Hey guys, I wonder if you can help me with some advice?

I have negotiated with my better half that during our upcoming visit to her family in Brussels, that we should visit the 'Ring. This will be my first visit, I can't wait. Seeing as I am the only petrol head in the group, I was hoping to keep the rest of the family occupied. Can you help me with the following:

What interesting things that are non automotive are there to do in the area? (for those that will otherwise be bored senseless)

Where is a good place to stay that is close to a nice restaurant/pub etc.?

How long will it take to drive from Brussels?

Many thanks for your help.

Okay i didnt really see much of activity for those who dont have cars, there is a visitors centre and a musium so they might want to go into that, Loads of hotels which were fully booked when we were there.

Didnt really see much of restuarants, too busy looking at all the cool cars, can tell you were the good places to meet women are tho

Andrew

If you're going from Brussels into Germany I guess you'll be using the E40/E42 route?

If you are then you could drop the family in Cologne (Köln) for some sight-seeing or shopping. There's lots of Irish Pubs, Shops, Museums, Cafe's, Bars etc to keep everyone occupied.

When I was living out there for a while a few years back we used to go to the ring at weekends and it was only about an hours drive from Cologne.

As for hotels, I'm really not sure since we never stayed over at the 'ring.

Enjoy!

There's actually a fair bit to do around the 'ring if you take the time out. It's just off the Mosel Valley, lovely picturesque country side in the summer.  I've had a 3 day holiday out there with the missus and she loved it (but not the 'ring bit).

The Mosel river is to the south if you look on a map, anywhere along there is worth seeing. I'd recommend Cochem as it's a straight drive from the 'ring, you can take a trip up the river, have lunch etc. There are also lots of small villages with dormant volcano lakes, Ulmen is one near to the 'ring. Lots of sightseeing rather than activities.

If you have a family then try the Dorint but at Daun, +4965927130, its up in the hills and is like a big collection of chalets, loads to do here with tennis courts and crazy golf, also an indoor pool. For a quieter stay try the Burgerstube in Ulmen +492676367, nice family run place with a great restaurant, only 9 rooms I think.

There are lots of places nearer the ring but you start to get very car orientated which you might want to avoid with a family.

Its 2 hours from Brussels, and you go past Spa Francorchamps so you have to stop there as well.

You might need two cars to make it worthwhile.

Cheers guys - some good advice there.

It's all adult family members so somewhere with 'relaxation' facilties would go down well I'm sure. I'm sure they'd love to take in some local scenery too. We'll have two cars so the no problems there.

It's the last Sunday of this month we'll be there (30th). Probably drive down in the morning and spend the afternoon doing a few careful laps! I've been reading Ben Lovejoy's site and have a suitable fear of bending metal...

David321 wrote: It's the last Sunday of this month we'll be there (30th). Probably drive down in the morning and spend the afternoon doing a few careful laps! I've been reading Ben Lovejoy's site and have a suitable fear of bending metal...

I'll be there on that Sunday, see you there. You can't miss my car in the car park. Hoping to be running in the AP brakes on the way there...

SHEPSM3 wrote: Pooky, Love your E36 M3! Nice

Cheers for that, obviously nothing compared to the ultimate ring weapon I (and a few others) took out early last year for a laugh.

I only managed to find one pic of me in a striped out sport!

But this is the best Ring pic ive seen!

Andrew

When I took a friend out last year who hadn't been before I was telling him stories of over-taking camper vans and bendy buses whilst we were stood watching at Brunchen. He didn't believe me until 5 minutes later a bendy bus came round the corner followed by another two coaches...

i busted a bus full of school kids in a tour bus on the ring.

one particular little punk at the back was sticking his fingers up at me. little sh*t.