Amsterdam, Netherlands in 3 Days (Day 1)

Our latest trip has taken us to a destination that, when mentioned to many, initiates thoughts of lewdness, liberal drug laws and general seediness.  But, how those preconceptions are so far off base!  While the laws of the Netherlands are indeed extremely tolerant, the people are fairly conservative and the country has many hidden gems most casual visitors will never see. Before You Go! VERY IMPORTANT: Plan carefully before you leave and plot which museums you wish to see.  Lines (queues) will form very quickly and be very long for the best venues.  The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Heineken Experience and Anne Frank Huis will all sell tickets online for a particular entry time.  If you do not buy online, you will waste a good amount of your precious time waiting on very long lines. When to Go Amsterdam is beautiful any time of the year.  Having visited in April, July, August, October and November, we definitely recommend April.  The height of the flower season, the weather can be cooperative, there are festivities for Easter and the Queens birthday.  It's just the best time to go! The Basics Amsterdam is the capital of The Netherlands.  Easily accessible from Schiphol Airport located a 15 minute train ride from the city center, Amsterdam is possibly the most accessible European city, as most sights are located within walking distance.  And, when they aren't, a friendly and reliable transportation system will take you there. Amsterdam's Schiphol airport is serviced by the nations carrier, KLM, which flies to many worldwide cities, among them LAX, SFO, JFK, EWR, ORD, IAH and more in the United States alone.  Other carriers including Delta/Northwest, Continental (3DT's recommended carrier!), MartinAir (Dutch charter carrier) and more.  Flying time from New York is under 7 hours outbound, 8 hours inbound. Schiphol Airport is a modern facility with impressive shopping facilities and a built-in train station for easy transit.  Buy your tickets for just over 8 Euros in the hall above the train platforms, just outside the arrival area.  In order to use the automated machines you need a European PIN card, so American visitors will need to use the train desk.  After getting your tickets, proceed down to the assigned ramp and the soon-to-arrive train will carry you to Amsterdam's Centraal Station in about 15 minutes. Where to Stay & Arrival 3DT always recommends going to your hotel first.  If you can't check in (which is common because of the early arrival), you can usually leave your bags safely with the hotel and then start on your way.  As always, we recommend you stay awake as long as you can.  Even if your hotel checks you in, the most you should do is shower and then head back on your way.  You'll sleep when you are home! Day 1 After a long trip, the best way to start your day is with a trip to a traditional Dutch Pancake House.  3DT strongly recommends ham & cheese!  Enjoy a plate-sized pancake and some fresh orange juice, or perhaps a very strong cup of coffee, while you review your plan for the rest of the day.  A great pancake house to visit is opposite the Holland Casino, between the Leidseplein and the Stadhouderskade.  Alternatively, another recommended restaurant would be located at the corner of the Weteringshans and the Leidsekruisstraat. After a nice dutch breakfast, now is a good time to explore the city and get a sense of your bearings.  From either restaurant above, you can easily walk to the Leidseplein, a great square with lots of activity.  Walking toward the Centraal Station (Or Dam Square) you will walk through some local shopping streets and other various distractions - stop and take a look around.  As with all 3 day trips, there is a plan, but you have lots of latitude to stop and learn. As you continue, when you arrive at the Singel Canal, which will be the beginning of the Flower Market.  This market is open every day and is always a sight - a great place for tourists to get their first taste of the Dutch Flower Business.  Make a right, visit straight through the flower market and emerge on the other side, crossing over the canal to your left and moving up the Kalverstraat, a pedestrian-only walkway.  Here, you'll continue straight up for about 1/2  a mile (I know!  What a walk!) until you reach Dam Square - for many a center of activity in the city. Hungry?  Stop at a FEBO (You'll pass one or two) and get a kroket for 1.40 Euro (exact change only!). Okay, you're beat.  But if you are us, its probably not even 2:00 yet!  What's next?  From here, if you havent checked into your hotel, find your way back via tram or walking.  Check in, freshen up.  If you have, then onto new places! Our goal at 3DT on European trips is to make it through day 1 until the sun goes down.  No napping, no laying down - you will want to!  So what is next?  How about a beer tour?  Yes, we're serious!  Lets learn how the tram works.  At first,  you'll think we're crazy for sending you back where you came....  Well, maybe.  But in fact you aren't more than a mile from your furthest point.  At (the) Dam Square, hop tram 16, 24, or 25 for a fast transit to the Heineken Experience.  Tram tickets can be purchased either at local stores, your hotel (most likely) or on the tram.  If you enter the newer trams via the back door you will see a representative working there selling tickets.  The tram system works via ZONES.  If you have a ticket you bought at a store or hotel, you would use 2 strips for the first zone and one for each additional.  Though, in reality, 90% of visitors will stay within the 1 main, central zone. The Heineken Experience is an essential introduction to the marvelous beers available in Europe.  In fact, 3DT says that the best beer in the world may be a cold Heineken, served up in the Netherlands with the head shaved off...  Regardless of your personal tastes, enjoy the tour and take your time.  Especially at the 3 tasting opportunities that come along with the price of admission.  Hopefully you pre-paid for your ticket at home, but if you haven't, that's okay - the lines here are manageable. The time now, well...  Its probably 430 or so.  Give or take.  How about a relaxing canal cruise?  Find your way back to the Leidseplein (sheesh, now you are a tram expert, so you'll figure that out).  Stopping near the Holland Casino, out front you will notice a small dock area with tickets for sale for canal cruises.  I like this location as a starting point for a cruise around the famous canals.  Cruises typically last 60-90 minutes.  There are night time cruises available with bar service, so depending on your tastes it may be too early to ride.  Either way, at this point you are ready to start winding down... Upon an end of a successful boat tour without pirate intervention, its time to grab some dinner and wrap up our day.  I'm not going to recommend particular places for you to go but instead offer up general suggestions.  One day 1, we like to stay close to our hotel, so we can have a short walk back on blistered feet!  The Dutch Capital has a spectacular selection of Indonesian and Argentinian restaurants, so why not grab a nice steak to celebrate your first day of three, in one of the prettiest cities in Europe! NEXT TIME: Part 2 featuring Museums and more museums...