST who is strong and capable of anything. Focusing my goals on gaining muscle rather than losing weight makes me happier. I've also learned to embrace failure as an essential tool for growth. Oh, and yes: I make obnoxiously loud, grunty noises when I lift stuff (they actually help!).⁣ . 👗I studied fashion design in college. Then I spent 5 years working in the corporate fashion industry. Then quit and threw it all away to ~travel. These days I mostly use my fashion industry knowledge to rant about travel pants with pockets on the blog. . ⛑️ During our disastrous year-long honeymoon, I got rescued off of a waterfall in Colombia, crawled up a mountain on my hands and knees in Ecuador, and attempted and failed to hike the Inca Trail in Peru. But hey, at least I didn't run a BMW into a castle in France like my husband did. You can find all of those stories and more on our year-long honeymoon summary - link in bio! . What do you wish you knew about me? What stuff are you low-key curious about? Now's your chance to be nosy! Drop me a comment below.⁣

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