Once a racetrack, and the place where the Bangladeshi Declaration of Independence took place, this vast park holds historical importance. A fine place to relax by day, it converts into an open-air market at night, so there is never a bad time to visit.

The 50-hectare-plus Vrijbroek Park is situated on the outskirts of the city. It is the ideal place to walk, kick a football around or read. A visit to the magnificent rose garden is highly recommended, even if only for the seductive scent of the more than 100 different species of rose! In 2003 the World Federation of Rose Societies granted it the 'Award of Garden Excellence'. A great effort has been made to make visits informative, so for example you will find name-plates all over the garden as well as brochures of walks.

The Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge is found at the far reaches of southeastern Lake Havasu. Rumored to contain the largest surviving cottonwood-willow woodlands of the lower Colorado River, the Refuge covers 6,000 acres. Perhaps most importantly, the Bill Williams River serves as a comfortable refuge to over 300 species of birds and waterfowl. There are a number of endangered species currently in propagation, including the razorback sucker fish and bony-tail chubs, which are indigenous to the Bill Williams River. Additionally, the Audubon Society named the Refuge an area of global significance in 2011.

A weekend trip to Ghent is simply not complete without a visit to the mysterious ‘Castle of the Counts’. This important sight in Ghent is a castle with a very turbulent past, closely intertwined with the complex—often stormy—political and social history of the city. It is the only remaining mediaeval castle with a moat and largely intact defence system in Flanders. Your visit to the Castle of the Counts will give you a complete picture of heraldic culture in the 12th century. The gatehouse, ramparts, keep, count’s residence and stables are open to visitors. Be sure to go up the long spiral staircase to the museum of torture devices on the top floor of the Castle of the Counts. Here, you will find a unique collection of instruments for torture and coercion, as well as a collection of weapons. The Castle of the Counts also hosts all kinds of cultural activities, events and activities, for example during the Ghent Festivities. It is also a popular place to get married for Ghent’s locals. Let’s not forget the time the Castle of the Counts was occupied by protesting students in 1949! Explore the castle during your weekend trip in Ghent and find out all about the ‘Battle of the Castle of the Counts’. The keep, symbol of the Counts’ power Go back in time inside this majestic fortress. Its history goes back to the time of the Roman occupation, when there was already a settlement on a sand bank by the River Lys. After a brief period of Viking plundering, the Counts of Flanders converted the earlier wooden constructions into a keep (living quarters) in the Middle Ages, with ramparts built entirely of stone, replete with 24 towers. The imposing building with its military architecture was a symbol of the Counts’ power in the turbulent city of Ghent. Do you want to dig deep into the history of Ghent? This is where you need to be. Ghent, full of charming history and modern vibrancy.