When considering Amsterdam, its famous red-light district and the coffee shops where cannabis is smoked, you may assume it’s less than an ideal city to visit with young children. You would be wrong. »

A huge tourist draw, Amsterdam’s notorious Red Light district is under scrunity by Dutch authorities »

Amsterdam is famous for a lot of things, not the least of which are its more than two dozen world-class museums. A house-sitting gig meant I had a month to tour them, try the cafes, peek at the Red Light District and, most importantly, attempt to live as if I were a local — the way I always prefer to experience new destinations, versus 8-cities-in-10-days tours. »

Last week, it was my pleasure to travel to the Netherlands and spend most of my trip getting lost in this wonderful city. Getting lost in cities seems to be what I do best on vacation. Since I always travel with a couple of cameras in tow, my exact daytime locale isn’t all that important. I prefer to meet up with my traveling companions later to sample the local cuisine. By the evening, I usually have my bearings. »

While the sun is up, Amsterdam sits quietly on the Amstel River, which feeds the various canals running through the Centrum area making up most of the city’s downtown. You can rent a bicycle, visit the Van Gogh or Anne Frank museum, or take a water taxi. But when the sun goes down, the partying begins – in the mega clubs, in the infamous Red Light district, and in coffee shops where curious tourists gather to hang out, talk politics and smoke. »

“I spent two more days in Amsterdam, and even with a map in hand, I often found myself disoriented. “ »

Amsterdam is a picturesque, uncomplicated city, filled with canals and narrow streets that prove to be remarkably efficient. Nine feet below sea level, the city is mostly flat, compact and easy to navigate, whether you are walking, biking or taking a taxi. »

The phrase ‘cosmopolitan melting pot’ is often used carelessly for cities around the world but it is appropriate for Amsterdam, which has always enticed migrants and non-conformists. »