Amsterdam Insider Tips

Welcome back city lovers to another Friday edition of I Heart My City. This week Keith Jenkins, traveler and writer behind the Velvet Escape blog, gives us his insider’s tour of Amsterdam. Read on to discover some of Keith’s great tips, like where to score the city’s best Flemish fries.

Original post via National Geographic.

Amsterdam is My City

Amsterdam’s Begijnjof (Keith Jenkins)

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is the Begijnhof or Nunnery in the heart of Amsterdam; a tranquil place with beautiful houses and trees. It’s simply a magical place.

When I crave Dutch (or Flemish) fries, with mayonnaise of course, I always go to Fleminckx (Voetboogstraat 31, a small lane between the Spui square and the Heiligeweg). Simply the best fries in town!

To escape the daily grind of blogging, I head into town for a leisurely stroll along the canals or an afternoon at one of the many terraces to people-watch. Any of the terraces at Rembrandt plein (square) is a good bet for an entertaining afternoon.

For complete quiet, I can hide away in the countryside just north of Amsterdam. There are many options but my favorites are the area around the little village of Schoorl (simply ‘Holland At Its Best‘) or the islands of Texel or Vlieland with their endless beaches and dunes.

If you come to my city, get your picture taken on the drawbridge that crosses the Groenburgwal canal. Amsterdam is very photogenic and there are many great spots for a memorable picture. When you’re on the bridge, keep an eye out for Amsterdammers on their bikes to avoid being run over!

If you have to order one thing off the menu from Saturnino (my favorite Italian restaurant) it has to be the sirloin steak with black truffles and porcini mushrooms.

Locals know to skip the canal tours and check out options for hiring a boat instead. It’s so much more fun to hire a boat, pack a picnic basket and cruise through the canals at your own pace. The canals of Amsterdam offer visitors a unique window into the history of the city and the lifestyle of its inhabitants.

When I’m feeling cash-strapped I go to my favorite neighborhood restaurant: Eten aan de Rijn. I love to cook but I enjoy eating out just as much. Eten aan de Rijn has a daily three-course menu for 25 euros. Excellent food and the owners Jaap and Nadja are great company!

For a huge splurge I go to one of the Michelin star restaurants in or near Amsterdam. My favorites include Ron Blaauw (in the village of Ouderkerk just outside the city) or ‘T Amsterdammetje and Tante Koosje (in the gorgeous village of Loenen aan de Vecht, about a 30-minute drive from Amsterdam).

Keith Jenkins

Photo ops in my city include the bridge that crosses the Groenburgwal canal, the Begijnhof and my absolute favorite spot in the city, the intersection of the Keizers and Leidse canals. The best vantage point is the rooftop of the NEMO science center.

If my city were a celebrity it’d be George Clooney; sexy, mondaine and despite its age, far from past its prime!

The most random thing about my city is how cosmopolitan it is. Almost 200 different nationalities live here, making it a very vibrant town with a broad array of cultural activities every day of the year… and all that within a village-like setting!

My city has the tallest men. The Dutch are some of the tallest people on this planet. Honestly, I sometimes feel like a dwarf (and I’m not particularly short!)

My city has the most diverse, sexy women.

In my city, an active day outdoors involves cycling around town (a daily activity) or into the nearby countryside (I love the route that follows the Amstel River down to the village of Ouderkerk). Rowing (in the Amstel River) is also a popular sport among the locals.

My city’s best museum is the Van Gogh Museum (I’m a big fan of Van Gogh). Amsterdam is famous for its museums and rightfully so. There are many of them, from the Rijksmuseum (with its stunning collection of Rembrandts) to the Hermitage (a branch of its famous namesake in St. Petersburg), the Tropenmuseum (Tropical Museum) and the Museum of Bags and Purses. Did I mention the Sex Museum?

My favorite jogging/walking route is along the entire length of the Keizersgracht– my favorite canal. It’s an excellent walking route through the heart of the city center, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Start at the canal’s intersection with the Brouwersgracht. You’ll pass the wonderfully atmospheric Jordaan neighborhood, the shopping haven in the Nine Streets neighborhood and many stately houses before reaching the Amstel River. I can also recommend the route along the Amstel River to Ouderkerk. As you leave the city behind you, you’ll pass beautiful windmills, grazing cows and sheep, and historic mansions.

For a night of dancing, go to Jimmy Woo. Or, for live music, check out Muziekgebouw aan ‘t Ij (the Music Center at the harbor front) for an eclectic variety of musical performances and great views of the harbor.

The FEBO, a Dutch institution, is the spot for late-night eats. It’s a quirky experience as you eat ‘out of a wall’ but you have to try it!

You can tell a lot about my city from its different neighborhoods.

You can tell if someone is from my city if they’re on a junk-like bike.

Keith Jenkins

In the spring you should head to the tulip fields a short drive outside Amsterdam around the town of Lisse.

In the summer you should join in the fun at the Vondel Park.

In the fall you should see the autumn leaves in the Amsterdamse Bos (the Amsterdam Forest).

In the winter you should catch a speed-skating competition along the canals (if the ice is sufficiently thick). It’s an unforgettable experience!

