Tweet07-01-2011 om 17:50 by Amanda Potter

Having survived another holiday season complete with buckets of snow on both sides of the pond, I thought it would be fun to share a few new adventures for the new year. Dan and I have attempted to travel a lot as expats, but it never ceases to amaze me how many interesting places are available in my own backyard. So without further ado, here are 5 new (to me) adventures I hope to experience in the coming year.

Cruise the Meuse to the Liege Market

A wide variety of day and half day river cruises on the Meuse are available through Rederij Stiphout, including one out to the Rhine and another that will take you closer to the Zonnenburg caves on St. Peitersburg. But the one I look forward to checking out goes to Liege. For 22 euros, you can cruise up the river to Liege and then enjoy a couple of hours exploring the city’s attractive Sunday market, before taking the water back to Maastricht.

Visit the Zoo

I love zoos, so it’s a little surprising that I haven’t made it out to see the animal park nearest us in the Netherlands. GaiaPark zoo is located in Kerkade, and features a variety of exotic animals and child-friendly educational exhibits. I like to see how natural habitats can be in a zoo environment and, if I’m lucky, they’ll have some cubs.

Taste Local Wines

Limburg’s soil is very good for wine grapes and there are many local wines I haven’t had the chance to sample yet. I hope to visit the Dutch Wine Museum here in Maastricht, but there are also some great vineyards that offer tours just off the beaten path. You can contact Viti BV for more information. Many vineyards are not public transportation accessible though, so you’ll have to bike or drive to them. Sample responsibly.

Relax in a Limburgish Spa

I’ve never been to a spa, but it’s never too early to start. I already got a taste of Aachen, which has excellent hot springs, but there are many thermal spas around the Limburg area. Thermae Sunrise in Valkenburg aan de Geul sounds interesting with a variety of treatments, hot springs, and pools set in the South Limburg hills.

Ski Indoors

I grew up on a pair of cross-country skis and was married in a downhill skiing lodge, so the idea of skiing indoors and/or during the summer is pretty strange to me. But what sort of adventure would it be if it wasn’t a little odd? SnowWorld Landsgraaf offers indoor skiing year around for people of all ages. I wonder how easy it is to crash into a wall.

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