Best of Amsterdam

Peak tulip weekend. Easter holiday. April 20th. King's Day preparations. Sunny and 65°.

There could not have been a more lively weekend to visit the capital of the Netherlands. Highlights from our weekend of travel perfection below:

Keukenhof Gardens: Though expensive, the tulip gardens were absolutely jaw-droppingly gorgeous. This is a must-see when the tulips are blooming. Even Patrick agreed! We took the too-easy train to the airport then bought the round-trip bus and admission "Combi Ticket." We went closer to closing time and were able to enjoy the park with relatively small crowds. 

 Red Light District: Easter did not seem to stand in the way of the prostitution business over the weekend, but the news suggested that new legislation in Denver and Washington might have hurt the other major trade. Regardless, the streets were packed and we of course enjoyed the people watching.





Bike Tour: There are more bikes in the Netherlands than people, and with bike lanes commonly two-times wider than the pedestrian sidewalks, seeing the city on two wheels is a must. We opted for a City Tour through Mike's Bike Tours. Our guide (Jeff) was informative and hilarious, and our only regret was not planning ahead and getting tickets to the expanded city tour. Book ahead for those! Several people on our tour even took a second trip with Mike's the next day. It was that good.











Fries with Mayo:
A local favorite, Patrick snagged some from a street vendor and didn't look back. Make sure to grab plenty of extra napkins.

Beers with a View: 

We found it hard to move very far down the canals without stopping for a refreshment. Though there are many things to see, pausing and enjoying the moment provided the majority of our weekend highlights!

Anne Frank House: Are you thinking about going to Amsterdam anytime in the next year? Buy your tickets to this sobering but must-see museum today. We made the mistake of not - the lines topped three hours long almost every time we checked (see picture). With a stroke of luck, we checked at 8:10 in the morning and waited behind 25 people until they opened the doors at 8:45, at which point the line behind us was at least two hours long. Best advice: book your tickets online when you plan your trip!

Stuttgart Frühlingsfest

Almost on cue, as soon as the last Oktoberfest tents are dismantled, German winter seems to begin. Though Germans still find excuses the celebrate the season (Glühwein, anyone?), true fest season kicks off again six months later in April with Frühlingsfests, aka Spring Fests.

Dirndl and Lederhosen are recommended

Though cities all over Germany (and other countries in Europe, too) hold their own Frühlingsfests, the crown for the largest Frühlingsfest in Europe belongs to Stuttgart. For three weeks, the capital of the Baden-Württemberg state is inundated with local and visiting patrons of their festival. We were lucky enough to be tipped off to the fun by a good friend and former Stuttgart resident, who helped us plan our time. I was also thrilled to have a friend from London visit for the experience!

Amazed by the
ride selection

Though I hold a special place in my heart for the Texas State Fair, I couldn't help but think that the Stuttgart Frühlingsfest was just like the Texas State Fair, but with more singing, dancing, and beer. They had carnival rides, vendors, all types of foods, Biergartens, and the traditional beer tents one would find at Oktoberfest.
We did not make reservations in a beer tent and, unlike at past festivals we have attended, they wouldn't even let people in the tent without a reservation and corresponding wristband. Plan ahead if your goal is to stand on the garden tables with a liter of beer! We did find a spot at a Biergarten and enjoyed the atmosphere and perfect weather just fine.

Gearing up for
the bumper cars

This festival continues through May 11th. I personally feel as though I am a more well-rounded German resident after attending the Stuttgart Frühlingsfest, and look forward to another round in 2015!