A hidden gem in my city is the Our Lord in the Attic Chapel in the Amstelkring Museum. It’s a hidden church with an intriguing history and a gorgeous interior!

For a great breakfast joint try Bagels & Beans.

Don’t miss the Holland Festival in June, the leading performance arts festival in the country. Visit IAmsterdam for info about events in the city.

The best way to see my city is to walk. Amsterdam is very compact so everything’s within walking distance.

Many things could only happen in my city. Amsterdam is (in)famous for its tolerant attitude, that acts like a magnet for many free-thinkers and progressives from around the world. Having lived here for twenty years, not many things surprise me these days.

My city should be featured on your cover or website because it’s arguably one of the most multi-faceted cities in the world. Its cosmopolitan landscape, liberal mentality, world-class museums, stunning canals and fascinating history merge to exude a unique charm that’s simply captivating.

Southern Lakes among Lonely Planet’s top regions for 2012

Queenstown and Southern Lakes has been named one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 regions to visit next year.

The publisher’s seventh-annual Best In Travel book is a collection of top 10-lists covering everything from the best cities to the best-value destinations to visit in the upcoming year.

Queenstown and Southern Lakes is eighth on the list of ‘best regions’, in the company of gems such as the island of Hvar in Croatia, Canada’s Maritime Provinces and coastal Wales.

New Zealand-based Lonely Planet author Sarah Bennett said the inclusion of the South Island region on the list was two-fold.

Queenstown was known internationally as an adventure playground where people could go skiing in the morning and waterskiing in the afternoon, she said, but the area’s beauty could also not be discounted.

“I think anyone that’s been there knows that the scenery is actually surreal – it’s so beautiful it’s surreal and we hear that all the time.”

Aside from Queenstown, Wanaka and Te Anau were singled out for special mention in the Southern Lakes entry.

Bennett said although Wanaka often felt “a little bit like a poor cousin”, it offered a lot of the same charm as Queenstown on a smaller, quieter scale.

It is also the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park, a place Bennett described as “paradise”.

“Once you’ve been to that area, to the Southern Lakes, it could ruin you for travel for the rest of your life.”

Tony Everitt, CEO of Destination Queenstown, said featuring in Best in Travel 2012 would bring significant benefits for the region’s profile.

“To receive this kind of endorsement by Lonely Planet is priceless for Queenstown and the Southern Lakes as well as New Zealand,” he said.

“Lonely Planet is a giant of the travel industry so making it onto their top 10 must-visit regions for 2012 will give our region global recognition and provide inspiration for their readers to visit.”

The guide’s top country to visit next year is Uganda, a place Bennett said was an “emerging tourist destination”.

“People think of Uganda [and] they think of civil war and they think of Idi Amin and those are two reasons not to travel to a country, for sure, but that era is over…

“The actual trouble in Uganda is in very small pockets and very defined areas and for the most part, they’re welcoming tourists. They’ve got the infrastructure but it’s still at an early stage.”

Bennett said Uganda would particularly appeal to travellers seeking an intrepid safari adventure.

London was named the top city to visit next year and the northeast of the United States was deemed the best-value destination.

LONELY PLANET’S TOP TRAVEL PICKS FOR 2012

Best regions

1. Coastal Wales
2. La Ruta Maya, Central America
3. Northern Kenya
4. Arunachal Pradesh, India
5. Hvar, Croatia
6. Sicily, Italy
7. Canada’s Maritime Provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island)
8. Queenstown and Southern Lakes, New Zealand
9. Borneo, Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia
10. Poitou-Charentes, France

Best cities

1. London, England
2. Muscat, Oman
3. Bengaluru (Bangalore), India
4. Cádiz, Spain
5. Stockholm, Sweden
6. Guimarães, Portugal
7. Santiago, Chile
8. Hong Kong, China
9. Orlando, Florida, USA
10. Darwin, Australia

Best countries

1. Uganda
2. Myanmar
3. Ukraine
4. Jordan
5. Denmark
6. Bhutan
7. Cuba
8. New Caledonia
9. Taiwan
10. Switzerland

Via nzherald.co.nz

Top 5 places for fall foliage

The leaves are changing and we don’t want you to miss out on the stunning fall scenery. We’ve chosen our top 5 places in the U.S. to get your fill of changing color or go “leaf peeping” as it’s often called.

While the leaves piling up in your yard or on top of your car windshield may not be very convincing, one of the best things about entering the fall season is no doubt seeing the colors change. With the cooler weather comes an array of autumn colors that can contribute to beautiful views all around the country. Whether you’re a photographer or just like to take in beautiful scenery, it’s well worth the effort to find a sought-after fall foliage spot and treat yourself to the spectacular view. We’ve narrowed it down to the best five places in the U.S. to see a spectacular view of red, orange, and yellow-covered trees in the autumn outdoors.

Vermont

It seems to be a general consensus that Vermont is one of the best places in the country to witness the seasons change. The entire state is full of beautiful colors during the fall season, so it’s hard to pick a single destination. Drive along the roads in Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historic Park, visit the Cold Hollow Cider Mill, or get in on all kinds of fall activities at the Newfane Harvest Festival in the town of Newfane, Vermont. Embark on a short hike in West Bolton to get to the beautiful view from Libby’s Lookout (above).

