Netherlands

Posted on: October 16, 2008 at 2:42PM

While in Amsterdam, rent a bike! I spent a few days there, and one afternoon, we rented bikes and had a wonderful time. It's a great way to explore the city--you're able to cover much more ground than on foot--and makes you feel like one of the locals. We had a fantastic time, even after I took a spill on the street, though I must say, it was then that I truly felt like a tourist. We rode around Vondelpark as well, which was incredibly beautiful and peaceful- as a bonus, it was raining lightly on and off, and the sky cleared up with one of the most incredible rainbows I'd ever seen. Truly a beautiful place. Other Amsterdam recommendations: Don't miss the Van Gogh museum. Though crowded the art is a must-see, as is the story the museum tells- it's set up chronologically so you can get a terrific sense of Van Gogh's life and how his art changed as he aged. We also went to the Theater Tuschinski one night, and though I don't normally advocate going to the movies on a vacation, the theater itself is a sight to see with beautiful Art Deco architecture. It's on Reguliersbreestraat, near Rembrandt Square, and is worth it even just to walk by. report a problem