White Mountains, New Hampshire

It’s no secret that many of the best places to see Fall foliage in the whole world are in the Northeastern section of the U.S., and New Hampshire is no exception. White Mountains in particular boasts incredible views and plenty of hikes for every level. The area is full of small towns and scenic roads that will make the Northeast fall seem as quintessential as can be. If you’re up for a drive, make your way along the Kancamagus Highway or around Mt. Washington for spectacular scenic views. Hiking paths along the Kancamagus vary in level and will also give you a great opportunity to see the leaves.

Rocky Mountains, Colorado

It’s no secret that some of the best places to see Fall color in the world are in the Northeastern section of the U.S., but there are a few spots in the Western half of the country, too. It’s a different kind of color, but the Aspen trees that fill the areas around the Rocky Mountains in Colorado turn a bright golden yellow in the fall that contrasts beautifully with the ever-blue sky and white-peaked mountains. Visit Rocky Mountain National Park for over 300 miles of hiking paths, or drive the Peak-to-Peak Scenic and Historic Byway that will take you from Black Hawk to Estes Park.

Shenandoah Park, Virginia

If you’re looking for the best scenic drive in the pack for leaf-peeping the fall colors, look no further. Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park is home to the beautiful 105-mile Skyline Drive, which runs along the Blue Ridge Mountains. The road is the only public road in the entire park and can be enjoyed by either car or bike. For a more athletic option, 101 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail are within the National Park.

Acadia National Park, Maine

In another section of the Northeast, Maine offers a quiet atmosphere and brilliant red colors in the Fall. Visitors can bicycle along the old carriage roads for some of the best colors, or drive the 27-mile Acadia National Park Loop Road, which includes everything from lakes and ocean to forest and mountains. In Washington County, you can do something a little unusual and take in the stunning fall foliage in a canoe tour along the St. Croix river. Don’t forget to have your fill of lobster along the way.

Via digitaltrends.com

Just Back: Myanmar—Why Go Now?

For years, Myanmar—better known by its colonial name, Burma—has been high on my list of places I wanted to visit. But the tourism boycott called by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and the country’s unstable politics held me back. The military junta’s brutal crackdown on monk-led protests in 2007 also left a bad taste for many a conscientious traveler.

Recently, though, the country has opened up a bit following elections last year—which admittedly were engineered in favor of the military-backed party—and Suu Kyi’s release from house arrest. (Suu Kyi also reversed her stance on tourism two years ago.) The chance to go to Yangon—or, Rangoon—cropped up recently, and I leapt at it.

Yangon was once a key port in the British Empire and vestiges of that glorious past are evident everywhere. Downtown Yangon is filled with crumbling but still stately colonial buildings—they look like the architectural equivalent of Miss Havisham. Many of the older people that I met spoke flawless Queen’s English and students were streaming into the American Center, which features prominently in George Packer’s insightful 2008 New Yorker piece.

It is hard not to notice how far behind Yangon is compared to other Asian cities. Clapped-out Toyota Corollas serve as the taxi fleet—forget about air-conditioning—while the jungle reclaims once-gracious colonial villas. Western brands are all but absent due to harsh sanctions and boycotts. The city is remarkably safe, but at night you have to navigate carefully around the crater-sized ditches that riddle the streets and sidewalks.

Still, there’s a sense of optimism in the air. “Change is coming, but slowly,” one driver told me. Tourists, mostly European, are packing the city’s hotels. Locals are remarkably candid and forthright about their country’s politics—perhaps even more so than in Thailand, where I live. At one gallery hung a painting of Suu Kyi, entitled “Mother,” which would have been unthinkable a year ago.

So should you visit Myanmar? My opinion is an unequivocal yes. It’s a fascinating country with a unique and rich culture, and you’ll meet remarkable people. And frankly, isolation has not helped ordinary folks, the majority of whom say having visitors will help the country to open up further. In fact, tourism never did prop up the military rulers—Chinese, Indian, and Thai investment in the country’s vast resources did and still does.

If you do go, there are steps that you can take to ensure you’re traveling ethically. Avoid the government-run hotels and properties run by cronies. (In Yangon, head straight to the Governor’s Residence, one of the loveliest hotels in Southeast Asia). Patronize local businesses and make sure to spread your money around. If you’re using a travel agent, investigate to see if they can arrange for a donation to a clinic or school. Or better yet, use a travel agency that has a community-development program. If you use a travel agency in the U.S., find out if their local partner is a private company, rather than a state-run one. Talk to locals but let them bring up politics. Don’t go on tours that treat ethnic minorities as freak shows, such as the exploited “long-necked” Paduang women in northern Shan state.

One final tip: pack a couple of paperbacks with the view of giving them away. There’s always an eager student who would be happy to receive them.

Jennifer Chen is Travel + Leisure‘s Asia correspondent. You can follow her on Twitter at xiaochen6.

Via travelandleisure.com